The Dartmouth Class of 1968

Dartmouth Icons and What We Can Learn From Them

By Bill Rich

Two members of the this man is that he was a Free Spirit, was Class of '39 supremely confident, was personable and persuasive, and was an unusually creative Dick Durrance and imaginative person. How fortunate it must have been for any of us who had the How crazy is this? A boy is born in pleasure and honor of getting to know Florida, but his mother doesn’t think this extraordinary man! His son Dick the local schools are any good – and she carries forward his love of photography has heard good things about the schools and sense of adventure (read further to in . So, she picks up her family see how!). and goes there. While riding the train, she sees a charming little town and says Howard (Chief) Chivers let’s get out here! And, that is how the Born into a family of educators, Howard Durrance family ended up in Garmisch- Chivers was the son of Arthur, a Partenkirchen! The young boy hangs out Dartmouth biology professor, and the with friends who like to climb mountains brother of Warren, the Headmaster at in the summer and ski in the winter. He Vermont Academy. It is unclear if he becomes a German national champ and learned first to walk or to ski, but like later one of the best skiers in the world. his classmate, Chivers became a leading He is told that Dartmouth is the college to US skier. Just as Durrance was the top attend for a young man like him. A many Dick Durrance US alpine skier for many years, Chivers times college and U.S. champ, Durrance was our top nordic ski racer. A February was really the first American to excel on Association. But, he didn’t stop there. 6, 1937 New York Times article notes the world stage. But, you have to under- When the War broke out, he became an “Dartmouth Pride. The twenty-seventh stand that skiing was different then. For expert in designing equipment at Boeing. Winter Carnival opens and Dartmouth the downhill, you had a start and a finish, After the War, he became a pioneer de- earns a ‘perfect score’ as Chivers leads but often no gates in between. Durrance veloper and manager of many leading ski a 1, 2, 3 sweep in the cross country and would scope out the mountain and see areas, including Alta and Sun Valley. He Durrance wins the downhill and Francioli where he might take a shortcut. Once, knew how to get something done and of the Swiss team finished second.” he intentionally skied off a cliff, did an promote it, which is how he brought the Whereas Dick Durrance may have built a unplanned flip and a half, and broke 1950 FIS Alpine World Championships greater International reputation, Howie through the crust below with his head. to Aspen, representing the first world Chivers was content to focus more on He dug himself out, finished the race, championship to be held in the US and North America. Leader of the 1939 best and came in 14th. A short and stocky the first to be held outside of . As American cross country team ever as- man, he would ski with his chin seem- his ski racing wound down, he became sembled, Chivers (with Durrance) was a ingly inches above his ski tips. His goal an expert photographer and created member of our strongest and internation- was to get down the mountain the quick- many beautiful ski documentary films. ally dominant 1940 US Olympic ski team est way possible. Because of his long US He blended comfortably with socialites (which was denied glory due to the can- dominance and being the first to achieve who admired his mix of athleticism, ac- cellation of those Olympics). This team, International success, Durrance is the complished talents, and arts – all on a by the way, our best ever, was essentially Man on the Medal of the US National Ski world stage. What strikes me most about Continued on page 12

www.dartmouth68.org 11 The Dartmouth Class of 1968

totally comprised of Dartmouth ski- Chiharu (Chick) Igaya ’57 in 1953. He wasn’t too worried as he had ers! After the War, Chivers coached and encountered many Americans at the Oslo taught at West Point and then ran the Olympics in 1952. In all, Igaya skied at Ford Sayer ski program in Hanover. In three Olympics including 1956 in Cortina 1948, he began managing the Keewaydin d’Ampezzo and 1960 at Squaw Valley. He Canoe Camp in Temagami, Ontario, won six American national college cham- and in 1956, he was named the found- pionships and five national champion- ing manager of the Dartmouth Skiway. ships winning at various times the alpine In 1961, he bought Keewaydin, and all combined, the slalom, the downhill, and of the guides (except Nishe Belanger) the . Just as Dick Durrance sensed that Chivers was in a vulnerable had created a skiing style he called the financial position and immediately went Dipsy Doodle, Chick employed what he on strike, demanding much higher pay. called the Cha Cha Cha. Ironically, after Reckoning that those demands would all of the greats who preceded him, when have bankrupted him, Chief fired all of he won the silver medal in 1956, Igaya the guides and was forced to find re- became the first Dartmouth skier ever placements in a few short weeks. Some to earn an Olympic medal. Back on cam- of those striking guides later came back pus for exams after his Olympic success, and asked to be hired at their original Chick was just one of the guys. When he pay, but he told them to take a hike. returned to Japan, he was honored as a (And, by that, he wasn’t referring to a national hero! Since graduation, Igaya has Freshman Trip!). Chief built Keewaydin Igaya at the airport been a leader in the insurance industry Camp into the world’s largest owner of In 1951, just a few short years after World and for his native country in Olympic and wood and canvas canoes and significantly War II and its significant hostilities be- other sports advocacy. He hopes to pin a grew its enrolment. He retired after the tween the and Japan, medal on a Dartmouth athlete sometime 1974 season. In February 1984, he par- Corneilius Vander Starr encountered an at a Japanese Olympics. ticipated with speed and grace in a cross enterprising young man in a Tokyo ski country ski race. Three weeks later, he shop. Starr, known as Neil or CV, was died way too young of cancer from a the founder of American International melanoma he couldn’t see on his back. Group (AIG), which built a huge and prof- Many of us knew Howie Chivers from the itable business in Asia. Over the years, Skiway, and a few of us knew Chief from Starr placed some forty young men at Keewaydin. Some of us even know how American colleges and universities (many he lost a finger. He always struck me as a at Dartmouth), and these individuals of- humble man with a quiet sense of humor. ten returned the favor by going to work I witnessed his grace and kindness. When at his company. Despite some concerns challenged, he could also be very tough. and reservations from friends and fam- If Dick Durrance put American down- ily—as it was only two years after the hill skiing on the map, Howard Chivers formal signing of the US—Japan Peace put American cross country skiing there Treaty, Igaya ventured off to Dartmouth Igaya skiing on a roof as well.

12 Winter 2018 Newsletter