BOWDOIN FALL 2005 1 Mailbox
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BOWDOINBOWDOINFall 2005 Volume 77, Number 1 Bowdoin’s 200th Commencement fall2005 contents Bowdoin’s 200th Commencement 18 Photograph coverage of a momentous day by Michele Stapleton, Hannah Dawes, and James Marshall With a Little Help From His Friends 20 By Edgar Allen Beem Photographs by Michele Stapleton Brett Wickard ’90 founded Bull Moose Music with a nest egg of $7,000, a loan of $30,000, and some help from Bowdoin friends who believed in his idea — and he did it while still studying chemistry and economics as an undergrad. Ed Beem explores how Bull Moose grew from humble roots in downtown Brunswick into a successful music business without sacrificing its values and personality. Bowdoin and the Maine Volunteer Lawyers Project 26 By Tracy Teare Photographs by Dean Abramson More than 300 Bowdoin volunteers have participated in the Maine Volunteer Lawyers Project over 20 years of partnership between the organization and the College. Alumni have been involved every step of the way, from the founding days to hours put in manning the calls last week. But it’s not just the VLP and its clients who benefit — alumni and students both say the VLP gave them invaluable experience and perspective in return for their time. Montgomery to Richmond: Walton Takes BBC Down a Southern Road 30 by Selby Frame Bowdoin writer-in-residence Anthony Walton has written about and discussed American history and culture in many venues over the last fifteen years, among them, The New York Times, The New Yorker, and CNN. Bowdoin writer Selby Frame recently spoke with Walton about an upcoming project, Walton's radio documentary, Southern Road, a searching ramble through the American Southeast for British Broadcast Corporation Radio (BBC). Departments Mailbox 2 Weddings 32 Bookshelf 4 Class News 36 College & Maine 5 Obituaries 77 BOWDOINeditor’s note staff I had an English teacher in high school who was also an author and a sheep Volume 77, Number 1 Fall, 2005 farmer. He always wore a sport coat, and he could stop almost any bad behavior with a pointed look over his glasses at the offender, neither of which was typical MAGAZINE STAFF at a public high school in the 1970s. No matter what class you took from him, Editor he made you start the period with a five-minute exercise called “Today I Alison M. Bennie Observed. .” The idea was that you would describe something that you had seen Associate Editor that day — an object, an incident, maybe a person — and ruminate briefly about Matthew J. O’Donnell it. A lot of people hated doing it. Sometimes you would horrify yourself with your Design inability to come up with a single thing you could describe having seen that was Pennisi & Lamare Falmouth, Maine worth mentioning — and, to a roomful of adolescents, this was simply further crushing proof that there was nothing interesting in the world, no matter what the Obituary Editor John R. Cross ’76 adults said. I hated that feeling and became determined to look intently. Contributors Pavlina Borisova ’07 It is the nature of good teaching that I only came to realize later that that was James Caton the whole point of the exercise. The lesson has stayed with me, and the power Susan Danforth Selby Frame of looking has only come to mean more. I am reminded of the exercise, and its Scott W. Hood worth, nearly every time I see something wild, beautiful, notable, or odd. Alexander Reed ’07 Alix Roy ’07 A character in a James Salter novel said, “Life is weather. Life is meals,” and I Photographs by Dean Abramson, Brian Beard, Dennis Griggs, James Marshall, think there is a lot of truth to that, at least in my life. We often say here, at the Joanna Morrisey, Michele Stapleton, College “Bowdoin is people.” That is undeniably true, but I would add to it, and Bowdoin College Archives. “Bowdoin is views.” It is the quad, looking up through a canopy of trees. It is BOWDOIN (ISSN, 0895-2604) is pub- the soft light from a classroom at the end of the hall in Hubbard. For rowers and lished four times a year by Bowdoin College, 4104 College Station, other early risers, it is the fog rising from the water into cool fall air. There are Brunswick, Maine 04011. Printed by images that Bowdoin people carry with them when they leave, images that are Dartmouth Printing, Hanover, New Hampshire. Third-class postage paid at somehow a combination of vision and experience, like two-second dreams. Hanover, New Hampshire. Sent free of charge to all Bowdoin alumni/ae, par- ents of current and recent undergradu- In addition to the important business of conveying news and information about ates, faculty and staff, seniors, and the College, continuing the community of classes through their notes about selected members of the Association of Bowdoin Friends. their lives and work, and sharing interesting and inspiring stories, the magazine tries to trigger these images for people. One of the ways that we do that is Opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the authors. through photographs, and our cadre of excellent photographers produce thou- sands of such photos each year — you’ll see one of them in a new feature that Send class news to classnews@bow- doin.edu or mail to the address above. we’ve added, called “view.” Advertising inquiries? Please e-mail [email protected] or fax 207- 725-3003. Please send address changes I hope that it reminds you not only of what you have seen, but to look. to the mailing address above. Send ideas or letters to the editor to that address or by e-mail to bowdoinedi- AMB [email protected]. Cover: tbd BOWDOIN FALL 2005 1 mailbox Why, Thank You University graduate schools (later at Incredulous Harvard), and established my private You and your crew have done a superb By now your mailbox must be full of practice in 1978 in Boston and job with “our magazine.” Every issue letters from incredulous readers currently Newton, Ma, where I seems to outdo the previous one. wondering how you could have continue to actively produce work. As Thank you for keeping us in touch omitted the name of Phillip C. Bolger John Adams wrote in 1780 when on with our dear alma mater and making from your list of alumni involved in his mission to the French Court, “I us even more proud of her every year. boatbuilding. He has designed over study politics and war that my sons 700 boats, and achieved superstar Brad Beckwith ’58 may have liberty to study status among amateur boat builders. mathematics and philosophy.” My In addition, Stephen M. Weld ’69 is a Laying the Foundation sons ought to study mathematics and designer at C. Raymond Hunt Associates. Dear Editor; philosophy, geography, natural history, I think you should also include the I was pleased to read Bowdoin naval architecture, navigation, name of John Foss ’69, Captain of the Magazine’s Spring 2005 feature article, commerce and agriculture in order to American Eagle schooner operating out “Why The Arts Matter,” by Lisa Wesel, give their children a right to study of Camden. Aside from the rebuilding as I am a product of Bowdoin’s arts painting, poetry, music, architecture, and maintenance of his own vessel, program, which mattered very much statuary, tapestry and porcelain. John has been involved with the even before the 1970s. My father and America gave me the construction of other schooners. opportunity and right to study art at When I was in high school I knew I Peter Vanderwaart ’68 wanted to be an architect and was Bowdoin, which molded and prepared advised by one of the then top me in becoming an architect; in Moore Mention of Bolger architectural firms of Portland, serving the common good… To the Editor: Wardsworth & Boston, that in order Constantine L. Tsomides ’58 I have read the articles on Maine boat to truly understand the world of builders with interest but some dismay. culture and civilization and the place Good Icebreaker There is no mention of Phil Bolger ’49, and meaning of architecture in our I’m COO of AeroHydro, Inc. in who is clearly one of the most creative world I should first steep myself in a Southwest Harbor. We develop and marine architects alive. He lives and good solid four year liberal arts market software for marine design. operates out of Gloucester, MA, but college before continuing on at the Our software has been used to design with an international reputation that graduate level in the professional everything from kayaks and surfboards shouldn’t have denied him mention in schools of architecture. Professor Paul through the original Hinckley Picnic your articles. Hazelton made sure that Bowdoin was Boat (under the expert guidance of Ask any small boat builder about that school. I attended Bowdoin Newcastle-based designer Bruce King) to Phil Bolger and you will learn his specifically for that purpose, and a USCG (oops! that’s DHS) icebreaker. influence on small boat and sail design, Professors Philip Beam and Carl and new ways to use materials. His Schmalz of the art department Michael Shook ’73 genius can be found in his many assiduously drilled me in the history books, published by International and studio practice of Art. Missing Link Marine Publishing Co., all of which Those four years of art in the We really enjoyed your wonderful have had wide distribution. basement of the Walker Art Building, cover story on Bowdoin’s boat builders. Johnes K. Moore ’53 supplemented by an interim year of You did miss my husband, Livingston world travel in the Merchant Marines, “Link” Wright ’52, on your boat Illustrating a Point imbued me with a passionate love of building alumni list.