DARTMOUTH COLLEGE CLASS OF 1981 APRIL 2019 NEWSLETTER “60 is the new 40!” Celebrating 60 in New Orleans— Walking tours — Most of us laced on our lives, unexpected turns, and life chal- With Food, Wine & Jazz comfortable shoes and took in at least lenges. And we discussed the future: some one of the informative tours of the French of us are still charging ahead with careers; by Elizabeth Wang & Pat Berry Quarter, antebellum mansions, and above- others are powering down, searching for ground cemeteries. Some even ventured a second act or immersing in new inter- In late March, sixteen ’81s and two pa- out of the city to learn about the sugar ests and/or other pursuits. Many of us are tient spouses descended on New Orleans cane plantations along the Mississippi. overseeing the care of elderly parents, for a destination birthday party. It was a while one or two of us still have teenagers fabulous weekend of eating, sightseeing, National World War II Museum — at home. In short, we are leading active, museum touring, street car riding, park Documentary newsreels, the stories of optimistic, and meaningful lives. And we strolling, the occasional cocktail, music ordinary soldiers, reports from war corre- all agreed that every one of us looks years venu-ing, and the simple pleasures of be- spondents, expositions of extreme combat younger than six decades might suggest. ing in each other’s company and either conditions, and exhibits documenting the catching up or making new friends. human costs of the war made for a sober- In attendance: Marcia (McRae) Braden, ing but unforgettable experience. who came the furthest, from Hawaii; Kim The photos tell the story better than any Dunn, who flew in from the last frontier, narrative, but here are some highlights: Alaska; Thaxter Sharp, Northern California; Galatoire’s — A dozen classmates secured Bob Spears, Southern California; Tom a Friday lunch table at the iconic Bourbon Waterman, Iowa; Pat Berry, New Jersey; Street establishment, a noisy, joyful, deli- Robert Goldboom, Lloyd Widom and his cious, and song-filled experience made wife, Heidi , New York City suburbs; Susan possible by our own early-rising and nat- Nutt, Manhattan; Frank (Pancho) Ryan Jr. tily-dressed Fraser Smith. Tom Waterman and Wendy Brooks Harris, Connecticut; ordered the Godchaux salad, named for Lizzie Eldredge, George Alexakos, and Rick classmate Stephen’s great-granddad Leon Silverman, Boston suburbs; and Elizabeth and declared it delicious, but too small to Wang and her husband, Gary Perlow, share! Northern Virginia. Class Dinner — While the weekend left much room for on-your-own exploring, we were together for a traditional creole din- ner on Saturday night. Three days allow for plenty of time to rem- inisce, which we did—about our Dartmouth follies and friendships, choices made in B?? “This year almost all of us turn 60. What thoughts have been ?? Please send your replies and thoughts on B?? I?? roused by this milestone? Have you been inspired to develop THE BIG Q to [email protected]. Your a new habit (or kick an old one)? Pursue a new goal (or aban- ?? replies will be shared in the Newsletter, in I?? G?? don an obsolete one)? Shift direction (or recommit to one)? Do ?? the class column and on our website. Tell G?? Q?? something cool (or uncool)? Please do share.” ?? us what you’re thinking! Q?? www.alum.dartmouth.org/classes/81 81ST DAY SUBMISSIONS Samiere Koeninger Ritter Malloy Lewyckyj Lazar Brew Van Wetter McGonagle Halyard Jeffries Hess Wessels Awad Fleming Fisher Yun Chen Hoadley Doyle Boston VanMetre 81st DAY REUNION 81st DAY Braden APRIL 2019 NEWSLETTER Page 2 Alumni Council Rep Update Spinnings From The Web forward 43 years. I find myself next to by Kevin Kerin good friend Rick ’60 chipping away with Ellen Brout hand tools at the massive block of snow Lindsey will Winter Carnival 1976. At the wheel and ice that would eventually become a be taking of my dad’s 1972 Chevy station wagon mastodon descending a slope in celebra- over the class (christened “Moby” due its size and color) tion of Dartmouth’s 250th anniversary. representa- Jake and I crested West Wheelock late We enthusiastically responded to the invi- tive position Friday afternoon and slowed to a stop at tation to alums from the Snow Sculpture for the ‘81s the intersection with Main Street. First Committee to help shape the centerpiece on the Alumni trip from Norwalk CT to Hanover to visit of the weekend. Full circle. I had truly Council from Claudia Sweeney Weed. Jake’s brother, a freshman living in Russell found a special place. Ellen follows in a tradition of strong Sage. His dad, my English teacher and ‘81 representation on the Alumni coach, was class of ’56. “ I think you two Council, with many ‘81s taking lead- will find Winter Carnival to your liking.” ership positions over the course of Followed by a knowing smile. Our gazes their tenure. Anticipate her commu- were drawn to the activity on the green nications and be sure to get back to and the bustling, bundled excitement on her with your thoughts and questions. the corners and sidewalks. Crazy energy in She will be attending her first meet- the air. Arctic anticipation. And then, we ing May 16 to 18, so now is the time saw it: a towering snow sculpture Statue to let her know what you’re thinking! of Liberty to celebrate the 200th anniver- sary of our nation’s independence. Mug in hand with a D on it. An impatient beep Ken Holmes Retiring brought me back to the tasks at hand… After 30 years with the Concord-based finding the dorm and a place to berth a firm, Ken Holmes, CEO and former ship-sized vehicle. I knew in my heart Kevin Kerin with Rick Roesch ‘60 back on the president of that I had found a special place. Fast green, 2019. North Branch Construction, Class of 1981 progress to date for the DCF has announced As we head into the last two months of the Dartmouth College Fund 2019 fiscal his retirement. year campaign, the Class of 1981 is more than halfway to our goal of $810,000 with Holmes joined $445,832 in cash and pledges. So far, 231 classmates have given to the Fund and we North Branch need 256 more to reach our 50% goal. We can do this! Many classmates wait until Construction in June to give, so we ask you to make your gift today so that we can be sure to celebrate 1989 as a proj- our success sooner rather than later this fiscal year! ect manager and became a principal and vice president in 1990, general manager Remember, a gift to the Dartmouth College Fund is a gift to The Call to Lead campaign; in 1996 and president in 2006. In 2018, and many will celebrate the campaign and the 250th anniversary this year by making a Holmes took on the role of CEO at North gift to the Fund. If you are making a special gift to the campaign, please don’t forget Branch. to make a gift to the Fund as well so that you are recognized in our Class participation After graduating from Dartmouth, Ken numbers. When we gather in Hanover next year for our 40th Reunion (save the date worked for an investment bank in New for June 18-21, 2020!), we will celebrate both our fundraising success in the Dartmouth York before starting his own real estate College Fund as well as ALL gifts to The Call to Lead campaign. We thank you in ad- development and construction manage- vance for thinking about making a gift to the Fund before June 30, 2019. You can visit ment company in New London, NH in dartgo.org/fund or call 800-228-1769. 1987, after earning an MBA from the Tuck School of Business. -Beth and Martin Annette Gordon-Reed is #16... ...on the Dartmouth Alumni Magazine’s list of the 25 Most Influential Alumni for the work she did moving forward the story of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemmings and its implications for American hstory and the legacy of slavery. And you’ll understand how sig- nificant it is that she is even on this list, when you see that most of the others listed are no longer with us! Check out the article in your Dartmouth Alumni Magazine or on-line at https://dartmouthalumnimagazine.com/articles/25-most-influential-alumni#16. Page 3 DARTMOUTH COLLEGE CLASS OF 1981 www.alum.dartmouth.org/classes/81 Rahn Fleming: On Turning 60 well applied, and huge hearts. I'm gonna take those for success. By Abner Oakes While I don't wish any sudden surprises I asked classmate Rahn Fleming: What's on anyone - I want my sons to live their on your mind as you get ready to turn 60? lives on their own schedules - I'm seriously Here’s what he had to say! jonesin' to be a grampa. It’s one of the This "turning 60" thing is a time of con- things that keeps me busy in the gym and templation, that's for sure. I don't know feeding myself reasonably well; when the what 60 is supposed to feel like, but this time for grampa'ing comes, at last, I want ain't it. Rahn is pictured here coaching his Champlain to be as functional as possible. Valley Union High School football team, where he’s been teaching for 20 years and was just Philosophically, here's where I'm at about Of course, I work at a high school [in made head coach.