Co-Presidents: Bill Higgins, 5360 Miami Road, Cincinnati, OH 45243
Steve Warhover, 33 William Fairfield Drive, Wenham, MA 01984
Vice-President & Webmaster: Chuck Sherman, 3100 Rittenhouse Street NW, Washington, DC 20015
Secretary: Larry Geiger, 93 Greenridge Avenue, White Plains, NY 10605
Treasurer: Jim Weiskopf, 13125 Willow Edge Court, Clifton, VA 20124
Head Agent: Bob Spence, 16 Surrey Road, New Canaan, CT 06840
Bequest Chairmen: Rich Daly, PO Box 39, West Boxford, MA 01885
Steve Lanfer, 178 Sea Meadows Lane, Yarmouth, ME 04096
Alan Rottenberg, 24 Gould Road, Waban, MA 02468
Mini-Reunion Chairman: Al Keiller, 85422 Dudley, Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Newsletter Editor & Alumni Bob Serenbetz, PO Box 1127, Newtown, PA 18940
Council Rep: Phone: 215-598-0262 Fax: 215-598-0770
Email: BobSerenbetz@prodigy.net
Class Website: http://www.alum.dartmouth.org/classes/66
April, 2003
News from Classmates
Heard from Tony Yezer that he's continuing his interest in rowing by serving as the Treasurer of the Walter Johnson High School Crew Club. Tony teaches in the Department of Economics at George Washington University, lives in Bethesda, MD and can be reached at yezer@gwu.edu.
Dave Dewan retired in October from the faculty of the Wake Forest University Medical School, where he taught and practiced. Besides his home in Clemmons, NC, Dave also spends time at his childhood home, which he now owns, in upstate New York. Dave can be reached at ddewan@triad.rr.com.
In an article on facelifts in the April issue of Washingtonian, Bill Little is quoted as an advocate of a new technique called "sculptural rejuvenation", which moves the skin, muscle and tissue of the face vertically rather than pulling it back. Fat is redistributed from the neck and jowls into the upper face. Bill's expertise is shared with the medical profession as a traveling professor for the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and as a clinical professor of surgery at Georgetown University. Anyone willing to pay the quoted $15,000 to $25,000 fee can reach Bill at jwilliamlittle@erols.com!
Following up on a notice in the February issue of "Along Route 66", Joff Keane writes, "After more than thirty years kicking around South and Central America, where I ran into fellow '66ers Peter Cleaves and Jim Cason occasionally, it's an honor and a delight to serve the American people and Government as the President's personal representative. It's not a large country (roughly six million people in an area the size of California), but the US has several important interests there, including combating terrorism and drug trafficking, strengthening democratic institutions, helping US investors and traders, and preserving unique biodiversity. My former Casque and Gauntlet roommate, Tim Urban, is already planning a visit. I would welcome others as well." Chuck Sherman attended the swearing-in ceremony and sent along the photo below. Joff is reachable at keanejf@state.gov.
(L to R) Graciela and Joff Keane with Chuck Sherman
Also attending the swearing-in ceremony was Buck Shinkman, Deputy Director in the Office of Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, Department of State (phew!). Buck writes, "The swearing-in took place in the Ben Franklin Room which has to be one of the most elegant in Washington, in the company of dozens of Joff and Graciela Keane's family, relatives and friends. Joff was sworn in by Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, who made very stirring remarks about Joff and Graciela's contribution to our country, going back to Joff's days as a Peace Corps volunteer. Joff responded with interesting notes about his family experience, particularly his parents coming to this country in the middle of the last century, fleeing the Nazi onslaught in Europe." Buck can be found at shinkman@state.gov.
Gus Southworth writes that he and Susan have bought a second home in Enfield, NH. Son Hunter graduated from Colgate last June and daughter Taylor is pursuing a biology degree at the University of Rhode Island. Gus continues his law practice at Carmody and Torrance in Waterbury, CT and when not "lawyering" is rowing a single again.
Roger Brett writes, "I have retired twice already, but can't seem to stick to retirement! I am currently working at the Chabot Space and Science Center. The Center has 85,000 square feet of exhibits, a great planetarium, a domed film theater, three super telescopes for viewing, and is set in the beautiful redwood forests of the East Bay Hills." Roger's email address is roger@casabrett.com.
An article in the January 16th Southampton (NY) Press noted that Tripp Miller gave a talk at a Martin Luther King Day breakfast celebration at the Rogers Memorial Library in Southampton entitled "How Far Have We Come?", focusing on the progress of race relations in the US. Tripp is in Advertising Sales at Business Week, a division of McGraw-Hill.
Also featured in a recent newspaper article was Dr. Julian "Mac" Whitaker, founder of the Whitaker Wellness Institute, the largest alternative medical clinic in North America. The Orange County Register focuses on Mac's work among patients scheduled for heart-transplants or bypass surgery, where treatments such as external enhanced counter pulsation and chelation therapy have not only eliminated symptoms like angina pain and shortness of breath, but gotten patients off all related medications. Originally an orthopedic surgeon, Mac's career was changed after visiting Nathan Pritikin's Santa Barbara Institute, where seriously ill patients were being healed without drugs or surgery, but with changes to their diet and exercise regimens. Mac's most recent book is Reversing Heart Disease; he lives in Anaheim Hills with his wife Connie and three of their eight children.
News from another of our class doctors, Steve Abram: "After five years as Chairman of the Anesthesiology Department at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, I have decided to return to Milwaukee, where I will rejoin the Anesthesia Department at the Medical College of Wisconsin. I'll be working part-time, doing chronic pain management and research. Pam and I bought an old farmhouse in the lake district, west of the city. I guess we just missed those Wisconsin winters." Steve's new address is N. 1791 Highway 67, Neosho, WI 53059.
Bill Ferris notes, "I have not written in a long time, so here is an update on my life. I am still teaching at the School of Business at Western New England College. I had a great month in December with three articles in management consulting and education, including one in the Harvard Business Review. That one covered some team building I did for Stanpak, Inc. the leading software provider for the paper distribution business worldwide, where CEO Ed Mazer '63 is doing a great job. A second one was prominent in the Academy of Management Learning and Education Journal, edited with excellence by Roy Lewicki '64. I am also current President of the Academy of Business Education nationally and am hosting the national conference of the Organizational Behavior Teaching Society here in June.
On the personal side, daughter Ellen just got married to a generous and creative young man and looks to be heading from NYC to western Mass ultimately to teach acting and drama. I had the rare pleasure of co-authoring an award-winning paper on using drama techniques to teach management with her recently at the Eastern Academy meetings in New York. Daughter Laura works at Bank One in Chicago and serves as one of the youngest members of the Georgetown University Board of Overseers. Ann and I are divorced but I now have a relationship with a wonderful woman who teaches at Fairfield. Cheryl and I are remodeling a waterfront cottage in Branford, CT, where we can be found on the weekends. I still have my waterfront house in Martha's Vineyard, but am mainly renting it out now that my home away from home is Branford.
I still see a lot of Bill Kirkpatrick '67, who is, amazingly enough, going to retire in June after 35 years of teaching high school English. We have maintained a close life-long friendship and I will be involved with his wife Anne and their two daughters in putting on a retirement party on June 29th. Anyone who knew him is welcome." For party-goers, and all others, you can reach Bill at bferris@wnec.edu.
An article in Minneapolis-St. Paul's Business Journal notes that Dean Spatz' Osmonics, Inc. closed it's acquisition by General Electric on March 3. Dean stated he'll stay on with the new company.
Mini-Reunion Activities
Walt Knoepfel and his 60th Birthday Party Committee, which includes, among others Allan Anderson, Roger Brett and Ken Zuhr have developed a number of options for the Class Executive Committee to consider. Al Keiller will likely have a plan for us all by the time the June Newsletter is published.
Dartmouth Fund
Bob Spence notes that as of April 14, 237 classmates have donated $104,767 compared to 142 and $87,471 respectively at the same time in 2002. An additional 46 classmates have pledged $11,415 for a total participation of 41.9%, about 8 percentage points or 55 classmates short of meeting Bob's goal of 50% class participation. The class dollar goal for 2003 is $200,000 with about six weeks to go. If you haven't already given or pledged, please help the Class meet its Dartmouth Fund participation goals, even if you've given to other parts of the College. Bob also asks that Class Agents make one final push before the end of the campaign.
Alumni Apathy
Bruce Thorsen writes, "I have been silent for years, yet very much appreciate you and others keeping "Along Route '66" rolling. I see Bob Spence and Frank Blod in New Canaan (CT) from time to time (where we all live); just seeing them reminds me of how I should get more involved. I am one of the dead-beat 50%'ers, who for no good reason other than that my daughter (like John Harbaugh's) experienced the "insensitive and arrogant attitudes" of the Admissions Office. After being turned down by Dartmouth in 1994, four years later she graduated "Magna Cum Laude" from Williams College in economics, was on varsity soccer, and started the first Williams College Women's Golf Club. Now she is with Cambridge Associates, an investment management firm in Boston, and is on her way to completing her CFA. It's not that she was turned down, but rather how she was turned down---which is another story. The higher-ups at Dartmouth are not hearing their alumni voices crying in the wilderness."
College News
Most of the news coming out of the College has been the continuing struggle to balance the budget with a shrinking income stream, based on the reduction in available income from the College's shrinking endowment. The College continues to protect financial aid, need-blind admissions, and tenure-track faculty positions, while ensuring that faculty and staff compensation remains competitive. To date, fifty positions have been eliminated through attrition and reorganization, while non-compensation expenses such as supplies, travel, and professional development have been reduced.
Swimming Decision
As mentioned in the last issue of "Along Route '66", I believe one of the key reasons for the College's decison to reinstate the swimming and diving program was Noel Fidel's impassioned plea to the College and the Alumni Council and the ensuing resolution by the Council to support the team. Here are Noel's remarks:
Now, let me turn to the issue of the swimming and diving team, and, first, give you a disclaimer. As some of you know, I do not come to this issue with an unbiased view. My son Louis, who is here with me tonight, is one of the captains of the men's swimming and diving team. My son, Nathan, who graduated last June, was for the two years before that, one of the captains of the men's swimming and diving team. So I have a certain family stake in this issue, and you can take what I have to say in that spirit. In fact, I spoke with Stan Colla last week, more than once last week (and Stan has been a wonderful source of advice, encouragement, and counsel in these discussions), and I suggested that, because I am not all that objective on this issue, I should forego coming to the meeting. Stan urged me not only not to stay away, but to include something about swimming in my remarks, and the next day I had a call from Jim Wright urging me to do the same thing. I appreciate that encouragement and include it in the disclaimer.
What I want to say is that the decision to cut the swimming and diving teams was undoubtedly a hard, painful, miserable decision for all of the administrators who participated in it. I don't doubt that for a minute. I appreciate the fact that they must have made that decision with considerable anguish. Josie Harper, the Athletic Director, whom we will hear from tomorrow, was undoubtedly looking forward before this all came about, to having the opportunity to meet the Council and talk to us about her programming in the first year of her new job. She has spent her life coaching, working with students; this could not have been anything other than an awful decision for her and for the others who took part in it. I recognize it; I acknowledge it, and I did from the start.
But, what did not happen here is a meeting with the swimmers, a meeting with the divers, a meeting with their coaches, a meeting with the many alumni and alumnae of swimming and diving, a meeting with the friends of Dartmouth aquatics in advance of the decision�a meeting to say we are in hard budgetary times, the program is in jeopardy, it could be that the program could be cut. We cannot continue to provide operating expenses. If you want to save a team that you love and care about, you need to get busy, you need to look for ways to endow the team, and you have a certain amount of time to look for that, because the College itself cannot keep it going. That conversation did not occur.
Do you know what the opportunity to participate in that kind of conversation would have meant to the students, to the parents, to the alumni, to the friends of Dartmouth swimming? It was a discussion they did not have an opportunity to have. This community was not organized to include them. Participation is a two-way street.
Part of the reasoning for the decision was the assertion that the pool is hopeless and that the funds simply are not there to provide a first-rate facility. Well, I think if there had been a discussion with the swimming and diving community, the administration would have heard otherwise. The facility is better than Yale, it is better than Columbia, it is better than Cornell. It is as good as or better than Penn. So we are better than four of the competition in the Ivy League. Is it a great facility? No. And it needs repairs for a humidity problem that is beginning to erode the ceiling, and those repairs are in the budget. They are going to happen because the facility needs to continue for recreational purposes and for the Water Polo Club, so those repairs will happen anyway. And when they are done, there will be a facility that is perfectly adequate to sustain swimming and diving team for the mid-term and into the future. Is it a great facility? No. But it is an adequate one and it will be repaired.
As for the cost of building a new one; 25-30 million dollars has been mentioned. That was the cost of the pool in the Centerbrook project. Aquatics supporters who have studied the cost of pools tell me, however, that a very good natatorium could be build for 6 million dollars, and if there had been discussions that had included the aquatics community, that kind of information would have been on the table. Participation is a two-way street.
I am told, and I think we will hear tomorrow, that the strategic planning for the College suggests that 34 varsity teams may just be too many varsity teams for an undergraduate body of 4200 to support. That is a discussion that it would have been useful to have on the athletic committee of this Council. But I spoke with Ann Duffy this afternoon, who last year was the chair of the Athletic Committee and was on that committee for the last three years, to ask if she had participated in any discussion of the fact that 34 varsity teams were too many teams for this undergraduate body to support. She had not participated in such discussions. Participation is a two-way street.
Stan Colla and I talked about something that is a conundrum, and an important conundrum for this body to consider. Stan said, do you really want the alumni body, or the Alumni Council, to participate in programmatic discussions? Isn't that the role of the administration and an area on which the alumni need to back off and not expect to participate? Put that way, in general terms, my answer has always been yes. I have been very careful, and I think this body has been very careful, not to overstep our bounds, and I do think it is a conundrum here. Because I don't doubt the need to make hard budgetary decisions, and this is only one of them, there will be further painful decisions to follow in January.
But something feels different about this to me, and I can't be very precise about it, and maybe I can't be very precise about it because again, I am not entirely objective about it. So there is my disclaimer again. But what feels different about this to me is that this is a program with a 70 or 80-year tradition. There are alumni among us and throughout our constituents who care deeply about it, and who have participated in it over the years. We also have 53 swimmers as part of this program that we invited to Dartmouth to participate in swimming or diving, and who committed themselves to Dartmouth expecting to be able to do so. We have their families that are paying no small amount for tuition when they could have gone to other institutions. Other institutions that offer athletic scholarships that Dartmouth does not give.
It seems to me that there is something about the nature of this decision that can't be defined as simply programmatic and budgetary. It seems to me that it is more of a community decision and that there should have been some inclusion and some opportunity to participate.
There is one more thing that I want to mention: The announcement of this decision included the argument that the team was simply not able to be competitive; that is what those 53 kids were told on the day of the announcement, that's what their coaches were told, and that's what the public was told.
P.H. Mullen, who was a member of this Council through last year and was a '91 swimmer, wrote a piece about this issue, and in it he talked about competitiveness and dedication. "Do you want to talk about dedication?" he wrote. "In the winter in New Hampshire it is so cold that wet hair freezes into icicle strands walking to dinner between Carl Michael Pool and Thayer Dining Hall. . . . Just like me and my teammates in the early '90's, these athletes are motivated to swim for two clear, simple reasons; the love of self-improvement and the joy of sport. Those are precious reasons."
To P.H.'s two reasons, I would add one more, and that is the joy of representing a College that the swimmers love and that they thought, until a week and a half ago, valued their commitment. But a week and a half ago, they were told that they were not competitive, so they had to go. And that is exactly the way they took it.
When Louis called me about that decision, what he said was "Dad, we just got fired." Now, do we say to those 53 kids and do we say to their parents, and do we say to the swimming alumni, "well it is not personal, it is only business? "
That is the Godfather's answer, but it should not be Dartmouth's answer. At least, that is my suggestion to you, because participation is a two-way street.
Did the kids take it lying down? No, they are Dartmouth students. Did they accept it and walk away and say, well, that's it, the decision is made? These are Dartmouth kids, and we have been telling them since they got here that they are part of a community, and that they should speak up and that we value it and that we will include them in a dialogue and that we will listen to them. So, for the last week and a half, they have been doing what we ought to expect of our students and what we should be proud of them for doing. They have been organizing, they have been preparing brochures, they have been talking to their parents, they have organized a website, they have done everything they can to communicate to us, to organize the swimming alumni and to communicate to the administration that they want a dialogue, that they want a chance, the chance they did not have in advance, to save a program that they care about. That is the mature thing to do; it is no less than we ought to expect from of the young men and women that we bring to this institution.
Robert Frost wrote in one of his poems in the '40s, "Let my epitaph be written on my stone, I had a lover's quarrel with the world." So I am here today, having a lover's quarrel with the College. And like a good lover, I am communicating. It took me a few days, like a typical lover, but I am communicating. I am participating, I am trying to have discussions, and I have highest hope that I will get over the quarrel. And perhaps that will not be so hard for me to do. But for Louis--Louis who wanted to come here since he was 9 when I brought him to a reunion, Louis who applied early decision, Louis who, when asked in his senior year of high school if he was coming here to follow in
Nathan's footstep's, said, "No, Nathan picked my school,"--will Louis get over his lover's quarrel with Dartmouth? And will the 52 other swimmers that you saw earlier get over it? I don't know. I suspect it has a lot to do with whether they get included in the dialogue, whether they get to participate in something that means so much to them.
And participation is a two-way street.
(L to R) Nathan, Noel and Louis Fidel
On a Lighter Note
John Rollins sent along the following "actual" newspaper headlines from 2002:
1. Crack Found on Governor's Daughter
2. Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert Says
3. Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers
4. Is There A Ring of Debris Around Uranus?
5. Prostitutes Appeal to Pope
6. Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes Over
7. Teacher Strikes Idle Kids
8. Miners Refuse to Work After Death
9. Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant
10. War Dims Hope for Peace
11. If Strike Isn't Settled Quickly, It May Last Awhile
12. Cold Wave Linked to Temperatures
13. Enfield Couple Slain; Police Suspect Homicide
14. Red Tape Holds Up New Bridges
15. Typhoon Rips Through Cemetery; Hundreds Dead
16. Man Struck by Lightning Faces Battery Charge
17. New Study of Obesity Looks for a Larger Test Group
18. Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft
19. Chef Throws His Heart into Helping Feed Needy
20. Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half
21. Hospitals Are Sued by Seven Foot Doctors