Deceased August 30, 2014

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50th Reunion book entry

In Memory

David Dobson died on Aug. 30, 2014, at the home of his daughter in Acton, Maine. He had a number of medical issues and for several years, his family reports that he also battled dementia.

Dave came to Amherst from Great Neck (N.Y.) High School and was a member of Theta Xi.

For many years, he lived in Hopkinton, Mass., and sold library furniture to colleges and institutions. He had been married twice and his wife, Barbara, predeceased him in January 2013.

Dave is survived by three daughters, a son, six stepchildren and more than 10 grandchildren and stepgrandchildren. He was cremated, and his ashes were spread in the waters off of Long Island where his parents and sister had previously been laid to rest.

His daughter Laura Boyko, who provided the information for this obituary, wrote, “My dad was the kindest man we have ever met, and we will miss him every day.”

Hank Tulgan ’54

50th Reunion

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It’s December 13th. Deadline is Monday!

What part did Amherst play in my life?

I must say something.

My wonderful wife, Barbara, at her desk hearing me stewing, says "Everything I, and the children, learned from you is Amherst based including:

Say hello to everyone.

Say "yes" instead of "no" to all opportunities. Support things you believe in.

Family is everything."

To that list I’ve added "Carpe Diem" and "Be in the Moment"

One of our 16 grandchildren, Isabella, just came in from her home in our barn with the glowing excitement of an almost 4 year old about to go with her grandma to a Christmas Show at Reagle Players in Waltham. Family is everything.

My first marriage to Judy lasted 20 years. We still meet at major family events although she is now in Florida. It gave us:

Linda ("Corky") ,48, living in Wells, Maine with her partner, also Linda, and their two sons David and Mathew. 4 and 1.

Peter, 46, a minister, living in Lexington Maryland with his wife Janetta and two daughters Stephanie and Beverly 12 and 10

Laura, 44, who lost her husband, Bob, to cancer last month after a four year valiant struggle. She lives in Nashua with their daughter Allyson,12.

Diane, 42, who lives with her partner of 19 years, Cindy, in Acton, Maine. She manages a gift shop in their bam.  Cindy is a physical therapist. Cindy has three grown children and five grandchildren. 

I met Barbara 30 years ago.  She had six children, no live-in husband, and the use of a four acre remnant  of what a had been a large self-sufficient farm. Her six children;  Mary Ellen then 12, Patrick 11,  Richard 10,  Elizabeth 9, Christopher 8, and Caroline 2, lived with her and went back and forth stacked like cordwood in the fold-down backseat of their father's sports car to his apartment in Boston and later his home in Plymouth on alternate weekends.

Those children are now:

Mary Ellen, until recently a teacher in the Boston Public School System married to Shawn. They live on a farm they are rebuilding in Francestown, New Hampshire.They have three children: Mark, Rachel and Michael.

Patrick, still single, living in Hopkinton and working in the financial industry in Boston. He has become the center of family activities since his father died last February.

Richard, father, with his ex-wife Deirdre, of one of our grandchildren, Makenzie, who lives in one barn apartment.  Richard and Ruth, about to be married, live in Boston.  She is Irish.  We are looking forward to a trip maybe next year to Ireland for the wedding.  Her parents came over last Summer and through a party!

Elizabeth and Joe live in Rhode Island with their two daughters Olivia, 3, and Vanessa, 1. She has a son Tyler who is 12 living with her first husband, Alan.

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