50th Reunion

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Looking forward to our 50th Reunion and in appreciation of the effort that you guys have put into its planning, I’m happy to participate and share a few thoughts about Amherst with the class of ’57. My most vivid memories not surprisingly are from the fall of ’61 after a stint of military service when I went back to complete my last semester. Dean C. Scott Proter helped me immeasurably at that point by comping up with a course schedule that was odable and a heck of a lot of fun. He put me on two courses which would never have entered my mind, Pre-Columbian Latin American History (E Dwight Salmon) and Ecology (Dr. Lincoln Brower) Wow!

I still look back on those days with fondness. Did we actually wade into the foot of the water fall at Mt. Holyoke College on a “field trip”? Yes we did, to aply the randomization method of estimating its crayfish population. Two trips in fact it was, and with an attractive audience. There were over 10,000 there did you know? (crayfish that is)…

We, wife Sally and I, retired to Hendersonville, North Carolina in 1998 from our home in Connecticut, our residence for 25 years (long enough to become avid Basketball fans). We are fortunate to have our son-in-law, daughter, and two grandchildren nearby in Brevard and are often reminded that the term “soccer mom” really always included grandparents. ‘specially since y’all retard. (Carolina speak). We live in the Western foothills part of the state with Smokey and Blue Ridge Mountains competing for attention. It is gorgeous country with mountain waterfalls, forests, and wildlife. We live on wooded acreage adjacent to Holmes State Educational Forest in Hendersonville.

About a year ago I completed work to fully enclose our sundeck into a year-round room. This was motivated by the appearance of two Black Bears from the forest who paid a midnight visit to our deck and took down the bird feeder. Sally was awakened by the noise. Then, while I slept, she told them to go away, closed the kitchen window and shut the door to the deck. The next day I started the construction plans.

I should mention at this point that while I like building I enjoy landscaping as well Our hillside home is now nicely terraced with a separate driveway to a new tractor barn/workshop. Its construction over a three years period involved over 100 railraod ties plus the footings framing, roofing, and siding. More noteworthy perhaps was playing the role of the contractor with the inevitable building codes and Planning and Zoning permits. (‘nuf said). Its been a far cry from diving a desk and phones at the office but find that as a “retard” Service manager (Corometrics Medical Systems, Wallingford CT) it is really what I enjoy’ doing, I like to remodel and repair and do volunteer assistance with our local non-profit groups helping needy cases (Its Pro-Boenau of course)

Sally and I attended The US Women's Open Golf Tournament at the Orchards course at Mt Holyoke in 1994. We cheered for Meg Malin, and took the opportunity to revisit both Amherst and Holyoke where we first met and dated. The golf was great but reminiscing prevailed and was more fun. Both campuses are under significant renovation with old buildings removed and new ones taking their place. I'm impressed by the change in the geometry of Amherst's quad and concerned. Will there still be room enough for a Frisbee foursome to toss the traditional Barsi's beer tray. Can't wait to find out, see you all there at the 50th.

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