September 2007
Dear Classmates,
Our college looked spectacular for our reunion planning weekend, August 3–5, with
Crooksie, Belzy, Tibby and me, Leggie. We stayed at the Northwoods Apartments that
the college built to house more students on campus. They are just great, and the doors
are operated by cards, just like hotels. The newly renovated dining hall has completely
changed and is unrecognizable. There is a circular pattern of five different food
services with different decors, colors and food. There is the Corner Deli, the Diner,
Emily's Garden, Semolina's and the Global Cafe. It is very elegant, and the food delicious
and the ambience quite outstanding.
Friday evening we were guests of the college for dinner at Sargo's, the restaurant
at the National Golf Club. The grounds are gorgeous and the restaurant superb. The
four of us were basically well-behaved in front of our hosts, Megan Baumgartner and
Brad Martin, the staff liaisons for our class. It seems whenever we get together we
laugh a lot and tell stories and are carried back a half a century. They, joined by
Erin Martinovich, are wonderful Skidmore staffers—bright, energetic and knowledgeable.
Saturday's planning meeting started with breakfast, and President Glotzbach spoke
passionately about the students, the real essence of the college, and a shortened
version of the present long-range plans. Then the fun began. We planned a wonderful
60th reunion for our class ... sophisticated, smart and full of spirit.
Before I get started on plans, we have to tell you that the dining hall has a soft
ice cream machine plus a counter with cookies, muffins, brownies and such, all free,
all the time. In 1944, that would have meant the freshman 50, not 15!
We have some poor little lambs who have lost their way or gone astray—in a word,
we don't know where they are. If you do, call the College at 518-580-5600, or call
Leggie or me and we'll pass the word along. Missing are Caroline Cone Fitch, Phyllis
Smallen Judelson, Bernice vonLenz Lochridge, Alice Hildebrandt North, Patricia Smith
O'Brien, Joan Willis Purci, Marion Menzies Small, Roe Ziegaus Stover and Phyllis Levey
Strickland.
Can't pass up an opportunity to praise Joan Theobald Mitchell and her team to the
skies. What a wonderful job she did raising money from our class for the Annual Fund
last year!
OK, so here's the poop from the group, as we used to say, back in the day, before
we'd gone gray ...
Despite all the laughing and storytelling and joking we did with Brad, Erin and Megan,
we got it all done in two sessions. We've lined up four days and three nights of really
super, and different, things to do. And, get this, our only charge is the registration
fee! All the rest (meals, wine, room with A/C, activities) is free, gratis, on the
house. You must plan to attend, and you must get there in time for dinner on Thursday,
because, well, it's still a surprise, but something super and new, and you will kick
yourself if you miss it. Our slogan is, "In oh eight we celebrate," and our theme
is "one last hurrah." So you absolutely, positively must be there. We're out to break
attendance records and live up to the high standards that the Class of '48 has set.
For that, we need every single one of you, from May 29 to June 1, 2008. Don't even
think of skipping this; it really is last chance gulch, kiddies. More information
later; this is just the warning shot across the bow. And to nudge you, a description
that should ring a bell: A good friend in good times and a great friend in bad times.
I'll end with something I find hysterical, an honest-to-God question sent in by someone
in Holbrook, New York, to wit: "I just observed a flock of geese flying in a "V" formation.
Is that the only letter they know?"
See you in nine months (aha!),
Leggy and Belzy, Class Co-Presidents