1920s & 1930s

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1934 Many thanks to Phil Gould, who wrote me of his great pride that his grandson, Jordan Maynard, is a sophomore at UVM. Like me, Phil has recently had his 92nd birthday. He said he is still in remarkably good shape and reports that he is now “pushing 93,” as am I. Personally, I can report that I spent the summer at our camp at Colchester Point and now am back in Burlington at our condo. I still am a member of the Burlington Lions Club and attend meetings regularly. My pace is much slower, but with a little help, I keep quite active. Our 21st great-grandchild, Emily Bloom, was born last December. She has a big sister Amanda, and their mother is Martha Hauke (’93) Bloom. I just learned of the death of our classmate, Jean Kinloch Smith. Jean had been living at Wake Robin in Shelburne. She was responsible for planning a wonderful class dinner for our 65th reunion at Wake Robin. There were only eight of us present, but we enjoyed being together and chatting about our years at UVM. I extend sympathy to Jean’s family from the class of 1934. Please note that our class will be celebrating our 70th reunion in 2004. It would be great if members of our class could be present at the Green and Gold luncheon. Start thinking about it now. To anyone who hasn’t been to one of our reunions before, we would love to have you join us. Phil and I will be there for sure. Whether you can make it to our reunion or not, please send news for me to include in the next issue of Vermont Quarterly. I want to keep our class column going, because I know that friends and classmates enjoy catching up with what’s going on in the lives of the members of the class of 1934.
Class secretary - alumni@uvm.edu

1936 Ed Vervoort reported from Wake Robin in Shelburne, “Those of us who live at Wake Robin retirement community had an opportunity to meet Daniel Fogel, the new president at UVM, at a reception given for nearly 100 residents and guests.” Ed was in charge of the event, along with the Alumni Office. Everyone was very impressed with President Fogel’s message, and they were glad to have a chance to talk with President Fogel and his wife. Ed noted, “He had us looking forward to UVM in the next ten years.” From Willard “Deac” Connor in Stewart, Fla., we heard that, after a managerial career in General Electric and consulting work which covered territory from Italy to Singapore, he settled in Florida. He still has Vermont connections, because one of his granddaughters is raising alpacas on a farm in Putney, Vt. One of my daughters and her husband have a sheep farm in Old Chatham, N.Y., where they make cheese from the milk. Check shops in your area for Old Chatham Sheep Herding Company products.
Class secretary - alumni@uvm.edu

1937 On the chilly evening of Friday, October 3, 2003, your secretary attended the UVM Campaign Kickoff Celebration. A capacity crowd of local supporters poured into the Coach Barn at Shelburne Farms to hear the latest update on the campaign. President Dan Fogel described many of the changes that would be made to aid in the future transformation of the University. A standing ovation greeted his announcement that more than $126 million had either been pledged or received to meet a little more than one half of the $250 million goal. Another standing ovation and prolonged cheers followed President Fogel’s announcement that $15 million of this was thanks to the generous gift of Stephen Rubenstein ’61 and his wife, Beverly, of New Vernon, N.J. It is the largest gift in the history of the University. This should be an inspiration to all of us.
Class secretary - alumni@uvm.edu

1938 Russell Chase reported from his home in South Burlington, Vt., that he is in good health. He swims regularly and works a few hours each week at his church and the local Ronald McDonald House. His wife, Marjorie Dopp (’39) Chase, died in July 2001. A son, Dr. Christopher Chase ’70, is an anesthesiologist at the local hospital. Fred Gear has provided us with a few items. On his return from a trip with Ruth to Prince Edward Island, where they spent a week’s vacation last summer, Fred visited Marion Yerks Bedford at her summer home in Ocean Park, Maine, and found her in reasonably good health. Earl Howard regretted missing our 65th reunion for health reasons. Earl’s wife, Karleen, died in early spring 2003. Kenneth Kidd also had to miss the reunion because of recent health problems. Sadly, we report the death of a class member, William Wheeler. Fred noted that he was best man for Bill at his wedding in 1939. In typical Fred fashion, he is already looking ahead to our 70th reunion in 2008. Fred has a particular reason for anticipating this date since it could well be a kind of family reunion for him. A grandson will be celebrating his 5th reunion, and Fred’s daughter, Nancy, will have her 40th. In addition, a daughter-in-law is commemorating her 45th, and a brother, Charles, could possibly be there, too. It has all the makings of a “double-whammy” reunion. In a process that may be familiar to many classmates—sorting through memorabilia accumulated over the years—your secretary came across an August 1967 issue of National Geographic magazine. It featured a wonderfully entertaining and informative article of some length, entitled “From Sword to Scythe in Champlain Country.” The magazine had earned a space in my archives not only for its Vermont connection, but primarily because it was written by Ethel Starbird, known to all as “Babe,” who was at that time a member of National Geographic’s editorial staff. Babe is an outstanding example of those alumni who have brought honor to UVM and particularly to the class of 1938. It is my feeling that there are a number of classmates, heretofore unreported, who are or have been contributing as volunteers in their communities. Please share with us an account of whatever time and talent you have contributed in your community since your retirement.
Class secretary - alumni@uvm.edu

1939 It was a pleasant surprise to receive a letter from Bob Pierce whom we haven’t seen since our 50th reunion. He has made Japan his home since 1945, serving in the U.S. Army and in the military Civil Service. Bob sponsored a Japanese student who graduated from UVM in 1957. Another contact for Bob has been with the ROTC scholarship program. Since retiring from teaching, Margaret Stanley Adams has enjoyed social groups, bridge, and Elder Hostel Programs with her sister Patricia Stanley ’37. Arthur Silvester wrote that he is teaching Modern Mideast History at the Community College of Vermont. I was saddened to read of Roberta Butterfield Goldstein’s death. Planning for our 65th reunion is underway. Hope to see many of you there.
Class secretary - alumni@uvm.edu