Class President: George M. Gamble, One Wyeth Rd., Hanover, NH 03755-2301

Next Reunion in 2000. Got news? Tap out a note to magazine@bates.edu

Co-Class Presidents: Wilfred and Melissa Meigs Barbeau, 1 Grove St., Barrington, RI 02806-1921, e-mail wbarb@ici.net

Next Reunion in 2001. Got news? Tap out a note to magazine@bates.edu

Class President: John F. Myers, 37 Eagle Wing Ln., Brewster, MA 02631

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Class President: Alice Huntington Vannerson, 93 Pokonoket Ave., Sudbury, MA 01776-2320

Next Reunion in 2003. Got news? Tap out a note to magazine@bates.edu

Class President: Neil A. Toner, 17 Mast Rd., Scarborough, ME 04074-8782

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Class President: Edward K. Ward, Briar Ledge, PO Box 39, Bailey Island, ME 04003

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Class President: Jack K. Merrill, 63 Prospect St., West Newton, MA 02165-2338

Next Reunion in 2000. Got news? Tap out a note to magazine@bates.edu Classmates can look forward to lots of 1956 news in the next issue.

Class President: Paul D. Steinberg, 106 Peninsula Dr., Babylon, NY 11702-3336

Next Reunion in 2003. Got news? Tap out a note to magazine@bates.edu

Class President: William D. MacKinnon Jr., 3 North St., Wilmington, MA 01887

Next Reunion in 2003. Got news? Tap out a note to magazine@bates.edu Lori Beer's company, Potomac Photonics Inc., is becoming recognized as the best in laser micromachining. He enjoyed a great year with lots of skiing, and said at the 40th Reunion, "Who were all those old people there?"... Harry Bennert, now a proud granddad, commends the Reunion committees for a great job. His medical practice in Portland is changing as he steps into more administrative and teaching roles. He reports honest pleasure in being director of the Medical Student Clerkship for the ob-gyn department of Maine Medical Center with a new group of six medical students from Univ. of Vermont College of Medicine every two months. He is amazed at UVM's ability to pick persons they think will make good doctors, including Bates alumni, who do well.... Sorry to miss Reunion, Stanton and Jane Reinelt Brown were in their too-busy time of the year. They've expanded their tobacco business going from seed to cigar with their own seed research program, production and processing of CT Shade-Leaf and manufacturing in the Dominican Republic of their own brand, Cedros. Three of their four children are involved in varying degrees along with 200 Jamaican workers they house on their farm for four to five months. The Browns celebrated 40 years of marriage and enjoy daily interaction with their three grandchildren.... After enjoying Reunion and meeting old friends, Carol "Gibby" Gibson Smith had a visit with Coe and Bill Huckabee in July. During a week in England, Gibby toured Cambridge and its ancient colleges, was with her son in Tampa for Thanksiving, and over Christmas and New Year's weekends served on 24-hour duty as a judge for emergencies (usually involving domestic violence) that occur while the courts are closed.... On their first return to Bates in 40 years, Bob and Judy Granz Yennaco had a wonderful time. Now retired, they split their time between Bristol, N.H., and Cocoa Beach, Fla.... Bill and Coe Jenkins Huckabee had a busy 1998. They bought a new Honda Odyssey and Power Mac computer, raised money to bring over five Russians from their sister city of Omutninsk, celebrated the usual birthdays, and spent 10 glorious days sailing the Sir Francis Drake Channel in the British Virgin Islands. They helped Coe's folks settle after moving from Sacramento, and she ran a summer camp for 500 gifted middle-school kids, Bill teaching a course in stage magic. In Toronto, he taught a course in solving impossible problems using pattern language, and Coe joined him at Niagara Falls. The Huckabees were in Maine during August at the camp they jointly own with Gene '56 and Kay Dill Taylor and Grant '57 and Jo Trogler Reynolds. During the fall they were active in church and had a large family gathering for Christmas. It was comforting to have everyone there when Coe's mother, "Grannie Great", died on Dec. 27.... Harry and Kay Johnson Howells celebrated their 30th anniversary with a drive through Jackson, Wyo., and Yellowstone Park to the Flathead River area north of Kalispell, Mont., then took the scenic route to Sun Valley. Son Tom was married in October. The Howells continue to enjoy their cabin on many summer weekends, their Presbyterian church, and Kay's continuing work with the annual hospital foundation fund-raiser.... Although Art and Gail Baumann Karszes missed Reunion, in the "small world" department, they met honeymooners Maria Kourebanas '90 and Andy Wisdom '91 in the pool of the Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong that same June week.... This June, Dave and Rose Lemieux will lead a group of Denver-area pilgrims to the village of Medjugorie in Bosnia-Herzegovina, which they first visited in 1996. In recent years they also have visited shrines dedicated to the Virgin Mary in Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal, and Mexico.... The Bill MacKinnons have moved again, from their home of 36 years, to an apartment, to a home they built in South Carolina, and finally to their present address. Living down south was "not a smart thing for a Yankee to do." They missed New England and especially their grandchildren far too much. Fortunately, friends in Wolfeboro, N.H., let them use a furnished house until they found their home in Wilmingon. Bill hoped to go back to work part time for the Massachusetts Audubon Sanctuary in Topsfield, get his pewter hobby/business going again, and get back into town affairs. And in the middle of all this "we celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary by renewing our vows. I was more nervous this time. It is kind of neat getting 'married' and having the kids and grandkids watch." While in South Carolina, Bill and Marilyn were on a turtle patrol Fridays. They looked for loggerhead turtle nests on the beach, dug them up, and moved them to the turtle nursery. Saturday evenings they "baby sat" at the nursery. Usually at dusk one of the nests hatched and out came the baby turtles. They kept people and predators away until the turtles made it into the water. And they were so good at it that the rangers gave them part of the presentations. "It's amazing how many people show up each evening to watch a bunch of three-inch turtles, and it's rewarding to know we helped an endangered species survive."... Peter Meilen has a video production company and works exclusively for attorneys. He also sells residential real estate and wife Jaqueline helps in both occupations. Since he took up golf three years ago, he hasn't played tennis, but he still skis at least 15 days a year. They visited with son's family in South Orange, N.J., to meet their new granddaughter, Natalie.... Class secretary Marilyn Miller Gildea also has moved. Husband Terry wanted to leave the Bay area and move back to the mountains. Nevada offered both mountains and no state income tax so Marilyn quit her increasingly frustrating job last March, but was called back to finish a textbook revision on a private basis, which took until August. The Gildeas found a nice condo at the northeast corner of lovely Lake Tahoe. They were moved just in time for the Thanksgiving ski vacation of her sister's family plus their own Cathy and Dan. They welcome visitors.... After teaching first grade for 18 years, Miriam Oliver Swartz retired last June. Husband Dave retired earlier in the year. Enjoying their freedom from the daily schedule, they spent a lot of time last summer at their camp on Lake Champlain, with families there in August. Daughter Mary and husband had their first child in July, making a total of three granddaughters and two step-sons. They spent Thanksgiving with daughter Carolyn and family in Denver. On a visit to Duck, N.C., and environs they walked the broad empty beaches of the Outer Banks, identifying the migrating water birds. "Mimi," who loves gardening, attended the Northeast Master Gardeners Conference in September with daughter Patricia. She was pleased to hear the emphasis on restoring the earth by mulching, composting, and encouraging birds, butterflies, and beneficial insects. When Mimi took the Connecticut Agricultural Extension Master Gardening course in 1985, the emphasis was on plant disease and chemical controls. Dave and Mimi have been involved with a small group of Quakers who are working to establish a continuing-care retirement facility in Westchester County, N.Y.... Ken Parker works on a new show by Jerry Sterner called 1040, about reforming the tax code. Sterner wrote Other People's Money, so Ken hopes 1040 will be equally successful. With grandchildren in Texas and Minnesota, "the airlines love us.".... Jerry and Elizabeth Dunn Pratley have moved to 4011 Dale Dr., Prescott Valey, Ariz. Their year's highlight was the wedding of Betty's son, Stephen, and the birth of another grandchild to her daughter, Susan.... Paula Schilling Foreman reports that retirement last June brought a trip to Spain, flute lessons, classes in floral design, more time to read and working in the yard plus some anxiety about the fluctuating stock market, now that it's time to start drawing on those IRAs. Christmas found them in New York City with their kids and grandkids. "Life is good."... Bill Snider completed his 36th year coaching a Little League team of 10- to 12-year-olds, and really enjoyed Reunion. The bus ride to the lobster feast was a great idea. Norma (Tennett '56) stays busy with church, grandchildren, and trying to keep Bill under control. "A tough job," Bill says.... Barbara Stetson Munkres thanks all who helped to make Reunion such fun. Jim enjoyed his first one. After many years of painting in watercolor, Barb is back to printmaking, which she began 25 years ago. Jim plans to retire from teaching math in a year or two, then travel will be on their agenda.... Sheldon Sullaway concurs that Reunion was a lot of fun and he and wife Marilyn look forward to the next one. In October, they visited with Peter and Jane Anderson Post and the MaKinnons on their beautiful Datau Island in S.C.. While there, he and Pete resumed the singles tennis match they began at Reunion. After 33 years, Sheldon retired from his private dental practice but will continue to teach dentistry part time at Tufts Dental School.... Jo Trogler Reynolds reports that her 16-day hike around Nepal's 26,000-foot Dhaulagiri was quite an adventure. The 17,000-foot French Pass was great: perfect weather and great views, but the 10 hours of hiking above 15,000 feet caught up with her by the end of the day. Next day she hiked seven hours down to "civilization" on the Annapurna circuit and was just fine. The mountains were sensational, and they saw the Third World up close and personal.... As with everyone else, Tom and Carole Carbone Vail had a great time at Reunion. Their daughter and son-in-law blessed them with grandson Christopher George on Oct. 24. Christmas was fun with 10 adults and six children under one roof for four days.... Owen Wood enjoyed Reunion. He recently moved from the soon-to-be-closed FDA antiviral drug division to the section of the FDA that deals with test kits and vaccines. His team established the effectiveness of a peptide in blocking attachment of the U.S. strain of HIV; the drug is now in clinical trial and has dropped viral load dramatically without the side effects of the drug "cocktails" in common use. Owen also teaches courses on parasitology, immunology, insect-vectored viruses, and emerging disease at USUHS, the military medical school at the Univ. of Maryland.

Co-Class Presidents: Gerald M. Davis, 15 Hamlin Rd., Falmouth, ME 04105-2205; Henry J. Keigwin, 28 Narragansett Bay Ave., Warwick, RI 02889-660

Next Reunion in 2003. Got news? Tap out a note to magazine@bates.edu