Dear classmates,
Our 60th Reunion was so much fun! As many of you are aware, we met at the Hilton Inn in Freeport on Wednesday, September 27 and moved on to Orono on Thursday for the next couple of days. The journey from Freeport to Orono included a stop at Curran Village in Orrington. Curran Village replicates a 19th century New England village and is a work in progress. Sincere thanks to our own Irv Marsters ’71G, who arranged the visit and is very much involved in its success story. The visit concluded with a ride on a true 19th century carousel.
While in Freeport we recognized those classmates who have passed away in the last 10 years. Thank you, Gina Barnes Grogean and Gail Hoxie Brown, for the thorough job you did to put together this memorial service.
Fred and Carol Lovejoy Gay ‘62 were able to join us for a while in Freeport. They live in central Pennsylvania because their two grandchildren live nearby. Being a true Yankee, Fred still cuts the six cords of wood his family burns each winter. He makes a hobby of the quest and enjoys the exertion, the danger, and the noise.
Once in Orono we did all the usual reunion things: tours, meetings, Bear’s Den, Pat’s. The campus looks terrific, and if you have not been back for a while, you would find it very different, but different in a very positive way. The Bear’s Den uses very polite robots to deliver food.
At the alumni dinner on Thursday evening Dana Dolloff ’64G was awarded the Black Bear Award. The Black Bear Award is presented annually in appreciation of outstanding service to the university through multiple endeavors. The award is inscribed with the legend: “For devotion and loyalty to the highest traditions of the University of Maine.”
We decided to stay a class and continue to hold reunions as the Class of 1963 for at least the foreseeable future. The foreseeable future means we hope to hold a mini reunion in a couple of years. We will keep you updated. See below on referencing our class page. Our class officers are Dana Dolloff, president; Ron Brown, vice president; Gary Dorsay, treasurer; Marcia Roak Fitzgerald, class agent; and Elaine Murphy Burnham, class correspondent. Welcome, Ron and Gary, to your new positions.
While at Reunion I was able to catch up and chat with a number of our classmates. Their whereabouts and activities will for the most part be related in a future column. I want to use the rest of this column to shout out about some of you who wanted to be at the Reunion but could not. You were missed and we talked about you.
As those of you who live in Maine know, John Martin had his legislative career come to a halt as he is term limited. John, is your legislative career over or just temporarily on hold? Whatever the answer to this question is certainly his decision. John, your many years of service to this state are deeply appreciated.
Barbara Fowles Allen and Doug ’62 as well as Jim and Joni Marshall Hanson had planned to be with us but life issues prevented them from traveling. They send greetings and best wishes to all. The same is true of Judy Phelps Finkel, who does plan a trip from Ohio to Maine next year.
Priscilla Sawyer Frederick celebrated her 50th wedding anniversary with husband, Andy, last year. They live in Florida and have for the last 25 years. Priscilla claims to be retired after a career in real estate but it was obvious to me that she and Andy have stayed very active volunteering and helping a friend with estate sales.
I have to make one last reference to our Reunion. What struck several of us was how appreciated and needed are our monetary contributions in any amount to the university, especially to our scholarship fund. Please be as generous as you can. Continue to send me news. I want to hear from you and so do your classmates. Please visit our class page on the University of Maine Alumni Association website. Go to UMaineAlumni.com and directions to the Class of 1963 page are clear.
May you all winter well!