Class Notes

still are doing the shopping and housekeeping and have the greenhouse to take care of and lawns to mow, along with four cats to take care of (all walk-ins). Everything takes longer to do than it used to. I hope everybody is doing well and staying as healthy as possible.”

Finally, I have stepped down from the treasurer’s job with the Laconia Historical & Museum Society but continue as assistant treasurer. I’m happy to have someone else deal with the reports and other duties. I’m still compiling the weekly history pages for the local paper. One interesting project that I was involved with in the past three months, was a look into the Vietnam War and its impact on my hometown, Laconia, N.H., from the points of view of those who served and those who were on the home front. A teacher at the local high school had asked for our help in providing contemporary news reports on the topic and identifying local veterans for the students to interview. The file of clippings I’ve been amassing for the past 32 years while writing the weekly history pages was a perfect source. It also happens that Laconia sent a field artillery battery to Vietnam, 1968-69, and the students interviewed several of those veterans. The result was a webpage the students put together that, it is anticipated, will be refined and expanded by subsequent classes. As a result of participating in this project, I was invited to be a guest of the high school at a Memorial Day observance. I sat with other veterans as guests of honor on the football field—with the student body in the bleachers—rather an emotional, and rewarding, experience.

1961

William Hagar (802) 772-7448 whagar467@comcast.net

As I write this, on June 11, reunion for 2023 is wrapping up over breakfast on The Hilltop. I did not attend due to a family event in Falmouth, Mass., last week. Norm Turcotte was engaged with a graduation event for his grandson. Congratulations to all! Perhaps we’ll do better next year.

A note from Allen Rome reports that he visited campus last summer while touring colleges nearby with his grandson. Allen now resides in Delray Beach, Fla., as well as Boston and Gloucester, Mass.

Charles Cohen reports that he and Sandi continued to travel—selectively—during the pandemic. They both contracted Covid in January 2020 and again in May 2022. Their travels have taken them to Mount Shasta, Calif.; Yellowstone, Mont.; New Mexico; Iceland; and Morocco. They were also busy organizing the 50th reunion of the Illinois Veterinary School in Champaign. Additionally, they experienced the crazy snowstorm that got all the way down to Los Angeles, Calif., this winter.

A brief note from Fred Soule informs us that he has relocated to Kernersville, N.C., to be closer to their son, Matt.

A phone call to Tony Gilmore found him at home resting while recovering from hip replacement sur- gery in April. Through his connections with Rotary, Tony continues to travel extensively, with trips to Switzerland, Italy, and Africa in 2022.

And here in Vermont, Jeninne and I recently visited with Chris Abajian at his retirement community residence in Essex Junction, Vt. At the time of the visit, I was preparing to have fusion surgery on my wrist at the University of Vermont to correct a painful condition resulting from a childhood injury. Chris is doing well coping, as most of us do with a variety of accumulated medical liabilities.

For Jeninne and me, it was a year of more medical challenges for her than we would prefer, but her general condition has returned to fairly normal. We enjoyed attending the New Year’s Eve wedding of our son, Scott Hagar ’90, in Simsbury, Conn. I was still able to get in 12 days of skiing at Okemo and very pleased to still feel comfortable and confident on the trails. Next year, I am looking forward to the attractive season pass pricing for over-80 skiers. At home in Mendon, Vt., we enjoy frequent gatherings with the nearby families of our two daughters and husbands and four grandchildren. All of us reside within a mile of each other and find it remarkable the way we can cover the gaps in our “village” when life’s challenges arise.

1962

Peter Booth

(207) 985-6426 pgbooth43@gmail.com

My 6-foot-11 grandson, Joseph Pe- ter Estrella (named after his grandfathers), received 26 Division I baseball offers and accepted the University of Tennessee. He will join them this summer. He is completing his high school senior year at Brewster Academy and their basketball team played KUA this winter (KUA 40-Brewster 90). I would have been equally pleased if it had been the other way around. His 6-foot-4 mom, my daughter Allison Booth Estrella, had a free ride playing basketball for Boston College. She has been a huge influence. We moved from Kennebunk to Scarborough, Maine, and built a home next to Allison. Chronic issues have slowed this 61-year alumnus, but I was able to blow out all 80 candles on my birthday cake.

1966

Warren Carlson (wcarlplaywright@ mail.com) generously donated a copy of his book, A Boy, A Bike, Alaska, to KUA. It is a semiautobiographical account of the author’s solo trip across the country by motorcycle after graduating from high school. It includes the people, experiences, romance, and wildlife he encountered along the way to a summer job near Denali National Park in Alaska. We think this sounds like a great read! Many thanks to Warren for this donation.

1967

Robert Jamback (508) 561-1013 bobjamback@yahoo.com

Dave Hallock told me he has taught skiing as well as patrolled at various

New England ski areas through the years. He lives in Shrewsbury, Mass. Earl Rhue called and said although his surgically repaired shoulder is nearly better, he may need surgery on the other. Good luck, Earl. I attended many varsity hockey games this year and watched online those I couldn’t make. The coaches were Tim Whitehead, Matt Underhill, and Bryant Harris.

1979

Claire Dingwell clare.dingwell@gmail.com

Jay Stewart and his wife, Mela, are currently renovating a chalet at Mittersill Village, in Franconia, N.H. “As longtime Cannon skiers, we’re looking forward to more time year-round in the mountains with friends and family. We have enjoyed spending time in recent years with some old KUA ski team buds and hope you will come on up to Cannon this winter! I remain partners in a printing business, Puritan, and spend most of my time working on art and photography books for museums, commercial galleries, and independent publishers.”

Kim Osur, who has been married to her husband, Ed, for 25 years, started a new position at the University of Rochester in 2021. She is responsible for fundraising and special events for rare books and special collections along with all other campus libraries. Kim and I are still very best friends and see each other often.

Betsy Cantini is married to Peter Ike, and they live in Stamford, Conn. They have two grown chil-