V/R LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Re: NU Ski Hill Loved the comments about the NU Ski Hill in the Spring 2021 Norwich Record (“#NorwichAlumni: Snow Day,” p. 46) and can add to them.

Coming from the flat, Long Island Hampton’s Beach area, I would look out of my old Cabot barrack’s window and watch Roger Damon ’51, a member of the ski team, beautifully carving turns on the NU ski hill. He made it look so easy, I wanted to try it. (He later was head of the ski patrol at Tuckerman’s Ravine at Mt. Washington for over 30 years.)

My friend Gerald “Buck” Bovee ’51 … had me sign out a seven-foot pair of U.S. Army wooden skis from Sgt. Hurley at the Armory. After a few crashes off the ancient automobile-engine-driven rope tow, we ended up top. After a few more crashes going down, he led me further northward at the top until it was so steep you could not see the bottom of the hill. It really took an awful lot of courage for me to pole myself over the crest. But I did and soon I was hooked on skiing. On afternoons when we had no classes, several of us would drive to Stowe, where each chair ride to the top cost a $5 ticket torn out of a book of tickets, which I understand are still honored today if you have one.

I also witnessed Tom Quinn, Class of 1954, who didn’t ski but who in the fall wildly drove his 1926 open convertible up and down the skill hill. He didn’t last long at NU.

In 1970, I bought a ski chalet on Okemo Mt. in Ludlow, Vt., near another former NU ski team member, “Clay” Hammond ’51. … I skied ’till the age of 90. COL. PETE CUTHBERT ’51, USAR (RET.)

Re: Class of 1964 Roll Call, Summer 2021 In the summer 2021 edition of the Record, [Class Notes published an update section entitled] “Class of 1964 Roll Call.” Unfortunately, the article provided no context for the innovative concept, intent, creation, or implementation of this annual memorial tradition …. [It began] in January 2019, [when] several members of the Class of 1964 initiated an innovative concept based upon the following components: 1. Preserve the long-standing military tradition and function of the roll call; 2. Extend an email greeting to all members of the class at the beginning of the New Year; 3. Honor members of the class who had passed during the previous year by listing their names within the message of the greeting; 4. Provide a special designation for classmates who gave their lives while in military service; 5. Request each member of the class to acknowledge receipt of the message by answering “present”; 6. Encourage each member to reflect upon their Norwich years and share a personal story on that experience.

As demonstrated in the [published update], a significant number of classmates have responded and shared personal reflections on their time on the Hill. It is intended that these stories can be recorded to provide a historical archive, which preserves the legacy and contributions made by the class that can be referenced by future generations of Norwich graduates. In the two years since its inception, the response has exceeded expectations with several classmates having been “found” and reconnected with roommates, teammates, and fellow classmates.

Special acknowledgment is due Liz Kennedy ’01 for her interest, enthusiasm, and role in the implementation of the initiative.

The initial success of this annual tradition suggests that a memorial class roll call should be considered by other classes as they commemorate their 50th reunions. Historically, this occasion signals the gradual thinning of the ranks and sets the stage for the eventual “last classmate standing.” BILL O’BRIEN ’64 CORRECTIONS A recent story on Class of 2021 graduating seniors (“Senior Portraits” pp. 12–13) in the summer 2021 Record misidentified the city of registered nurse Anya Hoagland’s new job. She is working in the neuroscience unit of Bay State Medical Center in Worcester, Mass. Due to an editing error, the closing line of Pres. Mark Anarumo’s “President’s View” column in the summer 2021 issue was transposed. The correct line should have read “Norwich Together, Norwich Forever!”

The photo caption in the summer 2021 issue’s “Flashback” story failed to include Burt Mullen’s class year. He is a member of the Class of 1962.

We regret the errors.

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