Princeton University Class of 1957

Pardon this comment as it might sound a bit self serving. I keep a copy of
the Nassau Herald on a shelf on my computer desk. I didn't recognize the
name Bob King, but when I looked him up I recognized his face. In his
biography he planned a career in electronic computers. Wow, what a look
forward. When he wrote that in late '56 or early '57 there were none of them
outside the military and academic communities (and very few of them there -
don't think we had one at PU). And antique walking sticks, how unimportant
and irrelevant and what fun!

This is our class, the guys we don't all know. Some of us are famous for
worldly accomplishments and some well known within the class because they
tend to be a bit noisy (not me, I really don't mean me <g>). But all are our
family, and each should be thought of. I'll not suggest that everyone have
the Nassau Herald to hand, that is my own thing. But no one is really gone
until he is gone in the memories of his friends, or even just his fellow
Princetonians whether they knew him or not. My "bit" is to spend a few
minutes with the man through our various yearbooks, from the Freshman Herald
to the latest Reunion book. The best laid plans of mice and men, and all
that. Ecce home, behold the man, isn't just a religious dictum. My computer
font isn't set up for Greek so I must transliterate, gnothe saiton means
know thyself, but it also implies the knowledge of all of us. It would be
trite to quote Donne and the tolling of the bell, but it applies.

We, the Class of 1957, aren't that special. But we are a family of a sort,
so it is appropriate that we celebrate and mourn each other as we would
every living human had we the time and energy. By giving thought to our
classmates we don't exclude those not of the Class, we merely extend our
empathy to the limit of our capabilities. Would that we could embrace the
world, but that is too much (and a bit impractical when so many in the world
are wearing protective thorns). Suffice to give thought to each member of
our Class family, our tribe or clan.

Best, Murph

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