Class of 1957
February 2006
Greetings my
friends,
I woke up this
morning to a beautiful world all covered with white. The trees looked all fluffy with new snow on them. Most of January, we had grass showing all
over and dry roads—which makes driving very nice, but we expect snow in
Minnesota in the winter!!
I think the snow
energized me. This letter is long
overdue, and I have so much to tell you, but I just couldn’t get started.
The last time I
wrote, Clem and I were going to Russia with the University of Minnesota
Alumni. You would have been proud of
this Gustie. I lead the Minnesota
Rouser! Ha!
We came home and
hit the ground running. The Royal
Affair was a couple of weeks later.
What a fun time. John Najarian
and Gretchen Carlson (former Miss Minnesota and daughter of Lee Carlson’56)
were our MCs and auctioneers for the live auction. All in all, we made close to $200,000 for the endowment fund for
the Library at Gustavus. There were two
lab puppies that went for $4,000 a piece.
Last time I checked, the English Toffee that I donated was up to $35 a
batch! Gustavus is very lucky to have
such good friends, and we are very lucky to have Gustavus. The class of ’57 was pretty well
represented, but those of you that missed it should really think about coming
the next time it’s held, two years from now.
It is such a fun party!
Two weeks later we
had a wedding. Our daughter, Carol ’90
was married. That was an exciting day
for us.
Next came Christmas
in Christ Chapel. I don’t think I have
ever been to a better one. The Swedish
one came very close, but this one was just so full of Christmas and beautiful
music. Even Clem would agree. He liked it too. We got to sit in the balcony, my favorite place. The only time it is tough is during the last
hymn—O Come All Ye Faithful.
The lights are on, and the whole place is singing. The orchestra is playing, the trumpets and
brass are playing, and the sopranos are soaring above the whole thing, and the
tears are streaming down my face. It happens
every time! I can sing that Christmas
carol any other time, but it just isn’t the same.
I went down to
Gustavus again the following Thursday to celebrate St. Lucia Day. We were there in plenty of time for
chapel. Last year’s Lucia gave the
homily. Lucia and her court processed
down the isle. The Lucia Singers sang
the Lucia song and another anthem too.
It was beautiful. And the little
“Star Boys” were so cute! After
Chapel we went up to Alumni Hall for the luncheon and program. Jearlyn Battle Steele gave a delightful
program. She had her son with her. He is a magician. He charmed all of us. But
the day was not over. Back in Christ
Chapel, there was a wonderful “memorial service” for Evelyn Young ’33. Ren Anderson’s ’34 son, Rev. Jim Anderson’60,
was the preacher. Bob Erdman’56, Kelvin
Miller’73, both spoke about their memories, the choir sang—Evelyn would have
loved it. There was a reception
afterward in the Evelyn Young Dining Room, but before going there, we each took
a carnation and laid them at the foot of the big oak tree which has been
dedicated to Evelyn. It is the pin oak
tree just beyond the flagpoles and it welcomes folks to Gustavus just as she
did for so many years. Evelyn had
written a letter shortly before she died, and it was to all of us to say “Happy
Birthday” and “I Love You.” She was
Gustavus personified. She spent most of
her life there. She loved that place,
and she loved each and every one of us.
She was a great lady.
Since then, I have
gone to the Swedish Institute for a Gustavus Library Associates board
meeting. It was the first week in
January so we got to shop and get all the Christmas bargains before they put it
all away for another year.
Last week, Nancy
Reiter Grimes, Judy Lund Erdman, John “Buddy” Peterson, and I
had lunch with Randall Stuckey ’83 of the Alumni Office. He helped us immensely in our planning for
the “big one” in May of 2007. We are
dividing up the jobs so it is not such a big mountain to climb to get
organized. We have some ideas, which
you will hear about in months to come.
Our reunion will be held entirely on campus during graduation
weekend. We can stay in dorms (but that
involves having to go to a different floor to the bathroom) or we could get a
block of rooms at a motel in Mankato.
All of this is still in the planning stages so we welcome any and all
input from any and all of you!
Our class dinner
will be on Friday night, and we will be with the 50-year Club on campus for the
luncheon on Saturday. That is when we
will present the college with our class gift.
(Be thinking about that because we want to make a good showing to all
who have given before us.) I believe it
is also on Saturday when the class pictures will be taken. You will hear lots more about this in upcoming
letters. I am making this plea—when
someone calls to ask you to do something, please say “yes.” And please start planning now a trip to St.
Peter, MN in May of 2007! I love
reunions, but the only thing that makes them work is YOU!
I told Nancy that I
would do this letter because she is busy updating history of Apple Valley High
School. She did a 20-year history
several years ago, and now she is doing a 30-history. So here goes on the news that you have sent in to Gustavus.
Dick Gastler was recently elected to the board of the
St. Louis County Historical Society.
His son, Daniel, is 22 and in his second year of graduate school at
Boston University in physics! Wow! John
Singh has resigned from psychotherapy.
He worked for a time at the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport
and is now writing a book entitled “Airport Happenings-Human Perspective” to be
published in 2006.
Jinny Field Cable spent four days with Gayla Manuel Clemons and her family in July. They also took a motorhome tour of the
Midwest and spent time in New York visiting friends and relatives. Bernie
Anderson Galvin says she continues to love living in Red Wing after nearly
40 years in Arizona. They do go back
there in January though. She still
sings with the City of Lakes Sweet Adelines chorus, which was directed by Mary Lois Kendall Dick for many years.
She sees her regularly.
Gary Gabel was in the hospital the end of October. Hope you are feeling well now.
John Livingston lives in
Minneapolis. His oldest daughter is a teacher
and is one of three teachers in her school to have her children test 100% in
math and reading.
I was at the Ordway
a couple of weeks ago for an SPCO Coffee Concert. I ran into my old Gustavus bandstand mate Tom Engquist’56. He has retired from teaching, but is now the
interim director of the Swedish Male Chorus.
He says it’s fun—even though he doesn’t speak Swedish!
I ring in the Adult
Handbell Choir at our church. One of
the girls I stand by is Mary (Schoper ’80) Nelson, (no relation), also a
Gustie, (and a lot younger!). She and I
are planning to go down to Gustavus for the Association of Congregations
meeting in April. Maybe I will see some
of you there.
By the way, I need
to explain to you that any money you have given in the past year to Gustavus
whether it be memorial, scholarship, alumni fund, etc. anything—will be counted in our class gift.
If you plan to bequeath something to Gustavus in your will, that will
count in our class gift. In that way,
our gifts can count up fast. But please give something. We are very
lucky to have had the privilege of attending that great school. Just think of all the friends you made—as
the song says “Remember the friends you made there, and don’t forget to come
back some day”. I keep making more Gustie
friends. They are everywhere I go.
I have a new email
address. Some of you may have it, but
maybe not all of you. My old one will
work for about six months, but the new one is pretty easy: marlys@apimixing.com
So send me an
email. I love to keep in touch. I will reply. If for some reason it doesn’t go through send it “snail mail.”
I love to hear from
you—Gustavus loves to hear from you.
Till next time,
Marlys Mattson
Nelson (Clem too)
1957 Co-class
Agents
P. S. The Alumni Office will add some campus news
here:
Study Abroad Leader
Gustavus continues to be a leading institution for the number of students studying abroad, according to an annual ranking recently released by the Institute of International Education (IIE). Consistent with its mission of giving students an education that is international in perspective, Gustavus was ranked seventh in the "Top 20 Baccalaureate Institutions" list of the institute’s "Open Doors 2005" report. Gustavus was one of four Minnesota private colleges to make the list of 20. The report was based on study abroad statistics from the 2003-04 academic year. Gustavus students engage in international learning through various programs in more than 100 locations throughout the world, ranging from Australia to India and Ecuador to Sweden. In recent years, 50 percent of Gustavus graduates have participated in at least one study-abroad experience.
New Carnegie
Classification for Colleges and Universities
The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching released a new classification system for institutions of higher education. Gustavus’ classification is Arts & Sciences plus Professions, indicating that 60 to 80 percent of Gustavus students complete a traditional liberal arts major, such as political science, classics, or biology. The new classifications describe five aspects of colleges and universities: instructional programs, enrollment profile, undergraduate demographics, size, and setting. Undergraduate instructional programs are now designated as Arts & Sciences Focus, Arts & Sciences plus Professions, Balanced Arts & Sciences and Professions, Professions plus Arts & Sciences, or Professions Focus.
Insurance Programs
The Alumni
Association, in partnership with Meyer and Associates and Liberty Mutual,
offers an insurance program to alumni and their families. Products include insurance policies for
life, short-term medical, auto, home, and renters. For life and short-term medical insurance call Meyer and
Associates at 800-635-7801 or visit www.meyerandassoc.com. For auto, home, and renters insurance call
Liberty Mutual at 800-524-9400 or visit www.libertymutual.com/lm/gustavus.
Gustavus to Perform
at Orchestra Hall
The Gustavus Music Showcase will be Sunday, March 12, at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis. The Gustavus Choir, Gustavus Symphony Orchestra, and Gustavus Wind Orchestra will perform. This is a unique opportunity to hear three premier ensembles from Gustavus in one concert. This showcase also allows prospective students, parents, and alumni from the area to meet and connect. For tickets, call the Orchestra Hall box office at 800/292-4141. Tickets are $20 for general admission, and $10 for students 18 and under.
Athletics
Two big stories from the fall sports are that Hailey Harren won the national NCAA Division III cross country title and the men’s soccer team became the first MIAC school to play in the national championship game and finished second, losing 1-0 to defending national champion Messiah. For the second consecutive year, men's soccer coach Larry Zelenz has been named Coach of the Year in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/Adidas NCAA Division III West Region. The men's hockey team is unbeaten in conference play, outscoring their opponents 28-5 in four games.
Upcoming Music Tours
This year nearly 300 students will participate in music tours as members of the Gustavus Wind Orchestra, Gustavus Choir, Gustavus Symphony Orchestra, Gustavus Jazz Lab Band, and Choir of Christ Chapel. The Gustavus Wind Orchestra toured Eastern Europe Jan. 14-30. Performances were scheduled for Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, and Austria. The Gustavus Choir is touring Jan. 27-Feb. 11 (see schedule below), with performances in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The Gustavus Symphony Orchestra, Gustavus Jazz Lab Band, and Choir of Christ Chapel will tour during Spring Semester.
Gustavus Choir Tour Schedule
February 2 at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church, Marshfield, WI, 7:30 p.m.
February 3 at St. Francis Catholic Church, Brainerd, 7:30 p.m.
February 4 at Central Lutheran Church, Winona, 7 p.m.
February 5 at Faith Lutheran Church, Winona, 8 a.m. morning service
February 5 at First Lutheran Church, Red Wing, 2 p.m.
February 11 at Christ Chapel, Saint Peter, 7:30 p.m.
Upcoming Alumni
Events
Tucson, AZ Gustie Gathering - February 10
Phoenix, AZ Gustie Gathering - February 11
Sun City, AZ Gustie Gathering - February 12
Gustavus Music Showcase at Orchestra Hall - March 12