Dear Classmate of ‘57,
Luther suspended the Class Agent letters during the pandemic but promised to send one out if I wanted the chance to check in with the 133 of us still living. So here goes.
Here’s a glimpse of where we reside: Big surprise: Minnesota is lucky to have 35 of us. Iowa has 24; WI, 19; CA, 11; 6 in AZ; 5 each in IL, TX and WA; 3 each in NC and NV.; 2 each in AK, FL, IN, NE, ND and VA; 1 each in AR, CO, ID, MO, OK, PA and SD. Peter Tan lives in Canada.
The last time I checked, our class had the second highest percentage of givers of all the classes. Not the largest sum of dollars, but an enviable record, that’s for sure. Thank you for CONTINUING to support this school we love. No one is telling you how much to give, but I make no apologies for asking you to remember to write that check if you haven’t done so during the recent phone campaign.
I have been diligent enough with masking, hand washing and social distancing to have avoided getting sick. I sincerely hope that has been the case with you. I would guess that many of us have been lucky enough to have had at least their first shot. (My appointment is March 3.) Please keep wearing a mask even after getting the vaccine until the CDC gives us the all clear.
I received heartwarming hand-written letters (and photos) from the three recipients of our Class of ‘57 scholarship this year. They clearly indicated that those funds made the difference in their ability to pursue their dreams. I have never designated my annual gift to the Class of ‘57 scholarship fund, but that’s what I plan to do next time.
Here’s an excerpt of a letter from Marilyn Martinson about the opportunity she and Ron had to make a big difference in the life of a 19-year-old young man named Conrad they met on a visit to Tanzania.
“Some time after we returned home Conrad called us to ask if we could help him to go to Luther College. (Ron must have been a good ambassador for Luther while we were there!) The result was that we were able to help him spend two years in Dar es Salaam at a 2-year college program set up by Waldorf College and then he enrolled at Luther with help from scholarships. We were at Luther for his graduation at which time he told us that he wanted to pursue a Masters in Business Administration. This he accomplished at North Dakota State. He now lives in Connecticut with his wife (a Concordia grad) and three young children and works for a hospital group.”
A life-changing encounter. But each of us has made a difference in the lives of people in our communities. We were a great class and Luther prepared us to serve. Even now in retirement we are finding ways to help heal the divisions, the inequities, the suffering in the land And, hey, our kids don’t need all the $$ in our estates! Spread the love.
On September 11, I moved to an independent living apartment at Oakwood, just two blocks from my home of 56 years. I love it! My phone and email remained the same but my new address is 6205 Mineral Point Rd. #802, Madison WI 53705.
