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186 AN T I OC H CO L L E G E C L A S S O F 19 6 5 5 0 t h A N N I V E R S A R Y B O O K V I N C E N T Antioch’s restored Wellness Center campaign. I do continue with my law practice; the need never abates. Community needs continue too, so remain involved also with the Friends of Recreation,having helped with the $7 million restoration of the Richmond “Plunge” by wear- ing another sandwich board, made of sheet metal, to raise funds to match a $500,000 grant.The board was covered with refrigerator mag- nets for $10 donations, showing a photo and “I Saved the Plunge” on the magnets. Over four years I wore the 15 pound sandwich board to countless meetings, gatherings and events, raising awareness and funds successfully. Now to implement our plan to have everybody learn to swim. Richmond has a 32-mile shoreline on San Francisco Bay. Swimming is a life skill that opens so many water activities. But that strange love-hate at- traction of Antioch College retains its hold. Have returned, starting with the 25th Reunion, and thereafter, ev- ery five years, arriving early for the alumni work project.The work proj- ect has been very rewarding, with time to meet other alumni working for the college. Multigenerational, we all have the bond of co-op and adventure. WithAntioch’s closure, returned to a campus locking down in 2008. As a color of defiance and bright hope, I painted, with Passion Red, the amphitheater’s handrails and a fresh coat on the theater’s doors. That followed, over the next few years, with painting, “color-coordi- nated” you might notice, the sculp- ture annex, the amphitheater and the west end of the theater, return- ing several times a year for the work projects.The hundreds that have and continue to participate in work proj- ect have been unique to Antioch’s amazing story. That hope was well placed, as here we are with the first graduates of the new Antioch College receiv- ing their diplomas this summer. Lastly, that dear fellow, Horace Mann, and his haunting and daunting admonishment to those first gradu- ates in 1859, to “be ashamed to die until you have achieved a victory for humanity,” just what is that all about? With a 50-year reunion approaching, better give it some thought as his quotation continues to burden and resonate since first hearing it during our orientation week in 1960. Typical lawyer type, I looked for “humanity” in Black’s Law Dictionary for legal guidance. Surprise,“human- ity” is not listed so there is no“legal” definition.Would the Internet help with how it was defined in Horace Mann’s time in the 1850s, as recent dictionaries were vaguely inartic- ulate for me? From the Internet’s “Fine Dictionary,” these choices are offered from a 19th-century Webster’s: • Mankind collectively; the human race. “But hearing often times the still, and music humanity.” “It is a debt we owe to humanity.” • Mental cultivation; liberal educa- tion; instruction in classical and polite literature. “Polished with humanity and the study of witty science.” • The branches of polite or elegant learning; as language, rhetoric, poetry, and the ancient classics; belles-letters. • The quality of being human; the pe- culiar nature of man, by which he is distinguished from other beings. • The quality of being humane; the kind feelings, dispositions, and sympathies of man; especially, a disposition to relieve persons or animals in distress, and to treat all creatures with kindness and ten- derness. “The common offices of humanity and friendship.” No doubt our classmates’ sto- ries in this anniversary book will show we have passed Horace’s test. For me, I am not going to fret any longer, as maybe those nickels and dimes, painted walls, and complet- ing this story on time for the re- union committee, might add up, if not as a victory, at least a heartfelt effort. Committee, thank you for this writing opportunity. Viva Antioch! Remember? A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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