Tuesday, April 6, 2021
I am sorry to be late to this site, but I have just learned of the loss of my first Dartmouth College roommate, Dwight Timbers. As you can imagine, I am devastated. Many people will have contributed memories of Dwight that may be similar in their celebration of his virtues, so I will add an experience I know is unique. In early 1966 THE NEW YORK TIMES ran a front page story about a scandalous party in Darien at which adults were present while teenagers were served alcohol. Darien High School happened to be the sports rival of Staples High School in Westport. I was President of the Staples Student Organization. Darien had an away basketball game at Staples. Our supporters derisively chanted "Sin City! Sin City!" throughout the game. I was appalled by this behaviour and wrote a handwritten letter of personal apology to my counterpart at Darien, student body President Dwight Timbers. Dwight responded with a friendly handwritten letter and suggested we meet. We discovered we were both going to go to Dartmouth and each requested to the college that we be roommates. And so we were ... in 3 Gile Hall. I lost track of Dwight during the 70s. I had not seen him in 36 years when, prompted by constantly reading of the theatrical success of the director Alex Timbers, I decided I had to track him down. As fate would have it, I was too late. I send love to his dear family, confident that you will ensure that the memory of this dear man endures. I will love him forever. Sincerely, Paul Gambaccini paul gambaccini@hotmail.com
