San Diego Class Mini-reunion Coming on February 11

The 2018 Class of '71 San Diego winter mini reunion will be upon us the weekend after the Super Bowl. Stu and Geoff are cooking up another memorable event to take place at Tony's Jacal Mexican restaurant at 621 Valley Ave in Solana Beach, just north of San Diego on Sunday, February 11 beginning at 3:00 PM. Opened in 1946, Tony's is home to some of the most authentic Mexican food in San Diego and was the scene of the much enjoyed 2016 Class of 1971 gathering.

The afternoon will start, margaritas or other preferred refreshment in hand, with some brief presentations highlighting interesting experiences and side-trips in the lives of a few of our Classmates. Attendees will get an insiders' look at professional football from our own 23-year NFL official, Laird Hayes who has some interesting and humorous stories to relate from that second career (he was a college assistant dean of students, college soccer and surfing coach, and along with his father, ran an elite quarterback and wide receiver training camp for 52 years). Laird has agreed to answer questions. We are hoping a "mystery guest" will stop by and provide insight on another out-of-the-ordinary life's journey. And, if there is time or interest, Stu is willing to recount what it was like to watch 2017's amazing Princeton women's soccer team season, which included a deep run in the NCAA tournament to the Elite 8 and a #5 year-end National ranking from the perspective of an alumni father (Lucy '21 was a member of the team). The event will ease into a general cocktail party around 4:00 and dinner will be served at about 5:00 to allow those who didn't take their normal Sunday naps to get home at a reasonable hour.

As we have done in the past, the Princeton Honor Code will be used to calculate food and drink consumption at Tony's, so be prepared to settle up with our acting treasurer Geoff in cash or check at the end of the Sunday event. Any overage collected in excess of the tab will be donated to the Save the Wildlife Fund and it's planned provision of more WILD times for our upcoming 50th reunion in 2021.

In addition to the "official" event on Sunday, on Saturday, February 10, an optional outing is being planned to visit the U.S.S. Midway aircraft carrier on the San Diego waterfront. The Midway, named for the famous battle that turned the tide of WWII in the Pacific was the largest ship in the World when it was commissioned in 1945 and remained in service until 1992 after serving in Desert Storm in 1991. In addition to the ship itself, a number of aircraft are on display on the flight deck and there are two types of flight simulators below decks. This is a fascinating look into life on a large ship even for those who know little about the subject. The 10:00 AM tour (there is a museum fee and additional fees for audio tours) will be followed by a no-host lunch at a nearby seafood restaurant. The afternoon can be extended with a walk along the San Diego waterfront with its historic ships, a sail on the harbor or a visit to the shops of Seaport Village.

Please RSVP by January 10 to Geoff Smith jefes2rs@gmail.com if you can join us. 

Please let us know if you are bringing one or more guests and whether you will be attending the Sunday event only or the Sunday and Saturday events. 

If you do plan to attend the Saturday tour of the Midway, please forward the admission fee of $20 per person, payable to Geoff, so we can purchase tickets and make other arrangements in advance:

Geoff Smith '71
2446 Unicornio St.
Carlsbad, CA  92009

Transportation to the Midway will be coordinated based on who plans to attend and where they are staying. Feel free to email or call Geoff for lodging recommendations or other questions 619-843-9188.

We look forward to another warm, creative, story-telling (real and imagined) and laughter-filled time with all 1971 Classmates and their guests who can join us.