Alumni Day Returns to Honor Accomplishments and Celebrate Those Departed 

By Jeff Hammond '81, Reunion Chair, and Alan Usas '71, Tech Chair

On Saturday, February 25, more than 1,000 alumni and guests came back to campus for the University’s 108th Alumni Day, the first in three years with a full agenda and luncheon. Alumni Day events, in general, and the Service of Remembrance in particular, are moving and inspiring experiences. It is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of alumni receiving the Madison and Wilson Awards (and hear two fabulous speeches), awe at the work of graduate students receiving Jacobus Fellowships, and recognize the extraordinary undergraduate students and alumni-to-be who receive the Pyne Prize. The luncheon also included an update on the expansion of the engineering program and architectural changes on campus, as well as a choral presentation by a choir from the Trenton Arts at Princeton Program.

The James Madison Medal went to a "father of the internet" Robert Kahn *64 whose pioneering work led to the essential communication protocols that allow computers of all kinds to connect and exchange data. Kahn, who is still very active as CEO and president of the Corporation for National Research Initiatives (CNRI), a non-profit focused on research and development of the National Information Infrastructure, shared anecdotes illustrating the challenges of early digital communication. He talked about reluctance to build in security features despite his push for them, leading to many of the issues confronting the internet today. A seminal paper he wrote in 1995 on what he called a "digital object architecture" could be an important part of future information systems. 

This year, the Woodrow Wilson Award was presented to four-star general Christopher Cavoli ’87, whose distinguished Army career has taken him from "jumping out of airplanes and shooting guns" to his present assignment as Commander, U.S. European Command, and as the Supreme Allied Commander Europe. In addition to retelling the challenges he's faced leading soldiers in peacetime and in battle, he drew laughter from the Alexander Hall audience describing how his Princeton thesis had become an internet sensation when his name and position were attached to its title, "The Effect of Earthworms on the Vertical Distribution of Slime Molds in the Soil." During a lengthy and probing Q&A, Chris proclaimed "Princetonians in service are badly needed."

Pyne Prize winners, Austin Davis '23 and Ella Gantman '23, received their awards and spoke about their Princeton experiences. It was very easy to see how these two seniors deserved the prize with their long list of accomplishments and interests.

Following the award ceremony, the traditional Alumni Day lunch was held in Jadwin Gymnasium. A reception preceding allowed guests to locate classmates and other friends before joining them for the meal. With all the awards having been presented during the morning, the format of the lunch meeting has changed. We were treated to a rousing performance by the Trenton Youth Singers, a group that is part of Trenton Arts at Princeton founded and directed by Lou Chen '19. There was then time for brief reports from University Architect Ron McCoy Jr. *80 on a few of the 40 current campus construction projects and from Engineering and Applied Sciences Dean Andrea Goldsmith, who described her vision for the future of engineering at Princeton and it's relationship to the rest of the University. 

Later in the afternoon the Chapel filled with alumni and family members for the annual Service of Remembrance honoring Princetonians — alumni, students, faculty, and staff — whose deaths had been recorded the previous year. In this service, our classmates named below were so recognized:

R. Bruce Beckner – March 21, 2022  Vassilios Dougalis – January 2, 2022  Homer J. Henderson – August 19, 2022  Wm. Frederick Lewis – October 24, 2021  Christopher P. Nicholas – November 12, 2022  Stephen A. Noller – September 6, 2022  Roy Perlmutter – January 1, 2017

In a very moving and solemn ceremony representatives from each class, the faculty, and the staff processed up the center aisle and placed a carnation in a large wreath in the chancel. This year, Class Technology Chair Alan Usas represented the Class of 1971. Family members in attendance gathered in Murray-Dodge after the service, and there Alan and his wife Karen enjoyed conversation with Mary Nicholas, widow of classmate Chris Nicholas, and two of their sons, Michael and Greg. 

Attending from 1971 for all or part of the day were Bill Armiger and Diane Haines, Linda Blackburn, Paul Fitzgerald, Jeff Hammond, Mark Mazo and Fern, Sandy McAdoo, Doug Pike, Alan Usas and Karen, Howard Zien and Marj.

More photos of Alumni Day can be found in the Photo Gallery. Videos of the award presentations and acceptance speeches and of the Service of Remembrance can be viewed here.