2025 San Diego "Mini" — Food, Fun, and Fellowship

By Rick Ostrow '71 and Stu Rickerson '71

The Class of 1971 has held a Southern California Mini Reunions at various times during the year, in various formats, tied to various events, and organized by several local Classmates for more than a quarter-century. All have been successful in bringing together friends, and deepening relationships and camaraderie among Classmates. 

The Mini 2025 was no exception, and we thank all who considered joining us.

JUST THE FACTS: As 1971 Classmates have been doing since 1997, forty-seven registered for our mid-winter “Mini” reunion, February 20-23 in San Diego. 

Although an “atmospheric river” (formerly known as “a typical SoCal winter rain”) dropped about 40% of the area’s 7 inches of annual rainfall the week before, skies were blue for the entire Mini weekend, and the weather was fair, with daily highs of 71, perhaps a meteorological locomotive to “The WILD Life Class of 1971.” 

Class President Jamie Pitney acknowledged the undertaking this way: “To all of you, our GRRRReat Class of 1971 San Diego Mini-Reunion 2025 Organizing Committee, we, your Class Executive Committee, thank you heartily for the energy and effort you devoted to this year’s outstanding weekend and extend you a loud locomotive!!”

Mini attendees included in the photo above  (L-R): Mike Pepper, Rick Ostrow, Tom Stubbs. Julie Smith, Jack McNab, Richard Neill, Kathleen Newe and Paul Deibel, Irene Cappelloni and Michael Phelps, Elizabeth Garsonnin, Hildy and John Drummond, Geoff Smith, Susan and John Arigoni, Liza and Dan “KP” Kirkpatrick, Elyse Dasko, Stu Rickerson, Susan and Bill Kuntz, Linda Stubbs, Gail and Scott Alexander, Dennis Macaleer, Jill Kellymahr and Brian Langston, Ellie and Doug Miller, Ellen Higgins and John Brower, David Mushen and Pam (Oelschlaeger) Mushen, Barbara Sinclair, Brad O’Brien, John Neale, 1971 Mini-regulars, Melissa and Larry Kurtz ’72, Andy Kesler, Oenologists Jenny and Dayle Murphy, Tom Sinclair, and Mike Ladra. 

Given the times we live in, a few folks could not join us due to health issues and they were missed, though their commitment to Class camaraderie is recognized and acknowledged here, nonetheless. We wish them – and any of you in similar circumstances -- timely and complete recoveries. We look forward to seeing you again soon!

A special shout-out goes to all those who brought extras to share with others, like the Millers providing palette-cleanser’s for the winetasting; all those who brought favorite wines, other beverages or food to share with friends; the custom Orange “P” cookies; and most especially to the local organizers who spent many hours over most of a year planning the event minute-by-minute and executed their vision flawlessly, overcoming may obstacles: Kuntz (serving as Chancellor of the Exchequer), Ostrow, Drummond, Arigoni, Kirkpatrick and Rickerson.

DETAILS ON THE 1971 SAN DIEGO MINI REUNION: The weekend opened with a “no host” reception at Il Fornaio on Thursday at the Del Mar Plaza overlooking the Pacific at sunset. On Friday, the entire group gathered for a prix fixe “1971 Mini Tasting Menu” featuring two paellas and an assortment of other Mediterranean dishes with SoCal influences in The Barrel Room at Solterra Winery and Kitchen on the Coast Highway in Encinitas. Everyone was delighted by the choices available for every palate and dietary preference, and the abundance of the fine food.

Sinclair and Neill arranged an optional, “no fee” winetasting early Saturday afternoon, attended by 31 at “Coolangatta” in Rancho Santa Fe. In Australian indigenous aborigine dialect, the word means “splendid view” or “good overlook,” as Rickerson’s home since 1998 overlooks the 12th hole of the acclaimed community golf course, where Bing Crosby started the first professional “pro-am” golf tournament in 1937, which migrated to Pebble Beach in 1947. 

Coolangatta in mid-February or "winter in San Diego"

The tasting and lecture was curated by Sonoma-county winemaker Jenny Murphy, founder of Oxlee Graham, which garnered acclaim for single-vineyard Pinot Noirs, an alluring Picpoul-Chenin Blanc, and a “take-no-prisoners” Petit Verdot, shown in photos. The winemaker explained her decision-making process and answered all questions from enthralled Classmates during a 90-minute presentation. She even offered discounted priced wine to members of the Class of 1971 present.

Some favorite wines featured by Oxlee Graham on the “covered patio” at Coolangatta

The wine tasting set the stage for picking up on past conversations, starting new ones, catching up and meeting new friends over the next several hours. Visit the Class Photo Gallery for the images.

Saturday’s multi-course, all-you-can-eat dinner was cooked to order by Copper Kings Caterers, whose motto is “Life is Too Short for Crappy Burgers.” The marinated peeled cherry tomato-caprese skewers and chicken teriyaki appetizers were particular hits, along with the “Peanut Butter Whiskey Billionaire Bar” desserts. The “smash burgers” or the tasty “Tree-Hugger,” vegetarian option, both on Japanese house-made milk buns with all the fixings and sides of fries were well-received (with no leftovers!). The event went well into the evening, as organizers encouraged all to ride share or use a ride service to attend. There were no reported misadventures!

After extensive quality-testing, Rickerson affixes the SWLF “seal of approval” to the Copper Kings 

pop-up kitchen and chefs (note the Reyn Spooner “crew shirts” and WILD Life Reunions IDs).

The organizers plan was to “think of everything…and then think of one more thing,” (remember this line in “Bridge Over the River Kwai” as how one plans a secret mission, behind enemy lines, to liberate POWs in WWII?). Someone captured this partial list of last minute “to dos” on a kitchen countertop:

At Sunday’s “getaway breakfast” at Ki’s, attendees scheduled future get-togethers and shared travel plans, and exchanged farewells, all while watching surfers, joggers and cyclists across from the beach in Cardiff-By-The-Sea. Many of those attending committed to return for the “off year” 54th Reunion in May 2025 and started planning for the Fabulous 55th in May 2026.

Here is a representative sampling of the feedback that attendees passed along after the fact: 

• “What a wonderful weekend! To spend time with Classmates, many we first met freshman year, has been a most amazing gift.”
• “I’ve been to several mini’s. This one was particularly special”
• “Glorious weather – three sunny days in the low- to mid-70’s – great food and drink, laughs and memories and very little political doomtalk, all combined to produce a memorable weekend for all who attended.”
• “The cookout was wonderful, the motto appropriate: ‘Life is too short for crappy burgers.’ While the lives of none of us have been short, no one had their 76th year Mini sullied by bland or average burgers.”
• “It was a remarkable success.  Amazingly smooth.  I am aware of no missteps, mishaps or misadventures.”
• “To the Organizing Committee: Big thanks for all you did to make The Mini such a success. We know you committed a lot of time to make this work!”
• “I had a blast; so much fun catching up with Classmates!”
• “The bountiful food and wine and perfect venues, but mostly the incredible connections and memories, made for exceptional time together.”
• “Yes, what a fabulous weekend we had. Many thanks to Stu and the San Diego gang for putting this all together. And many thanks to Jennie Murphy and her mother Dayle, after whom the third pinot was named.”
• “Just a quick note to thank you for all your efforts in putting together and hosting the mini reunion this year.”
• “Stu, again, many thanks to you and your organizing, support team for putting on this year’s San Diego gathering!”

The manager who coordinated the Solterra wine tasting dinner thought that our classmates and others were “the nicest, kindest patrons” she had ever worked with for a party at the restaurant, which has been around for more than two decades (and where a Mini event had been held in 2012). She wanted to communicate this compliment to all our classmates; consider it done, Cindy!

The organizers appreciate the psychic and financial support provided by the Class Executive Committee and Class President Jamie Pitney, without which the Mini would not have taken place.

As the group was saying their farewells, there were questions about plans for the 2026 SoCal Mini. Nothing has been decided, though the organizers are considering “pausing” in 2026 so that everyone in the Class can focus on 1971’s “Fabulous Fifty-Fifth” Reunion in Princeton next year, especially since we missed an in-person 50th. 

This feeling was best expressed by one planner, who said: “If there’s a Classmate who can only make one 1971 Class event in 2026, it should be our Major Reunion May 21–23, 2026 in Princeton. Start making plans now (and read the fine print on cancellations, refunds and nightly costs on any hotel or short-term rental in the Princeton area before you commit). Signing off from San Diego…