Classmates Enjoy Perfect Reunion Weather for '71 Events

By Jeff Hammond '71, Reunions Chair

What can you say about our grand 52nd Reunion? Well, the weather was spectacular, the mood upbeat and the atmosphere joyous.  49 classmates and 20 guests returned to Old Nassau to catch up, relive old times and trade tall tales. In keeping with a theme that “Every Reunions is A Major” we kept the traditions of the Wildlife class and added some new wrinkles. 

Things kicked off Thursday, May 25 with the annual Alumni Council Class Officers Luncheon at which the Reunions Chairs trio of Jack Hittson, Stu Rickerson and Jeff Hammond accepted, on behalf of the Class and in recognition of our fabulous 2021 Fall Retreat, both the 1898 Trophy given annually to the class with the largest percentage (11%) of membership attending any gathering during the year between Reunions and the 1928 Trophy given annually to the class with the largest number (81) of its members attending any gathering during the year between Reunions.  Thursday evening over 25 early arrivals had a meet-and-greet reception and light meal in Tiger Inn’s 1971 Library.

Ed Chambliss, Kevin Loughlin, and Randy Snow

Friday began with a bird-watching tour of the Institute for Advanced Study woods. In addition to Alumni-Faculty forums on Friday and Saturday that featured a variety of contemporary issues, 1971 hosted it’s own alumni forum again this year. The Class of 1971 Alumni Forum “Presidential Health and Illness and the 25th Amendment” featured speakers Kevin Loughlin, Phil Bobbitt and Abigail Evans k’27 k’70 with moderator Hammond. To say it was a success and generated huge interest would be an understatement. A packed audience kept the panel over 20 minutes beyond the scheduled end time. Friday afternoon had a organ concert at the chapel in honor of former President Goheen, sponsored by the class of 1970 with whom we partnered on several events. Later that afternoon we sponsored a campus tree tour led by Merc Morris ’72, a nationally known arborist, who blended botany with history. 

Both the ever-popular Friday barbecue and Saturday lunch were shared this year with 1970.  As has been our tradition, the class hosted a performance by the Tigerlilies at the BBQ, and they were both enchanting and captivating. Saturday morning started off with a stretching and wellness session including an introduction to Qichong led by Jared Hammond k71.

The Class marched smartly in this year’s P-Rade which had a new route through campus. The P-rade was followed by the Association of Black Princeton Alumni Barbecue and Family Reunion celebrating, among others, Princeton’s 1969 Trailblazing Twelve Black Women including our  ’71 Classmates Linda Blackburn, Terrell Nash Mann, the late Juanita Ray Crane and Carla Wilson. Our traditional post-P-rade reception and class dinner was again held  at Prospect followed by Rob Slocum’s music and ending with fabulous fireworks over the football stadium.

Plans are already underway for our 53rd Reunion, so mark your calendars for May 23-25, 2024.