Classmates Enjoy Tours, Forums, and Reunioning While Navigating Construction Fences at the 53rd

By Jeff Hammond '71, Reunions Chair

OK, I’m biased, but it seems Reunions keeps getting better and better. 

May 2024 saw 51 classmates (and over two dozen guests) enjoy near-perfect weather and an absence of cicadas to celebrate our 53rd Reunion.  Participating in the festivities were: Amir Arbisser, Bill Armiger, Jay Bagdis, Brooks Billman, Linda Blackburn, Rande Brown, Charles Bushong, David Chamberlain, Tom Connell, Bruce Corcoran, Barbara Croken, Manuel del Valle, Rich DiFedele, Stephen Dreyfuss, Paul Fitzgerald, Charles Goldberg, Bob Good, Ken Hall, Jeff Hammond, Jim Hart, Jack Hittson, Ronnie Hittson h71, Henry Holoszyc, Fred Lepore, Kirk Liddell, David Lillie, Art Lowenstein, Dennis Macaleer, Mark Mazo, Sandy McAdoo, Bill McCarter, Kathy Molony, Carol Obertubbesing, Ray Ollwerther, Mike Pepper, Jonathan Perel, Terry Pflaumer, Doug Pike, Jamie Pitney, Stu Rickerson, Roger Saltman, David Schankler, Ron Senchesak, Robbie Shell, Rob Slocum, Randy Snow, Tina Sung, Debbie Tegarden, Alan Usas, Bob Warner, and Howard Zien. Notably, eleven Class members had children celebrating with the 25th Reunion of the Class of 1999.

Reunions kicked off with a Thursday evening reception in the 1971 Library at Tiger Inn, which attracted over 20 early-arriving classmates. Our Honorary Classmate and club manager, Bob Belsky h71, laid out a wonderful spread complemented by wine and beer to lubricate the robust conservations. Friday morning began with a Bird Watching Walk that acquainted participants with two-footed residents of the nearby Institute Woods. Later in the morning, the Class of 1971 Alumni Forum, “Did You Hear the News? - The Future of Journalism” was conducted by experienced journalist classmates Ken Hall, Robbie Shell, and Bob Warner, with Jeff Hammond moderating. Exploring the future of journalism in the rapid change of the digital age before an audience of over 55, they discussed issues including the fine line between reporting the news and creating it, the thorny issue of misinformation, the difficulties that citizens face in informing themselves of local issues without a local newspaper, finding alternative funding strategies to replace severely reduced traditional revenue, and the threats and promises of AI-generated news reporting. 

Tina Sung organized a lunch in town for her ’71 “sisters” attending Reunions (Debbie Tegarden, Barbara Croken, Rande Brown, Linda Blackburn, and Kathy Molony), catching up on and supporting each other in the joys, sorrows, trials, challenges, and satisfactions of recent years. Look for this to be a recurring event.

In the afternoon, the 50th Reunion Alumni Forum “Transitions, Milestones and Aspirations” Comparative and Divergent Reflections by Native, Latinx, Asian, Black and White Princeton Alumni who Matriculated Between 1970 and 1974” included classmate Manuel del Valle as a panelist.

A Campus History Tour, organized just for 1971 and 1970, led by a docent from the Historical Society of Princeton, featured Colonial sites, the Einstein Memorial and Jones Hall (the location of Einstein’s office and now East Asian Studies) and the Garden Theatre (Oppenheimer’s favorite) and Alexander Hall (site of Oppy’s funeral). 

Friday’s activities concluded with the Barbecue, sponsored jointly by our Class and the Class of 1970. It featured a guest appearance by the Tigerlilies (a tradition for over 25 years) and in a new twist this year, an in-person book signing by a Class author. Mike Pepper provided not only a brief history of how his recently published memoir, Royal Edge, a reflection on Princeton and his first year after graduation came to be, but also provided free, signed copies to those in attendance.

Saturday opened with a tour of the New Art Museum under construction led by Museum Director James Steward h70. Participants got to preview the use of spaces and materials in the new museum, which will open in 2025.

Our traditional lunch before the P-rade was held on Alexander “Beach,” and again featured subs and salads from D’Angelo’s Market. We then marched, ever closer to the front of the line, in the P-rade, along a new route necessitated by the volume of construction on campus.  With so much new on campus. The University’s new turn-by-turn wayfinding app came in handy.

Since Prospect House was also being renovated, our post-P-rade reception and dinner were held in the 1956 Lounge at Palmer Stadium, a real treat, which afforded a spectacular view of the university orchestra and fireworks that evening. For music during coffee and dessert, Kathy Molony offered a moving a cappella rendition of "Amazing Grace," while Randy Snow and David Chamberlain sang a duet to her. You can find a private recording of the serenade in the 53rd Reunion Video in the Class Photo Gallery. Those still with energy then headed off to the various Reunion venues for music and dancing.

More photos and a video of the 53rd Reunion can be seen in the Photo Gallery here.

If you attended this year, please send me your comments on what you liked, what we could do better, or what you would like to see we add. If you missed this year, put next May 22-25 on your calendar for our 54th Reunion.