From our Reunion Chair

If the adage that old wine and friends improve with age is true, then we of the great Princeton class of 1971 are at our peak. And what better way to to enjoy wine and friends than at a Princeton reunion!

Welcome to the class of 1971’s 55th reunion. The word itself, derived from the Latin “to join together” and the French for “to make into one” reflects the special and unique nature of a Princeton reunion. Princeton reunions have been described as being almost cult-like. Reunions are a blend of entertainment, engaging educational forums, good food, nostalgia and tall tales. Our planning committee started work over a year and a half in advance to put together a reunion worthy of our great Class.

The last five years have been interesting to say the least, and in many ways we feel the need to make up for lost time. The reunions planning committee (listed elsewhere in this yearbook) has put together a 55th Reunion to remember, starting with a BBQ and events Thursday and extending through a class dinner on Friday, class-sponsored presentations, the one-and-only P-rade followed by dinner and capping things off with a Sunday brunch before departing. And, of course, music and plenty of it.

Our iconic logo with the tiger on the motorcycle in many ways encapsulates our joie de vivre, reinforced by our identity as the Wild Life class. The 55th Reunion logo and theme is a continuation of that branding. We chose “Sustaining the Wild Life” as a theme to reflect our commitment to growing older but not Up (tip of the hat to Jimmy Buffet) as well as preserving what we love for generations to come.

Ralph Waldo Emerson certainly had it right about the spirit of Reunions when he opined that  "It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them." Now, by definition, no Princetonian can be stupid, but we can re-visit our younger selves. Thumb through this magnificent yearbook to discover what your friends and classmates from 50-plus years ago are doing, and remember those who have left us. So grab your garish orange and black gear and plan to come back to the best damn place of all where we can be both foolish and intellectual, nostalgic and forward thinking, busy and relaxed. See you at the 55th Reunions HQ!

Regards,

Jeff Hammond