It was an incredible reunion. At the last count we had over 264 classmates and more than 500 people attending. Thank you to everyone who came (the rest of you were missed!). People came from all over the country—East (Boston, NY, DC), West (LA, SF and Seattle) and in-between (Chicago and Ohio). Our frequent flier awards go to Jeff Hoberman who came from Argentina, Paul Cheng from Hungary, and Charles Bray, Pegram Harrison and Elizabeth Katkin who flew in from the UK. Classmates brought husbands, wives, partners, and children to show off, reconnect, and reminisce. The AYA, Yale Catering, and Branford College did a super job with the entire program. Thanks to all the people at Yale who make these events possible.
Here are the highlights:
The weather began with a brief, yet powerful downpour on Friday. Some of us experienced rain delays at airports or had to stop driving at the side of the road. Those who arrived early at reunion enjoyed a wine tasting on Cross Campus under the tent, protected from the rain. The rest of the weekend there was nothing to cloud the blue of sunny skies—the weather was just gorgeous.
Friday night we enjoyed an international buffet under the tent in Branford including the cuisines of India, Greece, Italy and Japan. Some comments overheard at dinner: ”I didn’t know Yale knew how to make sushi.—the food is terrific”, “Wow, everyone looks really great,” “I just checked into my room in Branford and the renovations are beautiful,” “Hey bartender, don’t call me “Sir”, I’m still a dude, just like you”.
Our reunion blankets were a popular item. Some classmates creatively turned the blankets into shawls and wore them with their little black dresses to stay warm in the chilly evenings, while other classmates commented, “Thanks for the great baby blanket!” Speaking of babies, there were a lot of children at reunion—over 100, at last count. It seems we have been very busy since the last reunion, with the majority of our offspring under the age of five. The Yale class of 2025 is filling up fast.
Saturday morning the early birds (or people with kids) had breakfast under the tent and then headed out to hear President Rick Levin’s address on the “State of Yale” followed by interesting faculty lectures and tours all over campus.
By lunchtime, people were arriving in droves from Grand Central for our picnic lunch under the tent. The red and white checked tablecloths, hot dogs and watermelon put everyone in a festive mood. President Levin stopped by Branford to say hello.
Saturday afternoon we attended several panels and learned what our classmates have been up to all these years. Deborah Epstein Henry talked about how to negotiate flexible work arrangements in a panel on balancing work and family. Our journalism panel led to a lively debate and some revealing anecdotes with Chris Sheridan, Melissa Riofrio and Michael Lewittes. Those who attended heard some great stories about the Yale Daily News from the 1980s, local Ohio politics and got the scoop on some celebrity gossip. Gretchen Craft Rubin moderated a panel of our class authors and artists, Lori Gottlieb Benjes, Kyle Smith and Nina Levy in a discussion of self-representation, autobiography and the creative process.
The Glee Club concert gave us all a chance to sing together. Some of us took the singing workshop with Fenno Heath earlier on Saturday morning and performed for the first time ever at Yale, proving that it is never too late to learn something new. A highlight of the concert was when former Glee Club business manager, Juliette White Hyson and her husband, former Glee Club president, Jeffrey Hyson sang us the story of their romance, beginning with “As freshman first we came to Yale…” and ending with anticipated tuition bills for their two lovely children.
At our class dinner in the Branford courtyard Saturday night, reunion gift chair, Phipps Moriarty, announced that we have raised $1.6 million to date with the campaign only half over (the rest of us have until June 30th to send in our donations). Our reunion co-chairs Charles Knapp and James Lockman welcomed us and thanked all the people who worked putting the reunion together, including our class secretary, Kevin Brice, and Karen Jahn from the AYA. Reunion co-chair Judy Federbush commemorated our deceased classmates with a moment of silence as their names were read. Our class treasurer, Abby Tate Reynolds, led us in a toast. The Whiffs and Abby led us in singing Bright College Years. After dinner, the DJ got us in a party mood with “Red Red, Wine” and we danced to some music from way back when (remember Talking Heads, the B-52s and Squeeze) and from more recent vintage. At one point there was a chorus line for Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York”. Mostly, though, we continued to talk and catch up with each other into the wee hours of the morning.
After Sunday brunch in Commons, many of us were reluctant to leave as we rekindled old friendships and promised to stay in touch.
If you have not been back to Yale recently, the campus has undergone some striking changes. Branford is beautiful. The courtyard still has a swing, and the rooms have cable TV. In fact, all the rooms at Yale have cable TV. Internet, too. Gone are the days of fighting for a Mac Plus in Connecticut Hall the night before your big paper.
Naples has no liquor license, but Broadway Pizza is open 24 hours. Phil’s and J. Press are sharing space next to what used to be Wa-Wa’s. Au Bon Pain occupies Demery’s space, and the Co-op has been replaced by Barnes & Noble. Toad’s place is still there, though, and the Doodle Burger Record is over 30.
There are a few new buildings on campus, too. Residential college renovations continue in earnest, as does work on the University Art Gallery.
We are requesting photos from the reunion to appear here. Email them to James Lockman. Please self-censor; this is a family web site. As photos arrive, we’ll build a page around them.
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