THE ’60 SIXTY-FIFTH REUNION
Our theme was Old Yale: Return, Reflect & Reimagine
Our “Old Yale” themed weekend got off to a spectacular start (really) at the newly remodeled Peabody Natural History Museum, where we met many old Yale fossils, including our 150-million-year-old Brontosaurus, proudly remounted in neck- and tail-high splendor. After brilliant guided tours, we adjourned for drinks and full dinner in the Burke reception hall. Tom Schaumberg introduced Class historian Dan Horowitz for a revisit to his “On the Cusp” study of our Class.
On Friday afternoon we visited the newly re-hung and re-opened Yale British Art Center and heard, in the absence of Richard Brodhead who had come down with a case of Covid, a masterful recounting from John Wilkinson on issues of college administration in the past 50 years or so. Then we marched over to the Sterling Memorial Library for, as arranged by Honorary classmate Lynn Hanke, specialized presentations by the University Librarian, the Archivist, and a digital maestro of library collections. Our group enjoyed music and appropriate refreshments in the soaring Gilmore Music Library. That evening, our after-dinner speaker, introduced by Lynn Hanke, was David Richards ’67, historian and author of books on the history of the Yale library and secret societies.
Saturday was a day for our afternoon Class Memorial Commemoration, once again capably helmed by John Wilkinson at the Giamatti Bench on the Old Campus; but the day was one primarily for Yale University programming: lectures by some of Yale’s most engaging educators, the President’s University Update, and the traditional Celebration of Yale Singing in Woolsey Hall.
Throughout the weekend we saluted those who accepted John Bing’s plea to bring ’50s memorabilia for display in one of J.E.’s common rooms, and those who responded to John Blanpied’s call for undergraduate vignettes for ongoing collection on our Class website, Yale60.org (see link below). Also, please see links below for some excellent photos of the Reunion.
Chuck Schmitz
Reunion Chairman
charles.schmitz@icloud.com
REUNION RESOURCES
1. Close to 40 classmates responded to the call to write a vignette about their time at Yale, as undergrads. Our Vignettes are all here.
2. We’ve collected well over a hundred photos of our spectacular time at reunion. Click these links just below to view the albums:
• Yale Class of ’60 – 65th Reunion Photos
• Yale Class of ’60 – 65th Reunion Photos, Yale Photographer
3. We also have Daniel Horowitz’s reunion presentation about unpredictability. Click to read.
THE ’60 SIXTIETH REUNION
| “For as long as we live, they too will live, For they are now a part of us, as We remember them.” |
This verse concluded the reading of the names of the 145 classmates who had died since our last reunion. Those reading at the Giamatti Bench on the Old Campus were Bob Ackerman, Donald Dell, Mike Dickerson, Doug Guiler, Rob Hanke, Peter Knudsen, Harry Mazadoorian, Dick Sigal, Peter Wells, Rusty Wing, and honorary classmates Lynn Hanke and Carol Schaller. Bill Weber then led us in singing Bright College Years as we placed Peruvian lilies on the Bench to honor our departed friends.
Bob Ackerman, Rusty Wing, Peter Wells, President Salovey, John Wilkinson, Jim Ottaway, John Levin
It was a good reunion and Rusty Wing and Dick Sigal are to be commended and thanked for making it happen at last. Attendance was down (46 classmates, 35 spouses and friends, three widows) but the twice postponement, age, health, Covid, and fear of Covid kept many away. One of our number, who has changed nationality, did not yet have a new passport. … READ THE FULL REPORT HERE
Past Mini-Reunions
Trinity Hall, Cambridge University (September, 2019)
Photos, thanks to Dave Sampsell
Summary in YAM Class Notes, Jan/Feb 2020
Los Angeles Mini-Reunion Wrap-Up! (October, 2016)