September 2019
Dear “We Are Family” Classmates, aka ‘79ers,
To the 430 classmates who helped us break the record for attendance at a 40th Reunion, are you still basking in the glow? I know I am! It’s interesting to reflect on the takeaways from our last two major Reunions. The 35th proved to be cathartic for many, as we shared some of the difficulties, not just successes, of our lives. And the 40th demonstrated our ability to bond as a class, to celebrate 40 years of friendship to prove that the “We Are Family” theme was much more than a logo. “We Are Family” was so successful that it will be incorporated into our Reunion themes going forward.
To our great pleasure, we pulled in overflow crowds at our two dance parties! It turns out that the Senior class and younger classes were connected by a social media platform, and the prevailing theme was “Go to the 40th”!!! Did any of us go to the 40th when we were seniors? Doubtful! So ’79 proved to be not only the “Great Class of 1979” but also to be a class that knows how to throw a party!
Many thanks to those of us who served on the 40th Reunion Committee, especially its Co-chairs, Prentis Hall and Lonny Behar. They all planned and organized an amazing weekend. I would also extend gratitude to the officers who have served for the past five years (or more) and are taking a step back from class activities: our Vice-President Bob Largey, our Treasurer James Tsui, and our Memorialist, Kathy Stark. We give a warm welcome to our new officers, who join our returning ones. Here’s the list of all the class officers for the next five years:
• | Phil Hueber, President |
• | Prentis Hall, Vice President |
• | Bruce Petersen, Treasurer (welcome!) |
• | Kathryn Reimann, Co-Secretary |
• | Mary Bechmann Co-Secretary (welcome!) |
• | Jane Abernethy, Co-Memorialist (welcome!) |
• | Steven Bingaman, Co_Memorialist (welcome!) |
• | Hank Lubin, Web Master |
• | Rick Grove, Class Agent |
• | Don Seitz, Class Agent |
• | Tony Rodriguez, Fli Tigers & ’79 Friends Mentoring (welcome!) |
• | Lonny Behar, Co-Social Media Chair |
• | Mimi Chen, Co-Social Media Chair (welcome!) |
• | Gary King, Past President and Class Historian |
What a group! We are committed to continuing to build on the success and legacy of all the officers who have served before us. When I joined the officer crew five years ago, I had no idea how rewarding it would be. My fellow officers and I had the unexpected side benefit of making new, life-long friends. Now to serve as Class President, a position I consider to be an honor and a privilege is humbling.
The officer group will continue to focus on key class matters, including our continued record-breaking fund-raising, communications through PAW, our new class web site, social media, email and “snail” mail, financial management and recognition of classmates we’ve lost. But what we do best is have fun! There’s an exciting slate of class and University events planned for this year. Attend one, some, or all, and be inspired by connecting with the ’79 family:
• | October 3 – 5, Princeton: Black Alumni THRIVE conference |
• | October 26, Princeton: Homecoming vs Crimson (just can’t spell the actual name), including our annual tailgate party behind Cap & Gown |
• | November 8, New York City: Tiger Entrepreneur Conference, led by Don Seitz, at the Altman Building on 18th St between 6th and 7th, all day |
• | November 8, New York City: PANYC Party at Norwood Club to be joined by ’78, ’80, ’81, and ‘82 in a private room |
• | November 9, Yankee Stadium, The Bronx: Dartmouth vs Princeton football, celebrating 150 years of football (of course, we played the first game in history!). We have a block of seats reserved. |
• | February 22, Princeton: Alumni Day |
• | March (date TBA), New York City: a Spring party at Norwood |
• | May 28 – 31, Princeton: Our “We Are Family“ 41st Reunion with catered lunch at Dial Lodge prior to the P-rade |
Two weeks ago you received a letter from Bruce Petersen encouraging you to pay your class dues. While voluntary, we do rely on class dues to pay everyone’s PAW subscription and to pay for our class events and parties. We also encourage you to plan your own class events in your regions – and you will be reimbursed for any reasonable expenses!
I will close with special kudos to Tony Rodriguez for leading the creation of the “Fli (First Generation/Low Income) Tigers & ’79 Friends” Mentoring Program. Many of us were volunteer mentors to 100 students over this summer-what an inspiring and rewarding experience it was to connect with these remarkable students. My mentee, Diamond Acharya, is a remarkable young man who came to Princeton from a remote village in Nepal-talk about experiencing another world! The Mentoring Program is poised to be a class legacy project that will serve students in perpetuity. Well done!
With a ’79 Locomotive Cheer!