It’s hard to do justice to our epic 35^th Reunion in the confines of a Class Notes column. At this writing, the numbers are still being tallied, but we’re likely to have mustered more than 225 classmates, breaking a record. This included some who were attending Reunions for the very first time since graduation. (See our Class Website, , for the latest news). Along with us were an impressive contingent of spouses, guests, and offspring. Conversations with the latter, many now embarking on their own grown-up lives and careers, were one of the novel delights of this milestone event. In earlier P-Rades, we bore them on our shoulders and pushed them in strollers (a few of us still are doing so). Now they stride shoulder to shoulder with us as we trade cheers back and forth with other classes.

 

A few highlights: As lightning flashed and rain cascaded down on Friday evening, we dined elegantly, comfortably, and animatedly, under a sturdy tent beside Lake Carnegie. At the podium, outgoing Class President JIM ROBINSON thanked a number of classmates who had helped make his five-year term, culminating in the Reunion, a resounding success. Among them were ALFRED GLOSSBRENNER who has overseen the launch of the Class website, and FRITZ CAMMERZELL and JONO PETERS who co-chaired the 35^th. Jim will be succeeded as President by BILL DE GOLIAN, of Atlanta. Guests at dinner included emeritus Prof. JAMES MCPHERSON, renowned Civil War historian, who joins ’72 as an honorary classmate (already proven to be an exemplary battlefield tourguide).

 

Earlier that afternoon, in our Class Meeting, Rev. DOUG WHALLON of Lexington, MA delivered a moving and worthy tribute to the eleven classmates who left us during the past five years. Their memory, and that of all our departed classmates, will be honored in perpetuity by our Class Scholarships and by the Class of 1972 Dining Room, nearing completion in the new Whitman College. Many of us were able to tour some of the site and get a peek at the Dining Room, destined to be one of the most distinctive structures and interior spaces on the Princeton campus. Thanks to Project Manager John Ziegler for this special treat.

 

In addition to enjoying each other’s good company (see photo), we entertained and enlightened the broader Princeton Reunions community as well, in various Alumni-Faculty Forums on Friday and Saturday mornings. A session on China, which included MARY WADSWORTH-DARBY on the dais, was the top draw, with 475 attendees, followed closely by a panel with ANDREW NAPOLITANO, on civil liberties, at 450. Other sessions featured MARTY FRANKS on the 2008 elections, Cong. JIM MARSHALL on Iraq and Afghanistan, and LIZ PLATER-ZYBERK on urban growth. Separately, RICH SUN chaired a panel on entrepreneurship.

 

Check the website for more details and photos, and the on-line version of our Class Book, to which all classmates are encouraged to contribute text and photos.

 

See you in September (40 years since the start of our senior year in high school).