50^TH REUNION. . . May 19-22

Our 50^th Reunion brought together 23 Women of ’72 – more than a third of our total number – to celebrate friendships old and new, and the remarkable women we’ve become 50 years into our life journeys.

We’ve come a long way since chance events at our 45^th – and the personal stories we shared while clustered together (for warmth!) during our rainy brunch – seeded our growing online community.  And five years later, many of us indeed came a long way to be part of our 50^th  – across the miles, from Jerri in Japan, to Carol in the U.K.  As well as across the years—including Vera returning to campus for the first time since graduation!

Our Saturday morning brunch – this time graced by sunshine and framed by a new Women of ’72 banner – was a special treat for all.

Brunch attendees included: (standing in photo L-R) Barbara Julius, Priscilla Stumm, Dotty Kemper, Claudia Tesoro, Carol Rahn, Larissa Brown, Susan Squier, Jackie Ariail, Jerri Donovan, Patricia (PB) Romines, Holly Lovejoy, Judith White, Chris Van Horne; and (kneeling L-R) Helene Fromm, Pam Lloyd Coulter, Mary Baldwin, Diana Foster, Sherry Strasser Boswell, Daryl English.  Missing from the group photo are: Chris Loomis and Helena Novakova (who had to leave early for other functions), Vera Marcus (arriving later from another commitment), and Mary Darby (stranded at the boathouse following the crew reunion that morning).  Class Associate Mara Melum ’73 and Chris Robinson ’73 H’72 also stopped by.

Then there was that wave of cheers propelling us across the years and decades along the entire P-Rade route!  Whoever would have guessed it even possible to top the excitement we experienced marching impromptu behind our first Women of ’72 banner at our 45^th.  This felt even more amazing!  And what added fun to see the surprise and joy on the faces of classmates marching with us for the first time, behind our new banner!

As Patricia (PB) commented later, “we all seem to agree that the highlight of the reunion was reconnecting - or connecting - with our women classmates and WALKING BEHIND THAT BANNER!  What a high that was!” 

Reflecting on our 50^th experience…

Everyone is invited to record their thoughts about this unique event in our lives.  Just click on “Add Message” below – or you can ask your editor to do it for you, whatever’s easier!   Impressions, sensations, thoughts and feelings, highlights of conversations and other encounters, whatever you’re moved to share about this special occasion to come together as women classmates.

For now, enjoy these thoughtful words from a few more of us who were there.

Priscilla Stumm – It was a spectacular weekend and no one who was lucky enough to be there will soon forget it. 

Chris Loomis – [This was] a tremendous and lifelong gift -- getting us together to renew and begin extraordinary relationships. 

Pam Lloyd Coulter – The in-person dynamics were priceless in terms of getting to know each other and engaging/reengaging with the Class and with Princeton. I’m hoping through Class events on campus and not (our class trips are indeed amazing) and [our women’s pages on the website], we can all enjoy the fruits of [this community] in the coming months and years, even if we can’t easily come together physically.

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50th Reunion Speakers Program

Rod McNealy hosted a series of presentations by class members on a number of subjects of great interest during the 50th Reunion. The presentations can be access here.