Preparing for our 50th Reunion
June 7-10, 2012
Report #1 of the Planning Committee

Your 50th reunion committee: Ruth Bleyler, Nancy Clark, John Lowrie, Frank Quirk, and Alex Vollmer met in Ithaca in April for our initial planning meeting. Other classmate volunteers are actively at work on key projects like class history (Judy Rich and Peter Slater), registration (Don Juran), web (Alan Flaherty) and affinity groups (Jon Hinebauch).

We're getting started with special activities, including a repeat performance by the Backtalk Band and a symposium built around a theme such as "50 years out and moving into our 70s."  We'll be housed during Reunion in Court Hall, one of the new North Campus freshman dorms, with air conditioning and elevator service.  We'll have memorable meals, lots of social activities and Cornell's famous reunion agenda.

However, the heart of a reunion is bringing current friends together and renewing old friendships. Recognizing that, we thought it was worth sharing some words from John Neuman, written after our 45th Reunion:

Why do we reunite? What do we get out of it and what do we give? Perhaps part of the answer stems from how our "at-the-beginning-friends" allow us to review the span of our lives. We know without thinking about it, that we all share more than just our early years, for we also share every major event that has occurred in the 50 years since:  9/11, the Vietnam War, the Great Recession, Desert Storm/Iraq, JFK, the walk on the moon, births, marriages, illnesses, promotions, trips after retiring, etc. etc. We also discover that each of these big events has affected each of us somewhat differently and we are fascinated by the differences …. we learn from the differences…… we are challenged by the differences  

We have the chance to revisit and relive the close friendships with the very people we were so close to during those oh so emotionally vulnerable years, when we experienced some of our highest highs (and lowest lows)….and some of our most embarrassing moments. It is a time together now when we can rekindle feelings long ago forgotten, perhaps buried, and share them with those who may be the most able to really understand and respect them.  

John's point about friendship (old and new) being the driving force behind the reason most people attend a reunion is right on, as so many attendees have said at previous '62 reunions. So before too many current friends fill up your June 2012 calendar make a note that you are saving June 7-10, 2012, to get together with friends that go back 50 years.  As one attendee said at our 45th: "I wish I hadn't waited 45 years to do this".  

If you would like to become personally involved in an activity, send Ruth Bleyler (rzb3@cornell.edu) a message to volunteer on one of the committees or to just let her know that you'll be there in 2012 (that would help with our planning and she would love to hear from you). While you have your computer open bookmark our website (classof62.alumni.cornell.edu) for the latest information about Cornell and our 50th Reunion.

See you in less than three years!

September 22, 2009