It was a fine event! There were 58 classmates, 72 alumni and 96 attendees altogether. Our headquarters was comfortable and resplendently decorated by Ray Fox with ficus trees, begonias, impatience and geraniums Our weekend started with cold and rain - a reminder of "the good old days on the hill." Because of the weather, we set up in our lounge for our first supper, then breakfast, and that was so comfy cozy we never used the tents outside.
On Friday there was a tour and then lunch at the Plantations - classy with a string quartet - and by then wonderful sunshine.. In the afternoon the Johnson Museum of Art welcomed our class to a tour of two exhibitions arranged for us by Barlow Ware. We saw some of the art and artifacts given by Bill (49) and Isabel Mayer Berley, and wonderful Hogarth prints donated by Barlow. Frank Robinson, director of the gallery, hosted us and led two tours of explanation. We then enjoyed a reception on the 6th floor of the Johnson, with singing by the Hangovers and the wonderful view of Cayuga Lake. Following the wining, we dined in tents on the slope, an event made very special with guests Rosa and Frank Rhodes. He is recovering well, thank goodness.
Saturday followed tradition with lunch at Barton, the Olin Lecture, then a reception on the terrace of Willard Straight , followed by dinner in the Memorial Room. Cornelliana, then singing at headquarters topped off the night. It was great to visit with everyone.
Scharlie Watson Bartter Handlan was finally not working as head of Alumni Affairs and had time to really associate with us. Gay Frederick Haney had just returned from a jaunt that took her from Florida to Maine to Sicily to Maine to Ithaca. Marjorie Knapp Barron brought her sister, Helen Knapp Ingerson (44) to lunch. Helen, another Rochestarian, has been a champion sailor on Lake Ontario for many years. Margi Schiavone Berens arrived Friday after a long day's trip from Baltimore where she had spent the week with her daughter, Julie, and son-in-law, Larry, who underwent surgery, successfully, at Johns Hopkins. Don Wilson told of his time as a Marine in the South Pacific in the area where Amelia Earhart was lost. He has spent much time, and still does, on his quest for information about her disappearance, and has written a book on his search.
Two Classmates came for the first time. Richard Tousey explained he never had time before. Irwin Gonshak returned because his daughter, Lucretia Gonshak Ryan (82) was also reunioning. Also with us were Bonnie Kauffman DelaMater's daughter, Kay; Margi Berens'daughter, Julie; and Arlie's daughter, Beth (80). There isn't room for the complete list of classmates that attended. Pete has a photo attendance list which you can see and print from our web site. For those who don't have Internet access send Pete a note and he will mail it to you.
Margi Newell Mitchell, a Co-Chair of the Cayuga Society, was delighted that our class surpassed the 55 year record of Cayuga members. Good job!
George Giroux, accompanied by his wife Mary Ellen, joined us at reunion for the fourth time, led sing-alongs, and entertained with wonderful piano playing.Ray Fox decorated every one of our venues, inside and out, with balloons and fantastic centerpieces. We are deeply indebted to him for his help. His wife, Vera Hakanson Fox, joined us at Barton for lunch. We really appreciate her sharing him with us.
Junerose Kuchler Killian was reuining with husband, Jimmie,(42} but joined us for awhile Sunday morning. She is still a strong activist for rights for the blind. Her father was the first blind person to be graduated from Cornell. There were persons we missed, some who had planned to come but had to cancel at the last minute. Past president Stu Ladow's wife was ill. Walt Cohan and Ed Gouvier couldn't come. Jane Johnson McCombs and husband Bob (51) had to cancel for health reasons, as did Muriel (Mike) and Dick (49) Brown. Mike had stenosis surgery and was not yet recovered.. Connie Foley and Carl Ferris had to decline because Carl is still recovering from transplant surgery. Dick Jones' wife was not well. Dan Belknap called with regrets - too much of a trip from California. It saddens us that fellow Rochestarian , Ruth Maltinsky, had planned to come, but is still in wheel chair and decided it was too much, too hard. Another sorrow was the announcement of the death of Hannah Haas Wedeen, our 50th reunion chairman with husband Marvin, just a week before our gathering.
For a happier reason, Betty Miller Francis was missing because she is president of the Docents of the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs and she had to chair the beginning of the year planning meeting. Betty's zoo is noted for its giraffe collection. Please plan your calendar better for our next one.
Retiring president, Herb Brinberg, ran a short class meeting at which new officers were elected: president, Pete Schwarz; vice-president, Barlow Ware; treasurer, Margaret Mitchell; class correspondent, Arlie Anderson (no assistant)
The weekend went well. We had four wonderful clerks who helped in every way possible, and much help from the alumni office staff, particularly Deanna Quvus. Reunion took us over a year to plan and yet went by in a flash. We hope all attendees and more of you besides will return in five years, in good physical and mental health. This is the final column from this dynamic duo. Next time Arlie is on her own.
* Signing off:Peter D. Schwarz, 12 Glen Ellyn Way, Rochester, NY 14618; tel, 585-244-5684; fax, 585-244-1373; e-mail, pschwarz@rochester.rr.com.
* Signing on: Arlie Anderson, 238 Dorchester Road, Rochester NY 14610; tel, 585-288-375, E-mail: Arlie47@aol.com * Class web site: http://www.alumni.cornell.edu/orgs/classes/1947/