Dottie Werner Has Become Keeper of the Old Guard at Reunions

As the first golf cart makes its way down Elm Drive to start the P-rade on Reunions Saturday, crowds of reuners cheer on the oldest alumni in attendance. Alongside them a familiar face, Dottie Werner, marches proudly and responds to the countless calls of her name.

Throughout her 45 years at Princeton, Werner has become the keeper of the Old Guard in her role as coordinator for alumni class affairs, Reunions, and communities as part of University Advancement. Her commitment to alumni is reflected throughout the week, but especially earlier Saturday when the smiles and hugs come from every direction as Werner works the room at Forbes College, headquarters to the Old Guard and the class celebrating its 65th. Team members are also nearby asking her advice and guidance every step of the way.

“You couldn’t be involved in Reunions at some level and not know Dottie,” says Fritz Cammerzell ’72, a friend of Werner who has long been a Reunions co-chair for his class. “You find somebody like [her], and you keep them, you cherish them, you honor them because you just know how important she can be to you.”

Preparing for Reunions is a year-round project for Werner and others at Advancement. Her Saturday starts shortly after 8 a.m. at Maclean House, where she checks her email for last-minute inquiries. “The calm before the storm,” Werner says. Within 10 minutes she grabs the Class of 1923 Cane, which will be presented to the oldest living alumnus from the oldest class at the Old Guard luncheon, hops in a golf cart, and makes her way to Forbes.

Once she enters Forbes, Werner checks in with the students on her crew, pops into the kitchen to take a peek at the cupcakes, and sets up bowls of mints and orange, silver, and black beaded necklaces at the check-in table. People constantly stop to ask questions: “Do you want to assign seating?” “What time is lunch?” “Can I get a rover?” She answers them all, often saying, “Happy to solve a problem.”

“She’s a whirlwind,” Arthur Folli ’51 says.

At 11:40 a.m., Werner welcomes the Old Guard and their family members into the dining hall. As lunch winds down, President Christopher Eisgruber ’83 presents James Amick ’49 *52, 97, with the silver cane, followed by a performance from The Tigertones, which Werner pauses to take in.

“There’s a really strong connection between Princeton’s past, Princeton of the present, and the Princeton of the future, and Dottie really facilitates all of that,” says Henry Cammerzell ’25, who met Werner through his father and worked with her previously at Reunions.

Werner and her team get everyone on buses and headed to Nassau Hall for the start of the P-rade.

As the festivities begin, time seems to slow as Werner takes in the cheers, but once the golf carts pass the reviewing stand at the end of the route, Werner snaps back into action to help the Old Guard settle into their tent next to the stand.

Werner stays there until 4 p.m., when Amick and his family are ready to go. She retrieves the silver cane and gives them a ride back to headquarters. Her day isn’t over. There is still a reception and dinner and fireworks viewing on the front lawn of Forbes.

Edward "Murph" Murphy '64 

Sameer A. Khan h’21 / Fotobuddy / Princeton University

Werner started working for Alumni Records when she joined the University staff in the fall of 1980. She spent nine years there before transferring to the Alumni Council office. Back then, there was only lunch for the Old Guard, but over time the events for the group grew and so did the work. “I’m not sure how I was really tagged for this job, but it just sort of fell in my lap and I went with it,” Werner says.

In addition to arranging the Old Guard’s Reunions weekend, Werner organizes the annual Service of Remembrance on Alumni Day in February and a reception for the families who lost loved ones. She also oversees a tailgate for alumni at Homecoming and handles mailing for alumni classes and printing projects such as programs and schedules for classes celebrating major reunions.

At the core of Werner’s job is ensuring the best experience for alumni. During the weekend, some people staying in Forbes complained they were cold because the air conditioner was on even though outdoor temperatures were cool. Werner bought blankets to make sure people were comfortable. “It probably could have been easy for her to just kind of chalk it up and say, ‘Oh well, I’m sorry,’ but she was able to offer [her] own time and step away from everything to make sure that everyone was comfortable,” says Arthur Smith ’27, one of the students who worked with Werner.

Appreciation for the work Werner does seems to be universal. “You look at the role that Dottie has played and she’s just beloved, especially in her work with our Old Guard,” says Monica Moore Thompson ’89, who concluded her term as president of the Alumni Association on June 30.

Werner holds a similar appreciation for all the alumni she has worked with throughout the years. “I’ve really met some fabulous people and made a lot of really good friends,” Werner says. “I’ve been blessed to be adopted by some classes as an honorary member so that makes it even more special.”

Werner is an honorary member of 41 alumni classes between the Class of 1922 and the Class of 1993.

Although the job does bring her a lot of joy, Werner acknowledges that there is also some sadness that naturally comes with the reality of working with elderly people. “It’s hard for me when people who have been steady attendees over the years cannot come anymore because of health reasons, or we’ve lost them, but I try to focus on the upside, on the happiness of everybody,” she says.

Asked if she’s ready to retire, Werner says, “Not yet. At some point, yes. I haven’t decided on a date yet. It’s a problem because I really love what I do.”