Compiled by Nina Sheridan ’19
“Still the Best Old Place of All”
THE CLASS OF 1951
Princeton is “Still the Best Old Place of All,” and that’s the theme of our last formal reunion before we join the “Old Guard.” Our headquarters will be in Forbes College, and we will be wearing the same orange-and-white-striped seersucker jacket that has been our uniform for 30 years.
We will begin Thursday evening with cocktails and dinner at Morven Museum and Garden, with which our class has several special ties. Scott Berg ’71, the Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer of Lindbergh, will visit us to point out some of the highlights of Morven’s exhibit on the lives of Charles and Anne Morrow Lindbergh.
On Friday, in addition to the long list of alumni-faculty forums sponsored by the Alumni Association, we will have our own program at Forbes beginning with a “conversation” between Professor Alan Blinder ’67, former vice chairman of the Federal Reserve and author of After the Music Stopped, and Jack Bogle, founder and former CEO of Vanguard, covering current economic and financial issues. Deborah Amos, the veteran Middle East commentator for NPR, will have a “conversation” with Ray Close, former Middle East specialist for the CIA, and we will have a panel discussion on student life and attitudes — “Princeton Today” — with several students, University trustee Anne Sherrerd *87 h’52, and Vice President for Campus Life Rochelle Calhoun.
Friday’s entertainer will be Fred Miller, who will play and sing the popular songs of our student days. In the P-rade, we will be led by the Pipes and Drums of the Atlantic Watch from Red Bank, N.J. The fabulous Forbes Getaway Brunch Sunday morning will give everyone the opportunity to say goodbye.
“FiftySIXtieth Reunion”
THE CLASS OF 1956
The “FiftySIXtieth Reunion” will convene Thursday morning at our Princeton Stadium headquarters. After lunch, Lee Neuwirth ’55 will lead some of us on a tour of campus buildings to examine the unique gargoyles that he knows so well and has photographed magnificently. (Bring binoculars.) Later, Jim Freund’s wonderful quintet will serenade us all evening during cocktails, dinner, dancing, and a sing-along.
Visit your registration tent during Reunions to pick up a copy PAW’s 2016 Reunions Guide.
Friday morning we’ll be at the Chapel for our moving classmate memorial service and then move to headquarters for lunch, after which Lee Neuwirth will conduct a repeat of the gargoyles tour. Afterward, Jim Freund, Jack Fritts, Slade Mills, and their counterparts from ’81 and ’06 will hear from past and present ReachOut Fellows, and celebrate the success of the ReachOut ’56-’81-’06 college awareness, social entrepreneurship, and fellowship programs, featuring increased contributions from our inter-generational partner classes. Then we’ll move a few steps over to the Frank Gehry-designed Lewis Library for a reception while the crew sets up headquarters for a served dinner and dancing — all accompanied by the Alex Donner Band.
Throughout Reunions weekend an exhibit of artistic creations by classmates and their wives will be on display at Nassau Presbyterian Church (adjacent to Alexander Hall). There will be time Saturday morning to visit the exhibit before lunch and the P-rade, after which we’ll be at headquarters for cocktails, dinner, dancing, and the fireworks (which can be seen by simply stepping through to the stadium seating area). Music on Saturday will be by the Boilermakers Band.
We’ll say our farewells at breakfast Sunday morning at headquarters.
Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime FiftySIXtieth Reunion!
“Burning Bright”
THE CLASS OF 1961
This year, led by Joe Prather and Peter Pettibone, the Class of 1961 will be “Burning Bright” at our 55th reunion! Our theme draws upon the iconic poem The Tyger by William Blake, and Princeton’s Tiger. The poem speaks of the complexity, beauty, and power of creativity. For us, “Burning Bright” is an aspirational theme that will be reflected in a class forum, P-rade signs, and our award-winning blazers!
Our reunion headquarters will be in Scully Courtyard — familiar to our class as the site of our 40th reunion in 2001. Music will be provided by a jazz quartet led by John Simon ’63, the Herb Rose Orchestra, and by DJ Joe Cool.
The Class of 1961 lecture will be by John Milton Cooper Jr., retired professor of history at the University of Wisconsin and noted biographer of Woodrow Wilson. Professor Cooper will talk about Wilson’s legacy and what it means for us today. The lecture will take place in the auditorium in Peretsman-Scully Hall Thursday, May 26, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. All alumni/ae and guests are invited.
We have golf and tennis on tap for Friday, followed by our class forum and dinner. By popular demand, our own creative spirit, Jon Hlafter, Princeton’s architect emeritus, will again lead us on a tour of the art and the transformative new buildings on campus.
And best of all — “Sis Boom BAH!” —the Class of 1961 will step off from Nassau Hall for our 55th P-rade on Saturday! Locomotive for Eisgruber ’83!
“On the Road Again”
THE CLASS OF 1966
The Class of ’66, affectionately known as The Overall Class, takes its theme from our original beer jacket, “On the Road Again.” We are indeed on the road to our 50th reunion and to Nassau Hall. As always, the focus of the reunion will be on our classmates, their families, and friends. We will have entertainment every night beginning on Thursday. Undergrad singing groups (the Katzenjammers, Nassoons, and Tigerlilies) will perform, and there will be special campus tours and even some athletic events (a 5K run and a 3K walk).
The class produced a DVD of our first 50 years that was sent to all classmates (see an essay by Lanny Jones about the project on page 38), as well as a special reunion book and a class poll. We plan to have a symposium to discuss the results of the poll.
We also will have a memorial service at 1 p.m. Friday in the Chapel to honor classmates we have lost (they will be in the P-rade with us since all classmates are listed in the lining of our 50th-reunion jackets). They are not forgotten; when the last member of the class marches, ALL members of the class will be there.
“Celebrating the WILD Life”
THE CLASS OF 1971
The Class of 1971 will be “Celebrating the WILD Life” at its 45th reunion in Holder Courtyard, extending its “WILD Life” branding for its sixth major reunion. The Class of 1971 is known for a number of Reunions “firsts,” including: (1) first Princeton class ever to set an All-Ivy giving record (10th reunion); (2) designing the original and still ubiquitous logo’d Reunions cup 35 years ago, and since used millions of times (10th); (3) championing the Alumni Council’s “Open Reunions Policy” that opens every Reunions site to all who register, regardless of their class year, subject only to site space limits; and (4) so far, bringing three Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees to perform —Motown star Smokey Robinson (25th), “girl group” voice and Oscar-winner Darlene Love (35th), and, in partnership with the Class of ’61, Mike Love of The Beach Boys, who wrote and sang many of the iconic lyrics for The Beach Boys (40th).
The “WILD Life” Class, partnering with the Class of 1976 this time, has booked Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees for Thursday at the 45th headquarters in Holder. At 10 p.m., Creedence Clearwater, whose hits were playing when these classes walked to the Commons Dining Rooms through Holder Courtyard, and featuring the original rhythm section that powered two-sided hits and performed at Woodstock, will play music of our college years. The open-Reunions policy will be honored subject to space limitations, with general access to those with wristbands issued by other Reunions, but only through the Joline-Campbell walkway stairs, beginning at 9:30 p.m. Class members (’71 and ’76) will enter through the Holder arch nearest the church parking lot, beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Friday night is sure to be memorable, too, as Mike Love h’71 and that little beach band from California will reprise “America’s Band’s” memorable performance at 1971’s 40th reunion, playing many of the 36 Top 40 singles he sang or wrote (the “most hits by any American rock band in history”). Once again, 1971 will honor the open-Reunions policy, with general access to the site to those with wristbands from other Reunions through the Joline-Campbell walkway stairs, beginning at 8:30 p.m. Reunion registrants (’71 and satellites only) will enter through the Holder arch nearest the church parking lot, beginning at 7 p.m.
Following the headline show, the high-energy dance band The Right Mix will take the stage, covering hits from the 1970s to the 2000s. We will wrap up Saturday with the Liquid Pleasure Super Show from Chapel Hill, N.C., one of Reunions’ premier dance bands that has played for 1971 after the fireworks for the past 20 years.
Ten classmates will be panelists on various alumni-faculty forums. The class memorial service will be at 9:30 a.m. Friday in the Chapel.
For our class service project, we are supporting Community House, which was founded by members of 1971. Its mission is to assist underrepresented children in the Princeton area with educational and job assistance. Volunteers will leave from Holder at 9 a.m. Saturday and return at 10:30 a.m.
Lastly, on Friday afternoon we will cheer on two 1971 bands, Peacock Crossing and Occam’s Razor, which are competing in the annual Battle of the Alumni Bands.
“’76 Turns Forté: A little bit older, a bit wiser, a lot LOUDER.”
THE CLASS OF 1976
For our 40th reunion, our theme is “’76 Turns Forté: A little older, a bit wiser, a lot LOUDER.”
The Class of ’76 is set to smash the all-time attendance record for a 40th reunion. We welcome all classmates back to Princeton to meet old friends and make some new ones.
To feed your intellect, we will have a dozen classmates represented at alumni-faculty forums; we will have a tour of Princeton’s Revolutionary War battlefields (we are, after all, the bicentennial class); and we will hold our own debate on the policy implications of climate change. To feed your musical tastes, noted blues guitarist Terry Robb will perform Thursday night, soul band Liquid Pleasure will play Friday night, rockers The Greaseband will play Saturday night, and there will be visits from campus singing groups, including the Tigerlilies. And, of course, to feed you, we will have an off-campus dinner Thursday night, large class dinners Friday and Saturday nights, and a farewell brunch Sunday at the venerable Grad College.
If you’re thirsty, the class has custom-designed beer jackets for all adult attendees, and hand-turned, wood-fired beer steins for those interested. We also can order new jackets from our 25th for those who have, uh, lost weight since then.
The class will honor deceased members at a special non-denominational memorial service. As always, we will march enthusiastically in the P-rade, with help from our own Professor of Cheer, and with the music by students from the Hillside (N.J.) High School Marching Band.
We want all classmates to attend and offer financial aid to those who need it. So if you are feeling a little older, a bit wiser, and/or a lot LOUDER, we welcome you to the 40th reunion!
“’81 Reigns!”
THE CLASS OF 1981
It may have rained at the Class of 1981’s graduation and 25th reunion, but it is sunshine ahead at the 35th as “’81 Reigns!”
Most of the action will take place at our reunion headquarters on the green between New South and Spelman, right behind Whitman College and — appropriately — not too far away from 1981 Hall. This is a new, larger 35th-reunion site created just for us by the University after we shattered the attendance record at our 30th.
The 35th’s list of activities also is big. It kicks off Thursday evening with a wine tasting led by classmate Josh Greene, editor of Wine & Spirits magazine, then heats up later with the Urban Latin Jazz Combo. On Friday, classmates will pay respects at a memorial service at the Chapel, and listen to the student a cappella group Roaring 20 during lunch. At night they will “let their hair down” to the funkadelic sounds of the ’70s 10-piece Right On Band.”
It won’t be all “play” during the weekend. The Class of 1981 will undertake a service project to help some of those in need by improving the facility and grounds of the Education Center of the Princeton YWCA. Plus, throughout Friday and Saturday there will be a host of ’81ers sharing their knowledge on alumni-faculty forums.
At lunch Saturday, the Tigertones — also a student a cappella group — will perform during lunch. Other events include the class picture at Blair Arch (1:45 p.m.), the P-rade with ’81ers carrying umbrellas to fend off the “rays,” and a “five-star” dinner on Lake Carnegie at the Boathouse … the ultimate setting to dine and watch the amazing fireworks.
Finally, ’81ers will dance into the night to the music of Kool and the Gang! This event is open only to those with 35th-reunion wristbands, registered students and alumni children of ’81ers, and invited guests. All other events are fully open, space permitting, to the entire Reunions community. Following the performance by Kool and the Gang, there will be a BTGALA “After the Tents” DJ dance party.
This will surely be a reunion that is talked about for years to come.
“Tres Equis (XXX)”
THE CLASS OF 1986
“We don’t often get hundreds of classmates together under one tent, but when we do, we prefer the Princeton Class of ’86 30th reunion.”
Yes, the Great Class of 1986, “the most interesting class in the world,” will celebrate its “Tres Equis (XXX)” reunion this year with a fiesta eXXXtravaganza. All ’86ers —Princeton’s first class to weather the residential college system — and their guests and children will convene in Butler Courtyard (perhaps now the New, New, New Quad?). We will have fabulous dining and entertainment for Tigers of all ages.
After honoring our deceased classmates at a memorial service Friday afternoon, we will congregate for our class dinner Friday night in Butler Courtyard. On Saturday, we will convene for our class picture dressed in BYOB — Bring Your Own (25th reunion) Blazer. Our Tres Equis evening fiestas will feature Dos Equis brew and fabulous live entertainment by The Nerds (Friday night), the greatest party band of all time; and the Right On Band (Saturday night), the world’s greatest show band.
For our community-service project, the Class of 1986 will join forces with the Princeton YWCA to support those working on their high school equivalency exam. We are asking our class as well as other classes to contribute to this worthy cause.
“Tiger Regit”
THE CLASS OF 1991
The class of 1991 is only the third palindrome class in the history of the University and this provided the inspiration for our 25th-reunion theme. Our motto —“Tiger Regit” — roughly translates to “Tigers Rule” and is a palindrome in its own right. The logo includes the graphic of two tiger heads facing each other, mirroring each other in true palindromic fashion and signifying that our past and our future are equally part of who we are. The use of a repeating 1991 as a graphic element anchors our orange and black Reunions blazer, creating a design that is traditional in inspiration but completely contemporary in execution.
Our headquarters will be Whitman College, where we will fill the weekend with memorable activities for classmates and their families. On Friday morning, as part of our community-service project, we will pack meals for Kids Against Hunger, a humanitarian food-aid organization with a mandate to reduce the number of hungry children in the United States and the world. All interested alumni and their families are invited to attend the event in Dillon Gym. Friday night, we will have our class dinner at the Grad College followed by music by Derryberry & Alagia and The Breakfast Club back at headquarters.
On Saturday, our class is organizing and running the sixth annual Princeton University Reunions Run (PURR), a 5K cross-country run/walk on a cross-country course. All classes and families are invited to participate, and funds raised will be used toward the community-service project. At 2 p.m., our class will lead the P-rade with special Tiger appearances you won’t want to miss. Saturday evening will feature Three Sheets and a late-night DJ as our entertainment after the fireworks. Throughout the weekend, ’91ers will participate in the alumni-faculty forums. Lastly, kids’ activities will include arts, athletics, movies, and more.
“96teen Candles”
THE CLASS OF 1996
The Class of ’96 is blowing out “96teen Candles” for our 20th reunion! We’re moonwalking back to Little Courtyard while rocking the fringe, the jelly bracelets, the neon, the jams shorts, and the preppy polos (collars popped, of course) of the ’80s for our weekend back at the best old place of all.
We know Tigers big and small just wanna have fun, so there will be Ms. Pacman, a Temple Run obstacle course, snow cones, a magician, and even a Minecraft Cave to enjoy during the day. Later, we’ll be making like Wang Chung with the help of Reunions favorite cover band Rubix Kube and Hari Karaoke, among others!
For the ease of those with families in tow, class meals will be held in Little at our headquarters. On Friday the class will have a memorial service to remember the classmates who are no longer with us. Don’t miss our P-rade appearance on Saturday — it will be a float fit for Ferris Bueller!
“It’s a ’01derful Life”
THE CLASS OF 2001
Step back into the Princeton snow globe when the Class of 2001 celebrates “It’s a ’01derful Life.” Our own Bedford Falls will be in Wilson Courtyard and feature a winter wonderland landscape and old-timey delights for kids of all ages.
After welcome cocktails on Thursday and a picnic Friday, our class dinner will be Friday night, and there will be lunch and dinner Saturday. We will have festive music — holiday a cappella, DJs, and cover bands — throughout the weekend. You will spot classmates sporting “ugly sweaters” (attractive T-shirts!) and children — angels that they are — in halos and wings for as long as they stay on.
In honor of Jimmy Stewart ’32 and his wonderful movie, the Class of 2001 will celebrate what we’re grateful for and the eternal truth that “No man is a failure who has friends.” Book donations (a nod to Mary Hatch’s library in the film) for HomeFront NJ are very welcome. Let’s be there with bells on!
“Mad Ten”
THE CLASS OF 2006
This weekend, the Great Class of 2006 will return for the swankiest reunion this side of paradise: “Mad Ten.” Summoning the spirit of the early 1960s — cocktail cool, the British Invasion, Sterling Cooper gone AWOL — this four-day party will go down in Reunions history as the summit of stylish fun.
Mad Ten men will set the standard for sartorial splendor in white short-sleeve button downs, black skinny ties, and orange plaid shorts, while chic Tigresses will turn heads in orange funnel-neck dresses and orange-plaid scarves. Crowning both looks are sunglasses that would make Don and Betty jealous.
To explore the roots of our theme, on Friday the class will host a panel of Princeton professors and alumni discussing the tumultuous changes on and off campus during the ’60s. On Friday night, we will convene at the 10th-reunion headquarters in the Foulke-Henry courtyard for an epic drinks party and class dinner. Our class throws down like no one else, especially on the dance floor: The most popular cover band in Nashville, The Downtown Band, will light up Friday night, while on Saturday we will toast the decade of our birth with Reunions favorite Rubix Kube.
Mad Ten: Doesn’t the world look better through martini glasses?
“Apollo 11”
THE CLASS OF 2011
The Class of 2011 will blast off for its fifth reunion with the space-themed “Apollo 11” celebration in Pyne–1901 Courtyard. Classmates will be found around campus in space-age jumpsuits, beer belts, and tank tops. You may even find those of us who can’t get enough beer around our waist rocking the class’s signature Beer Tower backpack.
Fifth-reunion headquarters will kick off Thursday night with two DJ sets, followed by live band performances on Friday and Saturday night. Princeton’s very own Tigertones and other musical acts of current students will be featured throughout the weekend. The Reunions team has locked down an incredible lineup of entertainment and can’t wait to surprise the class. After a beer-filled space adventure with the Class of 2011, you might want to stay in space forever and forget about your job on planet Earth.
“Princeton, we have a problem …”
“Saluting the Humanities”
APGA
This year, the APGA will salute the Humanities, including the School of Architecture.
Once again, the APGA reunion tent will be located in Cuyler Courtyard and all graduate alumni are invited to attend. Join us for three nights of entertainment, including local favorite Brian Kirk and the Jirks on Friday night and show-stopping Ariel on Saturday night..
The APGA will kick off the weekend Thursday night with a post-Generals dinner celebration with graduate students at the Boathouse. Friday will feature a full day of programming, featuring a variety of hot topics. There will be alumni-faculty forums, APGA-sponsored events connected to the humanities disciplines, lunch, and a welcome dinner. Saturday will begin with a mimosa breakfast, followed by lunch at the APGA tent. Graduate alumni and graduate students will then march in the famous P-rade, enjoy Saturday night dinner, and watch the spectacular fireworks show. For the second year in a row, the APGA will partner with the 25th-reunion class’s community-service project to package meals for the Kids Against Hunger Coalition. Please register to volunteer.
APGA Reunions will be fun for the whole family, with activities just for kids during Saturday lunch followed by the excitement of marching in the P-rade!
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