One disruption we experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic was the postponement of milestone class reunions, including the 50th reunion celebration of the Class of 1971. This fall during Homecoming and Reunion Weekend, September 30 – October 1, members of the Class of 1971 will finally have an opportunity to reunite. They will do so alongside their brothers from the Class of 1972.
Richard Henderson ’71 has served as Class Agent for the Class of 1971 for 35 years. He recently spearheaded an extraordinary response from the class on our “Unlocking Gifts” giving day, rallying close to 30% class participation. Henderson hopes they can parlay this momentum into a big turnout at their reunion.
“According to the calendar, the Class of 1971 should have celebrated its 50th reunion last fall, in 2021,” said Henderson. “While the pandemic indeed placed an unexpected speed bump in the road, our energy was never dampened, our cohesiveness as a class was never damaged, and our loyalty to Trinity-Pawling never wavered. Rather, it only increased.”
“I am most looking forward to connecting with friends and rekindling friendships with others,” said Bob Spang ’71. “I also look forward to seeing what the campus looks and feels like since my last visit seven years ago. I hope to get to know others from the Class of ’72 and that we can inspire each other.”
Head prefect from the Class of 1971, Gregg Sanik, has again assumed the key leadership role in galvanizing his classmates. “COVID-19 turned the world upside down and attempting to gather for our 50th reunion in the fall of 2021 proved to be no exception. Perseverance and a positive attitude, however, have not only provided us with the opportunity to gather this coming fall but also to share it with a number of friends from the contiguous Class of ’72. There are indeed silver linings to unfortunate situations.”
While it will be a particularly special weekend for classes marking major milestones, this year’s Homecoming and Reunion Weekend is a celebration of all classes whose graduation years end in 0, 1, 2, 5, 6, and 7.
The weekend will include a 9-hole golf outing at Quaker Hill Country Club. There will be a guided walk on Trinity-Pawling’s new property behind the pond where alumni can hear more about the Institute for Environmental Stewardship, as well as our farming program and competitive mountain biking team. We will host a panel discussion about the new Institutes for Active Learning with current Trinity-Pawling students and alumni and hear about students’ experiences with Trinity-Pawling’s hands-on programming.
The weekend will also feature many of the traditional events of previous Homecoming and Reunion celebrations, including the Distinguished Alumni Awards, Alumni Memorial Service, The Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, and a full slate of home athletic competitions. We hope you join us to see changes on campus, enjoy food and fond memories, and reconnect with fellow alumni at Homecoming and Reunion Weekend 2022.
Mark your calendars — September 30 – October 1, 2022 — it’s going to be a REUNION TO REMEMBER! Watch your mail and inboxes— registration will open soon.
by John Newman