In September, our School had the pleasure of welcoming our alumni from the Class of 1948 to the Class of 2018 for one of our School’s most joyous celebrations, Homecoming and Reunion Weekend.
The reunion kicked off with a special Honor Guard Pre-Event Reception, specifically honoring the classes celebrating their 50th reunion and beyond. Amidst an uplifting atmosphere, Head of School Bill Taylor officially welcomed the Class of 1973 to the Honor Guard, acknowledging their longstanding support and impact on our School. A special tribute was also paid to Joe Callo ’48 and John Daniels ’48 (not in attendance), honoring their 75th reunion!
As the sun set Friday evening, our alumni assembled under the tent behind Gamage House, enveloped in the glow of a bonfire and torches. Inside the tent, guests were treated to delectable cuisine and beverages, accompanied by an eclectic blend of music from across the decades provided by our in-house DJ Head of School Bill Taylor.
Kicking off day two, our alumni guests, alongside the entire student body and faculty, assembled in Gardiner Theater to honor the many successes of our alumni through our Distinguished Alumni Awards. This year’s Distinguished Alumni Awardees were Thomas F. Ahrensfeld ’73, G. Christian Roux ’73, and Christopher S. Wren ’53. They were lauded for their exceptional commitment to Trinity-Pawling School and remarkable accomplishments in their respective fields. Following the ceremony, a thought-provoking panel discussion featuring Mr. Ahrensfeld and Mr. Roux offered insights into how the invaluable lessons learned at Trinity-Pawling have shaped their lives. Watch the Distinguished Alumni Awards Ceremony here.
The celebrations continued with the induction ceremony for our Athletic Hall of Fame and the inaugural Arts Halls of Fame. As our School’s first dedicated art teacher, no person deserves to be the Arts Hall of Fame inaugural inductee more than Edwin G. “Ned” Reade III. Mr. Reade served Trinity-Pawling for 45 years as an award-winning teacher, honored coach, dorm parent, advisor, and mentor. Following the Arts Hall of Fame Induction was the induction of multi-award-winning football player Charles Sticka ’52, lifelong racquet sports player and notable sports writer David C. Lott ’68, and Trinity-Pawling’s first Founders League Lacrosse Champions the 2008 Lacrosse Team into our Athletic Hall of Fame. Watch the Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony here.
Moving on down to Coratti Field, the alumni, current parents, and students united in spirited support for the Pride football team as they went head-to-head with Hotchkiss School. Despite an early lead in a fiercely contested, rain-soaked game, our team narrowly succumbed to a 15-16 defeat, evoking an atmosphere of resilient camaraderie and sportsmanship. Post-game, the alumni reassembled in the Alumni Room of Smith Field House for the All-Class Farewell Reception, where they enjoyed refreshments, hors d’oeuvres, and heartfelt farewells, before embarking on various class activities, including dinners in the town of Pawling and private gatherings.
The Class of 1973 culminated their weekend with an intimate 50th Reunion Dinner, hosted by the Head of School at Gamage House. Amidst heartfelt speeches and shared memories, class members presented Tom Ahrensfeld ’73 and Chris Roux ’73 with special tokens of gratitude, symbolic of their enduring dedication to Trinity-Pawling and their unyielding camaraderie as Trinity-Pawling brothers.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all who traveled from near and far to join us. For those unable to attend, we missed your presence and eagerly anticipate your participation in the upcoming 2024 Homecoming and Reunion Weekend, scheduled for September 27-28, 2024.
Check out the full 2023 Reunion and Homecoming Weekend photo gallery!
by Tom Javery