35th Reunion Newsletter (April 13th)

Hello HR’81 Classmates!
We can’t wait to see you at our 35th Reunion!!!

COME TO REUNION!! We are less than TWO months away – you can register on our website. Our goal: the biggest participation by every measure. Why come? Think: All-Inclusive-Resort / World Affairs Summit / Arts, Writing, Music & Storytelling Festival crossed with Senior Week.

Class ’81 is truly extraordinary. We keep saying it – but consider this: our class has made the unprecedented move of raising additional funding from a small group of classmates to cut everyone’s registration cost in half, so all classmates can attend. And if that amount is still beyond reach, we have full subsidies. Think about what that generosity says about who we are as a class, and share in that spirit.

If you haven’t been to a reunion yet or stayed in touch, this would be a great time to find out who your classmates have become – it’s an extraordinarily welcoming group. We have designed a reunion – see the details – like none other – festive, relaxed, inclusive, intellectually stimulating and personally inspiring. We hit the ground running on Wednesday afternoon with our Impact! Classmate Discussions – see more below.

Be part of it. We are trending towards a record turn-out already! 

Join us!!
Susan Israel, Barbara Watson, Guy Fish, Patric M. Verrone, Kate Elliott Smith, and the Reunion Committee

Class Works:

Please send us images of your creations to share at the reunion: Complete this easy online form to share your work. Questions? Want to help? Email Patric Verrone.

  • Digital images of art & design: Photographs, paintings, architectural designs, sculptures, etc.
  • Video clips: Musical recordings, film, and performances
  • Clips from motion pictures, TV shows, and theatrical productions
  • Links to articles, blogs, and electronic publications
  • Images of covers (or publication info) of books, recordings, films, and software
  • Images of inventions, gadgets, and built works

Programming:

We have dynamic class discussions, roundtables, panels, and workshops led by classmates from many fields.  We also have personal stories, music, art, poetry, open mic, stories from Hollywood, a memorial service, relaxed dinners where you can mingle or dance all night (gone are the banquet tables!), and sports and small group meet-ups by interest.

WED programming, 2-5 pm: Impact! Classmate Discussions :  These interactive discussions will be running on parallel tracks (health care, sustainability, and social impact).  Volunteer to speak (email Kate Elliott Smith) or come be a gadfly in the audience:

  • The New Global Health:  It’s Not Just for Doctors  (Vivian Lee, Andy Pugh, Marilyn Butler, Lisa Hirschhorn, Brian Mullaney)
  • Improving Population Health (Dayna Bowen Matthew, Karen Scott)
  • Silence = Death: HIV/AIDS and the class of 1981 (Dave Margolis, Jeff Burack, Lisa Hirshhorn, Ben Schatz, Ann Stapleton)
  • Sustainable Cities (Cara Seiderman, Alberto Knoepfler, Roger Platt, Vince Marazita, Jennifer Hernandez,)
  • Sustainable Energy Policy (Morry Cater, Clair Mays Poumadere, Dave Smith)
  • Envisioning and Contributing to the Future of Education (Judy Bigelow, Chris Gabrieli, Nancy Northrop, Chris Owens, Felisa Tibbetts)
  • Social Equity (Dayna Cunningham, Clinton Collins, Maria Imperial)

Volunteers Needed!

Singers:  The 35th Reunion Choir will lead hymns and sing several anthems at the Memorial Service, including “The Mountain Top,” an original piece composed by our classmate, Chris Owens, in memory of our deceased classmates. Classmates, spouses and friends are welcome to join the choir, and all voice parts are needed. Music will be sent out in late April and a rehearsal will be held Thursday evening May 26 ahead of the service at 9 am Friday May 27. Please contact Susie Kendall with your name and voice part, or with questions. We are looking forward to singing with you!

Small Group Meet-Ups: Volunteer to be the point person for casual meet-ups to run, walk, practice yoga, learn intro martial arts, play foosball, row, swim … or listen to the Grateful Dead! Email Kate Elliott Smith.

Creative Table Tops: Would you like to help create photo and journal table tops? Contact Guy Fish.

College photos: Please send photos to Joe McDonough.

Getting to Cambridge

Cost-subsidies for registration and housing are available to any classmate needing assistance to attend. Look for the subsidy code on the registration form, or contact the reunion office for more information.

Frequent flyer point share: Do you have or need points? Let us know.

Pre-Reunion Gatherings:

Come to a pre-reunion party or host one. Contact Barbara Watson.

  • April 16, 6:30-10:30 pm in the Washington, D.C. area: classmates, cocktails, heavy hors d’oeuvres in Bethesda, MD. Hosted by Vivian Riefberg and Byrne Murphy. RSVP/questions to Becky Fassio.
  • April 20, 7 pm in the Miami area: gathering for classmates in Coral Gables, Florida. Hosted by Nathan Leight, Albert Knoepffler, and Norbert Seals. RSVP/questions by April 13th to Nathan Leight.
  • April 20, 7-9 pm in London: pre-reunion European reception for alumni in the classes of 1981-1986. Hosted by Libby Pierpont Engstrom and Beth Pryor Colocci ’86, MBA ’90. RSVP/questions to to Becky Fassio.
  • April 25, 6:30-8:30 pm in New York City: help us to celebrate and kick-off the upcoming reunion by reconnecting with classmates for a cocktail party featuring remarks from Philip W. Lovejoy, Executive Director of the Harvard Alumni Association. Hosted by Ted Janulis, Beatrice Liu, and Lisa Roumell. RSVP/questions to Becky Fassio.

Join the HR1981 community online & submit Late Class Reports:

Any questions?

Feel free to contact us.

1981 Reunion Planning Committee:

George Alex, Arthur Anton, Jessica Banthin, Stephanie Breslow, Alison Brown, Heather Bryant, Leslie Coolidge, Christiane Cuse, Daphne de Marneffe, Carlos Del Valle Jr., Cheryl Dixon, Amy Edmondson, Louis Edozien, Elizabeth Engstrom, Andrea Esposito, Guy Fish, Sara Frankel, Christopher Gabrieli, Russ Gershon, Jacqueline Grazette, Jennifer Hernandez, Timothy Higginson, Susan Hill, Jeffrey Horwitz, William Iselin II, Susan Israel, Stewart Kagan, Alexander Kemp, Susan Kendall, Alberto Knoepffler, Marilyn Kramer, Arthur Kyriazis, David Lawrence, Vivian Lee, Nathan Leight, David Mahoney, Vincent Marazita, David Margolis, Charles Marshall, T. Mauro, Claire Mays Poumadere, Joseph McDonough, Eric McKisick, Lance Miller, Olivia Moorehead-Slaughter, Kevin O’Sullivan, David Otto, Chris Owens, Gina Pagonis, Alison Renteln, Vivian Riefberg, Laura Riley, James Rosenfeld, John Ryan Jr., Jennifer Saal, Benjamin Schatz, Dan Scherlis, Karen Scott, Willa Silverman, Siri Smedvig, Kate Elliott Smith, Richard Smith Jr., Joseph Somers Jr., Danguole Spakevicius, Nancy Staples, Paul Tange, Felisa Tibbitts, Christopher Trakas II, Noreen Verbrugge, Patric Verrone, Stephen Warnke, Barbara Watson, James Whiting, Caroline Cunningham Young, Steven Zelinger, Bonnie Zimering Bottoms