We have a sneak peek at Andy Kaufman’s writeup on our 40th reunion for the YAM Class Notes:
Great weather, great turnout (some 240 classmates, with overall attendance of approximately 375), and unbridled energy and enthusiasm characterized our 40th Reunion in Branford College. From the opening cocktails and dinner on Thursday evening through the Sunday morning brunch in Commons, we enjoyed a grand event—to quote our classmate Bill Porter, “just the right combination of cerebral, celebratory and ceremonial.” Many thanks to our Reunion Co-chairs, Andy Kaufman and Ruth Lansner, for their tireless efforts over the last year and a half, and to the continuing support of Jennifer Julier ’77, our assigned AYA Assistant Director and her team, without whose help and direction the Reunion would not have been possible.
Our Class Panels were a particular hit among attendees. Moderated by Vera Wells and Susan Yecies, classmates Jean Brenner, Jo Brooks and Ken Freeman discussed for all our benefit many of the personal and professional challenges they have faced in transitioning to retirement from successful careers in law, government and business. Alan Yuspeh moderated the Health Care Panel, featuring presentations by physician classmates Howard Dean, Robert Inman, James Rothman, Richard Schottenfeld, Brian Strom and Francine Welty regarding current clinical and research developments in health care, a comparison of the United States and Canadian health care systems, and some of the policy considerations relating to the political, economic and social debate regarding health care in the United States. The political discussions continued at Saturday’s Panel on Current Political Issues. Led by Kurt Schmoke, classmates Carl Amento, Howard Dean and Barry Scheck addressed the roles of money and partisanship in the current political climate and their predictions regarding the upcoming 2012 elections. Many thanks to the moderators and panelists for their outstanding presentations.
Friday night we hosted our traditional Class Dinner. Ruth Lansner led the Class in a minute of silence to remember the approximately 80 Class members who have passed away. Harry Levitt and Andy Sherman presented AYA Distinguished Service awards to Tim Powell, Susan Yecies, Mitch Garner, Ruth Lansner and Andy Kaufman. Kathy Murphy and Bill Primps announced that our Class had already raised $25,578,512 for our 40th Reunion Gift (the 4th largest 40th Reunion Gift in Yale history), and that additional contributions would be accepted through the end of June. Kudos to Reunion Gift Chairs Gus and Liz Oliver and their Gift Committee for this outstanding achievement. Outgoing Class Secretary Harry Levitt and Class Treasurer Andy Sherman introduced Andy Kaufman and Katy Lewis as their successors, and Andy and Katy presented them with Yale prints on behalf of the Class in recognition of their service. The evening concluded with a performance by our Whiffenpoofs.
On Saturday morning, approximately 40 women in the Class met over breakfast and discussed the ongoing efforts to form a Yale women’s organization. Each briefly updated the group about herself, and Deborah Rothman (deborah [dot] rothman [at] aya [dot] yale [dot] edu) is organizing an e-mail list to facilitate networking among the women in the Class. Women classmates interested in adding their names to the list should contact Deborah directly.
At Saturday’s lunch, we celebrated our Class’ long-standing support of the Calvin Hill Day Care Center. Bill Porter and Kurt Schmoke recognized Connie Shapiro (Bob’s widow) and remembered Bob’s long and enduring leadership on behalf of the Center. Carla Horwitz, the Center’s Director, updated the Class on the Center’s many achievements, and Harry Levitt presented Carla with a plaque naming her an honorary member of our Class.
We enjoyed another set of songs at dinner Saturday evening by our Whiffenpoofs, followed by dancing late into the night with music from our classmate Jay Gitlin’s and wife Ginny Bales’ spectacular band. Symbolic of our Class, they get better each year!
We are assembling a photo gallery of the Reunion for posting to our Class’ website. If you have photos that you would like to submit for consideration, please e-mail them directly to Rick Cech (rcech [at] nyc [dot] rr [dot] com). All submissions should be edited, submitted in digital format only, and if sending Photoshopped items, please also send in original (e.g., RAW) format.