The Class of 1964 gathered at the President’s Home on May 17, 2019 for a 55th reunion dinner. Front row, left to right: Robin Diller MacMorran, Donna Gabehart Burk, Janet Matilo Goudie, Marilyn Cramer Beattie, Phyllis Mayers Thornburg, Joan Albrecht; second row, left to right: Nancy Miller Kufchock, Joan DeShon Reichenbach, Shirley Bloomquist, Lois Skagerberg Heller; third row, left to right: Robert Hetler, Frederick Maibauer, Rosemary Zander, Carolyn Aishton Ouderkirk, Barbara Newcomb Behrmann; back row, left to right: George Croll, Denton Kime, John Lepard, Dennis Bloomquist, Carol Allman Lee.
By Joan DeShon Reichenbach, ’64
What a high! The Class of 1964 and other Milestone Reunion classes from 45 to 60 years came together in Albion May 16-19, 2019. This was just the second year the College has held reunions in the spring, and some of us were skeptical that a springtime reunion could be the usual satisfying experience of Homecoming reunions. Our concerns were allayed, however, from the kickoff “Bust Out” dinner at Baldwin Hall Thursday evening with all four classes and continuing to the final Saturday afternoon sessions, hearing from enthusiastic current students and staff about new programs on campus. With graduation over and students off to summer endeavors, some returning alums braved the dormitories while others in need of more creature comforts marveled at the handsome décor of the rooms in the new Courtyard Marriott on Superior Street. A first-class hotel in Albion? It is true and amazing.
The schedule for the two-and-a-half-day event outlined a variety of enticing options. On offer were tours, a nature walk, creating in a ceramics studio, professor and alum talks, panels with students, painting the Rock, visiting the Equestrian Center, conversations with President Mauri Ditzler and, of course, the all-important pastime for any Albion student: MEALS!
Highlights for me included the following five:
The best part of a reunion is coming together with fellow classmates. For starters, we took pride in seeing our own Bob Hetler receive the Distinguished Alumni Award after decades of dedicated service to our class and the College. Our class turned out 23 individuals not counting our spouses. We anticipated the honor of enjoying our Friday night class dinner in the president's beautiful home on Michigan Avenue. We were joined by the Class of ’74 as we reminisced and caught up with one another. Barb Stowell, wife of Doc Stowell, our beloved biology professor, attended as our guest, and we appreciated a personal warm welcome from Mauri.
Shirley (Ruemele) and Denny Bloomquist arranged a dinner on Saturday night for our class at legendary Schuler's in Marshall. We were 24 strong for this event, and prime ribs of beef was the popular dinner of choice for old-time’s sake, never mind that it is harder to digest and sleep after such a meal at our age than it was when we were young college students. Denny offered a heartfelt toast; we reflected on classmates no longer with us, welcomed special guests George and Lenore Elsener, and joked and laughed while playing a trivia game pertinent to the culture of 1964.
Brit connections were made not only with our class, but vertically, too, with the Albion grads in other classes. Our shared experience at Albion has sustained an immediate and strong bond among us throughout the country.
Thank you to Tami Rummel, Bob Anderson and the Albion staff who helped make this Milestone Reunion one to be cherished. See you in 2024 for our 60th!
Io Triumphe!
This article is an online extra to “Moments and Memories” on page 38 of the Spring-Summer 2019 edition of Io Triumphe! magazine.