Reunions 2005 is quickly becoming a memory as I type this one day after all the festivities have concluded. We had a total of 865 alumni registered for Reunions 2005, spanning from the 70th reunion to the new 2005 grads. As I made my rounds checking on our various events, it was great to see Reedies of all ages enjoying themselves back on campus.

We were very pleased to start the weekend with the first-annual Reunions convocation featuring Richard Danzig ’65 as keynote speaker. Friday night there were 12 class dinners, the largest the 10th reunion for 1995 with 57 attendees. Reunions concluded with the all-class luau on Saturday night, kicked off by the parade of classes and, of course, Mike Teskey, director of alumni relations, leading the way in a golf cart with bull horn in hand. We were lucky enough to have sunshine for both these outdoor events in a week that was book-ended by much rain.

Just as it takes a village to raise a child, it took the entire Reed community of alumni, staff, faculty, and student workers to make Reunions 2005 such a wonderful memory. So thanks go out to all involved for all their hard work and care during (and leading up to) a week of celebration.

I enjoyed brief chats with many alumni. Alison Baker ’75, co-chair for the 30th class committee, suggested that we turn the back lawn into assisted living as a place for Reedies to return. And I had a long talk with Richard Morgan ’60 who described coming back to campus for Reunions as a “redemptive experience.”

Reunions 2006—a dash of food and a pinch of science— will be held May 30–June 4. And that brings me to my final thought about Reunions: it is just like making stone soup; everyone contributes a small part to create a fabulous feast made better by the combination of all the ingredients and spices brought to the table. Think about joining us next year and bringing along your own special contribution.

View more 2005 reunion highlights.