Kept The Flame Alive!

Class of 1969 50^th Reunion 

From Steve Skinner, Wednesday, May 8, 2019

Great to see everyone who came to our 50th!

Since I didn’t take the chance to talk Friday night, I want to tell you about my dog. Rocco was the best dog ever. We adopt senior dogs and have had wonderful experiences, but Rocco was special. He was a chocolate Lab and had been abused, including being chained outside for two years. When we took in the ten-year-old, he fit right in and didn’t miss a beat. In spite of his horrible experiences, he was the happiest dog I have ever seen. He appreciated every kindness, loved riding in the car, going for walks and he waited for me to come home every night after work. With great sadness we had to put him down last month after only a three-year stay.

His infectious joy will always be remembered and as I reflected, I wanted his legacy to be that joy he shared so freely.  I often thought that I would love just once to be as happy as he was every day.  This weekend, on the fiftieth anniversary of our Lawrenceville experience, Rocco helped me realize I was and I thank you all for that.

Best wishes,

Skins

From Chris Anderson, Thursday, May 9, 2019

Wow. Beautifully said. And sentiment shared. Stop in when you're next down under.  Chris

From Alec Wiggin, Thursday, May 9, 2019

Perfect Steve.  You’re lucky to get one Rocco in life; we are lucky to have had one Rocco 50th. Wiggs. 

From Spencer Compton, Thursday, May 9, 2019

Nicely felt and expressed. It was a great weekend. Thanks to everybody.

From Al Danser, Thursday, May 9, 2019,

Thanks Skins, The Rocco story was touching and close to home. We had to part with a similar best friend black lab last February. I am still glowing from the entire weekend experience. It was amazing to see everyone and touch base after 50 years. Reunion is the perfect word for that get together.

Best to all,
Al Danser

From Lindsey Straus, Thursday, May 9, 2019

Great to see you, Chris and Steve.

Beautiful story, Steve.

From David Little, Thursday, May 9, 2019:

Thanks for sharing. Wonderful weekend visiting with you all and trying to catch up a bit. I have a new website where you may see what I have been up to: www.davidlittleart.com   

Very glad to have found a few great photos to bring home- esp one of the Lawrentians with the tall fellow in back (name? Prebich?) who played Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls. Also, one of our two soccer coaches together, King and Hart! Farewell & stay in touch, David

From Steve Swenson, Thursday, May 9, 2019
It was a great weekend.  Best to all.  Thanks.  Steve

From Andre Loh, Thursday, May 9, 2019
Wow! What eloquent thoughts about our 50th reunion. When I got home on Sunday, my family asked me about reunion. I answered that there were a lot of laughs and a few tears. It was nice reconnecting with all of you, many of whom I hadn't been that close to during our time at Lawrenceville. I guess that time really has mellowed us.

It was great seeing all of you and hopefully we'll do it again in 5 years.

From Christopher Hill, Thursday, May 9, 2019

To all,

I am sorry to not have been able to share the weekend with my maturing classmates.  I am just completing a move to the Big Island of Hawaii, a work of joy to be sure.

But I live in a farmhouse that is my age in Captain Cook, HI.  It is not the Hilton, but it is totally comfortable and Hawaii is about the outdoors not the indoors.  I mention this because anyone reading this from our class is welcome to have a place to stay should you ever wander into paradise.  At the very least, if you are here, look me up.

Mahalo, Mole (Christopher Hill) 303-651-1262

From Charlie Terry, Thursday, May 9, 2019

All:  What a great time at the reunion. First off, thanks to Diane for having everything perfectly arranged ... so that we old farts (most without our spouses) could find our way around and know what to do next!  It was wonderful renew and make new friends amongst you old guys. 

I did post on the lawrencewille69.org web site the link to the survey results. The link below will get you to: The full survey, Doc with all the text comments from you, the PowerPoint deck I used. Thanks to everyone who took the survey... lots of heart felt comments and fodder for me to make the presentation fun. 

Link: bit.ly/lville69

From Spencer Compton Thursday, May 9, 2019

Great job, Charlie. So much fun!  Thanks for your efforts. 

From Brent Hyder, Thursday, May 9, 2019

You guys - I’m resisting you all or y’all - I guess this is our echain for follow up thoughts... thank you for coming and just being there. I loved the reconnecting. I’m definitely coming back to our next gathering.

Brent and Elisabeth

From Jay Schrade, Friday, May 10, 2019

Brent, Is "all y'all" the proper term to use in this case? Jay

From Rocky Barber, Thursday, May 9, 2019

Hopefully we will all be there.  (Hopefully not famous last words).

From Henry West, Thursday, May 9, 2019

Time goes by so fast. A week ago already, we gathered in Princeton alongside the class of ‘64 and I couldn’t help thinking “Most of these guys look old. Not us!”  See y’all in 5 and hopefully some of you sooner. Henry

From Steve Swenson, Thursday, May 9, 2019

Great bourbon, Henry.  Thanks. Steve

From Tony Clarke, Thursday, May 9, 2019

Well-spoken Skins! I think it is often the simple from the heart connections that are the most meaning-full and your connection with Rocco reflects that. I enjoyed connecting with many at the reunion and only regret that there were many more I missed.

From Richard DeVeaux, Thursday, May 9, 2019

Ok. I have to pipe in. It was a fantastic weekend hanging out with all of you. I can’t remember when I’ve had as much fun — and with a bunch of old guys (plus Lindsay :) to boot. Seriously, great to see everyone. We need to have some local events before 2024. I’ll talk to the East Coast crowd to try to arrange something.

Cheers! Dick

From Charles Blair, Friday May 10, 2019

A great weekend! I really enjoyed seeing everyone, and seeing the campus again and how it’s changed. Kinda surprised me a bit. Definitely need to do this again before 5 years.

from Don Kao, Saturday, May 11, 2019

Hi everyone,

Though my twin brother Dan and I were only at Lawrenceville for one very challenging year, I was particularly moved by all of you at our 50th Reunion, a number of you I have only really gotten to know during these wonderful Reunions.  

Which is incredibly clear was during that year of 1969, a time when so many important movements and events were taking place all around us, we unknowingly embraced those events and embraced one another and created an everlasting sensibility and culture that was all about building community and supporting one another.  

To those of you who I had the privilege I’m speaking to one on one last weekend I have been humbled and feel honored to have experienced your stories, your challenges your struggles and you are amazing abilities to “come home” to recall, rekindle and sustain all that was so important to all of us some 50 years ago.

I thank all of you for “bringing me back” to Lawrenceville and re-capturing a time that has been so important for all of us.

Don - 917.749.6116

Don continues:

Hi again, And my apologies for my phone uncanny ability to prematurely send my emails before I have the chance to edit my thoughts.

Hopefully you got the jist of what I was sharing.  That said, I am in NYC and much of my work is reflected in the 35 years I have been at Project Reach, a multiracial, multi-gender youth and adult anti-discrimination training and drop-in Center.  (see www.projectreachnyc.org).  My year at Lawrenceville and the subsequent years at UW Madison played a key role in informing the work that I do today.  

As an Asian gay man living with AIDS for the past 34 years, raising a 2-year old, now 42-year old daughter, grandfather of 3 boys and partnered with my amazing partner Nicholas, I thank Lindsey for her bravery in coming out and for all of you in recognizing and supporting the incredibly diverse identities which make our Class of 69 so unique.

If you are ever in New York, need a place to stay, or would like to grab lunch or dinner, please don’t hesitate to contact me.  

Thank you again for an amazing 50th reunion, and thank you Diane! That we may all be getting on in years, I feel that we as a class of 69 are just beginning the next chapter in our lives and I thank all of you for including me!

Don  - 917.749.6116

Reflections on our 50^th Reunion: Musings from Down Under from Chris Anderson, Monday, May 13, 2019

I know it would be difficult for all of you to appreciate what it was like for me to come to Lawrenceville and be a part of our 50th reunion. Perhaps the most significant observation was that the high school part of my life is no longer part of my life. This wisdom came during the many conversations I had with Rocky or Earl, I can't remember who (might have something to do with Henry's bourbon at Earl's Friday night till 1 a.m.). Meaning to say, I do not have any support group with whom to share stories of classmates or teachers or classes or sporting triumphs or defeats. My life sort of started over again from the age of 22. My previous life has been reduced to basic descriptions without the minute details. 

Saying that, I never felt any regret. That's just the way things were. And I was too engrossed in the excitement of life in Australia to feel any loss. Diving on the Barrier Reef, living on the edge of the rainforest, growing our own food, our children running naked through the gardens on our farm in what I term as my "Peter Pan" days. Nearest neighbors were 1.5 miles away. Wife, kids, jobs in horticulture leading eventually to my own business.... I'm sure there are those of you can relate to all this in some way or other.

Yet they say one never escapes their past. And so it was that I felt compelled (with a firm push from some) to attend this amazing event for the first time. Fantastic.

Many of you I never knew before. Many stories I had never heard before. This gathering was a time of laughter and revelations and memories, undoubtedly helped by Henry and Jay during the Derby. I thanked Diane for her great effort, she was glad to help even though we broke the rules, I asked why should we change? She liked that.

Howie could not recall where that photo of Suzanne came from, Dave could not remember that time in Greenwich Village, Tom could not remember the darts in his leg playing chicken, Brent couldn't recall passing bottles of booze between cars at 90mph - the next time I see you guys you'll probably think we meet for the first time!

And many of you said I had shown you places in NYC that accepted fake ID's for serious drinking. Really? I don't remember that. I should have been a tour guide. 

Infectious good will from Harry, Alan, Dick, Lindsey, Allen. I respect that you have come to this stage of life happy. Alec a true gentleman, like Tony, content in success in a small business (like me). Seabury found his calling in tennis - so lucky to be doing that which gives him pleasure. And Bill, and Chuck, and Spencer, and on and on.

Funny that some of the most relaxed conversations were on Sunday morning during the brunch. All the formal events were over. Charlie and I talked of our daughters, photos passed, others arrived and the talk segued effortlessly. I wouldn't have missed that weekend for the world.

If you're down my way, stop in.  Chris

P.S. There's always a post script. Last Monday I went to the Met, found it closed for the Gala charity event. Walked up to the Guggenheim, found it partially closed for repairs. Disappointed and on my way out, I ran into Bob and Christina Nagle. Ended up having a long lunch together. Never would have happened without the reunion.  

Reflections on our 50^th Reunion: Show Up at Alumni Weekend Next Year?

from Charlie Terry - Fri, May 17, 2019

Chris et al - it really was a great time and great note to all! 

The reunion has me listening to 60’s music and wondering how to keep the spirit alive and not falling back into 2019’s day-to-day routines and habits. I’m also fantasizing another cross country trip perhaps on a motorcycle. (Did cross-country trip in 1969 with Danny Custer but in an el Camino...). 

Perhaps we all should just show up at alumni weekend next year instead of waiting 5 years.

Cheers all!  -Charlie

From Bill Barker, May 17, 2019

We could probably find a band!

From Tom Kline, Sunday, May 19, 2019

Class of '69 - Interlopers R us. It was great to be with everyone. I look forward to being back in May 2020 and beyond. Tom