Class of 1962
50th Reunion – May 31-June 3, 2012

Dear Classmates & Friends:

The time for registration for our 50th Reunion is at hand.

Accompanying this letter is the AYA Reunion Registration Package. We will be in Davenport College. Sign up for an exciting time with old friends and new friends, class activities, lectures by the best of Yale’s professors, and a variety of programs for your enjoyment. And see and tour the new Yale of 2012. I encourage you to register now.

Plan on arriving on Thursday, May 31. We have special events planned for an exciting kick-off on Thursday afternoon. David Swensen, Yale’s Chief Investment Officer, will meet privately with our class at 2:30 pm for his informal off-the-record comments and perspectives on Yale’s endowment and investment philosophy now and for the future.

Following this we will have two stellar events to choose from: Alex Garvin will lead a walking tour to “revisit New Haven” and how it has changed since we graduated. And Ed Goodman will chair a panel of classmates on the Financial Debacle and the lessons learned or that should have been learned.

On Friday, in addition to AYA’s always stimulating lectures by Yale professors, we have four class panels planned and coordinated by David Scharff, including a discussion of national environmental policies and progress over the last 30 years led by Ed Strohbehn (one of the founders of the Natural Resources Defense Council); a discussion of “China Rising” led by Tony Carbone (retired from Dow) and attorney Jack Pirozzolo (both with many years of business experience in China); “What Are We Doing Next?” led by Bob Titus (who has participated in Yale-inspired charitable work in Latin American and elsewhere); and “Careers” chaired by Tim Hall and Clay Alderfer (both professor and prolific authors on business management and careers).
 
On Friday afternoon Rev. Peter Sipple has organized a Memorial Service at Battell which will honor our deceased and feature prayers, readings and singing by classmates.

Later on Friday we will have a special class reception at the Yale Art Gallery. Celebrate the construction of an entirely new gallery and sculpture terrace donated by our classmate Steve Susman. After dinner we will have entertainment at the University Theater. Chairmen Bill Weeden and David Finkle are putting together a fun time which will feature their class songs, Sam Waterston, the ’62 Whiffenpoofs, Phil Proctor and more.

On Saturday morning Al Chambers will present the results of our joint class survey with Smith College. A report on the survey will be distributed when you register on arrival. Al will analyze and discuss our current responses, and contrast them with those by Smith, and will also summarize 25 years of data on our lives for us to savor or question. This should provoke a lively discussion. Smith’s Celine Sullivan will join us to keep Al honest.

I also remind and encourage you, if you have not already done so, to complete the 50th Reunion survey. All you need to do is click through to www.Yale62.org/50thSurvey and put in the password yale1962. The more classmates who take the anonymous survey, even if you cannot attend the Reunion, the better the data and the opinions will be. I will arrange to have Al’s report on the survey mailed after the Reunion to all who could not attend.

On Saturday afternoon we have a special class session planned: “What Yale Means to Me” led by Lee Patterson and Lance Liebman. After initial presentations we will divide up into small groups to share and compare experiences. David Scharff, Lance and Lee are looking for a few more volunteers to be group leaders. Don’t be shy. Contact David if you are interested.

Also on Saturday President Levin will address the assembled reunion classes on the current state of Yale and his plans for the future. Following the President’s speech a singing jamboree will be held in Woolsey Hall.

All of our dinners will be buffet style under the tent in Davenport. Saturday’s class dinner is no exception. It will feature singing by the class Glee Clubbers, election of new officers, some awards, dancing to the music of our own Joe Holmes Swing Band, socializing and celebrating.

Lots more is planned. Ed Rowan is organizing and gathering books for a class author’s display. This exhibit will be held at the Memorabilia Room of Sterling Memorial Library throughout the reunion (except on Sunday). In addition, Dixie Carroll is doing the same for art, photography, sculpture and music presentations. His exhibition will be staged in Davenport and open during the entire reunion.

Reports from Ed Rowan, Dixie Carroll and Peter Sipple on their projects are posted on this Web site. They welcome your participation.

For you golfers, Howard Kolodny, with Jim Litvack’s assistance, has arranged a golf tournament at the Yale Golf Course at 9:00 AM on Thursday, May 31. If you are interested, contact Howard directly.

The Class Reunion Book is now in the editing stage under the leadership of John Stewart. He received about 450 submissions. We expect to mail it to you in mid-April.

We will reach out to the widows of our deceased classmates. Larry Lipsher is coordinating this endeavor. If you or your spouse can assist, please contact Larry as soon as possible. Widows are invited to attend as guests of the class with fees and campus housing charges waived.

I will have more details on the Program and class activities and announcements of some new presentations still in the works to send you by email and mail as the date approaches.

Last year the Class of 1961 set a record for attendance. I know our class can do as well or better. I have reduced the attendance fee and we are planning on a virtual feast of events and opportunities for socializing, reminiscing, conversing and celebrating. Please sign up and join your classmates at this unique opportunity for a memorable reunion.

See you on May 31!

BOB OLIVER
50th Reunion Chairman

83 Trumbull Street
New Haven, CT 06511

(office)        203-624-5111
(home)     203-467-8255

50th REUNION COMMITTEE

Deputy at Large
Larry Lipsher: 203-389-9645
l.lipsher@snet.net

Panels
David Scharff: 301-951-3630
davidscharff@mindspring.com

Art & Architecture
Dixie Carroll: 202-363-6556
dicksoncarroll@earthlink.net

Class Authors
Ed Rowan: 603-772-4167
ejrowan@comcast.net

Entertainment
David Finkle: 212-255-3718
finkledr@aol.com

Bill Weeden: 212-662-0851
billyweeds@gmail.com

Memorial Service & Singers
Peter Sipple: 845-534-2864
sipplemp@gmail.com

Survey
Al Chambers: 734-971-4440
alchambers@comcast.net

Tour
Alex Garvin: 212-860-8241
garvin@alexgarvin.net

Golf
Howard Kolodny: 301-949-9169
hekolodny@verizon.net