President's Message

Dear Member of the Great Class of 1984:

 

What a weekend! What a party! What an outstanding 25^th reunion!  If this is what it’s like to move from being a “young Class” to being a “leadership class” (President Tilghman’s words at our Class dinner), let’s have more of it.

 

In this, the first letter I have the privilege of writing as President of our Class, I’d like to thank the volunteers that made our reunion and the concurrent annual giving campaign such an unqualified success. 

 

Let’s start with our Reunion chairs, Gabby DiBianco and Dave King. These two quarterbacked the events of the weekend, and we owe them a huge debt of gratitude.

 

The ’84 Gives Back community service project, which John Hatch conceived as a way for members of our Class to help out a Trenton school that is trying to open this fall, was a huge success with over 100 classmates (plus friends and family members) participating in a day of painting and rehabbing.  Ellen Kratzer made all of Reunions registration run smoothly – she is the reason we received the right size jackets, the right meal tickets, were charged the correct amounts, and were greeted by cheerful, helpful crew members.  Patrice McConnell Cromwell led ‘84’s participation in the Alumni Faculty Forums.  Once the topics were chosen by the committee, Patrice recruited members of our Class to share their expertise on these panels with the broader University community. 

 

Patrick Swearingen made everything move – whether it was classmates or crew or various beverages and their containers – by organizing all the various shuttles and vehicles that were used during Reunions, and by ensuring we had maps to know where to go. Stan Berger headed our '84 Outreach effort that contacted classmates who had not attended Reunions in a while or, in some cases, ever.  His effort was very successful and led to a great turnout at our 25th. Terry Pflager organized all the activities that kids participated in – from the lacrosse and soccer camps and musical activities to the extremely popular ’84 Scavenger Hunt.  Henry Payne, as ever, came through with great graphics and logos to decorate everything from t-shirts to wine bottles and tote bags. 

 

Anyone who attended the ’84 Memorial Service in Chancellor Green knows what an amazing job Tina Dockstader Kinard did in designing an emotional and uplifting memorial for all classmates we have lost.  Dave Brodess, who led our P-Rade presence, got us to Poe Field in record time by organizing a new staging area for the 25^th Reunion and came up with creative P-Rade ideas – like making each and every classmate’s Nassau Herald photo ready to march with the 25-years-later real-life version.  Tom Bartel took on the Herculean task of compiling and publishing the ’84 Class Book.  Shortly we will all be holding this volume which represents Tom’s good efforts during (and since) Reunions.  Lynne Fletcher O’Brien arranged to have over 5000 meals served to classmates, spouses and children over the weekend…we have her to thank for our full tummies.  Finally, Tock and Wendy Rush were responsible for housing the Class at Reunions.  Not only did they tie down hotel rooms all along Route 1 so that our classmates would have accommodations, but Wendy effectively ran her own three hotels on campus and throughout Princeton for four straight days. 

 

But wait, there’s more.

 

Chris Palermo led what was unquestionably one of the most challenging – and successful – Annual Giving campaigns in recent memory.  Economy notwithstanding, Chris and his team generated exceptional results – record participation for our Class (at just under 65%), the fourth highest AG total in history, and the highest of the year at over $5.8 million.  These critical gifts help keep Princeton on the cutting edge of education, and ensure that financial aid and grants are available to all qualified candidates.  Nearly 100 classmates participated in this exceptional effort, and sadly, space prevents us from mentioning all of them.  Special thanks to Special Gift Co-Chairs Les Gutierrez, Billy Bass, Sari Chang Guthrie, Kevin Guthrie, Dave Lassman and Lynne Fletcher O'Brien, and Participation Co-Chairs Helen Mackay-Smith Mazarakis and Thanassis Mazarakis.

 

Finally, I’d like to thank our Class officers, all of whom have agreed to continue their service to 1984 and to the University in the coming years.  Outgoing President Rhett Dunaway, who led us with distinction over the past five years, has agreed to serve as Vice President for the coming term.  In addition, Chris Palermo has agreed to continue as head of Annual Giving, Sharon Aucoin will continue as Secretary, and Jackie Hata Alexander will continue as Treasurer.  I’m grateful for their hard work and excellent counsel.

 

Finally, please mark your calendars for two important events this fall:

• Saturday, October 24, Princeton plays Harvard in Cambridge, and the Princeton Association of New England will, as ever, be hosting a tailgate that is open to all. 
• Saturday, November 14, the Tigers will host (and, no doubt, humble) Yale’s Bulldogs at Princeton Stadium, and we’ll have a 1984 table under the Class banner in Jadwin for that game. 

 

Yours in Princeton,

 

 Stephen P. Ban '84

+1312.823.7542

 

 

 

PS:  Two more quick things. First, I’m enclosing a dues envelope, and hope you’ll help support the Class and give us grist for the PAW by returning it now. 

 

Second, if you haven’t done so already, please make sure to register on the Class website at www.princeton84.org. It will be an increasingly critical part of our communication with the Class going forward.