Alumni Weekend 2013
Clouds and Rain Do Not Dampen Reunion Celebrations
Over 600 alumni and guests returned to Concord on May 10 and 11 to celebrate Alumni Weekend 2013. Though Saturday’s events were held under constantly threatening skies, which eventually yielded some rain, the assembled crowd remained spirited and lively.
The weekend kicked off on Friday, May 10 with individual class parties in and around Concord and Boston. Classes older than the 50th Reunion gathered for the third annual Old Guard Dinner in Ware Hall on campus. Classes from 1940 through 1962 were represented. Also on campus was the 50th Reunion class of 1963, who celebrated their golden anniversary with a lovely dinner at the Head of School’s residence. Both of these groups were treated to a fabulous musical performance by the Middlesex Chamber Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Pierson Wetzel, Middlesex’s Head of the Music Department, prior to their respective dinners.
Other classes gathered at homes of classmates in the area or at various Boston establishments. The Classes of 1968, 1993, 2003, and 2008 all had particularly strong turnouts at their events. Special thanks to Holt Massey ’68, Ned Herter ’73, and Rob Beede ’83 for hosting their class parties at their homes.
After a glorious sunny day on Friday, the sky was ominous as a full day of activities began on campus on Saturday. The day began with a Mindfulness session for a handful of alumni by Bateman’s Pond, led by Doug Worthen ’96, who has taught Mindfulness to Middlesex students and faculty over the past few years. Alumni then gathered in Memorial Chapel in Lambert Hall for the annual Alumni Memorial Service, which recognized all alumni in reunion classes who have died. The service was ably led by Rev. Melissa Watt Tustin ’93 and Cabell King, the Director of Spiritual and Ethical Education at Middlesex. Following this stirring memorial, Head of School Kathy Giles and Board of Trustees Chair Pete Olney ’66 P’00’00 provided alumni with an update on life at Middlesex in their State of School address.
With clouds still looming and the threat of rain, the Alumni Assembly was moved indoors to the Wood Theatre. Hunter Moorman ‘60, incoming President of the Middlesex Alumni Association, welcomed all alumni back to campus and announced that this year’s Henry Cabot Lodge ’20 Distinguished Alumni Award would go to two members of the Class of 1963, James Kugel and Jeffrey Smith. Kugel has written 16 books and is considered one of the world’s foremost Biblical scholars. Smith has served as an aide to some of the most influential people in American politics, including Robert Kennedy, George McGovern, and Middlesex’s own Bill Richardson ’66, and currently serves in the Obama administration as the Senior Advisor to the Assistant for Science and Technology.
The assembly then turned to the induction of the Class of 2013 into the Middlesex Athletic Hall of Fame. Curt Curtis ’62, the Chair of the Hall of Fame nominating committee and a member of the Hall of Fame himself, presided over the induction of five terrific new inductees. Longtime coach Brad Kingman, who served on the Middlesex faculty for 39 years, Dan Southard ’61 P’91, Eric Eberhart ’73, Jessica Tuck ’81, and Joe Lang, Jr. 99 were all recognized for their outstanding contributions to Middlesex athletics.
Fortunately, the weather continued to hold as many current Middlesex teams took to the fields to compete against ISL foes. Crew alumni were able to take in boys’ and girls’ races from the Paumgarten Boathouse in Billerica, named for Nick Paumgarten ’63, who was in attendance for his 50th Reunion.
Those who did not take in the games were able to view the annual Alumni Art Show in the Wood Theatre Gallery. This year’s show, entitled “Structures” featured the work of Doug Adams ’63, Kyle Bajakian ’78, and Whitmore Boogaerts ’83. Guests were treated to the terrific work of Adams, an architect; Bajakian, a photographer; and Boogaerts, a sculptor. The show was wonderfully curated by Middlesex Alumni Association Board member Adji Gadson ’90, with the assistance of former Middlesex faculty member David Lang P’88.
The Middlesex Jazz Orchestra, led by the other Head of the Middlesex Music Department, Mark Kross, provided another fabulous musical performance in the late afternoon. The kids gave a rousing performance, but the show was stolen by longtime faculty member Ned Herter ’73, who lent his fantastic baritone voice to the last number of the performance.
The rain finally arrived, but it was time to take refuge under the tent to enjoy a fabulous clambake provided by Woodman’s of Essex. Alumni continued to reminisce about their days at Middlesex late into the evening while renewing friendships with classmates and faculty.
Thanks to all the alumni in the various Reunion classes who lent their time and support all year to make their particular Reunion a successful one. Those of you who are in a class year ending in 4 or 9, please mark your calendar for May 16 and 17, 2014 and begin planning for your Reunions next spring!
Here is a small selection of the hundreds of photos taken over the weekend. If you've got some images to share, please send them to us at alumni@mxschool.edu
Check Out More Photos!
