Reunion 2009

Record Number of Alumni Return for Reunion
By Jennifer Warfel, NDAA Staff Writer

Every year, Reunion reinvigorates not only those who participate, but also the University they so love. This year’s theme, “Wake Up the Echoes” references this energizing weekend, when a record-setting 2,700 Domers and their guests came home June 4-7, their greetings to each other echoing across the quads.

These greetings developed into conversations during the many open houses, picnics, tours, and receptions that filled the day. Alumni could see the new buildings such as the Duncan Hall—a new men’s residence hall, the Eck Hall of Law, and the soon-to-be-completed engineering building, Stinson-Remick Hall.

Evenings were spent back in the class-specific dormitories, where most of the alumni and their families stayed. Some individuals even chose to stay with their former roommates.

The days’ conversations became discussions during the more than 70 seminars held during the weekend.

ND Perspectives, a new Reunion panel series featuring faculty and alumni, premiered to a packed house at Washington Hall on Friday and Saturday. The topics, “The First 100 Days: What’s Next?” and “The Economic Crisis: Its Causes and Its Cures” were chosen due to their importance and relevance to the Notre Dame audience. The panels were followed by periods of open discussion.

After the sessions, audience members were reflective. The topics were timely and as comprehensive as could be hoped, concluded three roommates from the Class of ’64. “These were the best seminars I attended this weekend,” concluded one.

In addition to ND Perspectives, attendees listened to lectures about the 2008 ND Forum topic, “Charting a Sustainable Future,” as well as seminars about social topics and spirituality.

The Town Hall meeting on Friday, led by University President, Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., and Executive Vice President, John Affleck-Graves, addressed current and future issues for the University in what Fr. Jenkins called a “family” setting. The floor was opened to questions, which ranged from suggestions about the campus signage to the 2009 Commencement to research initiatives.

Friday also saw the launch of the ND Women Connect initiative with a “Work-life Balance” seminar at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center. More than 200 people gathered for the seminar and its subsequent reception in honor of Sr. Jean Lenz, O.S.F., former special assistant to the vice president of Student Affairs at Notre Dame, who recently retired after 35 years of service to the University.

Attendees had their chance at outdoor activity as well. The Sunburst Races took place in downtown South Bend and the Warren Golf Course was open to all attendees for most of the weekend.

Plus, the skidding of sneakers on the concrete courts next to the Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore could only mean one thing: Bookstore Basketball. The spirit of competition was evident during the Saturday afternoon tournament. In the end, two teams from the Class of 1984, Team Cleveland and Team Fred, battled in the championship game. They dedicated the match to the memory of a fellow classmate, John P. Stein ’84. After a hard-fought battle, Team Cleveland won the game.

Reunion 2009 also saw the official induction of the Class of 1959 into the 50-Year Club, led this year by Reunion Co-Chairmen Vince Naimoli and Joe Mulligan. Their weekend was highlighted by the dedication of the 1959 Memorial Class Plaque at the Pasquerilla Center.

Through the work of the chairmen, the class president, John Cashion, and the more than 30 committee members, the Class of 1959 was able to present a class gift of nearly $26 million to University President Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C. Just over 70 percent of the class participated in the gift, a large percentage of which will go to support the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE), a program that assists primary and secondary Catholic institutions throughout the country.

The weekend closed with the highly attended highlight of Reunion: the All-Class Mass. More than 2,200 Reunion attendees packed the Joyce Center field house to hear Father Jenkins celebrate Mass. University President Emeritus Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., delivered a moving Mass homily. The Mass was followed by the All-Class Reunion Program and the individual class celebration dinners.

During the Reunion Program John J. McDonough ’58 received the Reverend Edward Frederick Sorin, C.S.C. Award. Named in honor of Notre Dame’s founder, the Sorin Award is presented annually at Reunion to a graduate who embodies the values of Our Lady’s University in his or her service to the community.

The dates for the next Reunion are June 3-6, 2010.