Reunion 2018

Food truck festival in Grubbs Quad on Saturday afternoon.

Photo: Jessica Hutchinson

Reunion 2018

Alumni reveled in gorgeous weather, familiar surroundings, and the company of tried-and-true friends during Reunion Weekend in June.

Abundant sunshine and warm breezes welcomed more than 450 Pelicans and their families home to the Island June 15–17 for Reunion 2018.

Attendees had many opportunities to reconnect with friends, teachers, and others during a weekend full of gatherings, celebrations, presentations, learning, and enjoyment for all. Revelers included alumnae from Chaffee and alumni from Loomis and Loomis Chaffee class years ending in 3 and 8, as well as alumni who graduated more than 50 years ago.

The festivities kicked off on Friday afternoon with a golf outing at the newly refurbished Keney Park Golf Course on the Windsor/Hartford line. Afternoon and evening activities included a 50th Reunion reception at the Head’s House and a 25th Reunion reception in Katharine Brush Library. Alumni arriving on campus Friday evening enjoyed dinner accompanied by a jazz trio, a coffee house in Cutler Hall for quiet conversation, a late-night D.J., and “Burgers with Bruno” (longtime faculty member and coach Chuck “Bruno” Vernon) in Grubbs Quadrangle.

Brian Thompson ’87, Mark Rush ’86, Tim Struthers ’85, and Earl Thompson P ’87, GP ’18, ’20, ’22 prepare to tee off at the Reunion golf outing at Keney Park Golf Course.

Photo: Fred Kuo

Members of the Class of 1983 celebrate their 35th Reunion.

Photo: Keller Glass

A host of activities and presentations highlighted the Saturday schedule. Jason Liu ’17 and Jeff Dyreson, director of environmental/sustainability initiatives and associate director of the Alvord Center for Global & Environmental Studies, debuted Loomis’ solar array project, which is scheduled for installation on campus this summer. The project, spearheaded by Jason when he was a senior, is expected to generate upwards of 70 percent of the Island’s electricity demand and significantly reduce the school’s carbon footprint.

In “Crazy Pelicans to Mad Men,” Tom Pettus ’93 and Winston Binch ’93, celebrating their 25th Reunion, related ways that their shared experiences at Loomis and the intersection of their professional paths helped shape their advertising and digital marketing careers.

Helen Powers Textor ’93, Faith Model ’93 and Elizabeth Robertson Sheehan ’93 are among the crowd enjoying the “Crazy Pelicans to Mad Men” presentation in Founders Chapel.

Photo: Jessica Hutchinson

The lawn behind Huntington Wall was converted into a mini golf course.

Photo: Jessica Hutchinson

Our own Pelican Pride soda was served during the food truck fair on Saturday.

Photo: Jessica Hutchinson

Fifth Reunion celebrants reconnect in the quad.

Photo: Jessica Hutchinson

Jack Litter ’45 was the senior-most alumnus in attendance at the 50th Plus Reunion reception.

Photo: Jessica Hutchinson

Steven Ockerbloom ’93 and his family pause during the festivities in front of Founders Hall.

Photo: Jessica Hutchinson

Tom Pettus ’93 and Winston Binch ’93 discuss how their days at Loomis helped shape their advertising and digital marketing careers.

Photo: Jessica Hutchinson

Alumni gather at a PRISM reception in the Katharine Brush Library.

Photo: Christine Coyle

Head of School Sheila Culbert presented her “State of the School” summary and answered alumni questions about the school’s plans to continue to meet its mission in an ever-changing world. Sheila and Associate Head for External Relations Nathan Follansbee shared an insider’s view of the new Scanlan Campus Center, which is on track to open in the fall.

The day’s activities also included a lunchtime food truck fair on Grubbs Quadrangle, a boys alumni lacrosse game, round-robin tennis matches, and a memorial service, officiated by Alan Hooker ’68 and Charles Drew ’68, in Founders Chapel. Children’s activities included hands-on robotics projects, arts and crafts, face painting, mini golf and other games in the quad, and swimming in Hedges Pool. Childcare on Friday and Saturday evenings enabled parents to enjoy their classmates while the kids had fun too, including Art Truck activities on Friday and an evening of “abracadabra” and fun featuring Mr. Magichead on Saturday.

Pelican lacrosse players young and young-at-heart gathered before the alumni game on Pratt Field.

Photo: John Cunningham

Mr. Magichead, his rabbit, and a happy assistant enjoy Saturday evening childcare.

Photo: Kaitlyn Pratt

Face painting draws the younger set under the tent.

Photo: Jessica Hutchinson

A future robotics engineer appreciates her work.

Photo: Mary Forrester

The Reunion Leadership Reception took place at the Head’s House.

Sally Crowther Pearse ’58, Jim Kelly ’58, John Pearse ’58, and Joan Thompson ’58.

Photo: John Groo

Rory O'Halloran ’98 and Scott Kilpatrick ’98.

Photo: John Groo

Head of School Sheila Culbert.

Photo: John Groo

Beth Armstrong Zapatka ’83, Jim Scully ’83, Michaela Dempsey ’83, Christine Mangiafico Steiner ’83, and Brad Lewis ’83.

Photo: John Groo

Liz Byrne ’03 and Isabel Yordan ’03.

Photo: John Groo

Kathy Howard Kerrigan ’68, Susan Carlson Garratt ’68, Emmy Norris ’68, Jane Weiner Freeman ’68, and Vini Norris Exton ’67 enjoy the 50th Plus gathering.

Photo: Jessica Hutchinson

25th Reunion-goers spent a special afternoon together by the Cow Pond and the bench dedicated during their 10th Reunion in honor and memory of their classmate Amanda Crosby, who died in 2002. They were joined by Amanda's parents, Betsy and John Crosby. To read more about this event, visit www.loomischaffee.org/magazine.

Reunion Weekend culminated on Saturday night with class dinners followed by an all-class dessert and dancing under the tent in Grubbs Quad. Alumni bid each other farewell until next time at breakfast on Sunday.

Dancing, fun, and photo booth antics accented Saturday night under the tent in Grubbs Quad.

Molly Strabley ’13, Olivia Szczerbickyj ’13, Arianna Calabrese ’13, and Izzy Fleming ’13.

Photo: Kaitlyn Pratt

Photo: Keller Glass

Jesse Smith ’98, Pete Albro ’98, and Erich Muhlanger ’98.

Photo: Kaitlyn Pratt

Photo: Keller Glass

The Reunion tent in the evening.

Photo: Kaitlyn Pratt

To see more photos from Reunion, visit www.loomischaffee.org/magazine.