Julian Alexander OPC '34

Julian Alexander OPC ’34

by Elizabeth Spagnoletti OPC ’08

1934: the year Babe Ruth announced his final season, the year Shirley Temple starred in her first film, the year Adolf Hitler rose to power, Edwin Hubble proved there are as many galaxies as stars in the Milky Way, and the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Cincinnati Reds 64-0.

Julian Alexander OPC ’34, standing tall [second row, second from left] in a yearbook portrait of the Science Club

In June of this tumultuous year, Julian Alexander Jr. and his classmates graduated from William Penn Charter School. Eighty years later, Alexander was there to watch the Class of 2014 join him as OPCs. From his home in Sarasota, Fla. On his iPad mini. “It was absolutely fascinating,” Alexander said of watching the live stream of Commencement. Though he feels he has always been connected with Penn Charter in some way since his graduation, two pieces in particular struck him about the experience of the live stream. “First, getting back, live, into Penn Charter after 50 years or so [since visiting the campus]. Second, just the scientific possibility of doing it.”

Alexander, who grew up in West Philadelphia and attended Penn Charter beginning in fifth grade, said the biggest “culture shock” that came with watching the live stream of Commencement was due to the presence of females in the class. The difference, he said, is “monumental.”

His desire to keep up with the rapidly changing technological landscape can be traced back to Christmas Day, 1980. One of Alexander’s nieces had just graduated from college as a computer studies major. “As a scientist, I couldn’t stand the idea of a cute little girl talking circles around me,” he said. So, he went out and bought one of the first compact computers available, one that hooked up to his television set and could program very simple things. Alexander has followed computer development ever since.

“I wander around with all the wisdom of the world in my left hand.”

At the age of 98, after careers in the petroleum business and as a Presbyterian pastor, Alexander incorporates technology into his life as seamlessly as any millennial. Every Sunday night, he Skypes for an hour with his son who lives in California. He is enthralled with his iPad. “I have an iPad mini, which I couldn’t do without,” he said. “I wander around with all the wisdom of the world in my left hand.” Alexander reads all of his news and books, stays in touch with his family and remains connected to Penn Charter, all from his iPad.

There is one form of technology that Alexander has not embraced. “I don’t have a cell phone,” he said, before adding wryly, “I don’t have that many people I want to talk to.”