Some of us were awake and standing between Barton and Teagle at 7:30 a.m. for the annual Reunion Run. Congratulations to classmates/family members Peter Coy, Henry Peck, and Paul Varga for crossing the Reunion Run finish line first, second and third respectively in the 50-59 age group for the men, and to Leigh Markham Peck for coming in second for the women.

On the site of many Fun in the Sun Carnivals, the Cornell Arts Quad, we dined on Dinosaur Bar-B-Que for our class lunch on Saturday. It was appropriately sunny and perfect for our Class Photo in between bites of pulled pork.

Another soaring atrium in the newest building on Campus, Weill Hall, was the setting for our evening reception. We had the Cornell Glee Club Hangovers sing several songs including the Cornell Evening Song and Alma Mater as well as treating us to a special verse of a classic Cornell song. The Hangovers sang the Song of the Classes, including a special Alumni verse that Jeff’s grandfather, Bertrand B. Weiss ’09 (that’s 1909), had written.

 

Following our bravos to the Hangovers and to Bertrand, Karen Mineo took to the stand to present the slate of officers  to serve the Class of ’79 for the next five years. A voice vote and applause ushered in our new officers.

Next up were Mary Grainger and Jeff Weiss who formally announced the second group of Class of ’79 Distinguished Classmates. This diverse group of 30 classmates was chosen for the contributions and impact they have made in their professions, communities, and in several cases, our country or to Cornell

University. Many thanks to Mary, Jeff and Jeff Berg for undertaking the research necessary to identify this second installment of Distinguished Classmates (we intend to recognize additional classmates at our 35^th reunion, so start preparing your nominations).

A band playing the music of Steely Dan serenaded us during dinner a few steps away under a tent on the lawn of Weill Hall. Afterwards, a bunch of us took the short jaunt over to newly renovated Bailey Hall for Cornelliana Night. Amid the Cornell songs and annual toasts to all the classes for a great reunion, the Glee Club announced and then sang the Song of the Classes, complete with the Bertrand Weiss ’09 alumni verse, for the nearly 2,000 attendees.

Brunch under the Townhouse courtyard tent was the setting for saying good-bye to all our new and old friends until our next Reunion in 2014. Thank you to all who volunteered and participated in an enjoyable and momentous 30^th Reunion. I look forward to welcoming even more classmates back to our next reunion.