[As reported by Joe McDonough]
Class of 1981 in Pasadena, March 2023
An Appreciation
One wonders if Pasadena, California has ever shown itself better than it did to the Class of 1981 on March 23-26, 2023. And Pasadena, after all, is the home of the Rose Bowl!
The committee of Pasadena reunion organizers included: Liz Ryan (Chairperson), Alison Dundes Renteln, Joel Ball, Edward Bettigole, Bonnie Bottoms, Bradley Stoner, George Melrod, Lois Nesbitt, Pamela Chin, and Paula Tavrow.
Of course, in any group of volunteers, leadership makes the difference, and all would agree that the dedication and direction of Liz and Alison provided the essential drive that propelled the weekend to such success.
Our hosts started the week worrying about unusually heavy rains and high winds but by Thursday afternoon these had given way to warm, spring sunshine, brilliantly clean air, fleecy clouds in the sky, and even wildflowers in the fields.
Headlining the weekend’s agenda were numerous tours and planned events, including:
- A VIP visit to the NASA Jet Propulsion Labs at Caltech
- The Norton Simon Museum
- The Gamble House
- The Pacific Asia Museum and Lunasia Dim Sum lunch
- The Huntington Library, Museums, & Gardens
- Presentations by authors in the class of 1981 at Vroman’s bookstore
- Nature hikes in and around Pasadena
- A jazz brunch at The George restaurant
- Top-line Survey Results and Comments from Classmates (more detailed results will be posted here later in the week)
- And, as a grand finale, a hosted dinner & dance at the Caltech Athenaeum
Piling on top of all that was the warmth and camaraderie of being with Harvard friends again as we toured places that should be described, without any exaggeration, as “wonders to behold.”
The highlights are frankly too many and too rich to review in any detail but if you would enjoy more color commentary in this regard, I’d suggest reaching out to a classmate or two who was there. Suffice it to say now that we are deeply grateful to the organizers who conceived, executed, and funded this unofficial reunion and that we likewise appreciate the classmates who came from around the world to join the fun. And finally, we offer special thanks and appreciation to Liz Ryan and Alison Dundes Renteln for their gigantic contributions.
Those who were there look forward to returning to Pasadena again, and if you haven’t been to Pasadena in a while do yourself a favor and go soon.