For the second straight year due to COVID-19 precautions, the Princeton alumni community rallied online to celebrate Old Nassau and welcome a new class of graduates. Hugs, handshakes and high-fives aren’t far away, but until then, The Best Place of All was your laptop or smartphone, as Tigers from all over the world logged on for Reunions Online, a jam-packed schedule of more than 160 online events, celebrations and panels, including a spirited virtual P-rade — or V-rade.
Didn’t get to join, missed a few moments or want to relive the fun again? Here are some of the highlights:
The One and Only V-rade
The Nassau Hall bell rang promptly at 2 p.m. The Princeton gatekeeper welcomed the P-rade grand marshal. And alumni, from the Old Guard to the new Class of 2021, marched through campus — in spirit — for the virtual P-rade. Gary M. King ’79 gave a brief history of previous P-rade routes before narrating the procession, while Rich Holland ’96, president of the Alumni Association, led special locomotive cheers for the two most recent graduating classes. It was 58 glorious minutes of memories and camaraderie! Watch it here.
Happy 84th Reunion, Joe Schein ’37
Joe Schein from the Great Class of 1937 was presented with the Class of 1923 Cane by President Christopher L. Eisgruber ’83 during the annual meeting of the Alumni Council. The honorary silver cane is presented each Reunions to the oldest returning alumnus. Schein, a retired psychiatrist who recently celebrated his 106th birthday, accepted the cane for the sixth consecutive year. “Tradition has great meaning for me and I think for all of us,” Schein said, via Zoom. “I want to thank you again for enabling so many others to have the opportunity that I had.”
Four Alumni Honored for Service to Princeton
Four Princetonians were honored with the Service to Princeton award during the annual meeting of the Alumni Council. Awarded by Donna Cain ’93, chair of the Committee on Awards for Service to Princeton, the honorees are Frederick “Fritz” E. Cammerzell III ’72, Nancy H. Lin ’77, Susan Katzmann Horner ’86 and Laurence G. Latimer *01. Watch the presentations here (at the 34:10 mark).
New Alumni Council Leadership Introduced
During the annual meeting, Rich Holland ’96 passed the ceremonial orange gavel to Mary J. Newburn ’97, who will succeed Holland as chair of the Alumni Council on July 1. Holland led the Alumni Association for two years with the theme of “Princeton is where you are,” a prescient campaign that became even more powerful during the pandemic.
Led by Newburn, Alumni Council officers will include Monica Moore Thompson ’89, vice chair; Juan E. Goytia ’00, treasurer; and Adam E. Lichtenstein ’95 *10, assistant treasurer.
Watch Holland’s annual meeting closing remarks here (at the 59:00 mark).
President’s Address
President Eisgruber ’83 spoke to the alumni community via a live virtual townhall and Q&A. The president thanked alumni for their support through a historic and challenging year. “This really has been a year like no other,” he said, “and it has made an enormous difference to know that there were Princetonians supporting us in every way imaginable.” He discussed the “uplifting” recent in-person commencement for the Class of 2021 and noted that Alumni Engagement would be working with the Class of 2020 to plan an on-campus event celebrating its achievements. Watch the entire address here.
Alumni-Faculty Forums
A Reunions tradition for over 40 years, the Alumni-Faculty Forums (AFFs) continued as a virtual experience this year, bringing together panelists from the major reunion classes and the Association of Princeton Graduate Alumni. Scholars, professionals, CEOs and other experts and leaders engaged in discussions of a broad range of timely or timeless topics, from Big Tech to U.S.-China relations to the future of American education. Video for all the AFFs can be viewed here.
Saturday Night at Reunions
The New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble led by Fred Reiter ’81, aka “Rock Steady Freddie,” headlined a night of music, comedy and Ninja Tigers. Announcer Aaron Kornblum ’93 and host Rana Campbell ’13 deftly orchestrated the evening, with star turns from Nandita Rao ’17, Chris Murphy ’15, Steve Reed ’96, BT Hayes ’22 and Remy Reya ’21. One of the many highlights was a special segment where American Ninja Warrior host Matt Iseman ’93 put the beloved Princeton Tiger through a gauntlet of obstacles. Watch Iseman and Tiger below, and view the entire Saturday Night showcase here.
Mark the date for Reunions 2022: May 19-22.
