Dear 1981 Classmate,
The time has come to register for our 45th reunion! The festivities run between May 28th – May 31st in Timothy Dwight College. On behalf of the reunion committee, we invite you to join your classmates for 4 days of frivolity, celebration, reconnection, and perhaps new connection.

The committee has done its best to minimize costs, so the fee for the full four days is $350 per person. The single day fee for either Friday May 29th or Saturday May 30th is $275. On-campus housing is available in Timothy Dwight College for $85 per person per night.

Programming begins at 5:30 pm on Thursday, May 28th with classmate Josh Kendall speaking about his new book on Gary Trudeau of Doonesbury fame at the New Haven Museum on Whitney Avenue. Starting at 6 pm, the class will host a pizza sampling from the local icons (Pepe’s, Sally’s, etc.) along with a beer and wine bar at Timothy Dwight until 10 pm.

Breakfast starts the Friday calendar followed by faculty lectures and tours. In addition, we will host a program for classmates who have lost a loved one. After lunch on Friday, join us for Lightning Talks, where a dozen of your remarkably fascinating classmates will share their extraordinary stories, experiences and passions in just 5 minutes each. The Lightning Talks will be followed by a Yale-based Jeopardy game hosted by 81’s answer to Alex Trebek: Jeff Manning. We will then adjourn to Timothy Dwight for a cocktail hour followed by dinner. Our Friday night entertainment includes a presentation and sing-along by October Project. After the sing-along, we can return to Timothy Dwight where an open bar and coffee will be available until 11 pm.

Saturday again begins with an early breakfast followed by faculty lectures and tours. After lunch, you are invited to take a self-guided tour through the Yale University Art Gallery. Beginning at 2:30 pm, we will have two exciting Keynote Speakers: Carmen Castillo Bambach, a curator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Maya Lin, architect and designer of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. All reunion classes will then adjourn to Woolsey Hall for Yale President Maurie McInnis’ formal address followed by a celebration of Yale singing.

From Woolsey Hall we will return to Timothy Dwight for our class dinner followed by dancing and socializing in the TD courtyard until midnight. (Perhaps we can start stretching now as we anticipate numerous Medicare eligible participants will attempt the circa 1978 Gator Maneuver.)

On Sunday morning, breakfast will be followed by our reunion memorial ceremony honoring those classmates who have passed over the last 5 years. Reunion concludes at 1 pm.

We can never overstate the importance of your attendance. The years have only served to increase fondness for our Yale memories and to amplify the importance of Yale in our lives. But without our classmates, the Yale experience as a whole would be far less meaningful. So, on behalf of the Class of 1981 45th Reunion Committee, we hope you make every effort to join us.

Your 45th Reunion Co-Chairs,
Ellen Frasca Evans & Lenny Tavera