Reunion Brings Together Alumni from 1965-1970

Alumni from across the country and around the globe returned to International House June 4-6, 2010 for the 1965-1970 Alumni Reunion. Seven countries and sixteen US states were represented among the more than 80 alumni and guests who attended.

Co-chaired by International House Trustees John Pek ’68 and Mary Miller ‘66, the reunion featured a busy weekend of activities designed to replicate events at the House in the 1960s and to provide opportunities for reminiscing and reconnecting.

Activities included a President’s Welcome Reception, concert, picnic, Saturday Supper and champagne brunch.

“I felt like it was the good old days at the House during our get-together,” said Reunion Co-Chair John Pek. “These alumni have not changed even though the world has changed and life has moved on.”

Francis Wong ’68 agreed. For him, being at the reunion was “as if I stepped back in time to the days when life was much simpler.”

At the President’s Welcome Reception on Friday night, President and Honorary Reunion Chair Don Cuneo ’69 recalled several momentous events from the attendees’ time at the House. He shared memories of then President Howard Cook, trips with “HR” and the Performing Arts Foundation to Israel and other locations, the protests at Columbia which stopped classes and much more.

	Reunion Co-Chairs John Pek '68 and Mary Miller '66 with Honorary Reunion Chair and I-House President Don Cuneo '69
	Jim Selway '69, Katherine Hendry '69 and Isabel Rojas De Gonzalez '70
	John Gardenier, Guner Oztuna '66, Turkan Gardenier '66 and Ruveyde Bayraktar '66 at the picnic.
	Tony Fitzgerald '68, Marjorie Elson '68, Tony Elson '68, Susan Cameron '67 and May Koh-Lam '67 at the Saturday Supper.

“A lot has changed since then,” said President Cuneo. He described the purchase of I-House North, the loan for which he noted with pride had been paid off in 2009, the replacement of the Bazaar with “HR” Commons, and renovations to the Soros Room (Mural Room), Dodge Room, and I-House South rooms, floors and lounges, which many alumni had seen on tours led by current residents earlier that day. He explained how the House has expanded its fellowships, scholarships and staff over the last forty years and made advances in its programming and leadership training.

Cuneo also passed on warm wishes from Life Trustee Herman “HR” Rottenberg whose presence was deeply missed at the weekend’s events, and attendees signed a birthday card for HR, who celebrated his 94th birthday later in the month.

Cuneo announced that alumni from 1965-1970 had donated over $46,000 to the House, falling short of the reunion gift goal of $75,000, but noting that the classes had until June 30th to achieve this.

Later that night, alumni enjoyed an array of musical performances by current I-House residents. They marveled at the talent, which reminded them of concerts they enjoyed as residents.

“The musical program was perfect,” said attendee Susana Icaza ’69, who came from Panama for the event. “It felt like we had not left the house for so long."

A highlight of the Salon Night was a performance by Jim Selway ’69 and surprise guests Harry Rosen ’70 and Katherine Hendry ‘69. The trio recreated a folk performance from the 1969 Night of Nations and engaged the audience in singing several hits of the time: “Walk Right In,” “Side By Side,” “Where Have All the Flowers Gone” and “So Long, It's Been Good to Know You.”

Despite the weekend’s oppressive heat, attendees enjoyed a leisurely lunch on the Abby O’Neill Patio and even an occasional breeze off of the Hudson on Saturday afternoon. The picnic offered the opportunity to expose a new generation to I-House, as several alumni who had met their spouses through the House brought their grandchildren.

Participants later perused a photography display of images from the period, as well as the 1965-1970 resident photo directories. Squeals of delight rang through the Main Lounge when participants discovered photographs of themselves. Many had hardly changed in appearance!

Reviewing the photographs, as well as reconnecting with individuals they had not seen in forty years, offered alumni numerous opportunities for reflection on their experiences at I-House in the late 1960s.

“Living at the House was truly a life-changing experience for me. It opened my eyes to the rest of the world (and turned me into a world traveler as well). I-House provided me with an 'instant' and close-knit community of interesting, talented, and fun-loving people who sought to forge friendships with other people very different from themselves,” said Reunion Co-Chair Mary Miller.

Over a delicious three-course meal at the Saturday Supper, alumni reminisced and renewed friendships. They recited the candlelight pledge together and recommitted themselves to carry on the I-House spirit of brotherhood wherever they may go. Don Cuneo also toasted the alumni in attendance, the Co-Chairs and the I-House Staff.

The Saturday Supper and the reunion as a whole not only rekindled old friendships, but the shared I-House experience also created a foundation for new friendships.

As reunion attendee Francis Wong said in reflecting about the reunion and his time at I-House: “Good friendships were made, but over the years were lost. I was able to re-connect with old friends, as well as make new friends. The same common bond of goodwill and brotherhood made this process very easy.”

Mary Miller echoed this sentiment. “I caught up with a few residents with whom I'd overlapped and, as we exchanged reminiscences, it seemed impossible that 44 years could have gone by without our seeing each other. I also met many others whom I hadn't known before... and there I felt an immediate connection because of this great formative experience that we shared”

The reunion concluded with a champagne brunch on Sunday morning. Attendees relaxed and conversed well into the afternoon.

“This reunion was an incredible experience,” said President Don Cuneo. “It was amazing to see so many familiar faces and I hope that all who attended will stay in touch with each other and the House in the years to come.”

To view more photographs from the reunion, as well as some from the photography display, please visit our photo gallery. Log in is required. If you have not yet registered for our website, please email alumni@ihouse-nyc.org for instructions.