July 14, 2004
Dear Classmates,

Today’s mail brought the picture taken at reunion and it is great. There we are thirty strong (including Mac for Barb and Bud for Jan) in our oversized red shirts and terrific purple denim caps, looking for all the world like we are having fun. And we were! It was a grand weekend and I am only sorry that everyone couldn’t be there. I was so proud of us as we were all mobile enough to walk in the parade of classes and for the first time in my memory, the younger groups lined the pathway and clapped and cheered for us old birds. The 50th class took a page out of our book with an original song. We won the participation award yet again although we certainly could have had a higher percent of givers because we have in the past. Let’s work on that. Nancy and Mary Lou agreed to continue to be in charge of our fund-raising and Edie will continue as secretary. The class agents are willing to continue so things will go along as usual. I am pleased to announce our new Class President: Katherine (Tinka) Morse Pincus, who graciously agreed to be in charge for the next five years. I promised to chair the next reunion, our big #60 in 2009. I have truly enjoyed these past five years as your President but feel that the opportunity should be passed around.

On Saturday afternoon we held our own Memorial Gathering in the new Alumni Memorial Garden behind the Surrey. It is a beautiful setting and we honored the memory of the twenty classmates who have died since our last reunion; Charles Neff assisted me. We requested that the college move our memorial bench to that location. We might think of adding a second one for our next reunion.

The campus has never looked better. Many of us agreed that we no longer could live in a
dormitory and survive, but today’s youth don’t seem to mind at all. The food was good and plentiful as was the wine. The college kept our hospitality room supplied with wine and ice and even snacks. Anything we requested was quickly provided. I was impressed at the enthusiasm of all the young people as well as staff who worked on the reunion. The planning and coordination necessary to pull this off are mind-boggling.

So think about coming back in 2009 (I’m working on a newer dorm for us senior citizens) and jot down things you would like to do while there. There were many really interesting and stimulating mini-classes this year. I especially enjoyed solving a crime ala CSI in a science class and the history of the Hudson River while others liked the Jazz class. Fireworks were stunning. But of course the best of all was sitting and visiting, catching up, discussing life, reminiscing.

Thanks to all who came and to those who couldn’t make it but sent a little part of themselves to remind us of them. To the rest of you, we missed seeing you. Try again next time. Thanks for remaining active, loyal alums of Skidmore College.

Sincerely,

Martha Dunkel Chilcott
Outgoing Class President

For more photos, visit the Reunion 2004 Scrapbook.