We had a good turnout for this event at McLadden’s Irish Pub in West Hartford, Conn. on November 5. The room was small and intimate.  Marlon Howard ’63 was the first to arrive. I spent some time talking with him about how the campus had changed and encouraged him to visit.  He was surprised how many of his teachers I knew.

Andrea Nicoli ’99 was there with her boyfriend. Andrea was a day student ( her older brother is Dan ’83).  She was on my soccer team and also played ice hockey. Tiffany Cutting ’02 was also there with her boyfriend.

Kelly Opdenaker Babbidge ’97 and her husband Dan were there. They currently work at Ethel Walker School. Kelly was a big ice hockey player at Williston, but since Ethel Walker doesn’t have ice hockey, she and Dan volunteered to coach squash.  They are taking lessons from the Trinity College coach.  Kelly still has her Williston smurfs (blue nylon warm-ups), which she says are “so warm and cozy”!

I introduced Kelly to Alex Judd ’02 during the event since Alex is looking to get back into squash.  Alex played squash here at Williston. Swanee was his advisor so they got to catch up, too.

Todd Thomas ’86 is a hoot!  He has a big personality. I invited him to attend the basketball Hall of Fame in January.  He said he would try to bring his kids along.  Jack Heflin ’64 has been back to campus for the last four Reunions and has loved it.  He said he knew all the older students above him so he has enjoyed coming back to see them again. David and Rebecca Cavazuti were the only non-alumni present.  They are the parents of Emily ’14 and Jen ’16.  Both girls started in the ninth grade so they had the “John Wright experience.”  Emily is actually Maddy Dirats’ roommate so they had a chance to chat with Robin Glover ’82.  Amy Beresky ’97 arrived toward the end of the event as she is working full time and also working on her a masters degree at UMass Amherst.  The final participant was Taylor Scyocurka ’09 who is helping out with her fifth Reunion.

Overall, a good time was had by all and several alumni approached me as they were leaving to see if we could do another event in Connecticut. Several mentioned that they liked the alumni brochure and all the events listed. The only bummer occurred at the very end when I received a parking ticket (in West Hartford they feed the meters until 10:00 p.m.).  Live and learn!

Next up: A cocktail reception in Portsmouth, New Hampshire hosted by Jamie LaFleur ’94, owner of The Banks Gallery, for alumni, parents, and friends. The event will be held on Dec. 3 from 6-8:00 p.m. at the gallery. The reception is $10 per person and includes hors d’oeuvres and a Williston pint glass.  Please register by November 26, by calling Jeff Pilgrim ’81, Director of Alumni Relations, at (413) 529-3301.

The Banks Gallery, recognized as one of the leading galleries in New England, is dedicated to dealing in the finest American paintings and sculpture of the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries.