Class President Elie Hirschfeld reports: “Our 50th Reunion is now history. And, we also made history as the first virtual class reunions at Brown ever. Many classmates participated and all reports were good. But we all know, there is nothing like “in person.” Poet and author Anne Michaels famously wrote; ‘Reading a poem in translation… is like kissing a woman through a veil.’ I would add, but kissing through a veil is better than no kissing at all. With that in mind, we had a great reunion. The main event of the reunion was the panel discussion ‘My Life/My Brown,’ moderated by classmate Ralph Begleiter, former CNN world affairs correspondent. Panelists from the class included consultant Tom Acosta, voice of Siri and performance artist Susan Bennett, media executive Christy Carpenter, executive director of the National Center for Children and Families Sheryl Brissett Chapman, director of the National Museum of American History Spencer Crew, chair of Lincoln Center and director of Tishman Speyer Real Estate Kathy Farley, NASA astrophysicist Malcolm Niedner, affordable housing developer Josh Posner, executive director of the Schumann Fund Barbara Reisman, and trustee of Asia Foundation Ruby Shang. Following the panel discussion were breakout rooms where panelists continued discussions with classmates. The subjects of each breakout room were public interest institutions, student activism for life, eyes on the stars and earth, and media earthquakes. Rabbi Laura Geller led the memorial service to remember departed classmates. I was also invited to come to Brown during commencement to represent the class of 1971. I was interviewed for the welcome video that kicked off commencement weekend and walked through the Gates. Everything was so special for me this reunion, except I missed being with you. I missed seeing you, celebrating with you, and marching with you. Perhaps we can get together in person somehow, somewhere, soon. I am thinking about this a lot.”
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Class of 1971