First Message 55th Reunion

Dear Harvard/Radcliffe 1968 Classmate,

We believe attending Harvard Reunions, especially Class of ’68 Reunions, is beneficial to health, happiness, and brain function. All good reasons to read on and learn more about our 55th.

Here’s a view from 10,000 feet. We’ll get down to the nitty-gritty of reunion events in future communications and also keep you posted on the Class of ’68 website. Select “55th Reunion” from the menu bar.

As with previous Class of ’68 Reunions, we anticipate record-breaking attendance, a fabulous cabaret, a program comprised of a series of informative and entertaining sessions, and many opportunities to meet, greet and renew friendships.

Here are the highlights:

  • Our 55th Reunion is scheduled for Wednesday evening, May 31, to Friday afternoon, June 2.
  • The renowned Class of ’68 Cabaret, one of Harvard’s longest-running theatrical productions, will be staged in the Hasty Pudding Theatrical’s Farkas Hall on Thursday evening, June 1, at 8:30 p.m.
  • A program of symposia, which you will not want to miss, will be presented on Thursday morning. The Reunion Committee is sending a survey to you to solicit your preferences from a list of suggested topics. Please take a few moments to assist the committee by completing the survey.
  • Our own Linda Greenhouse will conduct an in-person interview on Thursday afternoon with President Emerita Drew Gilpin Faust on her forthcoming book about coming of age in the South during the 1960s.
  • Hospitality suites for both Radcliffe and Harvard classmates will be set up to provide a comfortable and convenient place to renew friendships, make new ones, or simply relax.
  • A service to remember our departed classmates will be held in Memorial Church on Thursday afternoon, followed by a class photo on the steps of Widener Library.
  • For those classmates staying into the weekend, “Underground ’68” is planning a post-reunion entertainment event on Friday evening.

The Harvard Alumni Association (HAA) has reserved a block of rooms at the DoubleTree Suites, located at 400 Soldiers Field Road, Boston. As a result of the immediate response by a large number of classmates, the block is fully subscribed and the hotel is fully booked for the period of our Reunion.

The Reunion Committee is currently coordinating with HAA to book an additional block of rooms at another Cambridge hotel. We hope to have confirmation of availability and pricing by the end of this month and will forward the information to you immediately. Classmates who wish to secure hotel reservations before month’s end can find a list of hotels, in order of their proximity to the Yard.

Scheduled round-trip transportation to and from reunion events from hotels, with rooms reserved for the Class of ’68 by HAA, will be included as part of the 55th Reunion package. Please note, HAA no longer provides on-call van transportation service. Those staying at hotels other than the DoubleTree (and hopefully the new hotel block to come) will need to secure their own transportation to and from campus.

Our 55th Reunion promises to be another special and significant event for the Class of ’68! We’ll give you a heads-up when online registration opens in early April. We look forward to greeting you in Cambridge on May 31!

Best regards,

Barbara Shore ’68 and Chris Burns ’68

Second message 55th Reunion

Dear Harvard/Radcliffe 1968 Classmate,

With our 55th Reunion less than two months away, please know that your Reunion Committee and our Harvard Alumni Association (HAA) partners are focused on finalizing plans for a memorable gathering of the Class of ’68 in Cambridge, beginning on Wednesday, May 31, and ending on Friday, June 2.

Important updates include:  

  • A new block of rooms has been reserved at the Freepoint Hotel by HAA to meet the impressive demand of our classmates. The hotel is located in Cambridge, 1.8 miles from The Yard, and has a Red Line T stop nearby, connecting to Harvard Square. Cabs and Ubers are also available from the hotel. Scheduled transportation to and from reunion events and the DoubleTree and Freepoint Hotels will be included in the reunion package. Use the booking link to make your reservations. Additional details include:
    • Address: 220 Alewife Brook Parkway, Cambridge, MA 02138
    • Rate: $319/night
    • Availability: Night of Wednesday, May 31, through night of Saturday, June 3, 2023.
    • Cut-off date: April 14, 2023. This means if the hotel still has rooms available after April 14, they will keep the block open. If not, the block will close. “First come, first served.”
    • Phone number: 800-445-8667
    • Accessible rooms: Please call the number above to inquire about accessible rooms.
  • Online registration through the HAA will open shortly. You will be able to link to the 55th Reunion web page and check out the Who’s Coming list.
  • Red Books will be mailed to classmates in May.
  • Over the years, the Class of ’68 has taken great pride in demonstrating our leadership in the support of Harvard and Radcliffe. We are included in the group of preeminent classes with regard to financial contributions—both in terms of dollar amounts and class participation—and attendance at Reunions.

    To what do we attribute our Class of ‘68 cohesion and leadership? Certainly, we remember our arrival on campus in the Autumn of 1964 and the many subsequent momentous events and shared experiences, which bonded us far beyond sharing the same time and place over the course of the following four years. Regardless, when the Class of ’68 throws a party, you don’t want to miss it!

    The 50th Reunion was magical, with over 1,100 classmates and guests attending—smashing the all-time record for a Harvard/Radcliffe 50th Reunion. For a pleasant flashback to 2018, see the Cabaret video and photos on the Class of ’68 website at 1968.classes.harvard.edu.

    The Class of ’68 is committed to Harvard and Radcliffe, but more importantly, we are loyal to each other. It is a wonderful experience to walk into a room of ’68 classmates and be warmly greeted by people you may not have seen in several years or even decades. Conversations flow naturally and simply resume where they left off, catching up on families, careers, travels, and pastimes. We rejoice at the marvels of grandchildren and retirement. We share the sorrow over the loss of parents, spouses, and classmates.

    We see our classmates not necessarily as the people they were, but as the people they are today. We will show up at the Reunion, have fun, shed a tear, reminisce, and be grateful for the journey that has brought us together again. The 55th Reunion will give us the opportunity to reinforce just how much we care for each other’s well-being and happiness.

    We encourage you to call your roommates, Housemates, teammates, and section mates to encourage them to join you at the Reunion. By doing so, you’ll help to make our 55th Reunion the best ever!

    Sincerely,

    Barbara Shore ’68 and Chris Burns ’68

Third Message 55th Reunion

Dear Harvard/Radcliffe ’68 Classmate,

The wait is over! Pent-up demand for Class of ’68 Fifty-fifth Reunion registration is released. The electronic gates are open. Register today for our quinquennial festival of fun, food and friends.

Now that Harvard Reunions occur after Commencement and Radcliffe Day, your Reunion Committee has worked with our Harvard Alumni Association partners to assemble a three-day series of events, beginning Wednesday May 31 and ending on Friday June 2. 2023.

Following a long-standing tradition, our 55th Reunion will be meaningful, memorable and fun! Reuniting with friends will lift the spirit, bring back memories, and make new ones. The Class of ’68 Cabaret will entertain and delight. The symposium sessions will offer a smorgasbord of treats to satisfy your intellectual palate and will inform, challenge and prompt lively discussions. The Class of ’68 website provides full detail.

And back by popular demand, Underground 68 will provide the perfect post-reunion way to conclude your visit to Cambridge. Kick back and hang out with friends in a casual atmosphere on Friday evening, June 2 while enjoying the Underground 68 band and selection of food and beverage.

Okay, ’nuff said, proceed without delay to our Class website and register NOW!

For your convenience, you may register for a full reunion package, which includes entrance to all reunion events or select from an À la cart menu to tailor your attendance to specific events. Regardless, take advantage of “early bird” pricing, which will provide a discount for those registering no later than April 30.

We look forward to greeting you on campus.

Best regards,

Barbara Shore ’68 and Chris Burns ’68, Outreach ’68 Chairs

4th Message 55th Reunion

Dear Classmates,

Our 55th Reunion is off to a great start with over 150 classmates and their guests registered to attend the three-day event, which begins on May 31 and concludes on June 2.

It’s not too late to be an “early bird!” Discount pricing for a full reunion package of events or selections from an à la carte menu of events is available through April 30. Please join us for fun, food, friends, and conversation. Take a look on the Class of ’68 webpage to see who’s coming.”

If you haven’t already registered, here are 10 compelling reasons for you to attend our 55th Reunion:

  1. You can still party like it’s 1964! Well, almost.
  2. You will draw on the expertise of your classmates, learn something new, and gain a broader perspective. Consider the following symposia topics and their presenters:
    1. “Keep Your Cool in a Changing Climate” by Lee Anne Wilson and Richard Hopkins
    2. “Domestic Politics” by Tom Reston
    3. “International Perspectives” by Willene Jones Johnson and Bill Overholt
    4. “Justice USA” by Marshall Goldberg
    5. “Aging” by Christine Bishop, Jim Roosevelt, Janet Ward Schofield, and Bill Wilson.
    6. A writing workshop conducted by Ellen Waterston
    7. Small group discussions, including:
      • “How We Have Experienced Aging,” moderated by Jeanne Kleinman and Barbara Shore
      • “How to Discuss Abortion with People of Differing Opinions,” moderated by Anne Fowler
      • An open discussion to share ideas for “Additions to Your Bucket List”
      • “Impact of Artificial Intelligence” by Harry Lewis, Alan Bersin, and Ken Ledeen ’67.
  3. You will attend an exclusive interview by Linda Greenhouse with President Emerita Drew Faust on her forthcoming book about coming of age in the South during the 1960s.
  4. You will attend a delightful and entertaining performance by the renowned Class of ’68 Cabaret in the iconic Farkas Hall, home of the Hasty Pudding Theatricals. Unfortunately, Jerry, the ageless bartender from our college years, will not be available to serve his famous whiskey sours.
  5. Classmates staying at the Doubletree Suites (617-783-0090) in Allston or the Freepoint Hotel in Cambridge (800-445-8667) will be provided with scheduled transportation to and from reunion events.
  6. Two hospitality suites will be set up on campus to provide both Radcliffe classmates and Harvard classmates with a place to relax.
  7. A memorial service to remember our departed classmates will be led by classmates from multifaith backgrounds and be accompanied by the voices of the Class of ’68 choir.
  8. You will be provided with the opportunity to join the alumni/ae parade through Harvard Yard on Friday afternoon. With age comes privilege! The Class of ’68 is moving up the line and before we know it, we will lead the procession!
  9. You will be able to form or join smaller groups of classmates, including your roommates, housemates, teammates, and others with whom you shared extracurricular time, and celebrate your shared experiences and current endeavors.
  10. You will be able to join the Underground 68 Band as the perfect post-reunion way to kick back, hang out, and conclude your visit to Cambridge.

The arrival of our 55th Reunion Red Book, which is scheduled for delivery over the next day or two, will provide the perfect opportunity to contact classmates and encourage them to attend the Reunion. So, reach out and help to make our upcoming class gathering the best ever!

Over the years, the Class of ’68 has taken great pride in demonstrating our leadership in support of Harvard and Radcliffe. We are listed in the preeminent group of classes with regard to financial contributions, both in terms of dollar amounts and class participation, and in setting the standard for reunion attendance.

We’re pleased to report that, as a result of the good work of our class agents and your generosity, we are maintaining our leadership as we mark and celebrate our 55th postgraduation year. Over 700 classmates have donated or pledged in excess of $2,400,000 in recognition of our 55th Reunion. Well done ’68!

We look forward to greeting you on campus.

Sincerely,

Barbara Shore ’68 and Chris Burns ’68
Outreach ’68 Co-Chairs

Dear Classmates,

We are now three weeks away from the start of our 55th Reunion (May 31–June 2). Over 315 classmates and their guests have registered to attend our Class of ’68 gathering. Following our tradition of leadership, we have set a new standard for 55th reunion attendance! Congratulations ’68! However, by Class of ’68 norms, we have barely established a quorum.

We encourage those who are thinking of joining us for the Reunion to act now and register today. Please don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy a meaningful, memorable, and fun-filled gathering with your friends.

An earlier letter to you listed 10 compelling reasons for attending our 55th Reunion. Now, we submit an 11th reason, which we think is the most compelling of all. To do so, we share some thoughts, which some attribute to Steve Jobs, and a Beatles lyric.

Jobs, as you know, cofounded Apple and experienced decades of success until his death at age 56. It seems unlikely that Jobs actually wrote the following paragraphs, but whoever did said something extremely relevant to our Reunion.

“I reached the pinnacle of success in the business world. In some others’ eyes, my life is the epitome of success. However, aside from work, I have little joy. In the end, my wealth is only a fact of life that I am accustomed to.

“True happiness is when you have mates, buddies, old friends, brothers and sisters with whom you chat, laugh, talk, sing songs, and talk about north-south-east-west or heaven and earth.

“The six best doctors in the world are sunlight, rest, exercise, diet, self-confidence, and friends. Maintain them in all stages and enjoy a healthy life.”

Or, as John and Paul wrote and Ringo (or Billy Sheers) sang,

“I get by with a little help from my friends.”

We understood the context of this lyric at the time it was written. However, the lyrics have meaning for us today in the context of friendship.

So, our 11th and most compelling reason for attending:

You will find your friends in Cambridge at our 55th Reunion.

We look forward to greeting you on campus. In the meantime, please refer to the Class of ’68 reunion web page, for up-to-date reunion information.

Sincerely,

Barbara Shore ’68 and Chris Burns ’68
Outreach ’68 Co-Chairs

Important News about the Cabaret

Dear Classmates:

Our 55th Reunion celebration is just around the corner and, with it, Cabaret IX – the longest running class reunion show in Harvard history.

Where: The Hasty Pudding Theatre (a/k/a Farkas Hall)

When:  Thursday June 1, 2023 - 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm – Doors Open at 7:30 pm.

Two things to share with you in advance:

First, the Hasty Pudding Theater (a/k/a Farkas Hall) is a wonderful performance space, and we anticipate that it will seat everyone attending the Reunion who wants to see the show, including the H-R Reunion Choir and Cabaret Cast Members.

However, since we don’t know exactly how many classmates and “plus ones” are attending the Reunion and, by extension, how many will be attending the Cabaret, seating in the theatre will be on a first come, first served basis.  (Doors open at 7:30 pm)

Here’s the good news: If there are more attendees than seats in the Pudding Theatre/Farkas Hall, additional seating will be provided in The Pudding Bar – our “Video Lounge” – adjacent to the theatre and complete with a big screen and bar service.

Second, respecting COVID, we are encouraging everyone in the audience in both locations to wear a mask. Masks will be available at the Theatre.

Welcome one and all! We look forward to seeing you!

                                                                              Your Producers,

                                                Cort Casady, Katharine “Tink” Davis, Peter Larson, and Ed Kovachy

Sixsth Message with message about Cabaret and Underground 68

Sixth Message about the 55th Reunion

Dear Classmates,

For those of you who make lists, it’s time to consider what to pack for our 55th Reunion. For others who are less organized but equally determined to derive maximum enjoyment from our Reunion, we offer two very important suggestions:

  1. Bring your mobile device and charger
  2. Bring your Red Book, aka the 55th Anniversary Report

The first item is obvious for many reasons, but for 55th Reunion purposes, the Class of 1968 website features a “55th Reunion Guide.”

The second item is more analogous to your mom admonishing you not to forget your toothbrush. Our Red Books will be a valuable and useful source of information. For security reasons, the HAA has placed personal contact information behind the HarvardKey firewall and will no longer distribute at check-in a printed list of attending classmates with their mobile phone numbers. However, you will find many of our classmates’ mobile phone numbers in your Red Book. The book will also help you to learn about the previously unknown classmate with whom you enjoyed lunch on Thursday. Make your “Red Book” a packing priority.

The 55th Reunion Guide will include a menu with links to topical tabs such as

  1. Panels and discussions
  2. Transportation schedule with pickup and drop-off times and locations
  3. Campus information
  4. Map of Harvard Yard and vicinity
  5. In case of emergency info

Class members who would like to post photographs and videos may have their content posted on the “Memories of ’68” tab, behind the Harvard Key. Please forward inquiries regarding posting your content to David Jost at dajebj@gmail.com.

As mentioned above, the HAA has gone digital and, as a result, no printed materials will be available at check-in. If you are more comfortable using hard copies of the sections of the 55th Reunion Guide, we suggest you print them out at home before departing for Cambridge. We also suggest that you bookmark the reunions website and the Class of 1968 webpage to stay up to date.

For those classmates attending the Cabaret, please read the “Important Cabaret Reminder” from the producers of the show, which is included below as a part of this correspondence.

In closing, we wish you safe and pleasant travels; we pray for the blessing of good weather during our Reunion; and we look forward to greeting you in the Yard soon.

Sincerely,

Barbara Shore ’68 and Chris Burns ’68
Outreach ’68 Co-Chairs

IMPORTANT CABARET REMINDER

Dear Classmates:

Our 55th Reunion is just days away and so is Cabaret IX on June 1 in Farkas Hall (home of the Hasty Pudding Theatricals). The theater has 254 seats. Roughly 50 seats will be reserved for members of the reunion choir and the Cabaret cast, plus their spouses or plus-ones. As a result, we expect approximately 200 open seats on show day.

Please remember that seating in the theater is first-come, first-served.

Here's what we recommend: Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Plan to head over to Farkas Hall around 7:00 or a little earlier to get a place in line.

At 7:30, ushers will know exactly how many seats are open and will begin seating the folks in line. (There are several ADA seats open; if you require one, please let Katharine B. “Tink” Davis know as soon as possible and plan on getting to the theater early.)

Here's the good news: if you don't get a seat in the theater, you don't feel comfortable sitting in a full theater, or you don't want to stand in line, additional seating will be provided in a beautiful room one floor above the theater in what we're calling our “VIP Video Lounge & Bar.” By stairs or elevator, you'll arrive in a convivial setting with a large flat-screen TV and a bar. And here's the best part: the bar will be hosted, so drinks are on the house!

Finally, respecting COVID, please remember that we encourage everyone in the audience in both locations to wear a mask. Masks will be available at the theater.

We can't wait to see you! Safe travels!

Your Producers,
Cort Casady, Katharine B. “Tink” Davis, Ed Kovachy, and Peter Larson

UNDERGROUND 68 HANGOUT WITH LIVE MUSIC

But wait!  There’s more!  The reunion officially ends at 5pm, Friday, June 2, but the classmates who brought us Underground 68 five years ago are back for an informal Friday evening of camaraderie and live music at the Democracy Center , 45 Mt. Auburn Street across from Quincy House, 7:30pm to 10pm.  Enjoy the Underground 68 band in the Nelson Mandela Room and hang with classmates in the Center’s other comfortably appointed spaces.