Colgate '74 50th Class Reunion
Success!!
Video by Peter Stassa & Kevin Sio, Class of 1973
IT WAS GREAT!
Thanks to everyone who joined us to celebrate our 50th reunion, and to those who couldn’t attend but were there in spirit. The weekend was perfect, with plenty of chances to catch up with friends and classmates, and to continue learning through the programs – several of which were led by classmates. Even the weather cooperated, which is never a sure thing in Hamilton. Let’s keep the spirit and connections alive!
The 50th Reunion Executive Committee
Class Gift
It's Not too Late
Thanks to the generosity of many of our classmates, we raised over $5 million dollars. We didn’t hit all of our goals, but it’s not too late. We have until June 30 to give back to Colgate and ensure the university will continue to deliver an outstanding experience for the next
generation Colgate students.
To encourage additional giving to Colgate – and because we are so close to our fundraising goal, our challengers have generously extended a 1:1 match on all gifts, pledges, and planned gifts made by June 30, up to $1 million. And we only need 43 more donors to reach our goal of 74% participation and unlock an additional $174,000 in challenge match dollars.
Class Participation Rate: 64% (283 donors)
(Goal is 74%)
We need 43 more donors to reach our goal! This includes outright gifts in any amount, to any designation made in this fiscal year (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024). Please note that pledges and planned gifts are not included for participation purposes..
Current Willow Society Members: 37
(Goal is 41)
The Willow Society recognizes hundreds of loyal alumni, parents, and friends who have made estate plans, life-income arrangements, and life insurance and IRA beneficiary designations for Colgate. If you have included Colgate in your plans, they will count for the 50th reunion gift, and we encourage you to let the Planned Giving team know by emailing plannedgiving@colgate.edu.
Presidents’ Circle Members: 62
(Goal is 55)
WE EXCEEDED OUR GOAL! The Presidents’ Circle provides philanthropic leadership and vital support for Colgate.To be eligible each year, members of the class of 1974 would give at the leadership level of $2,500 or more.
To learn more about our 50th Reunion Class Gift and how you can help us achieve our goals, please visit the Class Gift page.
How to Make a Gift to Colgate
Online
www.colgate.edu/classof1974
Phone
1-800-668-4428
Mail
Colgate University
P.O. Box 313
Canajoharie, NY 13317-0313
For more information
Visit www.colgate.edu/give/ways-give or contact Jen Stone, Class of 1974 Staff Fundraising Liaison, at jstone@colgate.edu.
A Lifelong Connection
Diane Ciccone ’74
During high school I attended Colgate’s enrichment program for local area students. As a first generation college student, I found comfort in a local school and a campus I was familiar with. I knew that Colgate had an excellent reputation and that I would receive an excellent education.
Academically, the most enriching experience was the Jan plan requirement. It allowed me to experiment, travel and explore topics beyond what I needed for my major to graduate. In my first year I created my own Jan plan spending the month in the library at Columbia University’s International Relations researching and writing on the changing geopolitics on the African continent. My second and third years I spent on campus taking a course on Death and Dying one year and learning to play the sitar with Professor Skeleton the other year. For my final Jan plan I spent a month in Paris studying art and architecture. We went to all the museums in Paris and walked the streets looking at the architecture.
Charitable Estate Planning Webinar
Hosted by Colgate’s Planning Giving Office
I am sure many of you are like me and thinking about personal, financial, and philanthropic goals. So when Colgate offered a philanthropic estate planning webinar for our class, I decided to attend and I am really glad I did. The representative from TIAA (Laura Alexander) was very knowledgeable and included many possible strategies – who knew there were so many options! Her detailed descriptions gave me a much stronger sense of what might work best for me. It’s definitely worth your time to watch. ~ Cynthia Perry, ’74
Picture this
Photo Gallery
Visit the Photos page to view the full photo gallery.
Reunion Radio
Thanks again to Rem Merry for providing thoughtfully selected playlists each month.
For more playlists and instructions on how to listen to them, visit the Playlist page.
Thank You
Our Reunion Volunteers
Executive Committee:
Dianne Ciccone, Chair
Dick Van Deventer, Chair
Deb Abraham, Service of Remembrance
John Birk, Class Captains
Denise Cashmere, Program
Joe Cloherty, Service of Remembrance, Program
Bob Daum, Pre-engagement Committee, Fundraising
Nancy Grossman, Fundraising
John Heldrich, Fundraising
Judy Page Heitzman, Yearbook
Mary Kay Leonard, Fundraising
Deb Matthews, Program
Gregg McAllister, Yearbook
Tish McGee, Program
Pat McInerney, Program
Remington Merry, Playlist
Carol Michael, Service of Remembrance
Deb Parker-Johnson, Program
Cynthia Perry, Pre-engagement Committee, Fundraising
Jane Porter, Program
Tom Randt, Fundraising
Carmela McCain Simmons, Yearbook
Chip Simon, Yearbook, Program
Tybo Tyburski, Pre-engagement Committee, Fundraising
Leslie Wengenroth, Website
Phil Wolfenden, Service of Remembrance
Class Captains:
John Birk, Chair
Casey Aiken
Jeff Allen
Jack Bassett
John Bryden
Mark Clearihue
Nate Dickerson
Cozette Ferron
L. Palmer Foret
Ken Hale
Dan Heitzman
John Heldrich
Frank Kaiman
Laura Lasker
Deb Meehan
Jeff Mero
Rick Nangle
Yvette Peterson
Jane Porter
Tybo Tyburski
Dick Van Deventer
Patty Van Deventer
Class Gift Committee:
Doug Carlson
Wayne Feinstein
Ivan Gowan
Fred Kaplan
John McDonald
Robin Thomashauer
Bob Whiteman