In 2019, when the Class of 1974 celebrated its 45th Reunion, there was a sense that the 50th was going to be something extra special. 

Forty-fifth reunions are often overshadowed as classes look ahead to the milestone 50th. But the Class of 1974’s 45th reunion beat expectations. The class had an active and robust volunteer committee that inspired strong attendance with nearly 40 classmates returning to the Island in 2019, boding well for 2024. 

And, indeed, by all measures, the Class of 1974’s 50th reunion celebration was an enormous success. 

The 50th Reunion Committee (one of the largest reunion committees in Loomis Chaffee history with 23 members), chaired by Ned McMahon, Susie Tracy Moore, and Trustee Keith Cowan, met regularly over Zoom, starting in the fall of 2023. With so many members, every call turned into a mini-reunion of its own with lots of reconnecting, bonding, and laughs. The Zoom sessions were both productive and fun, and the energy and enthusiasm of this group spread throughout the class as members began outreach to their 1974 peers. 

“In addition to connecting with each other, for many classmates the weekend fostered their first re-engagement with Loomis Chaffee in many years. The weekend deepened our collective commitment to our school’s mission, so expect to see more of us annually from this point forward,” Keith said. 

An impressive 69 members of 1974 made the trip to Windsor for their 50th Reunion in June, thanks largely to the terrific outreach by the engagement subcommittee led by Ned.  

"It was a pleasure and inspiration to be part of the organizing committee,” Ned said. “Getting started in the fall of 2023 meant, in effect, that instead of just being together for a weekend, we were together for a whole year. To paraphrase Cameron Diaz, there is something special about the Class of ’74. But I have no doubt that other classes can and do create their own reunion magic."   

Class fundraising efforts, led by development subcommittee chairs Mark Goldstein and Leigh Newman, were inspiring as well, with the class raising more than $1.3 million in cash, pledges, and bequest intentions. A key outcome of their work was the successful creation of the Class of 1974 Scholarship, which will provide opportunities for students with financial need in perpetuity while serving as a lasting tribute to the class’s commitment to the school. 

Beyond the numbers, Susie and the activities and events subcommittee developed Reunion Weekend programming that was dynamic, diverse, and creative — and included a ’74 welcome roundtable, a ’74 bike tour, and an artist reception celebrating the “50 Years of Photography” exhibit honoring Loomis Chaffee faculty member Walter Rabetz. This exhibit featured works by Bruce Hamilton, Keith Raphael, and John Sutton, all members of the Class of 1974, and works by Peter Kagan, Just Loomis, and Ted Morrison from the Class of 1975. The Saturday dinner was complemented with entertaining remarks and a musical performance by Kevin Mooney, Chris Otis, and Dan Lanzi. The final event, the Class of ’74 Campus Walk, was rainy, but a small, sturdy group powered through.  

Susie spoke of the strengthening bonds. 

“Confluence was the name of our yearbook and the unofficial slogan for the class. We struggled during our years to be one class, often seen as three separate entities,” Susie said. “No one would have imagined the bond our class now has. We look forward to many more.” 

Members of the class were also featured prominently in other Reunion Weekend events: Jamie Kennedy and Corby Kummer participated in the “Power of Food” session moderated by Deborah Sudarsky, while Keith, who also co-chaired the overall 2024 Reunion program, introduced Head of School Sheila Culbert at her final Reunion Weekend address, which included the presentation of her portrait.  

Appropriately, the class was recognized for its efforts, receiving the Glover ’48 and Jane Mackay Howe ’49 Award, which is presented to the reunion class with the highest reunion attendance percentage in the Loomis Chaffee years; the James and Abigail Chaffee Loomis Award, earned by the reunion class raising the largest class gift overall; and the Stephen Conland ’35 Award, acknowledging the class whose volunteers have demonstrated superior commitment, energy, and enthusiasm during their reunion year.