Class of 1967 50th Reunion Celebration

More than 120 alumni and guests got together in May for a two-day celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Class of 1967.

Kicking off on May 24 with an informal get-together over cocktails at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Fairfield, the Class of 1967 50th Reunion brought together former classmates from around the country, many of whom hadn’t seen each other in half a century.

“It was a pleasure to…reconnect with my classmates from 1967,” says Janet Cederlund Sisko ’67, ’81 MA, who served on the 50th Reunion Committee. “The day will remain with me as a special memory.”

The following day, on May 25, members of the 50th Reunion Class had the opportunity to be in the spotlight as they lead the procession of participants at the 2017 Undergraduate Commencement ceremony at Prudential Center in Newark. Dressed in academic regalia with commemorative gold anniversary stoles, the Class of 1967 was introduced by President Susan A. Cole and greeted with enthusiastic applause from the baccalaureate candidates and families filling the arena.

After Commencement, the group returned to campus to join classmates, guests and others in the University Hall Conference Center for the 50th and 50+ Reunion Luncheon and more good conversation. Joining the Class of 1967 at the luncheon were members of the Class of 1962, celebrating their 55th reunion, as well as University executives and staff.

Following the luncheon and group photos, shuttle bus tours of the campus were provided so that attendees could see what the campus looks like now. “We took the shuttle tour bus after the luncheon and that was so interesting and fun, despite the weather,” says Barbara Haley ’67. “I loved going back and seeing the campus and was so impressed to see that although it’s changed a lot – it still has its special charm in keeping with the Spanish Mission look. I love that.”

The Class of 1967 50th Reunion was a great success and will undoubtedly make for lasting memories. “Despite the few ‘road bumps’ in the day’s journey, everyone felt the day was a huge success,” notes Harry McLaughlin ’67, ’73 MA. “I have always felt that MSTC – Montclair State Teachers College, as we all knew it in 1963 – is and will be a special place, thanks for keeping that tradition alive.”

Special thanks are due to the Reunion Committee members: Janet Cederlund Sisko, Catherine Lagatutta Del Colliano, Mark Kaelin, Jeanette Newby-Mills and Raffaela Vella Yurecko, whose months of work preparing, planning and reaching out to classmates helped ensure the tremendous turnout for the event.

In addition to a great event, the Class of 1967 came together to raise over $10,000 for scholarship in honor of their 50th reunion.

Echoing the sentiments of other committee members, Mark Kaelin ’67, ’74 MA says, “I’m glad I volunteered to serve on the Reunion Committee. It not only gave me a chance to work and reminisce with the other committee members but to try and contact former classmates many of whom could not attend the actual reunion. Several of those telephone conversations turned into one-on-one, hour-long, reunions.”

Photo Galleries:
Class of 1967 50th and 50+ Reunion Luncheon
Class of 1967 Commencement