Class of 1969 Prepares for 50th Reunion
Posted in: Alumni News and Events
Reunion provides alumni with the opportunity to reconnect with each other and with their alma mater. For many, it’s a reason to celebrate with lifelong friends. For others, it’s a chance to get together with their classmates, many of whom they may not have seen in 50 years. Some have been back to campus to visit or attend events and activities, while others are experiencing 50 years’ worth of growth and change when they return for reunion.
On May 23 and May 24 when they attend their 50th reunion, members of the Class of 1969 will have the opportunity to return to the campus that enabled them to fulfill their dreams. They will gather to celebrate their alma mater with receptions, campus tours and a luncheon, among other festivities. The class will also lead the procession of more than 4,000 candidates for baccalaureate degree conferment during the University’s 2019 Commencement ceremony at the Prudential Center in Newark.
“So much has changed at Montclair State since the Class of ’69 graduated. The campus has seen tremendous expansion with the addition of University Hall, Alexander Kasser Theater, the Feliciano School of Business, the Center for Environmental and Life Sciences and the School of Communication and Media,” says Karen Hackett, associate director of Alumni Engagement. “Soon, the revitalization of College Hall, which is a building many remember, will be complete and it will become a state-of-the-art facility for all student services.”
Members of the volunteer committee have been working hard to plan a memorable reunion and create a legacy through the group’s class gift. The Class of 1969 50th Reunion Volunteer Committee includes, Mariana Marchese, Janet Caruso Morrow, Joetta Di Bella Sautter and Jack Pignatello. Committee members have spent months preparing, planning and reaching out to classmates to encourage participation. Their commitment and support have been critical to the success of this year’s 50th reunion celebration.
For Joetta Di Bella Sautter, who will be traveling all the way from Tennessee, visiting campus will enable her to reconnect with fellow classmates and learn more about the new buildings and services. “I look forward to seeing the new School of Communication and Media building and talk to University administrators about the television and film classes that they are offering to students,” she says. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in English, Sautter taught at Manasquan High School for about one year and then moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in television. She is a former Governor and Vice Chair of the Academy of Television Arts & Science and recently served as a judge in the 39th College Television Awards.
Exploring the campus that was once their home not only brings back memories of their undergraduate years, but also of those professors who left an impact on their professional lives. For Marianna Marchese, who pursued a career as a French teacher after graduation, there are two professors who she remembers fondly.
“My Methods professor, Mrs. Knecht, had a profound influence on my teaching career. She taught me how to teach French while making the world language come alive for my students,” says Marchese.
While Professor Mathilda Knecht awakened her creativity and love for teaching, Professor Madelaine Sargeant also gave her a strong foundation in teaching French. “As a teacher of French for several years after graduation, I taught Le Petit Prince to my high school students. I still had Professor Sargeant’s notes that I referenced as I was teaching,” she says.
Without a doubt, reunion is a time to pause and reflect on the past and those special memories of time spent at Montclair State with friends and faculty. This milestone year offers a chance to reflect on your legacy and plan how you can make an impact on the lives of current and future Montclair State students.
“We invite you to come back to campus and enjoy the events planned especially for the Class of ’69,” says Hackett. “Join your classmates to catch up and celebrate your 50th anniversary!”
Join fellow alumni as you reminisce and reconnect with classmates at events planned especially for you.
Help make the Class of 1969 Anniversary Class Gift a spectacular one by making your class gift.
Take a walk down memory lane and view your yearbook online.
Reunions would not be successful without the work of our volunteers.
Complete the Reunion Booklet Questionnaire and share your highlights from the past 50 years.
If interested in attending, please visit montclair.edu/alumni/reunion or contact Karen Hackett in the Office of Alumni Engagement at 973-655-4207 or hackettk@montclair.edu.