Welcome to
THE CORNELL CLASS OF 1978
A Message from the Class President
Dear Fellow '78 Classmates!
We’ve already traveled half the distance to our next Reunion—it’s been quick. And the last twelve months have been a bumpy, detour-ridden trip for many. It’s time to tap on the brakes, pull over onto the scenic overlook, and Reconnect!
On Sunday, March 14, 2021, at 7 pm EST, join your fellow
1978 classmates for our Midway-to-Reunion Virtual Mixer!
Register here to join the fun! See who's coming!
At this special virtual mixer, you’ll meet up with old friends and make new ones as we take on the day’s pressing question: “What’s everybody else doing?”
Through the magic of zoom, why don’t we talk about the places you’ll go, your new life in volunteering, that latest video binge, how family life has changed these last months, the languages you are learning, the new skills you are polishing, or that great second act?
Over the course of ninety minutes, we’ll have breakout rooms that span food, family, travel, entertainment, second careers and other topics. (Via registration, you get to choose.)
And we’ll mix in our own Cornell trivia contest. Your host for the evening? Our very own Polly Kreisman ’78.
At this year’s Cornell Alumni Leadership conference (CALC), a West Coast consulting firm told the university that among active alumni volunteers, identifying through class year was their key link to Cornell. For alumni, in general, it was identifying through personal ties that connected them to Cornell. I think we knew that already.
So, join your classmates from the fabulous Cornell Class of 1978 on Sunday, March 14, reconnect, and tell us your stories.
We’ll see you there.
Kent Sheng
Recent Class Events:
On January 31, the Class of ’78 sponsored the very successful zoom webinar, “Great Cornell Concerts of the ‘70s.” With Cornell historian Corey Ryan Earle ’07 presenting, the Sunday evening event drew a record 1428 attendees. The program explored the appearance during the classic age of rock and roll of signature performers on the Cornell campus.
These included such acts as Aretha Franklin, the Beach Boys, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Deep Purple, and the legendary 1977 concert by the Grateful Dead among others. The event was open to all registrants with Cornell classes of the ‘70s receiving special invitations. Some 194 attendees came from the Class of ’78. The topic for the webinar evolved from the Class of ’78 planning committee considering the most effective theme for getting classmates to connect. The answer? Music.
Check out this Spotify Playlist for some blasts from the past!
And don’t forget Cornell Giving Day on March 11, 2021 — Your chance to support the class and be part of something BIG!
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Kent Sheng
President, Class of 1978
Class Officers
President
Kent Sheng
Vice President
William Cavanaugh
Immediate Past President/
Class Historian
Mary Bowler Jones
Membership Chair
Lori Wasserman Karbel
Secretary
Pat Reilly
Treasurer
Victoria Hartman
Social Media Chair
Sharon Palatnik Simoncini
Reunion Chairs
Laura Day Ayers
Kathy Morris Duggan
Reunion Registration Chair
Suzanne Bishop Romain
Class Correspondents
Cindy Fuller
Ilene Shub Lefland
Cornell Fund Representative
Cynthia Kubas
Class Council
Roger L. Anderson
Jeanne Arnold Schwetje
Michael H. Bernard
Mary Bowler Jones
Archangela DeSilva
Polly E. Kreisman
Nancy Adler Manket
Susanne Solomon
Libby Waldman Strugatch
Events
March 11, 2021
Cornell Giving Day
September 17-18, 2021
Cornell Homecoming
Ithaca, NY
Future Homecoming dates
September 23-24, 2022
40th Reunion - June 2018
Weren't able to make it to our FABULOUS 40th reunion? Here are some memories of the weekend! (If you have reunion photos you'd like to share, please email them to cornellclassof78@gmail.com and we'll include them on the website!)
And be sure to click on the video shown at our Saturday night cocktail party that highlights our four years on the hill!
Mark your calendars for our 45th reunion - June 8-11, 2023!
Dues
Things are changing for the Cornell Alumni community with the creation of a new digital communications hub debuting in July 2021. Beginning on January 1, 2021, alumni will no longer have the option to subscribe to Cornell Alumni Magazine with their dues payment. The May/June issue will be the last printed issue of the magazine. More information about this will be forthcoming.
Photos
Class of '78 officers at the Cornell Alumni Leadership Conference (CALC) in Las Vegas, February 2020.
Connections
Useful links to all things related to our Alma Mater!