A Big Cornell Year

JAN: Kicked off the Chinese New Year season hosting a table of family and friends for the Cornell Asian Alumni Assn’s banquet at NYC’s Golden Unicorn Restaurant, honoring Cornell’s Student Affairs V.P. Susan Murphy on her retirement. Laura, David, & Karen came down from Mass., Michael Richardson from Chicago, and Joe & Marney Thomas from Ithaca to join us. Also there: Jeff Eng and Henry Shum. 

 
APR, MAY: Cornell’s events at NYC’s 583 Park Avenue thanked its Tower Club donors (here with Kent Sheng and Harriet & Jay Waks), and honored Johnson School Alumni Award recipients, including Distinguished Service Alumni Awardee Nels Schaenen with wife Nancy. Souvenir digital photo with Cornell’s mascot and my professor, mentor, and friend of 45+ years, Dean Emeritus Joe & Marney Thomas. 

 
JUN: Mom joined me in Ithaca for Cornell’s Reunion Weekend. Leo Konomis and I held up our ends for our 45th Reunion; we’re expecting many more of our classmates to join us for our 50th. Karen & Gian were also there celebrating their 20th Reunion. Bob Metcalf and I among the Johnson alumni honoring Joe Thomas on his retirement as Dean. Mom & I were houseguests of Joe & Marney at their lovely home on Cayuga Lake, enjoying wines from Joe’s magnificent cellar with Gian & Karen and beautiful sunsets. Enjoyed farewell coffee and donuts at their neighbors Vanne & Bob Cowie’s home with many other long-time Cornell friends. 

 
SEP: Mom came with me to Cornell for my being honored with the Frank H. T. Rhodes Exemplary Alumni Service Award - the university’s highest alumni honor - during Homecoming Weekend. Enjoyed the awards dinner with our beloved Pres. Emeritus Frank & Rosa Rhodes and the engraved crystal and sterling silver Tiffany award. Tailgating with Johnson’s Dean Emeritus Joe Thomas and new Dean Mark Nelson. Mom hiked up the Schoellkopf Field Crescent to enjoy the game from President Hunter & Elizabeth Rawlings’ box. Another delicious dinner at Joe & Marney’s with sumptuous wines: ‘08 Drouhin Chablis Premier Cru & ‘02 Remoissenet Grands-Echezeaux. 

OCT: Back to Ithaca for Cornell’s Trustee-Council Annual Meeting, again as Joe & Marney Thomas’ houseguest. Arrival dinner with vertical tasting of ‘00 & ‘02 Ch. Lascombes. Next night, back after the TCAM reception for a tasting of my jamón serrano-wrapped asparagus and ‘98 & ‘99 Beaulieu Georges de Latour, with Ken Gurola. Attended third-time-around Pres Hunter Rawlings’ stirring State-of-the-University address and several classes, then the TCAM dinner with Gligor Tashkovich and Dean Mark & Cathy Nelson. Closed the weekend with a symposium honoring President Emeritus Frank Rhodes’ scholarly work and a reception celebrating his 90th birthday.