Alumni Reunion Weekend Brings Hundreds Back to GW
Joel Bolstein, BA ’82, JD ’87, had never even attended a class reunion. This year, Bolstein returned to GW for Alumni Reunion Weekend as the co-chair of the committee planning his 25th Reunion. What made him decide to get involved?
“We have so many fond memories of GW and now we get to create new ones,” he said. “Over the years you come to realize how important GW is in your life—the experiences you had and the many friends you made. I’m at that point now in my life and career that I feel it’s time to give back.”
Bolstein was one of thousands came back to campus on Sept. 28-30 for Alumni Reunion Weekend. The full slate of activities included a Latin-themed kick-off party, a concert by renowned jazz guitarist John McLaughlin, a tour of Thurston Hall, brunch with President Steven Knapp, faculty lectures, class parties, and a Yankees-Orioles game. Beyond the events, the weekend provided a great opportunity for alumni to reconnect with classmates and see how campus has changed.
Bolstein recognized more than many of his contemporaries because he was back in Foggy Bottom just one month earlier helping his son Sam move into Thurston Hall. “When it came time for him to look at colleges, GW was at the top of his list,” explained Bolstein. “How could it not be with parents who spoke so highly of the University?”
Bolstein and his wife, Donna Snyder, BA ’82, met during their senior year and raised their son in a household with plenty of GW pride. “Since he was little, we would watch GW basketball games together on television,” said Bolstein. “For the last few years, we’d go watch the team in person whenever they came to Philadelphia.”
After their Reunion experience, and with their son now a member of the Colonials community, Bolstein said he and his wife plan to remain active members of the GW alumni network.
Arthur Perlis, BA ’70, also found himself back at GW thanks to his son Lee, BBA ’98, and daughter Lauren, BA ’01. Perlis and Artie Mintz, BBA ’66, led a drive to draw Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity members from 1962-1972 to this year’s Reunion. They identified more than 200 brothers from that time period and were able to reconnect with about 100 over Alumni Reunion Weekend.
“The fun thing was every time we made a phone call the connection was always the same,” Perlis explained. “We get five seconds of silence, then spent next 45 minutes telling stories and reminiscing. It has been a lot of fun, a hugely rewarding experience, and I would recommend this to anyone.”
AEPi was one of several groups that hosted exclusive events during Reunion Weekend, including the Black Alumni Association, LGBT Alumni Association, College Democrats, College Republicans, and Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity.
While Bolstein and Snyder traveled from Pennsylvania and Perlis from Massachusetts for Alumni Reunion Weekend, other Colonials traveled much greater distances.
Manuel Carrelet, BBA ’82, ventured from Salisbury, Great Britain, for Alumni Reunion Weekend. “GW was for me the most incredible slice of life. Coming back after such a long time involves both re-enacting the past and a curiosity about the people and the place today,” said Carrelet, who graduated from the GW School of Business.
Ralph Cadeaux, BA ’49, also came thoufrom the United Kingdom for the Alumni Emeriti Reunion. Cadeaux and other Alumni Emeriti were treated to entertainment by local accordion legend Merv Conn, class of 1940, at their reunion party.
To learn more about 2007 Alumni Reunion Weekend or get involved in your upcoming Reunion, visit http://alumni.gwu.edu/reunion/.
—Caitlin Carroll