Cornell Class of 1966 and Becker House

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Reception for Class of 1966
October 27, 2010

The kids welcomed us with posters with our faces (25th Reunion Yearbook photos!) pasted all over Becker House. We had a wonderful, very special time. They hosted a Reception in Dean Cindy Hazan's Apt, then a House Dinner with 300 Becker students and Becker Faculty Fellows. Then a Seminar with two Faculty Fellows back in the Dean's apartment.

And THEN Prof Robin Davisson, a Becker House Fellow (and wife if President David Skorton, also a Becker House Fellow) came by to conduct her regular Wednesday evening Knitting Club with Becker students. Knitting WITH Robin was Pat Atkinson, Robin's guest. I had not met Pat ever before Next day, it was announced at the State of the Univ speech that Pat and her husband David '60 had just donated $80 million to the Cornell Center for a Sustainable Future! I nearly fell over the balcony railing in the Statler Auditorium in shock! But that night before, she was simply and warmly sitting on the other end of the couch, watching as the Becker kids knit. ( the kids knit as community service, making gifts for projects in Africa, etc. ).

Every time the Class Officers return to Becker, we are amazed at the intimate access that Becker students are able to have with Administration and Faculty that we never could have imagined in our day. Remarkable! Fabulous!
- Alice Katz Berglas

We were joined by spouses Tom Sander and Rhoda Janis as well as classmate Larry Goichman '66.

Below is Bruce Mansdorf and Cindy's correspondence re: "What has our 40th Reunion Cornell Class of 1966 Becker House Dean's Discretionary Fund made possible?"

Hi Cindy,

Great to talk to you today. Hope you got down the hill safely in the wind.

As we discussed, we'd be eager to get from you an indication of what our class gift to Becker has been used for, recognizing that it is part of your bundle of programming funds. Please give us some juicy items but do not go too far to get every detail--not necessary. This will help us describe to our classmates how we've been able to help Becker with its programming over the years; they will be appreciative to know how well their gift funding has been spent. And we hope it will help us raise more gift funds for Cornell. Best,

Bruce

Dear Bruce,

So wonderful, as always, to have the sixty-sixers in the house!

Here is a start. let me know if this is along the lines of what you had in mind.

With House Fellow, Professor Robin Davisson, Biomedical Sciences. a knitting club meets weekly in the House Professor apt. project last semester -- knitted purses for girls rescued from the sex trade and living in an orphanage in Tanzania founded by a Cornellian. (David and Robin discovered it while travelling in Africa.)

With House Fellow, Professor Jim Bell, Astronomy (and the Mars Rover project) and House Fellow Leonardo Vargas-Mendez, Director of the Cornell Public Service Center. a service group. every semester Becker residents plan and carry out service projects on and off campus. examples include an in-house "Science Saturday" for disadvantaged Ithaca youth, making personalized thank-you cards for service men and women, hosting a dinner for impoverished senior citizens.

With House Fellow, Emeritus Professor of History, Michael Kammen. a one-credit course. students read essays by Carl Becker and discuss them with distinguished members of the Cornell faculty over coffee and pastries in the House Professor apt.

With House Fellow, Professor Bruce Levitt, attending performances (with tutorials beforehand and discussions with the performers afterward) at the Schwartz Center.

With House Fellows, Professor Natalie Melas and Shelley Wong, and Graduate Resident Fellow, Jon Senchyne, a book club. for example, students read and discussed "A Mercy" and then attended the Toni Morrison lecture and reception.

With House Fellow, Professor Nick Salvatore, political discussions over dinner.

With Graduate Resident Fellows, hiking in the local gorges during breaks.

With the House Council, s'mores study breaks on the house green.

With House Fellow Andrea Dutcher, Director of Recreational Services -- snowshoeing, boating, apple picking, etc.

An annual "senior series" based on the "161" must-do list, including 2am breakfast at the State Diner, ice cream at the dairy bar, foreign film at Cinemapolis, horseback riding at the equestrian center, etc.

A trip to NYC to attend Columbia vs. Cornell football game, march in the Sy Katz parade, dine with alums at the Cornell Club, and hand deliver birthday cards to Happy Reichert from Becker residents.

A welcome reception in the House Professor apt for all Becker residents.

~warmest,
Cindy