Culver Mini Reunion
September 28-30, 2021
On September 29, 2021, Pulitzer-Prize-winning author, historian, and political commentator Doris Kearns Goodwin came to Culver, sponsored by our class’s Student Enrichment Fund (SEF). (See the separate description of the event.)
In light of keen interest in hearing her speak and the potential for meeting her (since our SEF was sponsoring the event), 7 classmates made to trek to attend ... enough that it warranted calling the gathering a Mini Reunion.
Attendees included Bill Boies, Howard Bridges, Bill Cleavenger, John Davis, Craig Duchossois, Buzz Eisenberg, Mike Hood, Doug Neumann, and Marty Oberman. Doug and Marty also brought their significant others with them (Edie and Bonnie, respectively). Craig graciously offered us accommodations in his new “cottage” on the lake (“Chez Duch”) as well as the next-door “cottage” of his daughter, Ashley Joyce.
A view of Lake Max from the lower level of “Chez Duch”
One of Its More Unique Beverages Available at Chez Duch
The gathering of classmates commenced on Thursday evening with all of us congregating for dinner at Lucrezia Italian restaurant in downtown Culver. Needless to say, our rowdy bunch kept the servers very busy all evening. Buzz tried to pick up the entire tab, but we all generously threw currency at him. (It is believed he made a profit. LOL.)
The next morning, we joined members of the administration, staff (many in Halloween costume), and faculty for a breakfast in the rotunda of the Crisp Arts Center (the building we knew as the Eppley Hall of Sciences in the Gignilliat Quadrangle ... next to Beason Hall).
Next, most of us followed Doris over to the auditorium in the Roberts Hall of Science where she spoke at a group of Honors-in-Leadership and Honors-in-Humanities students.
L to R: Bill Cleavenger, John Davis, Howard Bridges, Marty Oberman, Mike Hood, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Doug Neumann, Buzz Eisenberg, Craig Duchossois.
(Missing: Bill Boies was taking a self-guided tour of campus.). Credit to Vedette Photographer Jacinta Ndubuisi-Obi '23.
Next, we walked over to Eppley Auditorium for front row seats at Doris's presentation to the entire student body.
Following the All-Hands Meeting, most of us headed over to the Mess Hall … er, Lay Dining Hall … for a nostalgic lunch (DRC?). The cafeteria style of serving is certainly a major departure from how we got our meals in our day.
L to R: Bonnie and Marty Oberman, Mike Hood, Craig Duchossois, Buzz Eisenberg, Howard Bridges, John Davis, Edie with Doug Neumann.
Buzz in his “Class Uniform”
Following lunch, the only classmates remaining were Craig, Howard, John, and Mike. While Howie napped, the other three braved the drizzle, breeze, and cool temperatures to experience Craig's new 3-hole par-3 golf course. (Each hole has 3 tee locations and each green has 9 pin locations. Based on that number of tees and pins for each hole and the 3 holes, there are 243 different ways one could play the course! Plus, there is a water hazard as well as bunkers and sand traps. Challenging!). Craig and Mike amply demonstrated their marked prowess at the game; John made an idiot of himself displaying his complete ineptness with a golf club and the aeroflightdynamics of dimpled spheroids (i.e., how a golf ball responds to being hit and its traveling though the air).
Then, Friday evening the four of us headed to Papa's Restaurant for a final dinner, where our server was a bubbly CGA grad who is headed to Smith College this fall. And, finally on Saturday AM, we all headed home.
However, as he departed campus, Davis snapped a few pictures of the almost-completed Roberts Barrack … sending copies to George, and thanking him for his generosity.
The Entrance that faces the Parade Field (side of North Barrack visible on the left).
The Side That Faces the Mess Hall