Celebrate
We invite all undergraduate alumni that have celebrated their 50th reunion back to campus for Reunion at Commencement May 10-12, 2025. While the traditional milestone reunions (55th, 60th, 65th, 70th, 75th, and 80th) are still celebrated, Reunion at Commencement also provides the opportunity for all alumni to come together from all classes to celebrate our WashU community.
Featured Events
Commencement weekend will be packed with events on campus and around St. Louis, but there are a few signature reunion experiences you won’t want to miss.
chancellor’s Luncheon
Saturday, may 10
11 A.M.-1 p.m.
Enjoy a luncheon hosted by Andrew D. Martin, WashU’s 15th chancellor. The chancellor will share an exclusive university update and offer a toast to all reunion celebrants and emeritus alumni.
Golden Bear Gathering
Saturday, may 10
4:30 p.m.
Enjoy an evening reconnecting with classmates while taking a bus tour Forest Park with See STL to hear the history and stories surrounding some of the famous sites, and then enjoy dinner at Guido’s restaurant on The Hill. This casual evening is open to alumni celebrating their 55th to 75th reunions and includes the tour, along with dinner and cocktails.
Golden Bear Gala
sunday, may 11
6:30 p.m.
Join fellow Golden Bear Reunion celebrants for a gala at the beautiful Spink Pavilion. The majestic stone gatehouse was built in 1859 to serve as the main entrance to Missouri Botanical Garden. It has since been restored into a beautiful event space that sits on the main plaza overlooking large reflection pools surrounded by the garden. Enjoy cocktails and dinner, along with dancing, while mingling and catching up with old friends.
Get involved
Reunion class gift
At WashU, we believe in the power of tradition, community, and the transformative impact of education. Your reunion year is not only an opportunity to reconnect with old friends but also a chance to make a meaningful contribution to the institution that played a significant role in shaping your journey.
Be a part of the time-honored tradition of giving back through your reunion class gift. Regardless of the size of your contribution, every gift makes an impact on the university, its students, and the larger community.
Golden Bear – Classes of 1950-1970 reunion committee
Want to help plan Reunion and make sure it’s a huge success? Join your Reunion Committee! Check out this list of classmates who have already signed up:
Gary Feder
BA ’70, LLM ’80, JD ’74
Robert Wagoner
BS ’65
Doug Ritterskamp
BA ’70, JD ’73
Bob Scharff
BSBA ’65
Class memories
Class notes
Jaime Yrastorza, DMD ’57, turned 93 in December 2023. In 1989, Yrastorza started a nonprofit organization called Uplift Internationale, which brings a team of professionals to mostly rural Philippines and provides corrective surgeries free of charge to disadvantaged children with cleft lip deformities.
Steve Fredman, AB ’58, MD ’62, in May self-published Understanding Modern Health Care: The Wonders We Created and the Potholes We Dug.
Susan (Soffer) Cohn, AB ’65, wrote and recently self-published The Art of the Mentor: The Superpower That Turns Good into Great, which tells the story of her transformation from a 50-year-old, successful businesswoman to an award-winning artist.
Deborah Kasdan, AB ’68, MA ’70, published Roll Back the World: A Sister’s Memoir (She Writes Press, October 2023), which was named to Kirkus Review’s Best Indie Books of 2023.
Fred A. Blumenthal, MA ’70, MA ’83, is classical music critic for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Howard “Hank” Bierman, BS ’60, was inducted into the St. Louis Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame in April 2022.
Wade R. Watts, DDS ’61, was honored by Marquis Who’s Who with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award.
Looking back
Top On-Campus Hangouts
- Sigma Nu House
- Graham Chapel (Wednesday lectures)
- Wall by the library
- Kappa Sig House
- SAE House
- Quad Shop
- Student Activity Center
TOP OFF-Campus Hangouts
- Santoro’s
- Lake Forest Bakery Shop
Planning to attend
Search for classmates who are planning to come back for WashU Reunion at Commencement, May 10-12, 2025. Enter your class year in the search bar below to see who is attending from your class.