After more than two years of not being able to meet up, due to the pandemic, Civil Engineering alumni from the class of 5T8 gathered for a much-deserved reunion. Six classmates assembled for a downtown Toronto patio lunch on Saturday, May 28, before partaking in other formal U of T Alumni Reunion activities on the nearby St. George campus.
Some 64 years since graduating, the group has kept in regular touch through emails and newsletters. The usual practice was to meet twice a year at a North York hotel for a lunch. As of March 2020, when the pandemic forced everyone to stay safely at home, the lunches had to be cancelled.
Hearing of their plight to stay in contact, CivMin aided the octogenarians in their quest to digitally gather with video sessions. The first gatherings saw some technical challenges, but they were soon overcome.
After more than two years and some seven virtual reunions, the group has seen as many as 12 able to join from across North America. The ease of digital meetings allowed the simultaneous connecting of multiple time zones – from the Maritimes, San Francisco, Florida, Vancouver and all over Ontario.
The old chums wasted no time in getting caught up, acting much like they’d never been apart. Old tales of pranks pulled, careers served and family highlights were recounted easily under the pleasant canopy of patio umbrellas.
Sonia de Buglio, Director of Engineering’s Alumni Relations, dropped in to express her admiration for the group’s ability to stay in touch for so long, before heading off to host the Skule™ Reunion event.
The group, represented by its most senior member, Barry Hitchcock (92) formally thanked the Department for facilitating virtual reunions, as well as the in-person lunch, and expressed an avid interest in continuing to hold video meetings hosted by CivMin. In response, Nelly Pietropaolo, Director of Student Services and External Relations for CivMin, replied with a plan to host the group with a gathering at Camp on Gull Lake this September.
By Phill Snel