Photo Gallery: Fall Homecoming a Weekend of Recognition and Celebration

Beautiful fall weather provided the perfect backdrop as alumni returned to campus during Homecoming weekend to reminisce, reconnect, and celebrate.

The Holy Cross Alumni Association (HCAA) kicked off the weekend with its annual dinner on Friday evening. The highlight of the event was the presentation of the In Hoc Signo award to alumni who give generously of their time and talents to the College. This year’s recipients were Lawrence W. Doyle ’83, John P. Hamill ’61, Ronald R. Lawson ’76 and Elizabeth Stevens Murdy ’81. Emily G. Thigpen ’10 received the Young Alumni Leadership Award.

Later that evening, purple pride was on full display on the Hogan Courtyard (a.k.a. the Hoval) at the Purple Key Society’s ’Sader Nation pep rally. The Goodtime Marching Band provided music, and Football Coach Tom Gilmore, along with team captains Matt Bhaya '16 and Peter Pujals '17 joined the crowd to celebrate Crusader athletics and to cheer on the football team in anticipation of Saturday’s game against Colgate.

On Saturday, visitors and members of the campus community feasted on homemade treats and socialized at tailgates held before the football game. Unfortunately, despite a half-time lead, the Crusaders fell to the Raiders 31-14.

“Every game is a game I want to win,” said Coach Gilmore at the postgame press conference. “It’s disappointing to lose any game.” He did point out that the season was still young, and that the team plans to finish strong in their remaining games.

Following the game, people lined up to sample an array of cultural foods at the Multicultural Student Organization Kimball Quad Takeover. Musical performances, cultural dancing and games entertained the crowd. Students from the Caribbean African Student Assemblage (CASA), Advocating Students Interest in Asia (ASIA), Black Student Union (BSU), Developing and Educating South-Asian Ideologies (DESI), Latin American Student Organization (LASO), Mecha (the national Mexican-American student organization that promotes higher education, culture, and history), MPEs (Multicultural Peer Educators) and Pride (a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender organization) hosted the event.

Amid the festive gatherings, there were opportunities for reflection and remembrance of deceased classmates. The Classes of 1960, 1990 and 2005 held dedications. A plaque recognizing the Class of 1960’s contribution to renovate the Jesuit cemetery was affixed to the stonewall entrance. Rev. Anthony Kuzniewski, S.J., professor of history, offered prayers at the ceremony.

The Class of 1990’s gift efforts broke records this year and resulted in the Dinand Library rooftop garden dedicated in honor of their 25th Class Reunion. The class achieved a 62 percent participation rate – a record high for the class. Tracy Barlok, vice president for Advancement, thanked gift co-chairs, Mike Moran and Tom Osmond, as well as class chairs, Lisa Villa, Mark Wickstrom and Nancy Meaney, for their efforts. Margaret Freije, vice president for Academic Affairs and dean of the College, thanked the class and discussed the impact the new space will make on students, faculty and staff.

The Stein lobby and café were dedicated in memory of the Class of 2005’s classmate Jonathan R. Duchatellier '05. In addition to family members and friends, a ROTC color guard was in attendance as Duchatellier was a member of ROTC. Members of the Class of 2005, including Sara Swillo Muckian, offered words and prayers.

A number of meetings and networking events also took place on Saturday. Of particular interest was a moderated panel of alumni healthcare professionals who shared their experiences and insights of the industry. Panelists included Maj. Patrick Twomey ’02, chief of clinical pharmacology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research; Chris Wilterdink ‘08, administrative manager, Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Maureen Madden ’89, assistant professor of pediatrics, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and nurse practitioner, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Bristol Myers Squibb Children's Hospital; Donna Grogan, MD ’78, chief medical officer, Clementia Pharmaceuticals and Stephen Bonventre '06, senior program manager at Quest Diagnostics. Kathleen Quinn Powers ‘86, vice president, physician and network development, South Shore Health & Educational Corporation, moderated the discussion.

Saturday evening, The O’Callahan Society, the alumni association for military and naval officers, hosted its annual dinner, which featured keynote speaker Vice Adm. Bill Moran USN, chief of naval personnel for the U.S. Navy.

The weekend concluded with a Sunday morning Mass. The HCAA looks forward to welcoming alumni back to campus in the winter for its next Homecoming event scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016.

View the Fall Homecoming gallery »