Dinner for Hawkinson: Portland 5/29/11

Last night a group of alumni from the 80s gathered for dinner to honor Hawkinson. In addition to student activists from 86, 88 & 89, it included my cousin Erin who will graduate in December next year and two of her classmates (one of whom just graduated).  We shared stories of Hawkinson the academic advisor, the inspiring teacher, the student advocate, the mentor, the friend and, for many, the family member.  Stories ranged from formation of the Bistro to “The Freshmen Paper Lecture,” which scared most of us straight, to the development of World Views and the creation of The Commons. We cooked, drank wine, ate, laughed and cried together and experienced the community that Bob had helped create.  Throughout the dinner we were periodically distracted by the stampede of our children playing together and lobbying for the start of dessert. They have all grown up with stories of Hawkinson and with their parents constant involvement in and discussion of politics. To some degree they, like many children of our WU generation, are his pseudo grandchildren and evidence that his teaching will be passed on.  

Pictured: Wendy Willis ‘88, Eric Friedenwald-Fishman ‘88, Mika Lim ‘11, Chris Duncan Didway ‘89, Jon Radmacher ‘88, Larry Didway ‘88, Mike Tewfick ‘89, Todd Jones ‘86, John Rehm ‘89, John Donovan ‘88, Willi Gilliland ‘88, Erin Bloom ‘11, Slater Smith ‘12, Sian Williams (married to Donovan)

Some of our kids: Violet Radmacher-Willis, Grace Duncan Didway, Grant Duncan Didway, Maximilian Friedenwald-Fishman, Eryn Donovan Williams, Sophie Friedenwald-Fishman, Ruby Radmacher-Willis and Evan Donovan Williams.


Not Pictured: Rebecca Friedenwald-Fishman (taking the photo) and Bill Bush ’88 who had to leave before we got organized.

(5/29/11)

Eric Friedenwald-Fishman ‘88