Class of 1973 Travels Down Memory Lane for 50th Reunion Weekend

The Class of 1973 enjoyed a fun weekend filled with music, campus tours, and catching up with old friends.

More than 50 members of the Class of 1973 descended on the Stony Brook University campus for their 50th reunion weekend on June 2 and 3. The weekend’s highlights included a performance by a founding and former member of Blue Oyster Cult, campus tours, trips down memory lane, and a special induction into the Brook Heritage Society.

The weekend kicked off Friday night with some rock and roll at the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame at the Stony Brook Village Center. Alumni were treated to a performance by Albert Bouchard, a founding and former member of the Blue Oyster Cult, and Susie Lorraine, a member of Bouchard’s Imaginos Band. Alumnus Norm Prusslin ’73 led a question and answer session with Bouchard, where they reminisced about when Blue Oyster Cult (formerly Soft White Underbelly and Stalk-Forrest Group) played at the university several times, including opening for Jefferson Airplane on the original athletic fields in 1970. Prusslin has been on the faculty for decades, is the founding general manager of WUSB-FM, the university’s radio station, and is a co-founder and board member of the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame.

“It was an honor and true pleasure to have served as committee co-chair for the Alumni 50th Anniversary Reunion weekend. Working with the alumni office was an awesome experience as we planned a series of special events for the weekend. From the Friday opening night reception at the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame to the Saturday afternoon luncheon. As a long time member of the Stony Brook University faculty, I’m glad I was able to reach out to friends and colleagues who, by their participation, added to the success of the weekend’s experience for all of my class of 1973 colleagues!” says Prusslin.

Saturday was filled with food, fun, and a closer look at how the campus has changed over the last 50 years. During campus tours, class members got a look at the Campus Recreation Center, the Staller Center for the Arts, and the Island Federal Credit Union Arena, as well as the Charles B. Wang Center and Frey Hall. A special Class of 1973 50th Reunion Exhibit was featured at the Special Collections and University Archives at Melville Library. Alumni were able to peruse artifacts, articles, yearbooks, and other mementos from their time at Stony Brook.

Attendees were treated to a presentation, “Stony Brook Students Then and Now,” with guest speaker Mary Beth Medley ’70. Many class members remember Medley, as she was the Student Activities Board Concert Chair who booked concerts during their freshman year. During the presentation, classmates were able to share memories of their time at the university.

“Our 50th reunion of the class of 1973 was a really special event,” says Vic Wurtzel ’73, reunion committee co-chair. “We had an opportunity to get together with our classmates, reminisce over breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and enjoy the tour of Stony Brook to see how it has grown since we were there. Friday night at the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame was special as well. My advice for the Class of 1974 is to GO and not miss out!”

The weekend was topped off with one more reunion tradition – a special induction into the Brook Heritage Society. The Class of 1973 members gathered at the Bauman Center for Leadership and Service for the reception and ceremony, which is a tradition for all classes celebrating their 50th reunion with Stony Brook University.

Generous donors, Jean Bozman ’73 and Larry Bozman ’74, Loretta Celitan ’73, Norm Prusslin ’73 and Barbara Zahler-Gringer ’73, helped make the Class of 1973 reunion possible.

-Christine McGrath

Here are some statistics about the Class of 1973.

Scroll through the album below for more photos from the 50th reunion weekend.

View the Class of 1973 Memories Flickr album here!