Old Stithian New York Reunion
“A Stunning evening and definitely one that was filled with “A Legacy of Happy Fulfilment ” creating memories and sharing with One & All”
An interesting array of alumni attended the New York 2023 Reunion;
From Rob Fryer- Class of ‘63, a founder student of the school, to Kate Hinrich Class of 2018, attending Long Island University on a Water Polo scholarship studying sports medicine.
Despite the vast difference in age groups, it was exciting to see how everyone connected- great relationships were formed between young and old.
Pawan Varyani didn’t end up finishing at Saints, but at Lonehill Crawford College, hence his nickname given to him “Crawford” for the rest of the evening. But he was excited to come to the function, along with his brother Neeraj, Class of 2007, and they both affirmed they would be there every year moving forward. Neeraj is currently doing his master’s in architecture at Columbia University.
As it was a relatively small group (in comparison to London) the alumni were each asked to say who they were, where they were now living in the States, and what career they were involved in. This was extremely helpful as it enabled everyone to connect once they realised, they had also travelled from the same area or were following a similar career path.
It was amazing to learn that the majority of the group had travelled from far to be there- Toronto, Washington, Philadelphia, Boston and even L.A! We were also lucky enough to have Old Stithian Association Committee Member- Andrew Middleton who was in NYC for a business conference. It was great to have someone from the OSA telling the stories for the alumni and engaging with the various members.
We met Chris Morgan-Class of 1995, a successful Film producer who won an Emmy Award in 2022 for the “My Better World” series he produced. A humble, fascinating young man who was then able to connect two of the younger alumnae who were attending, with contacts he had in the film industry.
It was a joy to see such a diverse and accomplished group of alumni at the reunion. They had made their mark in various domains, from the silver screen to silicon valley, from the banking sector to the creative arts. As we conversed with them, we realized that they were not only equipped with a strong academic and cultural foundation but were also outstanding athletes. We were surrounded by champions in athletics, rowing, swimming, tennis, water polo, and more, who were committed to giving back to making a world of difference.
Rob Fryer, one of the founder students of Saints, was given a few minutes to address the group and spoke about his book Running for your life, highlighting the fact that you are never too old to set new goals or try something new. A fascinating gentleman who so enjoyed himself. So much so that he even attended the function in London, the following week.
Alistair Stewart presented an excellent talk about the school’s remarkable journey and evolution over the years, cleverly bringing in members of the group who he identified by describing their remarkable achievements when they attended the school and, in some cases, after school. Alistair spoke about the importance of the Old Stithians Association and having a healthy Endowment Fund for sustainability and growth. Finally, he shared some inspiring stories from the Thandulwazi Maths and Science Academy and the impact it is having on the broader community.
As David Acott, Class of 1995 said, when leaving, “Tonight was incredible. Events such as these are essential for providing a safety net and networking system, for current and future alumni.We all left with a sense of satisfaction and pride, knowing that the event was a resounding success and that the alumni, promising to bring along some of their peers next time, would all be back again. They left with Thandulwazi pamphlets and Old Stithian Association branded pens in their pockets, and Saints 70th Caps on their heads. A true feeling of “Happy Fulfilment” was felt by everyone that evening.
Our sincere thanks go to Ed Parkinson – Class of 1999 who so generously allowed us to use his RapidSOS Office as our venue. What a gift- Situated on the 22nd floor of a building with a 360-degree view of New York with the beautiful views of Empire State and Chrysler Building!
#Legacy #HappyFulfilment #OnceASaintAlwaysASaint #InspiringExcellence #MakingAWorldOfDifference #PurposeInspired #PassionDriven #StrongerOneAndAll
