More than 300 alums joined us at 100 East End Avenue for Reunion 2026 and a weekend full of reconnection and new Chapin memories. Chapin’s Alumnae Association, which is now more than 4,000 strong, was founded in 1914 and held the first “Alumnae Day” in 1937. Since then, Reunion has taken place almost every year with alums traveling thousands of miles to reunite. This year, alums came from all over the country and around the globe including Japan, the U.K., Colombia, Switzerland and France.
For many alums, their return was delayed by COVID-19 so this was their first visit to Chapin in almost a decade. Of the Classes of 1946-2024 attending, those with Class years ending in 1 and 6 celebrated special, milestone reunions. We were thrilled to be joined by Helen Coleman Evarts ’46, who celebrated her 80th Reunion, and the 70th Reunion Class, the Class of 1956, who had a record attendance of 9 members and 100% support for Annual Giving. We were also joined by more than 25 members of the Class of 1976 celebrating their 50th Reunion over the course of these two, joy-filled days.
At the Alumnae Association Annual Meeting, attendees heard remarks from President of the Alumnae Association Wallis Post ’99, the 50th Reunion Class Speaker, Margaret Zox Brown ’76, President of Student Self-Government Grace Fisher, Class 12, Chair of the Board of Trustees LeeAnn Black and Head of School Suzanne Fogarty. All spoke of community and empowerment around Chapin, the bonds formed at the School and the accomplishments and promising futures of the graduating seniors.
Wallis Post ’99 began the meeting with such a sentiment, saying, “This celebration coincides with something else remarkable: 2026 marks 125 years of Chapin educating young women and sending them into the world ready to lead it.” Her message was echoed by Maggie Brown ’76 who told Class 12, “You will leave Chapin with the same foundation we did: unity, excellence, resilience and Fortiter et Recte. Carry all that with you. Fifty years from now, when you stand here at your Reunion, I hope you will look back and say that when your moment came, you met it with clarity and courage. We are proud of you. We believe in you.”
In return, and on behalf of Class 12, Grace thanked the returning alumnae, especially the 50th Reunion class, saying, “To the Class of 1976, thank you. Thank you for showing us what it looks like to carry the School with you long after you’ve left Chapin. Your presence here is a reminder that this community does not end when we leave these walls. It deepens. It stretches across decades. It becomes something we return to, and something we carry forward.”
Alumnae sisters and mothers assisted Head of School Suzanne Fogarty and Head of School Emerita Patricia Hayot with presenting a memoir written by a member of the 50th Reunion Class, Ginny Gilder ’76, and inducting the Class of 2026 into the Chapin Alumnae Association. The memoir is a coming of age story that focuses on overcoming challenges that are applicable to everyone. The gift from the 50th Reunion Class symbolizes the passing of the torch to tomorrow’s leaders. The heartfelt annual meeting concluded with singing the School Song.
Throughout the weekend, alums visited Chapin classrooms, toured the School and attended special programing — including a display of the Upper School Student Art Showcase and a historical presentation about Chapin led by Trude Goodman, Associate Head of Middle School and Head of Middle School Technology, and Class 6 students. Friday’s festivities were capped off with alums enjoying the annual Reunion Reception in the Athletic Center.
Returning to School on Saturday morning, alums enjoyed a special poster session with six of the Berendsen Scholars and elsewhere, an English class was taught by Head of Upper School English Carlynn Houghton ’96.
Before saying their farewells, alums gathered in the Gordon Room for the traditional Reunion Luncheon with remarks from Ms. Fogarty, singing of the School Song and joyful conversation all around. Afterwards, ACAP members met and mingled, catching up and making new memories.
A heartfelt thank you to the milestone Reunion Committee members, led brilliantly by Lucinda Ballard May ’05 and Sonali Pillay Pizzitola ’06 and to the many volunteers who give their time and energy so generously to make our Alumnae Association thrive. We can’t wait to welcome everyone back for their next visit!
Photos taken by the Chapin Communications staff and photographer Virginie Carolina.
Browse more photos HERE. (Click on the brackets in the upper right corner to view the photos in full resolution.)