My memories of Hunter are a bit complicated, as I started Hunter on two different occasions, with two different classes.  The first was when I was 12 and entered 7th grade with the class of ‘68.  The second was two years later, when I entered 10th grade to join the class of ’67.  This is the story: I left Hunter one September morning in 8th grade and by the afternoon was in my local junior high in 9th grade, having skipped a year under the SP (“Special Progress” – remember that?) program. I immediately realized my error and tried to return the next day to Lexington Avenue and 8th grade, only to be told by Bernie that my place had been “taken.” Undeterred, I took the 10th grade entrance exam, passed it, completed 9th grade locally and came back in 10th grade to be part of this great class.  I don’t know if I was the first Hunterite to do this, but I do know that I was the last, as my year of entry – 1964 – was the last year of grade 9 and 10 admissions.

So here I was, with all my old friends in 9th grade, and I was in 10th.  I made wonderful new friends, though there was some distance between the “old” girls who all started together in 7th grade and us “new” girls.  To help bridge that gap, I remember deciding with my friends that one of the new girls should be in the G.O.  My friend Roz was happy to run, and I served as her campaign manager.  Roz was elected (I think it was treasurer) to the G.O.  I later went on to achieve fame (not fortune) as the head of the Hat and Buttons Committee.  I still have my senior hat, as well as a bag of Senior ’67 buttons.  True to the Girl Scout song “Make new friends but keep the old,” I still feel close to the class of ’68 and am invited to and attend many of their functions.

Another memory is being part of the HCHS “It’s Academic” team; somewhere I have the team picture from What’s What.  That experience was good training for years later when I was on Jeopardy. I remember that our classmate Bette Tallen was also on that show.

When I think about who influenced my career choice, I have to think of Sexy Rexy, otherwise known as F. Rexford Slauson, history teacher extraordinaire.  I remember he told my mother that I was going to be a historian and my mother correcting him, saying that I would become a lawyer, as it was impossible to win an argument with me.  They were both right to some degree: I majored in History at Brandeis and, when deciding on graduate studies, was torn between history and the law.  I finally decided to go to law school, reasoning that with a history Ph.D. I would be on a dedicated path to academia, whereas a law degree would open many career paths to me, including teaching.  I am now, and have been for many years, a law professor.

I’ve been fortunate to attend many fine institutions of higher learning, but always say that my formative experience was in Hunter. Whenever I meet a Hunter girl, I seem to burst uninvited into Sarah Maria Jones.  I loved Hunter. It was the essential educational experience of my life.

Update: 55th Reunion Thoughts

The world, and I, have experienced many changes over the past five years. The good, the bad and the ugly.  The ugly: hatred, and murderous attacks, committed by individuals encouraged by mad leaders. The bad: this deadly virus that has ravaged so many households.  The good: what I want to write about today.

The first good thing is that we – my husband, daughter and I - are all healthy. Vaxxed and boosted. Also, masked when we do indoor activities, which are so happily once again starting up.  Theater and museums, concerts and lectures, life in New York is taking on some of its pre-pandemic gloss.

My big life change is that I have retired from my last full-time teaching position.  I love being retired, finally having the time to… clean up my bookshelves.  Go through old files, including 45 years of a very rewarding and varied legal career.  Prepare for the next stage of creativity, wherever that may lead me.  Reconnect with old friends.  Make new ones.  Travel once again.