Olde Guarde Celebrates Golden Memories

Warm memories and friendships were rekindled on Friday, June 12, when members of the Class of 1959 were inaugurated into the Rider University Olde Guarde at a luncheon in the Cavalla Room. The Olde Guarde Luncheon was part of Rider’s Reunion Weekend 2008 festivities on the Lawrenceville campus.

Fifteen alumni from Rider’s golden anniversary class were on hand for the luncheon, where they were joined by another 40 members of the Olde Guarde – those who graduated from Rider more than 50 years ago – including Helen Borden ’39, the only 70th anniversary graduate in attendance. A number of existing Olde Guarde members were also present as spouses of this year’s class.

Vice President for University Advancement Jonathan Meer recalled highlights of the year 1959, including new statehood for Alaska and Hawaii, and the triumph of a young Jack Nicklaus at the U.S. Amateur golf championship. Meer then introduced President Mordechai Rozanski, who explained to the gathered alumni that he “does not consider them the ‘Olde Guarde’ so much as part of the vitality of the institution today.

“We cannot be a great university without going through the process of renewal,” said Rozanski, illustrating how the institution’s history includes patterns and cycles. “When Rider opened in 1865, it was focused on educating veterans returning home from the Civil War. Today, we’re helping veterans returning from Iraq through the Yellow Ribbon Program.”

Newly enshrined Olde Guarde member Martin Walsh ’59 was one of several inductees who spoke, and recalled playing in the very first basketball game at Alumni Gym in 1958 against Seton Hall. “I was fortunate enough to attend Rider on a basketball scholarship,” said Walsh, now a grandfather of 20 and living in Florida. But Walsh, who was joined at the luncheon by teammate William “Harry” Sheil ’59, still had not seen the last of his court time at Alumni Gym that weekend, as he participated in the Alumni Basketball Game, sponsored by the Alumni of Color Affinity Chapter, the next day.

The 2009 Olde Guarde inductees in attendance were:

Joe Allen ’59
Edward Behrens ’59
Elizabeth Traynor Doan ’59
Eleanor Lewis Hahn ’59
Richard Hahn ’59
Robert Harmon Sr. ’59
Thomas Martin ’59
Joseph Merk ’59
John Lee ’59
Robert Miller ’59
Carl Sanchez ’59
Judith Card Scymanski ’59
William “Harry” Sheil ’59
Peter Solana Jr. ’59
Katherine Matthews Terzis ’59
Martin Walsh ’59
Edward Weiser ’59