This March, 65 members and partners of the Class of 1985 traveled to Charlottesville, Virginia to study and celebrate the life of Thomas Jefferson. Jane Kamensky ’85, President of Monticello, hosted the Class at Thomas Jefferson’s famous estate, where the Class experienced an eventful weekend of programming that included guided tours, nature hikes, special sessions and Q&A panels, and the chance to explore the grounds, history, and exhibits of the estate. Erin Reilly ’85, a graduate of the University of Virginia’s School of Architecture, facilitated a tour of the University’s buildings designed by Jefferson.
As part of their opportunity to explore the landscape of the area, the Class met at the Saunders Monticello Trailhead where they received initial remarks from President Kamensky before embarking on a hike. The Class trekked the two miles of the picturesque trail while Virginia Master Naturalist Kerry Gilpin ’85 and Hilary Callahan ’85, Barnard College Professor of Botany, shared their knowledge of the surrounding nature with classmates.
After a short introduction at the Visitor Center, classmates continued to the “Mountaintop” house where experienced guides took them in small groups through its rooms. After free time to explore the grounds and museum exhibits outside the main house, they enjoyed the opportunity to hear expert Thomas Jefferson re-enactor Bill Barker answer questions about the issues of the day as the late President. An afternoon session exclusively for the Class followed, which included a panel of Andrew Davenport, Steve Light, and Brandon Dillard, site leaders at Monticello, moderated by President Kamensky. Maggie Favretti ’85 recounted how her mother, a botanist, and her father, a landscaper, identified and installed historical plantings during a major renovation of the site. The Class concluded their day with a trip to the Jefferson Winery for a relaxing late afternoon libation before returning to Charlottesville, where members enjoyed various noted restaurants of the town.
The next day, Erin Reilly ’85 hosted the Class at the University of Virginia where she arranged for student guides to take classmates on a tour of its famous campus. Afterwards, the Class visited the Memorial for Enslaved Laborers, a monument whose designers openly acknowledged inspiration from Maya Lin ’83’s Vietnam War Memorial. The Class ended the weekend with lunch at fast-casual restaurants normally mobbed by students, thankfully on vacation.
Brian Hammerstein ’85 organized the weekend, ably assisted by Stephanie Hartnett of the Yale Alumni Association, Class Treasurer Erik Kulleseid ’85, Co-Secretaries Maria Burton ’85 and Steven Nelson ’85, and Megan Howerton of Monticello.
