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The university hosted its first joint Alumni Weekend and Homecoming, a celebration of alumni, friendships, achievements, and an opportunity to celebrate the past and embrace the future.
The weekend—October 8 to 9— offered plenty of activities that brought alumni into classrooms, labs, the Kelvin Smith Library, and other places around the Case and Mather quads.
The event also provided several social functions, including the President’s Reception held on Friday in the alumni tent on Freiberger Field, and a performance by the noteworthy Capitol Steps comedy troupe.
During the reception, President Edward M. Hundert presented the Newton D. Baker Distinguished Service Award to Theodore “Ted” Castele who, the previous day, had closed out the Case School of Medicine’s capital campaign two years ahead of schedule and about $306 million to the good.
Dr. Castele (ADL ’51, MED ’57) spearheaded the campaign begun in 1994. While raising the funds may be a remarkable feat, he says, it doesn’t surpass receiving the Baker Award given for exceptional meritorious service to the university.
“I accept this award with great humbleness. Newton D. Baker was a great American and an alum [of Case Western Reserve]. He was also a Phi Gamma Delta, and so am I. I’m especially proud to be associated with another Fiji.”
Of Dr. Castele, President Hundert says, “He has spent a half century serving humankind and Case Western Reserve, and he’s done both generously.”
His generosity includes two endowed professorships at the university, the Theodore J. Castele, M.D., Professorship in Medical History and the Theodore J. Castele, M.D., University Professorship in Radiology. He also provides scholarships to students attending the medical school and the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, is a major donor for the proposed new Alumni House, and is an honorary trustee. In 2001, he and his wife, Jean, provided resources to remodel the fourth floor of Adelbert Hall, which was gutted by fire in 1991. Adelbert houses the university’s central administrative offices. Now called the Castele Atrium, the fourth floor is dedicated to philanthropic activity.
“There is indeed life after the university,” Dr. Castele said, referring to one’s graduation. “And there is life at the university. I’ve been active at Case for 57 years. I absolutely love this university. No matter what you call it…Case…CWRU…to me, it is still one of the greatest places on earth.”
After the reception, alumni and friends attended a sold-out performance by the Capitol Steps, a troupe of former Congressional staffers-turned comics. The Steps entertained the crowd in Strosacker Auditorium, offering their quirky insights and humor about Washington, D.C., and politics.
A student-initiated parade stepped off mid-Saturday morning. Participants donned costumes and rode in decorated cars that ranged from the Bat mobile (including the Caped Crusader) to the planet Saturn. After the parade, students and others rode shuttle busses to Charles F. Brush High School in nearby Lyndhurst for the football game between Case and Maryville (TN) College. The Spartans went scoreless, losing to Maryville 16-0.
Other activities included a multidisciplinary symposium; a seminar on volunteer opportunities at the university and beyond; and a unique workshop for women about finance and investing. Special receptions took place for graduates from the schools of law and management.
Alumni Weekend and Homecoming photography by Dan Milner
It’s not too early to plan for Alumni Weekend and Homecoming 2005, to be held October 14-16. Refer to www.case.edu/alumni/weekend for complete information and updates.
The university will celebrate reunion class years ending in 0 and 5. If you would like to help plan your class reunion, please call Jennifer Schuller at 800/866-6260 or e-mail jennifer.schuller@case.edu.
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