Seventy Gilman alumni traveled — uptown, downtown, across town, or into town (from other boroughs or suburbs) — to the Union Club in Manhattan’s Upper East Side for an evening of fun and reconnection at the annual regional reception.

The well-attended reunion was made extra special with the bonus involvement of several well-known visitors from 5407. Leading the charge was Gilman’s Board of Trustees president, Andy Brooks ’74. Joining Andy were a trio of faculty members: Brian Ledyard, head of the Upper School; Tony Incontrera, head varsity lacrosse coach; and Dia Matthews, kindergarten teacher. The coupling of alumni with their former teachers was a delight for many attendees. For others, simply rejoicing in the company of fellow Hounds was well worth the fight against traffic.

Setting the table for the evening were Gilman’s very own Traveling Men. The T-Men arrived in the Big Apple the night before as special guests of Brig Berney ’78, manager of the hit Broadway show “Hamilton.” They received an early VIP entry, participated in a Q&A with Mr. Berney, and caught the 7 p.m. show. After a day of sightseeing, the boys filed into the event room at the Union Club, at full volume, and performed four songs. A favorite was an homage to the seventh inning stretch at Oriole Park at Camden Yards: “Thank God I’m Country Boy” by John Denver. What a treat for the Birdland faithful!

During the evening's remarks, attendees heard from several speakers. Co-hosts Paul McBride ’06 and Alex Puthumana ’14 welcomed the group and shared sentiments on supporting Gilman. The Board President was next. Mr. Brooks’ responsibility, executed beautifully, was to offer an update from campus. He touched on the enduring highlights: continued academic excellence evidenced by National Merit finalists and top-tier college acceptances; high-performing fall sports teams competing in the playoffs; robust interest in Gilman from highly qualified candidates at every admissions level; and record-breaking contributions to The Gilman Fund (supported by many of the event’s attendees) in 2024-2025.

To close out the remarks, Mr. Ledyard gave a sketch of today’s Upper School experience. He relied on a series of anecdotes he called “stills.” Each comment referenced a quality or experience that is still apparent at contemporary Gilman, with an eye on what would resonate with the multi-generational audience (e.g., “Mr. Holley is still teaching ninth-grade English.”).

Throughout the night, alumni mixed and mingled. They harkened back to common remembrances of beloved teachers and traditions. Many were excited to relive childhood memories with Ms. Matthews or lessons learned on the field or in the classroom with Mr. Ledyard. The tri-state lacrosse affinity group sought out Coach Incontrera to hear about the program and pledge their support for the young Hounds.

As is becoming routine with regional alumni events, no one was in a hurry to leave, even after the food and drinks had long since disappeared. Old friends kept up the revelry unabated. As the lights dimmed, the holdouts laughed their way to the exits, making plans to continue the conversations at their favorite local watering holes. 

Thanks to our backers in the Big Apple for making the evening so joyful and nostalgic! We look forward to returning next fall!