Parsons College Alumni Association to host Jubilee Reunion Oct. 6-8

FAIRFIELD — The Parsons College Alumni Association will hold a “Jubilee Reunion” from Oct. 6-8 in Fairfield.

The organization is holding this gathering to commemorate 50 years since the closing of Parsons College in 1973, which had called Fairfield home since 1875. The 50th anniversary of the college’s closure coincides with the release of a documentary film about the school called “Parsons” by Fair Field Productions.

The weekend’s events will begin on Friday, Oct. 6 with registration from noon to 3 p.m. at the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center, followed by displays and book signing from 4-5 p.m. One of the featured books is “My Four Years at Parsons College” by John Blackstock, who will be signing books that afternoon.

M. Larry Litwin, who graduated from Parsons College in 1967 and who is helping to organize the jubilee, said he can hardly wait for this reunion because he’s so excited to spend time with other Parsons alumni.

“I bleed Parsons green,” Litwin said. “I met my wife at Parsons, and I still wear my Parsons College ring.”

Litwin said he loved Blackstock’s book about his time at Parsons, calling it a “phenomenal” read.

“The day I got it, I just sat and read it,” he said.

Mt. Pleasant resident Ed Longanecker will be showing off a collection of Parsons College yearbooks, which were called “Peira.”

There will be a reception from 6-7 p.m., and then “ice breakers” from 7-8 p.m., before the film “Parsons” is shown in the theater at 8 p.m. Attendees are invited to participate in a question-and-answer session after the film at 9:30 p.m.

On Saturday, Oct. 7, registration opens at 9 a.m. at FACC, with a convocation read by Rev. Joseph Phipps at 10 a.m., followed by a welcome courtesy of Fairfield Mayor Connie Boyer. Tom Brooks of Maharishi International University will speak at 10:20 a.m., and then Dee Sandquist will perform on the Barhydt Organ at 10:30 a.m., the organ that was saved from the Barhydt Chapel on Parsons’ campus.

Nancy Wirtanen of the Parsons College Alumni Association will welcome guests at 10:50 a.m., and then brunch will be held at 11:30 a.m. at FACC. At 1 p.m., the group will tour the Carnegie Historical Museum. The film “Parsons” will be shown again at 2:30 p.m., and then a forum on athletics, faculty, alumni, fraternities, sororities and a tour of MIU will commence at 3:30 p.m.

Social hour will begin at 6 p.m. at FACC, with dinner at 6:30 p.m., and a social planned that evening at 8 p.m.

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Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com

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