The Alfred University “Reunion Bikers,” a group of alumni who spend the week preceding Reunion Weekend bicycling to Alfred, are dedicating this year’s ride to members of the class of 1958 who originated the Reunion Ride.
Those individuals include Elliott Lasky ’58, and Russ Fahey ’58 who started the tradition in 1998 along with their spouses Bonnie Lasky and Pat Fahey who provided ride support, and Stewart and Marion Duff, friends who also biked that first year. The group is also honoring and making this dedication to Roger Eiss ’58, who organized and expanded the group, and classmates Barney Hart ’58, Andy Seaman ’58, and Dave ’58 and Tinker ’57 Wilcox, who helped plan, and participated in many of the early rides. Many of these bikers stayed active with the ride for over 20 years and some are still participating well into their 80’s. Elliott Lasky biked in 2023 at the age of 90. Russ Fahey has committed to participating next year in 2026 after rehabilitation from knee surgery. Congratulations to the class of 1958!
The group invites others to join in this tradition—started by a handful of adventurers from the class of 1958, who biked from the Philadelphia area to Alfred University for their 40th reunion in 1998. They did it again for their 45th and 50th reunions choosing different routes in most years. By 2010 the ride had become a tradition (and was opened up to other classes) and has continued each year since, except 2020 when the reunion was canceled due to COVID-19.
The group has chosen Cooperstown, NY as their pedal off point for this year’s ride. Cooperstown, home of the Baseball Hall of Fame, is located in the Catskill Mountains in southeastern New York State. The group will begin gathering on Saturday, May 31, in Cooperstown. Terry Kiff ’84 has planned three days of biking in the area starting on Sunday, June 1. After Tuesday’s bike ride the group will move on to the Finger Lakes and bike around Keuka Lake or Conesus Lake on Wednesday, June 4. On Thursday, June 5, the group will decide to bike around another one of the Finger Lakes, bike the challenging Park Road in Letchworth State Park, or bike a new route in the Alfred/Almond area the Reunion Bikers discovered last year. On Friday morning, June 6, the group will celebrate with their “Victory Ride” from Hornell into Alfred with an anticipated arrival at the King Alfred Statue at high noon.
This year’s group includes veteran bikers, Dave ’61 and Kate Perry, Larry ’68 and Denise ‘69 Ploetz, Mary Bouchard ’73, Birdy Auerbach ’74, Harry Wilhelm ’74, David ’77 and Regina Holleb, Jim Randall ’77, Terry Kiff ’84, Donna Bruschi ’84, and Conor Walsh ’02. We welcome AU staff member Kevin Adams, information literacy librarian, to his first reunion ride.
The Reunion Bikers welcome students, alumni, AU staff, and friends to join them as they ride through your local area, or for part or our entire trip. The group also enjoys having lunch or dinner with friends of the University throughout our travels. Anyone interested in taking part in Friday’s “Victory Ride” that needs accommodations in Hornell is encouraged to make reservations early as the area hotels quickly fill up. Stay tuned for updates every few weeks. Please email Jim Randall ’77 at [email protected] for additional information.