Fifty-two members of the Class of 1985, accompanied by guests and six former faculty members, returned to campus for their 40th-anniversary reunion on September 5. The event commenced with a campus tour led by Director of Institutional Advancement Bill Eichner, who presented a nostalgic slideshow in the Palmer Center, reflecting on life at TASIS during the 1980s and his own four-decade tenure. The tour included group photos, a visit to Certenago, and a special detour by De Nobili dorm alumnae to their former terrace, culminating in drinks and dinner in the Casa Fleming garden. Class Agent Saba Dell’Oca ’85 welcomed attendees enthusiastically, acknowledging the year-long planning for the optional post-reunion trip to Sicily. The evening was marked by lighthearted moments, including unplanned dips in the wading pool, laughter over yearbook photos, and meaningful reconnections. The presence of former faculty, such as Howard Stickley and Jim Campbell, who traveled from the US, added depth to the nostalgic experience. The reunion highlighted how adult perspectives fostered new friendships among classmates who had little interaction during their school years, demonstrating the enduring impact of their shared adolescent experiences.
Alumni reflections underscored the profound and lasting influence of their time at TASIS. Susanne Adahl ’85 noted how the school’s international environment fostered tolerance and provided 'friends for life,' while Karla Piper PG ’85 described being welcomed 'like family.' Fiona Dryer ’85 emphasized the enduring values of 'truth, goodness, and beauty' instilled during her formative years. The optional 'In-Pro' trip to Sicily, envisioned by Saba Dell’Oca, became an epic extension of the reunion, strengthening bonds through three days on Pantelleria and two in Palermo. Participants connected 'like brothers and sisters,' with former faculty member Jim Campbell humorously promising to issue final grades. A toast to founder Mrs. Fleming on her birthday symbolized the ongoing reverence for the school’s legacy. Plans are underway for alumni to attend future All-Class Reunions in Chicago, Boston, and Miami, with a major 70th-anniversary celebration scheduled in Lugano for August 2026. The event reaffirmed the school’s role in building a global, lifelong community, as echoed by Jim Frederick ’85: 'TASIS is family and always will be.'
