Alfred University ‘Reunion Bikers’ dedicate 2024 ride in memory of Ed Law ’58
The Alfred University “reunion bikers,” a group of alumni who spend the week preceding Reunion Weekend bicycling to Alfred, announce that they have named this year’s bike ride in memory of Ed Law ’58, a supporter of the annual event who passed away in 2023.
The reunion bicycle ride was started by a handful of adventurers from the class of 1958 who decided to bicycle 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 for 2020 when the reunion was canceled due to COVID-19.
The group unanimously chose to name this year’s ride in honor of the late Ed Law, their longtime sponsor-at-large who is associated with the class of 1958. Ed, who passed away late last year, was generous in providing stipends to the drivers of support vehicles of the bike ride.
This year’s roster of bikers includes Mary Bouchard ’73, Roberta Auerbach ’74, and Harry Wilhelm ‘74 who will be returning for their 50th reunion to become “Golden Saxons”, Terry Kiff ’84, and Donna Bruschi ’84, who will be returning for their 40th reunion, Jim Randall ’77, Carl Dziekan ’79, Peggy Wirth ’87, Conor Walsh ’02, and Alix Clare, professor of glass engineering, and her spouse, Blake Mayo.
The group has again chosen the Erie Canal bike path as their peddle off point. The bikers embarked on their journey Saturday, June 1, pedaling to Rochester and spending three nights there before moving on to Mt. Morris, NY, for two nights (June 4 and 5).
On Sunday, June 2, the group biked east along the canal path from Bushnell’s Basin to Palmyra, NY. On Monday, June 3, they traveled west along the canal path from Bushnell’s Basin to the Spencerport/Brockport area. On Tuesday, June 4, the riders drove down to Lakeville, NY, to bike around Conesus Lake before embarking on Wednesday, June 5, to Letchworth State Park, where they pedaled around Park Road starting in Mt. Morris. The group engaged in some activities—white water rafting on the Genesee River, biking from Mt. Morris to Hornell, and winery visits were a few choices—on Thursday, June 6. On Friday morning, June 7, the group will celebrate with their “Victory Ride” into Alfred with an anticipated arrival at the King Alfred Statue at noon.
The Reunion Bikers welcome students, alumni, and friends to join them as they ride through your local area, or for part or all of our trip. They also enjoy having lunch or dinner with friends of the University throughout their travels. Please email Jim Randall ’77 at JamesRandallJr@msn.com for additional information.