Dame Lynne Brindley Visits The US

Dame Lynne Brindley, Pembroke’s Master, was welcomed on her first US visit as Pembroke’s Master by several dozen North American Pembrokians at a New York reception during the Oxford University North American weekend on April 12.

The affair was hosted by Chris Rokos ’89 at his beautiful SoHo apartment on a warm, early spring Saturday evening. A seemingly endless flow of delicious hors d’oeuvres and fine Champagne was passed by a friendly, white-vested wait staff.

Master Dame Lynne Brindley speaks to gathered Pembrokians at the home of Chris Rokis ’89,
New York April 12, 2014

Dame Lynne expressed her gratitude for all that American alumni have done for Pembroke in the past, and, she hoped, would continue to do, and said that this was the first of what she hoped would be many visits to the North American Pembroke family.  She said she has already planned a west coast visit later this year.  Mark Fricker, Pembroke’s Academic Director, and Andrew Seton, Strategic Development Director, were part of the illustrious visiting delegation from Pembroke welcomed by the North Americans.

Tom Kaplan ’82 recounts his Pembroke experiences at the home of Chris Rokis ’87, New York April 12, 2014

Tom Kaplan ’82 spoke of how Pembroke led him to careers in finance, mineral mining, and wildlife conservation. Tom has generously endowed the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU) at Oxford University.

Pembroke College Foundation president Tom Herman ’71 announced the donation to the Foundation of a rare collection of original William Blackstone documents. Foundation Trustee Jim Bratton ’52 volunteered $250 to help defray the $3,000 cost of appraisal and shipping and challenged others to join him, which several generous alumni present did.

Among those Pembroke alumni also present at the reception were: Thurston Bannister ’79, Natasha Boucai ’98, Rui Chin ’06, Barbara Chubak ’00, Laura Collins ’92, Morgan-Jane Delaney ’04, Inga Dievulyte ’11, Mark Disston ’05, Nico Kirk Giannini ’11, Walter Isaacson ’74, Jonathan Kirschner ’03, Anna Lund ’09, Brendan Mahoney ’03, Adeel Mangi ’95, Brian Miller  ’97, Andy Morris ’92, Tarik O’Regan ’96, Tassos Recachinas ’03, Adam Rubin ’96, Jules Shin ’88, Emily Sillari ’11, Laura Silver ’04, Peter Simon ’11, Jock Spivy ’73, Grace Sur ’04, Shantanu Surpure ’92, Vic Sutton ’71, Alex Vavalidis ’03, Rahul Wagh ’11, Peter Wheeler ’65, Wenyu Xiong ’11, and Christopher Zappi ’08. 

U.S. Pembrokians Come To Welcome Dame Brindley