May 22, 2019

What started as a Facebook group to unite alumni, professors, staff and students of Mater Dei College has spurned the planning of a college reunion.

The reunion will take place July 13 at Ella’s on the Bay in Morristown. The event, which begins at 4 p.m., will include a cash bar, entertainment, the opportunity to order food from the restaurant menu and space to socialize.

“We want anyone who had any affiliation with the college to come,” said event organizer Marla Kinch. “We want to see and hear from anyone who ever attended the school, whether they graduated or not, as well as the staff, professors, the Sisters of St. Joseph – everyone!”

A 1982 graduate of Mater Dei College, Kinch said many of the now-closed college’s alumni and instructors have reconnected via a Facebook page, “MY COLLEGE DOESN'T EXIST ANYMORE? MATER DEI ALUMNI.”

“We’ve been talking for a long time about having a reunion on that Facebook page,” she said. “We finally just picked a date and a time and booked some entertainment.”

Lester Gates will be providing music at the event.

Kinch, who studied liberal arts at the school, said the reunion is open to all majors/programs of study, and all years the college was open.

“The more the merrier,” she said. “This is an opportunity to see old friends and maybe make a few new ones.”
She also stressed that the reunion would be a casual gathering.

“We want it to be a relaxed evening,” Kinch said. “It’s casual dress, and low key.”

While reservations are not required, Kinch said the restaurant is hoping to get a rough count of how many are expected to plan staffing. Anyone who plans on attending is urged to contact Kinch at 315-323-2572 or to respond via the Facebook page.