In Brief: Fall 2023

By Cornell Report Staff | November 15, 2023

Cornell inducts 3 to Athletics Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame recipients Bill Maxson ’74, Kathleen O’Connor ’14, and Chris Heilman ’08. Photo by Dan Kempf/Joe Photo.
Hall of Fame recipients Bill Maxson ’74, Kathleen O’Connor ’14, and Chris Heilman ’08 (from left). Photo by Dan Kempf/Joe Photo.

Our 2023 Hall of Fame recipients each struck a pose representing their sport after the ceremony on Oct. 7. Left: Bill Maxson ’74 specialized in backstroke and individual medley races as a four-year letterman on Cornell’s swim team; he enjoyed a distinguished coaching career and rose to become executive director of USA Swimming. Center: The most accomplished volleyball player in Cornell history, Kathleen O’Connor ’14 was the 2013 AVCA First Team All-American outside hitter and the program’s all-time leader with 1,743 kills. Right: Chris Heilman ’08 was a three-time all-American wrestler at 125 pounds and holds the school record for technical falls in a season and career; he is assistant wrestling coach at the U.S. Air Force Academy.

The Runaway Girls

The Runaway Girls. Photo by Smriti Neupane ’26.
The Runaway Girls. Photo by Smriti Neupane ’26.

From left: Diane Sergeant Ramsey ’88, Julia Gutz Moller ’88, Beth Lingwall Carlson ’88, Sue Caponi Arvidson ’88, Dave Arvidson ’88, Gretchen Liebenow Buchmeyer ’88, and Andrew Buchmeyer ’86 paused for a photo at the Cornell sign during Homecoming 2023. The women—three Arrows and two Thetas—refer to themselves as The Runaway Girls. Over the years their husbands, children, and extended families have supported them as they’ve run away together. Gretchen describes their friendship as “the emotional scaffolding needed to survive and thrive through the joys and challenges of life.” 

A fleet of 60 drones created an aerial light display over Van Metre Field at Ash Park to conclude Cornell’s Homecoming pep rally. Photo by Cornell parent Angie Sutton.
Photo by Cornell parent Angie Sutton.

Drone show for Homecoming

Rather than fireworks, a fleet of 60 drones created an aerial light display over Van Metre Field at Ash Park to conclude Cornell’s Homecoming pep rally in 2023. Mount Vernon’s dogs appreciated it.

Chemistry alum recognizes faculty with a gift

Mervin Tuzon ’93, Truman Jordan, and Cynthia Strong (from left). Photo by Robyn Schwab Aaron ’07.
Truman Jordan, Mervin Tuzon ’93, and Cynthia Strong (from left). Photo by Robyn Schwab Aaron ’07.

High school chemistry and physics teacher Mervin Tuzon ’93 and his wife, Beth, recently created the Professor Truman Jordan and Professor Cynthia Strong Experiential Learning Fund. Tuzon recognized and thanked his mentors during remarks at the President’s Reception during Homecoming 2023 and recalled how his high school classmates at state universities were shocked that he was in small classes taught by Ph.D. faculty.