Last Word: The Lunch Crew that became family

By Brennen Dicker ’91 | November 1, 2024

The Lunch Crew at Cornell was more than just a group of friends. Our journey started freshman year, when we stumbled into each other’s lives, brought together by chance and a shared meal plan.

The Lunch Crew in the Thomas Commons (from left to right): Steve Branz ’91, Raymond Heiland ’92, Molly Malecek Yerger ’91, Kevin Kramp ’91, Brennen Dicker ’91, Mark Stabelfeldt ’91, and Christy Aggens ’91. Not pictured: Marisa Moyer Klein ’91, Tina Naaktgeboren Booker ’91, Greg Nixon ’91, Vondolee Delgado-Nixon ’91, Pat O’Connor ’91, Tracy Poston Mathews ’91, David Wood ’91, Richard Bunten ’91, Cari Meriwether ’91, and Brent Boyd ’91.
The Lunch Crew in the Thomas Commons (from left to right): Steve Branz ’91, Raymond Heiland ’92, Molly Malecek Yerger ’91, Kevin Kramp ’91, Brennen Dicker ’91, Mark Stabelfeldt ’91, and Christy Aggens ’91. Not pictured: Marisa Moyer Klein ’91, Tina Naaktgeboren Booker ’91, Greg Nixon ’91, Vondolee Delgado-Nixon ’91, Pat O’Connor ’91, Tracy Poston Mathews ’91, David Wood ’91, Richard Bunten ’91, Cari Meriwether ’91, and Brent Boyd ’91.

Little did we know those encounters would turn into lifelong bonds.

Without fail we would gather at the same table in the dining hall every day. Our lunchtime became a ritual, a sanctuary away from classes.

At first we were just friendly faces, strangers united by convenient timing. But something shifted as the months rolled by. The quips and playful jabs gave way to deeper conversations about our hopes, fears, and the journeys that led us to Cornell. We opened up about family troubles, self-doubts, and the uncertainties of forging our paths. Through it all, we laughed until our sides ached and our eyes watered. Laughter became the glue that held us together.

Those lunch hours were a daily reminder that we didn’t have to go it alone. In that crowded dining hall, we found happiness in our shared experiences, even when our backgrounds couldn’t have been more different. We hailed from different states and socioeconomic backgrounds, so it was unique, at only 18 years old, to share meals with people from all different walks of life.

For four years this eclectic group of individuals, which expanded over time as we welcomed new members, became my family. Our interests were as diverse as our personalities, ranging from music and theatre to Cornell soccer and volleyball to Thetas, Delts, and Sigma Taus. What made our bond truly special was the absence of formal ties to a specific social group. We were a family of friends in the truest sense, bound not by obligation but by an unspoken understanding and support for one another.

The Lunch Crew in 2016 during a trip to Cornell to honor the memory of Molly Malecek Yerger ’91. From left to right: Cari Meriwether ’91, Steve Branz ’91, Brennen Dicker ’91, Tracy Poston Mathews ’91, David Wood ’91, Christy Aggens ’91, Dale Yerger (Molly Malecek Yerger’s husband), and Richard Bunten ’91. Not pictured: Raymond Heiland ’92, Kevin Kramp ’91, Mark Stabelfeldt ’91, Marisa Moyer Klein ’91, Tina Naaktgeboren Booker ’91
The Lunch Crew in 2016 during a trip to Cornell to honor the memory of Molly Malecek Yerger ’91. From left to right: Cari Meriwether ’91, Steve Branz ’91, Brennen Dicker ’91, Tracy Poston Mathews ’91, David Wood ’91, Christy Aggens ’91, Dale Yerger (Molly Malecek Yerger’s husband), and Richard Bunten ’91. Not pictured: Raymond Heiland ’92, Kevin Kramp ’91, Mark Stabelfeldt ’91, Marisa Moyer Klein ’91, Tina Naaktgeboren Booker ’91

Despite the various activities and commitments, we always found our way back to each other, reconnecting over lunches and dinners.

After graduating we reconnected through one-on-one reunions, gatherings with a few close friends, or reuniting at alumni events. These encounters are filled with laughter, reminiscence, and heartfelt conversations. As our lives grow more complex with the demands of careers and families, these reunions become increasingly precious, offering a chance to pause and reflect on the journey we’ve traveled together.

In 2016 we unexpectedly lost a dear member of our crew when Molly Malecek Yerger ’91 passed away. To honor her memory, a group of us gathered on the Hilltop at Homecoming to plant a tree in her memory. Then, in 2024, we said goodbye to another cherished friend, Tracy Poston Mathews ’91. Though not all of us could be in Iowa together, we reconnected via texts and phone calls to express our shared grief, and I rediscovered the strength of our bond, vowing to uphold Tracy’s legacy by staying connected, no matter the distance.

For me the Lunch Crew at Cornell wasn’t just a group of friends; it was a family bound by love and laughter. Those ordinary, yet extraordinary, lunch conversations shaped our journey into adulthood, then defined it with enduring friendships. 

Brennen Dicker ’91, executive director of Georgia State University’s Creative Media Industries Institute, has 25 years of experience in the film and TV industry.