Much Laughter and a Bittersweet Farewell Mark 2009 Brooklyn College Day

The skies over Brooklyn were somber at noon on Thursday, June 11, as President Christoph M. Kimmich stepped to the microphone to preside for a final time over the traditional Brooklyn College Day festivities on the athletic field.

"The rain gods have agreed to hold off until later," announced Kimmich with a smile. His remark elicited much laughter, applause, and cheers from the thousands of faculty, staff, administrators, and their family members who had gathered under leaden skies for the event.

The retiring president went on to thank the many employees who turned out to participate in the games, sports, and enjoyment of the plentiful food and drink. "Not a day goes by that does not see the contributions that you make to this College," he noted.

As long lines of folk queued for refreshments snaked across the sodden athletic field, Michael Hewitt, assistant vice-president for human resource services/labor relations, proclaimed June 11, 2009, as "Christoph M. Kimmich/Brooklyn College Day" in honor of the president, who has given a total of thirty-six years of service to the College, including more than nine  years in the Office of President.

Kimmich also presided over the awarding of official Brooklyn College watches to employees who have attained twenty-five years of full-time service. This year’s awardees were George Brunner, Ana Capo, Colin Clarke, William Forrester, Michael Golan, John Harris, Tracy Lovett, Luis Santiago, Anthony Stergianopoulos, and Robert Sullivan.

Five others were honored for completing twenty years of full-time service: Denise Flanagan, Pamela Pollack, Michael Rooney, Louis Tundis, and Michael Zillig. The awardees earlier received service pins.

Employees who attained thirty-five years, thirty years, and twenty-five years of continuous service were also honored, as were five winners of this year’s Employee Recognition Awards.

Many in the crowd of casually dressed celebrants sang and danced to music—from such old-time hits such "Slow Boat to China" and "Up on the Roof" to newer titles—played word games and volleyball, and tossed Frisbees. More than 20,000 beverages and 16,000 hot dogs were consumed as well as thousands of hamburgers, wings, corn on the cob, coleslaw, potato salad, and many other delicious eats.