The University of Florida College of Medicine Alumni Reunion weekend took place Sept. 26 and 27 and was an event full of laughter, memories and many proud Gators rekindling  friendships.

Organized each year by the office of UF Medical Alumni Affairs, the Alumni Reunion weekend began Friday evening with a class party held at the lobby of the UF Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute, which attracted almost 200 alumni from the classes of 1963, 1968, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1998 and 2003. Some alumni brought photo albums filled with memories from their medical school days to share with old classmates and colleagues.

“I was so excited to return to Gainesville and visit with friends, classmates and see the town, medical school and how the university has grown,” said Dr. Steven Fagien, a 1983 COM graduate who traveled from Boca Raton.

With a magician mystifying party-goers, live music and old class skits playing on TV monitors, it was hard to not have a good time, said Katie Boudreau, director of UF Medical Alumni Affairs.

“One of the best parts of the night was how everyone was able to watch their class skits again,” said Boudreau. “They loved watching their old classmates in the skits. There was a lot of laughter and a lot of ‘Look at him!’”

The weekend events continued Saturday morning with a BBQ catered by Hill’s BBQ, which arrived at the ARB courtyard at 6 a.m. to begin grilling. More than 600 alumni, faculty, staff and students turned out for the event and enjoyed a guest appearance of Alberta, the Gators mascot.

“I am very pleased with how everything turned out.  A combination of good food, good weather, and great alumni made for an even better weekend than we could have imagined,” said Amber Tison, event coordinator for UF Medical Alumni Affairs. “The only complaint we received was about the score of the game — unfortunately, the Gators didn’t consult us first!”