The Senior Alumni

Evelyn Richmond ’41, of Nashville, Tennessee, and Arsen Charles ’42, of Westwood, Massachusetts, were the oldest Radcliffe and Harvard alumni present on Commencement day. HAA president Margaret M. Wang ’09 publicly honored the pair at the association’s annual meeting.

For Richmond, who turned 98 in June, it was a distinction she also enjoyed last year (see July-August 2018, page 75). “There are so many people here,” she said, gesturing from her seat near the dais in Tercentenary Theatre, as crowds of alumni, graduates, guests, and others were funneling in to hear the Commencement address by German chancellor Angela Merkel, LL.D. ’19. “But I’m pleased to at least shake hands with the new president of Harvard.” She was again accompanied by her son, Clifford Richmond ’75, who explained, “Every time we come here, when we leave, Mom says, ‘Let’s do it again next year!’ It’s all the pageantry, the people, it’s wonderful—and she’s an honored guest, which she loves.”

Charles, 99, was flanked by his wife, Marie Charles, a Vassar graduate, who said that she and her husband both felt duly celebrated. “We just love coming here,” she added. “Everyone has just been so nice.”