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Hundreds of alumni come to RE for Alumni Weekend 2026

Alumni came from as far as Australia and Spain to celebrate with us on Alumni Weekend 2026, with over 350 alumni attending in-person events on campus. 

We kicked off the weekend with our tradition of the 50 Year Club at Joe’s Stone Crab, graciously hosted by Steve Sawitz ’75, with more than 75 alumni in attendance. Members of the Ransom Everglades Class of 1976 were welcomed as the newest inductees and continued their celebration on Saturday evening with a lovely dinner.
More than 300 guests attended the Spring Alumni Reception representing classes of Ransom 1960 all the way to the class of 2021. Faculty Emeriti in attendance included Owen Paris, Ginny Onorati and Penny Matthews, beloved former faculty included Jean Connelly and Joel Wallace and members of our esteemed current faculty, staff and administration.

The Service of Remembrance continues to be an important part of the weekend. We paid our respects to 18 alumni, faculty emeriti and former faculty who passed away in the last year. The program included special tributes to Elena Ramirez ’88, Chip Cole ’79, Maria del Carmen Naranjo and Sean Posner ’93.

The D.R.E.A.M. (Dynamic RE Alumni Minis) group, which focuses on bringing together Raider alumni with young families (children under the age of 5), brought families together for designated activities in Miller Quad throughout the afternoon on Saturday.

Members of the RE leadership team – Head of School Rachel Rodriguez, Head of the Middle School Pete Di Pace, Head of the Upper School Don Cramp, Director of Teaching & Learning Jessica Merrick and Chief Operating Officer David Clark ’86 – hosted a panel discussion and an interactive workshop. These sessions allowed alumni to ask thoughtful questions about the current state of Ransom Everglades and gain insight into the school’s vision for the future. The Portrait of an RE Graduate interactive workshop, in particular, offered a deeper understanding of the qualities and experiences that define a Ransom Everglades graduate. 

Student-led campus tours showcased both campuses. At the middle school, students from the Women Empowered club led the tours and at the upper school, students from the RE Navigators, organized by Ale Capello ’15, led the tours. A special highlight of the tours showcased student artwork curated by Visual Arts Department Chair Matt Stock.

Saturday evening, the classes that celebrated special milestone reunions included RE 1976, 1981, 1986, 1996, 2006 and 2011. These individual events attracted more than 200 alumni and their guests for evening celebrations filled with laughter and reconnection. 

The Class of 2006 supported the Patrick and Kristen McMahon Faculty Endowment Fund in celebration of its 20th reunion and in honor of the faculty who had a lasting impact on their time at RE. Together, the class raised more than $100,000. 

We rounded out the weekend with a beautiful brunch at Chop Steakhouse, celebrating our Black alumni community, with 40 people in attendance.

A special thank you to Alumni Co-Presidents Dani Eraña Andrade ’98 and Veronica Alcorta ’96, and Reunion Weekend Co-Chairs Marissa Stamler Canida '06 and Jacques Holzmann ’07, and the full alumni board for their leadership and support of the weekend. Thank you also to the reunion chairs who rallied classmates to attend their various activities and reunion parties.

To relive events from the weekend visit the albums here.

Now is a great time to start organizing your class reunion for Alumni Weekend 2027. If you have a milestone reunion and want to get involved with planning, contact Rhonda Smith, Associate Director of Alumni Engagement.
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Middle School

2045 South Bayshore Drive, Coconut Grove, FL 33133
Phone: 305 250 6850

Upper School

3575 Main Highway, Coconut Grove, FL 33133
Phone: 305 460 8800

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Founded in 1903, Ransom Everglades School is a coeducational, college preparatory day school for grades 6 - 12 located on two campuses in Coconut Grove, Florida. It is rated the top private school in Miami and among the 10 private schools in North America. Ransom Everglades School produces graduates who "believe that they are in the world not so much for what they can get out of it as for what they can put into it." The school provides rigorous college preparation that promotes the student's sense of identity, community, personal integrity and values for a productive and satisfying life, and prepares the student to lead and to contribute to society.


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