Rosemary Hunt Todd '31 remembers her first glimpse of the campus when she arrived from Staten Island to start her Cornell education.

"I came up on the train, the Delaware and Lackawanna, and had never seen any of this," Todd said. "I loved its look, with Cayuga Lake. I think it's lost some of the charm it had back in those days, with all the high-rise buildings, but I've always been very proud of Cornell."

The 101-year-old alumna was treated like a celebrity when she came back for her historic 80th Reunion this year.

Todd and the Class of 1931 were honored at a June 9 ceremony in the Statler Ballroom, kicking off a new Reunion tradition, "Spirit of '31 -- Passing it Forward."

Todd presented a spirit banner from her class to Class of 2006 Reunion co-chairs Krystyn Tendy and Marie-Jouvelle Aubourg at the ceremony. A similar banner will be given to the youngest alumni class by the oldest class at all future Reunions.

"You're all so generous to share this with the class just starting out," Tendy said, noting that the Class of '06 had set a new record at Cornell for Fifth Reunion attendance with 675 classmates registered as of June 7. With a number of walk-ins expected, they were on their way to breaking the all-time record of 724 attendees.

At Cornell, Todd was a cheerleader all four years, acted in the freshman play, played basketball and hockey, was vice president of her class as a sophomore, served on the Women's Athletic Association Council and as vice president of Sage Hall women's residence. She said she forged some of her long-term friendships with classmates at subsequent Reunion gatherings.

She met her husband, Stanton Todd, through her Cornell roommate. After graduation from the College of Agriculture, she worked in public relations, "and I saw Eleanor Roosevelt somewhere along the way." She is also proud of her sorority, "the Tri-Delts. Delta Delta Delta, I heard you the first time," she quipped.

Her classmate Ruth Laible Tallmadge '31 arrived on campus the next day. The Class of 1931 has 30 living members. Five came for their 75th Reunion in 2006, and 12 attended their 70th in 2001.

Four 1931 alumnae had initially made plans to attend Reunion, including Ethel Bache Clark and Todd's longtime friend Myrtle Uetz Felton. Before his death April 26, Class President Bill Vanneman personally invited all classmates who were able to come for their 80th. Vanneman embodied Cornell spirit -- the Bill Vanneman '31 Outstanding Class Leader Award, established in 2005, honors alumni service.

"He would have been here," said President Emeritus Frank H.T. Rhodes. "I'm delighted that it starts a new tradition; I can't imagine a more fitting memorial to Bill."

Alice Katz Berglas '66, a class co-president and daughter of Sy Katz '31, spoke about the Class of 1931 and Vanneman, whose son, Bill Vanneman Jr. '65, attended the ceremony.

Having attended Cornell at a time when students were separated by gender, religion, race and social divisions, under Vanneman's leadership the class "embraced change," Berglas said. More recently, when he decided to help "fund the Class of 2000's Fifth Reunion with funds from the '31 treasury," she said, Vanneman told her: "'Alice, I just know if we give 'em a boost, just get 'em started, they'll be fine and off and running -- and oh boy, won't that be wonderful for them and for Cornell?'"

Alumni from the next-oldest classes attending Reunion 2011 -- Ruth Rosevear '36, and several members of the Classes of 1941 and 1946 -- also were recognized at the ceremony.

"This group of classes represents a generation from a significant historical period in America [and] has contributed more than $400,000 to the Reunion Campaign," said Chris Marshall, vice president for alumni affairs.

The resources that Cornell offers, to anyone seeking an education in any study, are "provided by the alumni that came before," he said. "We thank you for that and for keeping Cornell accessible."