It had been a long wait, but RC ’86 finally came together to celebrate 40 years since graduation. Normally, we used to meet every five or ten years, but our planned 30th reunion in 2016 had to be cancelled following the events of July 15. Then came Covid, which kept us apart for even longer. So, when we finally met again in July 2026, it was not simply another reunion. It was our first big gathering in 15 years, making it especially meaningful, emotional — and, of course, very overdue!
We decided not to limit our 40th anniversary to one evening. Instead, throughout the year we created opportunities to meet, reconnect and enjoy being RC ’86 together. A dedicated committee of our classmates worked wholeheartedly throughout the year to bring these occasions to life. Earlier in the year, two of our classmates, both professional tour guides, took us on a fascinating historical tour of Istanbul, exploring some of the city’s remarkable treasures in the old town. We also gathered for a modern dance studio session hosted by one of our friends, enjoyed an evening of whisky tasting and even had a Sirtaki workshop before our reunion dinner. Apparently, 40 years later, we were still willing to learn new moves!
The reunion weekend itself began on July 16 with a boat trip along the Bosphorus, with families also joining us. It was a wonderful way to start the celebrations, with great food and beautiful views. For many of our friends who had travelled from the US and Europe, it was also a chance to rediscover the Bosphorus, which they had missed so much.
On July 18, 81 classmates gathered for our main reunion evening. We met in front of Gould Hall, walked together through our beautiful campus to the Deanery and enjoyed a cocktail hosted by Principal Whitman Shephard and his wife, Bengü. Seeing Mr. Shepard again was particularly special as he was our mathematics teacher in high school, making the evening feel like a wonderful reunion in more ways than one.
We returned to Gould Hall for our class photograph — in exactly the same spot where our graduation photograph had been taken 40 years earlier. Standing there together again was both joyful and nostalgic.
The dinner was held at Bizim Tepe, where our friend İbrahim Sözen talked about reflections on how Robert College shaped who we are, the enduring bonds we share and our common desire, since graduation, to contribute to society. One of the most emotional moments of the night was watching the video of our 1986 graduation ceremony, followed by a collage of photographs tracing our journey from Prep class through high school and then through the many gatherings that followed graduation. Live music by Sude Zeyrek RC 2020 followed, and at the end of her performance, our friends joined Sude on vocals and guitar, turning the evening into a joyful sing-along as we raised our voices together to some of RC ’86’s beloved songs, including “Together We Are Strong” and “Eski Dostlar.”
One more surprise followed. Those who had taken part in the Sirtaki workshop earlier on campus came onto the floor to show off what they had just learned. They performed a Sirtaki routine, proving that 40 years after graduation, we could still learn new steps — and perform them for our friends with great enthusiasm!
We then tested whether 40 years had improved or damaged our memories with a “Memory Trivia” covering our school years between 1979-1986. Our very own Nedim Saban moderated the trivia where there was plenty of laughter — and some highly questionable answers!
The evening continued on the dance floor until 2 a.m., with DJ Burak Süsoy RC 90 keeping us moving. Those who stayed overnight in the dormitories had the additional pleasure of returning, if only for one night, to a place that held so many memories of our younger years.
The following morning, families joined us again for brunch at Bizim Tepe before we finally said our goodbyes. We left with new memories, plenty of laughter and an even stronger appreciation of the friendships that have lasted all these years. We also carried home our special 40th-anniversary t-shirts and sweatshirts, featuring our “Forty Together” made from the names of all our classmates.
We had waited a long time for this reunion and it was definitely worth the wait. After 15 years apart, one thing was clear: we hope the next reunion comes much sooner!
Contributed by Gamze Ahıshalı Şulen RC 86
