Yale Medal

2001 Yale Medal Recipients

Robert Bradner '53

Distinguishing himself as a mentor, advisor, and leader, Robert Bradner has held a remarkable number of leadership positions in alumni organizations. He has brought his wisdom, collegiality and insightfulness to the positions of AYA Board Member, Treasurer, Vice-Chair and Chair; President of the Yale Club of Chicago; and Chair of the Chicago Area Alumni Schools Committee. Mr. Bradner's Yale Club of Chicago and AYA colleagues revere his indispensable sensitivity to others and his capability for taking the long view of the institutions they serve as volunteers.

Judge Jean Caplan Fox '43 JD

Personifying devotion and dedication to Yale, Judge Jean Caplan Fox has inspired generations of Yale students and alumni to become selflessly involved with Yale and to foster a continued identification with the larger Yale community. As President of the Yale Alumni Club of Queens and Chair of the Queens Alumni Schools Committee, she has built an extraordinary familial relationship between students and alumni from her area. Judge Fox is legendary for the dinner receptions she holds at her home for prospective freshman and for her lifelong relationships with students from Queens.

Ed Migdalski

In his official capacity, Ed Migdalski served Yale for over twenty years at the Peabody Museum and the Athletics Department. He was the driving force for club sports at Yale, personally founding the Fishing Club and the Shooting Club. He has since then also served Yale as a volunteer in extraordinary ways, including his lifelong efforts to preserve Yale's Outdoor Recreation Center. As just one among many commitments, he showed a film of every Yale football game for ten years at the Yale Club of New York City, supplying insights gathered from the coaches at post-game meetings.

Thurston Twigg-Smith '42E

Thurston Twigg-Smith has been remarkable for maintaining from afar an abiding interest in Yale, enthusiasm for its mission, leadership of the Class of 1942, and generous personal support of athletics, the Art Gallery and the residential colleges. He has served as a member of the Yale Development Board, Director of the Yale Club of Hawaii, Chair of Hawaii's efforts during major fundraising campaigns and Chair of his Class's record-breaking 50th Reunion Campaign. He continues to serve on the Advisory Board of the Yale Art Gallery, to which he has given a personal collection of rare value.

Irwin Miller '31, '59 MAH, '79LHD

Over a long and fruitful lifetime, few alumni have accumulated records of service comparable to Irwin Miller's. He has served as an especially honored Fellow of the Yale Corporation, chaired the University Council Committee on Religious Life and Study, Chaired the Campaign for Yale for his Class of 1931, and served as Associate Fellow at Branford College. Among his many volunteer engagements and commitments, he has personally sustained Yale's Institute of Sacred Music as the foremost center of its kind in the world.