Date: September 18, 2007 6:17:53 PM EDT
To: Ralph Hexter (HAMPSHIRE PRESIDENT)
Subject: Fwd: This just in to the Gazette Newsroom / Hampshire president marries 27-year partner
Dear President Hexter & Mr. Kollmeier-
Congratulations on your marriage! I appreciate your willingness to take this step in Massachusetts when you didn't really "need" to do so. I am very happy for you both.
Take care,
Alisa
Alisa V. Brewer
who met President Hexter once in a small meeting in his office about Amherst's Master Plan process, Planning Amherst Together when she was chairing the Town's Comprehensive Planning Committee -- remember the "white, masculine" hand on the flyer?!? (below)
Begin forwarded message:
From: newsroom@gazettenet.com
Date: September 18, 2007 5:32:10 PM EDT
To: avbrewer@comcast.net
Subject: This just in to the Gazette Newsroom / Hampshire president marries 27-year partner
This just in to the Gazette Newsroom
Hampshire president marries 27-year partner
By Gazette Staff
AMHERST -- The president of Hampshire College announced to faculty and staff today that he quietly married his 27-year partner, Manfred Kollmeier, over the Labor Day weekend.
The marriage, made legal by the state of Massachusetts in 2005, is a first for higher education, according to college spokeswoman Elaine Thomas.
Hexter and Kollmeier delayed their announcement until they could share it with the college community, Thomas said.
A celebration with students will be held Wednesday on campus.
"We wanted to announce our marriage to our community first," said Hexter. "This is our way of celebrating Hampshire College, which so warmly welcomed us as a couple when I was named president in 2005, and of celebrating the state of Massachusetts and all those who helped it become a pioneer in recognizing and upholding the right of gay couples to be legally married."
Kollmeier said, "Ralph and I made a lifelong commitment to one another many years ago, so marrying is not about marking a new stage in our relationship. We feel it is important to exercise the precious right we have here to marry. Massachusetts should be the first, not the only state where this is possible."
Kollmeier, a native of Munich, Germany, is retired.
Hexter joined Hampshire in August 2005 as its fifth president.
