Michael W. Roberts, the secretary to the Corporation until 1998, says he recalls a discussion about urn burials versus casket burials at the plot, but he did not comment further.

The secretary of the Corporation is the administrator of the plot. Current Secretary to the Corporation Marc Goodheart ’81 would not comment for this story.

The location of the monument, constructed in 1996, provides the hill’s best view of Memorial Hall. Six names are already engraved on its front.

“[It’s a] forward-looking idea on the part of Harvard. If they want to continue to do this, they have unlimited space underground,” Heywood says.

LIFE EVERLASTING

According to Wrinn, Harvard reserves the plot for “individuals who at the time of death are either students or university officers, including emeriti (with space reserved for spouses).”

But there’s one caveat: Requests to be buried at Harvard Hill have to be approved by the Corporation.

“Everybody buried there is by vote. It’s not a right, it’s a privilege that’s granted,” Gomes says.

Wrinn writes that “in recent years all requests consistent with the guidelines have been granted.” But Gomes says it is possible that the Corporation could reject applications in the future.

“Presumably if they thought it might be filled too fast, they might be given to exercise prudence. My sense is that it hasn’t happened yet,” he says.

Gomes also says alums could petition the Corporation to be buried at the plot, as long as they had a “formal and bona fide connection to Harvard University.”

Harvard Alumni Association Executive Director John P. Reardon Jr. ’60 says no alums have ever approached him asking to be buried at Harvard Hill.

“If 30,000 alums wanted to be buried there, it couldn’t happen,” he says.

In summer 1998, Reardon served as acting secretary to the Corporation. He says nobody requested to be buried on Harvard Hill during his tenure.

Gomes says few Corporation members want to be buried at Harvard Hill because they have their own family plots.