Reunion News

THE 50th Reunion

September 21, 2004

The reunion was a resounding success, it was well attended, and it was meticulously planned and executed.  Helen kept us all on task, Paul arranged the music, Tom Vangel handled arrangements with the Country Club, Carol Zuiss had many excellent suggestions, Joan Anderson demonstrated an amazing ability to track down missing classmates, Dick Boland contributed his experience in matters of business details, Joan Montigny helped to keep us headed in the right direction, Debbie Sichol helped immensely with arrangements at the Comfort Inn and, Cliff Steadman and I had lunch and told War Stories at Committee Meetings.  The details don't take care of themselves, and in the end everyone contributed toward the success of the reunion.

Phyllis Bruso and Shirley Lemoine both contributed most generously.  Phyllis donated two of her paintings, which wound up in the hands of Helen and myself.  We are most appreciative.  We also received genuine Vermont Maple Sugar candies from Phyllis, which were tasty indeed.  Please have a look at Phyllis' website at http://www.grandmaphyllis.com/ for samples of her most excellent work.  Contact information is also on her website, so you can just say hello, or order a painting.

Shirley impressed all of us with her perseverance and her generosity.  She offered to make favors for the reunion, and her first effort was destroyed by Hurricane Charley.  Undaunted, she prepared a second set which was melted when Hurricane Frances wiped out air conditioning.  At this point most of us would have given up, but Shirley pressed on with yet another set of favors.  We were graced with Gumby figures which contained our yearbook pictures, and with chocolate kisses attached.  Then there were bags of five Hershey kisses to commemorate each decade since graduation.  And to top that were key chains in the shape of graduation caps, a great memento that can be carried around in a pocket.  And finally Shirley presented Helen with a bouquet of flowers, and I received a boutonnière.  For all of this she was crowned "Hurricane Shirley", and she was indeed a human hurricane.   She gets my "life of the party" vote.

And the gifts didn't end there.  Charlie Dionis, who at the last moment was unable to attend, bought us all a drink.  That glass of wine that went with the toast was compliments of Charlie.  So a big THANK YOU goes West to Charlie.

More to follow