50th Reunion revisited

Long before the 50th Reunion party got under way, the Class of 52's version of the Baker Street Irregulars tracked down 42 classmates whose whereabouts were unknown up to that time. Only nine remain a mystery today. The Irregulars were: Pete Dantonio, Barbara Bender Howe, John Cunningham, Judith Smith, Laura Conway Crawford, Jean McIlwraith Tebay, Dick McKenzie, Beverly Houston King, Arlene Bodendorfer Calhoun  and Bob Melder.

We used the Internet, telephone book, friends and total strangers. Most were nice, one wasn't (she slammed down the phone.) One stranger actually called Bob Melder. The conversation went like this (paraphased): I have gotten several letters from your class over the past years and I just threw them away. But I see where you are having your 50th and I just thought this was too important not to call and tell you that we are not the Bob Subers you think we are. (She lived somewhere in the South and "our" Bob Suber we learned later lives in California.) But it sounds like you are going to have a great time and we sure wouldn't mind attending (laughing). But, we are a lot younger than you are. Have a great time.

All in all we met a lot of nice people who weren't upset when we reached the wrong household. They said they understood. Sometimes we learned, sadly, that we had the correct household but that the classmate we were looking for had died.

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While many of us seem to let invocations slip quietly by at many of the banquets we attend, keeping one's attention on the one given by the late Kenneth MacDonald Jr., a retired Methodist minister and a member of the Class 52, came quite easily at the 50th reunion. It was articulate, not-long, and filled with words that seemed to be sincerely chosen for a celebration with his classmates. Kenny was one over 20 classmates who died since the 50th.

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We're hoping that in addition to attending the 55th classmates might consider holding some mini reunions, such as the about-40 who showed up for the Arthur McGill School get-together and the 30-plus who attended a gathering arranged by Dick McKenzie at Cascade Park. Five took part in the golf outing.

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We have been told that the Class of 52 set a record for the number of persons who showed up for a 50th at New Castle High. The final total of reservations was: 192 graduates and a total of 301 persons  (spouses and friends) for the dinner Saturday night. There were 162 at the cocktail party on Friday and 130 for the brunch on Sunday.

While name tags were helpful in the early hours of the cocktail party Friday night, it was 1952 again by brunch time on Sunday.

The night of the dinner went so fast that we didn't have enough time to visit with everybody. Just when it seemed one was within arm's reach of someone they wanted to talk to, the moment disappeared by yet another interruption. But, that's part of reunions -- interruptions, and short but savored moments.

The 55th would be a good time to get to the classmates we missed at the 50th.

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John Wyza, a member  of the Reunion Committee, was named chairman for the 55th Reunion, succeeding Bill Buckner who, along with the committee, put together what many consider one of the best ever reunions.

However, it wouldn't have been a success if all of you hadn't showed up. So, everyone of the more than 300 people can take pride in one great weekend.

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In addition to the regular work by the committee, there were a lot of other in-kind services provided of which many are not aware:

a) Beverly Houston King spent a lot of time inputing all the addresses, emails and telephone numbers into her computer at home, and also printed out the labels for the mailings.

b) The newsletters were printed by Bill Panella at his law office. Ranier Devido supplied all the envelopes. Judy and Lee Silverman had those Green address books printed at their business.

c) Pattie Bush Tippie donated the glass frogs and T-shirts.

d) When the committee met, unlike other classes which meet at various restaurants etc., Bill and Peggy Buckner and Ranier and Barbara Devido held the meetings in their homes and afterward provided a huge helping of food and beverages. Bill and Peggy even had a corn roast the summer of 2001. Members of the committee were: Bill and Peggy Buckner, Ranier and Barbara Devido, Beverly Houston King, Phyllis West, Laura Conway Crawford, Anthony Mastrian, Fred and Carol McClain, Leroy and Donna Grimm, Howard and Sandy Gaston, John Wyza, Judy and Lee Silverman, Tom and Marcia Walker, Patty Bush Tippie, Bill and Mary Lou Groucutt Panella, Sylvia Tranquillo Ewen and Bob Melder.