Reunion Report

You can't argue with the numbers. The Class of '63 posted more than eighty class members and their spouses at our 45th Reunion held on Long Island October 10 - 12, 2008. That is absolutely amazing.

The Class of '63 recognizes our great Reunion Committee for a their time, effort and and continued dedication. "Thank You" to Tom Mohrman, Marianne Shiralli, Barbara (Larson) Damon and Joanne (Tekienieski) Noga.

Our 45th Reunion began with the early arrivals meeting one another in the lobby of the Long Island Marriott Hotel in Uniondale. First just two of us. Pam (Harrison) Bender and her husband Joe. Then Jeanette (Quenzer) Boyer and husband Ken and soon Kathy (Kwiatkowski) Madden and Maureen Sbarra arrived. After some conversation another and another of our class mates arrived with greetings and well wishes delaying their registering... And so began another round of unforgettable days together. Later Firday evening After we out-of-towners settled in, we enjoyed dinner with friends or took off in small groups to dine at local restaurants. A nice end to a very busy day of travel and getting together.

Saturday was a our big day. Several events were planned and others just filled in the time and added more fun to the weekend. Kathy Madden and Maureen along with my wife Janet enjoyed an hour and half local jaunt driving around the area... driving through the neighborhoods where we grew up and remarking at what had changed. Some of our memories are still in working order. I do remember were Janet and I had our wedding reception as we drove by what used to be the Masonic Hall on Willis Avenue in Williston Park! Others missed on that question! We ended up at the Roslyn Duck Pond. Which is till as quaint as it ever.

After a hasty return to the Marriott, we hooked up with Jim Litterelle and we headed off to our specially arranged tour of the old high school on Emory Road. I had not been in the old high school building since 1962. It has new windows, new floors and new desks but very much the same... seemed much brighter than I remember it as well. I could navigate inside with no difficulty finding the gym, music room, auditorium and a memorable class room as well. Ah... room 101A, Mr. Hausman's English Class sitting between Maureen Sbarra and Eileen Fitzpatrick... Memories! Many of our class mates related well to the old high school as we did spend three years there and only one year in the new high school. I am one of those that relates best to the new high school as that one year was our senior year and I enjoyed that year more than any other. It was a special year in my life.

More of our class mates made up the tour group, so there was a an extended period of recognizing one another and greetings from over the years. Few of us seemed to be actually paying attention along our route... random picture taking and flashes occurring every moment. Our tour ended too soon. We were still just beginning to get reacquainted. We returned to the Marriott, homes and where ever people were staying to get ready for our next event of the day.

Next on our schedule was the high point of the reunion for me. The Cocktail Reception graciously hosted by Tom and Sheila Mohrman at their home in East Williston. A huge "Thank You" from the class to Tom and Sheila for again hosting this wonderful reception. Beginning in the late afternoon of a warm fall day, more than 80 class members and their spouses arrived throughout the event. I wish it was another hour and half longer as it would have allowed me to then have had enough time to visit with everyone. It was such a great venue for us. I was especially pleased to see Ken Popson and Gene Zaiser and their wives and also to see Barbara Karro. Again, all too soon it seemed, it was time to begin Chorister practice as Tom handed out the lyrics to the Alma Mater to everyone as we would be called on to lead the singing of tthe Alma mater at the Reunion Dinner which would follow later in the evening. A setting sun on a beautiful day, so many friends having such a wonderful time, who would want this time to end. So Class President cum conductor Rich Ottaviano climbed on one of Tom and Sheila's lawn chairs and we gathered around him and Rich led us through all three verses. I noticed some misty eyes about our gathered chorus when we all sang the third verse... for seniors only. Our reception was sadly ending... we bid goodbye to those leaving for home as we made our way to our cars and for those of us attending the Reunion Dinner, to make the short trip to Mineola and the Knights of Columbus Hall.

The Big Event of our reunion was the Reunion Dinner at The Knights of Columbus Hall on Jericho Turnpike, Mineola. Here again other class mates joined us for the dinner. The Reunion Dinner is run by the Mineola HIgh School Alumni Foundation. Each year this reunion event focuses on the five and zero year reunions i.e., 25th, 30th, 35th, 40th, 45th and 50th reunions. Our class clearly filled the hall! An evening of more conversations, music and dancing. Later, Mistro Ottaviano gathered the chorus and lead the singing of the Alma Mater. After the dinner there might have been a just a few with enough energy left for a visit to the Cornerstone Pub to continue the reunion festivities. As all things come to an end many said their goodbyes after the dinner and began their journies home for some one more event would bring us together once more before we all would have to say goodbye and begin our trips home.

Sunday morning many of us gathered for our farewell brunch at the Marriott Hotel. Janet and I were on our way into Manhattan early to depart on a week's cruise to Bermuda so we missed saying goodbye to everyone. However on our return from our cruise we stopped and had dinner with Sue (Newbold) Linkonis and husband Bert in their new hometown of New Bern, NC and a couple of days dinner with Phil and Ida Meringolo in Orlando, FL. It was very nice extending the reunion that way for us.

Our 45th Reunion is behind us now... Wow! Our 50th is our next on Long Island. However that's not the way it is for the Class of '63. We'll be enjoying reunions in February with our upcomming Florida Group Mini Reunion perhaps another Capital Group Mini Reunion in the spring as well.

And... most importanty the wheels are turning as your read this with work on next October's 2009 Reunion. Make your plans to be with us in San Diego, CA

For questions and 2009 Reunion info contact:

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