| 35th
REUNION 2003 |
Reunion Wrap-up Meeting
- Sept 2003,
from the top down: Steve, Kathy, Cheryl,
Susan, Nancy, Gerry, Bill and Carol.
The
reunion in July 2003 was a big success! We had a great crowd and
a great time. There were 99 classmates at the Friday night gathering
and a grand total of 132 for Saturday night (95 classmates including
the Vanims and 37 guests). There were roughly 125 classmates attending
one or both nights.
Most of the photos taken with the cameras we provided are here for you to enjoy,
and a few were donated by classmates. The door prize winners are listed here,
particularly for the benefit of those classmates who couldn't attend.
The weekend was an amazing time. The
Reunion Committee has heard from many classmates expressing thanks
and telling stories of what a great time they had. To prove it,
I've reprinted below some of the e-mails
we've received.
Speaking for the Reunion Committee, we were all overwhelmed by
the attendance, the immediate ease with which people renewed friendships
(and made new ones) and the amount of laughter, smiles and hugs
going on. After 2 years of planning and fretting over this reunion,
we're very thankful to all our classmates for not letting us down.
We are truly a great group of people!
We also give a huge thanks to Dr. Gerry Vanim and Peggy Vanim who,
after all these years, came out to support our class ...again.
We're very fortunate to have them as teachers and now, as friends.
Thank you all,
35th Reunion Committee, PHS '68
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| The
MOST & LEAST AWARDS |
We gave door prizes to the classmates who. . .
. . .have been married the longest:
Pat Evans Oxley and Debbie Pearson Zug (both married more than
33 years)
. . . have been married the shortest:
Jan VerBraeken, married 14 days and Diane Newswanger Swank, married 57 days
. . . have the most children:
Michael Johnson and Ellen Muehsam Settar (Both have 5 children)
. . . has the most grandchildren:
Cheryl Sullivan Fisher - 8
. . . have the oldest children:
Cheryl Sullivan Fisher and Wanda Mason Williams (both have a child over 34 years old)
. . . has the youngest child:
Chris Jelinek Norris - 2 yrs
. . .traveled the farthest to get to the reunion:
Brian Mull (Australia), Don Fahnestock (Switzerland),
Donna Meiss (Italy), and John Fritz (Alaska)
. . . moved the most times:
Carol Haner - 19
. . . was voted the MOST changed:
Curt Graybeal
. . . was voted the LEAST changed:
Ted Taylor |
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| Comments from classmates: |
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".
. . I want to be one of the first to send my congratulations to you
and the team. What an outpouring of love and acceptance you created
among a group of relative strangers. There was such a sense of fellowship
and goodwill abounding that it will stand out in my mind for the
rest of my life. It felt to me as if everyone would like to get together
tomorrow so as to spend "quality" time together. What a
fellowship. Three cheers and well done."
—Paul
Bartholomew
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".
. . a quick note to thank you for all you did to make the reunion
such fun! I know all the work it takes to pull everything together
and you and the rest of the committee did a superb job! I'm sure
you need a vacation after all this! It was wonderful to see so many "old" friends.
Oh, and thanks so much for my 35 ft extension cord!!! (My husband
was thrilled!) Thanks again." —Chris
Jelinek Norris
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"I
want to extend my THANKS to all of the committee members for the
tremendous and well done job of putting this highly successful reunion
together. I had a great time and I appreciate the effort that was
put into the organization of this event. It was great to see everybody
again. Please pass this on to the other committee members. See you
at the next reunion." —Frank Gensemer
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"You
managed to bring people out who most likely would not have dared.
You brought friends together for a moment in time they will not forget.
One thing said to me on Saturday night was that as we gazed around
the room, and watched people laughing, walking, talking, hugging,
etc,.we were able to recall what they were like 35 years ago.
Folks came to see friends who once played
a major part in their lives, and were greeted warmly. They met people
and spoke for the first time, and discovered how interesting that person
was. Many promised to keep in touch, meet for lunch, call each other,
and I hope we do. I will work with anyone on our next reunion
in 5 years. I only hope the same dedicated and hard working friends will
remain on the committee so I can be part of another successful event.
Congratulations!!" —Martha Cross Greico
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"Thank-you
is just NOT enough for all that you did bringing us all out of the
past into the present for a time of celebration. I had such a memorable
time. I know you all do not want to even think about
our 40th reunion. Anyway, I surely volunteer for the next reunion. Again
thanks for bringing us and the evening all together." —Janie
D'Antonio
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".
. . haven't had much time to reflect in the weekend we just had together.
I know I had a great time and it was good to spend some time with
such a quality group of people. It seems that we picked up right
where we left off, although it will still take a lot more time to
fill in the blanks. I wanted more time to spend with each and every
person who came to the reunion. It just didn't happen. A chat room
would be a great way to
"fill in the blanks" and share some more information. Thanks
to all who worked to make this reunion such a success -
especially Bev, Gerry, Bill, Curtis and Sue. I think Curtis Graybeal
should be included in this group of names - also Gordon Ferguson, Sue
Olsen and Martha Grieco. I look forward to hearing from
everyone and getting together again in the near future. We don't have
to wait another five years! All the best." —Nancy
Achuff Coffman
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"Thanks
so much for all your efforts ....the reunion was absolutely wonderful
and it was really great to catch up with so many great people. I
was amazed how many memories and faces came back!!!" —Candace
Patton
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".
. . It was wonderful catching up with you and many of our classmates!
I want to thank you and all the other committee members for all your
hard work. It was a fabulous evening one to be remembered! Now I
can't wait for the next one!
Thank-you." — Jill Burkland Denn
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"The
reunion was great. I had a great time and enjoyed seeing all of the
classmates.You guys did a lot of hard work to get the crowd that was
there and made it enjoyable for everyone. Doing the Friday night thing
as well as the Saturday thing without bands to compete with was great
planning. Still didn't get to speak with everyone I wanted to but at
least I didn't have to compete with a band or loud music. Congrats to
a job very well done!" —Bill Jarrell
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I
had a great time at the reunion. We have a group of guys who seem
to held off aging pretty well, like you, Dave, Bill, Rex, it was
great seeing all again after so long. The committee did a great job
with their efforts. I know how much time goes into keeping the web
site current, but what a great tool that is. Maybe a "reunion
week" next time (after we've all 'retired' and have plenty of
time!) is what I need to catch up and renew old friendships." —John
Fritz
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