Reconnecting with old pals like Guy Grignon, Bob Greco, Linda Kunz, Cheryl Cote , Mike Amato, Mike Groditski et al was terrific. Discovering more about people I spent too little time knowing in HS was very special for me. Getting to know and build new friendships with those wonderful people, like Christy Green, Chris Furst, Scott Klippel, Chris Lesko and oh so many others was absolutely the best!!! The class of 1968 is full of remarkable people, and spending the past few days with all of you was a memorable experience. The reunion may be over, but the it's only the beginning of so many new relationships that will last a lifetime!
Smitty, One more time I want to say thanks to you and committee for an incredible job in putting the reunion together! What to say? It was an unbelievable event and I agee it wasn't only reconnecting with old friends but getting to know others who you did not know that well in high school. New friends made and new memories. What a blast, It was truly an event for ages.
Well..the party's over as my mind still races reflecting on these past few days after attending my first Whitman reunion. The binder of my yearbook is worn from the many times I have opened it over the past 40 years thinking of my fellow classmates....curious of where their lives have led them since June of 1968. It was wonderful to reconnect with a number of old friends, one of my very special friends, Matt Clark, and make a few new ones!
Still slightly overwhelmed by the many 'fragmented' conversations I shared this weekend, as I sit this morning in the quiet of the Marriott, reading through my yearbook...yet once again....I am putting the names and faces to the classes, the parties and the episodes we shared, I realize we had not touched on these subjects. We spoke more of where we live, the number of children, and grandchildren and yes....the impressions we had of one another through our school years.
There were so many people to reconnect with in what seemed like too short a time. Looking at the guest list of who would be attending, I know I missed speaking to some of my friends and sorry the time ran out to share even a 'fragmented' conversation with them. There were a few close friends I had hoped to see that did not attend. To those at the reunion I missed and those who did not attend...you are in my thoughts.
Thank you so much to the entire committee to add a chapter to my book of 'fond memories'....I hope to 'see you in 5'
Like Stephanie, this was my first reunion - and making new friends was very rewarding for me. The fun of hearing and sharing 'War Stories' with Bob Zaccheo, Ed Winzer and Matt Clark outside - lunch with Larry Carpico - a joyous bear hug with Stu Berman - chats with Mike Levrini, Bill Bernstein, Bob Pendel, Andy, Josh, Gerry Simowitz, Bob Leppien - and ALL you beautiful ladies - answered many of my 'Whatever Happened To?' questions...
We live in an amazing age - the age of communication. Perhaps the greatest lesson to come out of this for me is the realization that while you never can go back again, you can go forward with such ease to build on relationships long treasured and make them even more precious in the future. It is an amazing thing to stand in a room filled with people with whom you share experiences going back to elementary school, and it is something that would not have been possible only a few years back. When I think of the time I was able to share with my dearest friend, Terri Smith, on Saturday, my heart almost bursts with joy. To see my beloved friend Howie Sommer again after so long and to see his happiness with his beautiful wife, Linda. To sprawl on a sofa and share memories of Camp Quinipet with Lee Hardgrove. To sit around a table with Chris Green, Kim Bank, Betsy Imholtz, and the group laughing until my sides ached the way we did years ago when life was so much simpler. To reconnect with elementary school friends like Kay Nelson and Mike Levrini, who figured so prominently in my life then - and who suddenly materialized after 40 years the same wonderful people they were as children (in spite of the mud incident, Michael). I thank every single member of the committee that did such an extraordinary job of putting together an event that none of us will ever forget. I know my own memories are safely harbored in a special chamber in my heart.
It was a fabulous time!!!!
I didn't know what I was missing in not going to the others.
I won't miss another one.
What a treat to see all of my old friends and meet new ones.
Well it's Monday night after the reunion and I'm not quite back to the year 2008. I lived happily for three days with a lot of great classmates in the year 1968. Time travel is wonderful !!!
Each time we have a reunion it's a great time....but this one was the special one. I know many of us feel the same way. We all had the smiles of our youth back. We couldn’t wait to see each other. We talked, we laughed and we danced. We pieced together our collective memories and enjoyed every minute. There were brain cells I haven't used for decades that started working again! (smile).
Whoever reads this and knows me from 1968, I want you to know it was a joy to see you and experience the reunion together.
A very special thanks to the 'kids' on the reunion committee. You gave us all a very special gift....thank you.
The reunion was the greatest experience. In the 40 years since graduation I had only seen one or two classmates. Seeing so many old friends at once was a cool sensory overload.
My wife, Kathy, had never met any of the attendees, Thank you all for making her have a great time. She has said several times how much she enjoyed it.
What a great couple of days. It did feel like a time warp. Once we got through figuring out who's who on Friday night, which took about 30 seconds, it felt like 1968. I am so blessed to have such great life long friends...my 'neighborhood girlfriends'...the Oakwood crowd...football and baseball pals...band friends...I could go on and on...it was so great to catch up. What I love about this stage of our lives is that we are who we are...nobody needs to impress anyone unlike most 10 year reunions when it's all about what you do rather than who you are. And when I think about everyone I talked to over the weekend and the conversations we had I realize that we really are exactly who we were 40 years ago...older, bald in my case (!), wiser we hope...but at the core our personalities are the same. What a great group of people who I will always love and cherish. Thanks Bobby Z, Smitty, Loretta, Harry, Katie and the rest of the team that put it together. I will never forget it. Let's do the next one in California!!
Did I hear my fellow Californian say that the next one is going to be near my home in San Diego? What about at the Del Mar Racetrack where the surf meets the turf?
Another great reunion story- Geb Wolf and his wife Claudia met up with Perry Walker at the reunion events. Turns out, they have a drawing that Perry's dad Al Walker Sr., quite a creative and talented artist, drew of Claudia way back when. It was his final drawing before his death. The Wolf's are planning on returning the original to Perry and his family. Great gesture...and this embodies what the reunion was all about for me...see the Looking Back Gallery for the drawing..
Smitty
Like all of you that replied before me...... how heartfelt it was to see you all and have conversations with those I haven't spoken to in some 40 years. It was truly like no time had passed. And it's a night I will never forget. I am so grateful to have connected with the 'committee'. Lorraine, Trudy, Garry, Pat, Harry, Rick, Loretta and Bob...THANK YOU for such a fun time. I am so happy to have been a part of this with you. And to the rest of the Class of '68..... Rock on!!!!
Like all of you that replied before me...... how heartfelt it was to see you all and have conversations with those I haven't spoken to in some 40 years. It was truly like no time had passed. And it's a night I will never forget. I am so grateful to have connected with the 'committee'. Lorraine, Trudy, Garry, Pat, Harry, Rick, Loretta and Bob...THANK YOU for such a fun time. I am so happy to have been a part of this with you. And to the rest of the Class of '68..... Rock on!!!!
So the past caught up to the present for one more weekend.
It was a real treat seeing everyone and making some new friends as well.
Financial institutions may not be lookin so good, but this ones locked up in my memory bank for keeps.
I'm surprised that at my age I have such a good memory...it's just really short, though.
Seeya all at the next one!
I was just talking with Katie this afternoon and telling her how glad I was to have made the trip to the reunion. I will always have a smile on my face when I think about it.
I really don't have the words to describe how I felt seeing everyone --- and not just the 'kids' I hung out with.
I loved meeting and talking with all the people that I missed hanging out with.
The music department kind of sucked us up into it and I lost touch with so many wonderful classmates.
It was great, more than great, to reconnect if only for the weekend.
I will definitely be there for the next one--- hopefully without a cast to sign!
I cannot agree more with all that has already been said. I just received an e-mail from Chris Furst and she said she was still on a 'reunion high.' I totally agree, I look at the pictures almost daily. It was truly amongst the greatest events of my life. Thanks to all. Will there me an updated roster of all who attended
Lee Hardgrove
dittos to lee and everyone before him....how can one put into words how great that weekend was???? i have watched the peterlori video about a gazillion times, and love love love watching us old people!!!!!!! it really is great to have so many folks have the same emotional response to this reunion...it was different from the earlier ones to me....anyone else feel the same? meantime, i had a blast and thank you all for being there!!!!!
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