The Program
Master of Ceremonies Pat Zalac and Ed DeChant
Pat----Hi everyone. I'm Pat Zalac and this is Ed DeChant. We're so glad you could all make it tonight. Hope you enjoyed dinner and enjoy the rest of the evening.
Can you believe it ---we have reached that Big NUMBER---70!! A great big happy birthday to all of us!!!! Those of you that know me know that I can't even say the number!!! In fact, whenever the subject comes up--like age or where'd you go to school--I say I graduated in the 60's!!!!!!!! And you can use my line if you like!!!! Prices--weight and age ----the numbers just keep going up!!!!!
,
Let's “give us” a big hand, for coming to our reunion, 52 years later].
Ed -- You know Pat, as I look around me I think the Girard High School class of 1960 has gotten more out of life because they have put more into it.
PAT----: “I think
you are right Ed. Just what have you been UP to
the past two years.”
ED ----Actually I have been UP to remembering Pat. Remembering our rambling UP and down the halls of GHS. I remember one particular day with Miss Schum. Ed then goes into a story of himself, Miss Schumm and the word UP. Click here to go to that story.
Ed continues “By the way, this wine we are drinking is complements of our own Jim Ward who carried these bottles direct from his personal vineyard near SanFrancisco. This is a particularly good Pinot Noir , the grape of which originated in the hill region of Burgundy France. Cuttings of the vines were carried to California in the 1800’s. Later a blight hit French vines and the hearty California vines cuttings were then brought back to Burgundy, France. So all French wines are essentially from California. Here we sample an original California Pinot Noir. This wine is a cut above most Pinot Noirs and we are fortunate and grateful that Jim Ward chose to share them with us. Thanks Jim
PAT:---- As long as we are thanking people I would like to thank Pat Planton…….. a special thank you goes to you Pat Planton for all your ideas, emails, phone calls and time spent arranging for and setting up great decorations.
Ed:-----
Well, let’s not forget our banker, Joe Concannon. He put a lot of time and
work into being the financial leader for this reunion and he has been there as
an advisor thru each part of our planning.
PAT: ……one of our class mates walked into Best
Buy and asked where their 78 records were????? WELL---WE DIDN'T HAVE HER DO
THE MUSIC FOR TONIGHT!!!!!! SEE ME LATER AND I"LL TELL YOU WHO SHE IS!!!! but
we have Jim-Judy& Butch to thank for tonight’s music of the 50’s ---Jim made
copies of 22 oldies for us and the songs will be playing tonight--(I need
to get to jim on friday night to verify the details---when I spoke to Judy
---there was some computer problems and she wasn't sure where Jim stood or what
he was to able to use from her computer?????) at any rate we
owe a big thank you to Jim for his time and great selection of "our time" songs
and to Judy and Butch for their collecting and working with Jim to have this all
come together-----the songs will stir up a lot of old memories!!.
Ed: How about that Video from Bonnie Faiver and
husband Jim Santagata……"We
are fortunate that Jim Santagata and Bonnie like photography. Jim, a graduate
of McDonald High, occupied himself photographing people at our 50th reunion, and
then again in 2011 at Karen Battin and Pat Planton's picnic at Karen's house.
He has presented us with a DVD. It starts out with many shots and
memories taken from our 1960 Reflector yearbook, and then he Graduates to our
50th reunion where he spent much of the evening taking photos. Then the DVD
then goes to the picnic at Karen Battin's.
Job well done Bonnie and Jim !
PAT: I would like to say a very special -- Thank You to Judy Bixler, just Judy, for all you have done in the past decades for us, the class of 1960. Your persistant searching and digging to locate our lost classmates, and creating your great email list, and everything you do each day which has brought us together more than we will ever realize.
We do not know of another Reunion Class that is so together and close as is this one. Your emails over the years have brought that about.
This is something unique and special to us. We know this by talking to outside friends and people from other classes over the years. Thanks Judy.
Ed :
Yes Pat. I think Judy is perhaps the most important spoke in this wheel. I
agree, Without her we probably would not be here tonight.. She is beloved by us
all.
PAT-- Thank you Ed DeChant for making available
to our 1960 class your computer server, so that we can Have Our Own website.
And Thank you doubly, for the time you have spent creating it.
Ed: It was a labor of love Pat, much as it has
been over the years for Judy and for Ron Robinson. Doing those biographies two
years ago allowed me the opportunity to meet my classmates for the first time,
really. I liked what I saw and regret not to have made the effort 52 years ago.
As for tonight It is Ron Robinson’s hard work and leadership has made this night possible . Ron has been like the orchestra conductor who knows the entire score and guides each of us into playing our part as best we can. His leadership has been among the best I have seen and could be textbook “How to run a business 101. “
Ron Robinson is called to the podium. His remarks and be viewed by clicking here
Joe Concannon wrote some trivia questions regarding several class mates.
Click here to visit that trivia game.
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After the game Ron invites :Pat Godec to address the group.
ED: --
We have been at war in the middle east since 2003. I am proud of America for the support they have given our men and women in uniform. That was not the case for our generation of solders. It was not given to our soldiers on their return from Vietnam. Let’s do it now. Would all here who have worn the uniform of any of our armed services please stand up to be recognized.
And now would any of you whose children or grandchildren are serving or have served please stand up.
Pat: At the end of the evening tonight, just after ten o'clock, we will be having a balloon release of our multi-colored balloons you saw on the tables tonight. This is because we want to remember our deceased classmates. Please meet with us outside the door, right after ten.
GHS, Class of 1960, Deceased [8-17-12]
Jean Artisa Strain
Bob Burke
Becky Clark Ruggerio
Fred Diamond
Bob "Buddy" Dillon
Jerry Eicher
Larry Emch
Robert Evans
Frank Gallo
Marie Graziosi Wilkerson
David Green
Joe Horvat
Ray Jones
Regis Lepor
Phyllis Makar
Vivian Mazza Wardle
Howie McMahan
Rebecca Morgan
Bob O'Neil
Mary Jo Patros McCormick
Donovan Rogusky
Dick Smith
Larry Socha
Derrill Tuttle
Glen Verner
Jim Vesco
Delion Wellington
Nancy Wining Altiere
And, since our 2010 reunion, Roy Toney.
ED: -- We hope to see you again in three years,
for our 55th reunion. Let's keep this going!! The older we are, the more
important our friends become. Please send any comments about our reunions to
Judy Bixler or Ron Robinson. We are always interested in your comments.
Pat and Ed Together-- Thank you All for coming.
Pat-- It has been a Great weekend. It is You who have made this a great time.
Ed --
After all, Laughs and Friendship are what life is all about.
Patty, reads this quote that Pat Planton loves and has
suggested –
"LIFE BRINGS US TEARS, SMILES AND MEMORIES ~ THE TEARS DRY, THE SMILES FADE, BUT
THE MEMORIES LAST
FOREVER"
Click Here to go to the program itself
Click here for an important message from one of our classmates
A meeting with Miss Schumm to help with confusion about the word UP
Photos from Amen Corner on Friday Night
Photos from Vernon's banquet on Saturday Night
Comments from Ron Robinson, Reunion Chairman
Joe Concannon's Trivia Game