Front Row (L-R): Judy (Inkel) Nokes, Donna (Philip) Baker, Lynn Provasi, Sandy (Davison) MacAulay, Gail (Sherlock) Strachan, Jackie (Jones) Coulter, Gail (Baldwin) Barrett, John Lessard
2nd Row (L-R): Lelio Tempesta, Arlene Johnston, Nancy (Dickinson) Wall, Sherry (Searles) LeBlanc, Donna (MacDonald) Severy, Vicki (Owen) Moreau, Nick Bonacorsi, Frank O'Neil, Ron Guppy
3rd Row (L-R): Ruth (Partridge) Hicks, Gino (Terry) Carmolli, Brent Hoskings, Ron Edson, George Scott, Diane Marley, Jeanne (Burrington) Hommel, Gilles Moreau, Bill Lesure, Ralph Cole, Gino Bardelli
4th Row (L-R): Bob Mitchell, Steve Blondin, Bob Haggett, Bill Noyes, Bill Tucker, Steve McLeod, Bob Harrington
Can you believe that some planning committee members have already started talking about what we’re going to do for our 40th reunion?!? Of course it was prefaced by, "Before we forget…next time we should…"
Approximately 45 classmates and a few brave spouses attended the Friday night social. Adelle (Nadeau) Sumner greeted and registered folks, giving them their yearbook-photo-nametag and a "SHS CLASS OF ’68 35th REUNION" red and blue button.
Sandy (Davison) MacAulay took a picture of each arrival while spinning CDs of some pretty terrific 60’s tunes.
An easel showing yearbook photos of "missing" classmates drew attention and resulted in a few clues on how to locate some.
A photo tribute to our 10 deceased classmates provided the backdrop at a table displaying our yearbook, grade school pictures, prior years’ reunion photos and a US map flagging classmates’ current resident states (done by Bob Haggett). 188 of us still in Vermont yet, keeping with past history, most reunioners joined us from out-of-state!
In true 60’s fashion, we partied, ate, talked, ate, sang, ate and laughed well into the night.
Saturday at the crack of dawn (at least it seemed like it to those of us who showed up) we decorated the parade float at the auditorium. Jeanne (Burrington) Hommel, Float Committee Chair, did a SUPER job with posters she had constructed, decorations donated by Nancy (Chandler) Boutin and the American Legion and lots of other frills provided by Jeanne. Ron Edson had made the arrangements with Rock of Ages to get us a 16’ flatbed truck with rails perfect for decorating and holding us secure on the trip up Main Street. We sang "Glory to Spaulding" and waved flags at parade viewers, finishing up with a water fight which did not sufficiently cool us down!
After enjoying some of the Homecoming events at the park in Barre, we cleaned ourselves up and again gathered at the Legion for more munchies, reminiscing, music and photo opportunities. Ron Edson and his staff served a simple but bountiful buffet, followed by cake and coffee.
Master of Ceremonies, Bill Noyes, was given the charge of giving away the lovely table centerpieces consisting of a red candle in a glass goblet encircled with white roses flanked by American flags – designed and created by Sherry (Searles) LeBlanc – to the group of approximately 62 (including spouses). Bill Tucker will have to figure out how to get his home to Los Banos, CA. Ron Edson, who has practically lived at the Legion lately preparing for this weekend, was given a centerpiece acknowledging his efforts, as was Lynn Provasi for spearheading the event.
Gilles and Vicki (Owen) Moreau won with the honor of being married the longest to the same spouse – 33 years, beating Donna (McDonald) and Bill Severy – and Jeanne and Pete Hommel by months.
John Lessard walked away with the trophy for having the most children (4). Jeanne Hommel snagged the trophy for having changed the least since graduation. Sandy MacAulay has been employed 35 years at Berg, Carmolli and Kent Insurance, winning a centerpiece for having worked the most number of years in the same job. Ralph Cole will take his trophy home to West Virginia for having been retired the most years (4). Bill’s job was made a little easier in a three-way tie for the most grandchildren with George Scott, Donna (Philip) Baker and Nancy (Dickinson) Wall boasting about 6 grandchildren.
Lynn Provasi thanked everyone on the planning committee for his or her efforts, energy and expertise in putting together a great reunion. She put out the plea that folks share their e-mail addresses or, at the very least, to keep their mailing address current. Funds collected this year were used for postage, overhead expenses, hors d'oeuvres, Saturday’s meal and the deceased classmates’ memorial fund. The group agreed with the planning committee’s proposal to use the approximately $300 collected for a student scholarship to be presented at the June 2004 alumni banquet.
We passed the hat, netting $232 to send to Nikki (Trottier) Sweet to help defray the monthly costs of maintaining our website. Ron Edson and Lynn Provasi were presented with gift certificates of appreciation.
A number of spouses focused their Kodaks and Canons, then waited patiently while we congregated for a group picture. While some folks joined the other revelers at the Homecoming street dance and fireworks, others were content to visit and listen to music.
Yes, it can be said that we’re aging gracefully! Watch this website for proof in pictures!
