St.
Mary’s High School Class of ’60 Reunion
May
2001
By
Diane Okon Lubaway and Bill Lubaway
On Friday, May 11th, about a
dozen people gathered at the hospitality suite for a pizza party to kick off the
festivities for the reunion weekend. Out-of-towners included Dominic Dean, with
wife Karen, Dominic Piestrak, Albert O’Brien and Janet Totcky Rivette.
For a while the girls flocked together on one side of the room and the
boys herded together on the other. (Just like the 7th and 8th
grade dances.) Gradually, the lure of good stories, pictures and shared memories
brought us together. The spirited conversation was punctuated by laughter and
the competition to be heard. Reverting to high school type, cell phones were
brought out and several nearby classmates were “invited” to attend or to
suffer the consequences – a visit from the Class enforcer, Dom Dean.
On Saturday, May 12th, we
gathered for 4:00 p.m. Mass. The Class sat together in reserved seating and
participated in Mass as gift bearers and Eucharistic ministers. We recalled our
deceased classmates and teachers. Fr. Jack Baker, St. Mary’s pastor, welcomed
us and pointed out that he wasn’t even born when we graduated. The church
looks good but you would miss the pews, back-wall-facing altar and altar rails.
Sandy, the organ is right next to the altar.
After Mass, Fr. Jack took us on a tour
beginning with the Church. He pointed out that the original stained glass
windows are going to be refurbished and that St. Mary’s would appreciate a
$48,000 gift to underwrite the work. The school is now connected directly to the
church. Classrooms and offices replace the rectory. With a little effort you can
picture where the principal’s office was and where the 7th and 8th
grade dances were held. The state-of-the-art gymnasium/community center, science
lab, computer center, offices and landscaping all contribute to an overall
feeling that St. Mary’s is keeping pace with changing times. It’s a
beautiful facility.
The Reunion dinner-dance was held in the
cafeteria (formerly gym and, before that, the 6th grade classrooms).
The hardwood floor brings back memories of the original gym that housed our
dances, basketball games, plays and mission movies. Exit through the school-side
door, turn right and you will be at the courtyard entrance that we traipsed
through after daily Mass. Carol Dowdell Oliphant’s committee decorated the
room in a blue and white theme with flowers on each table. Gary Ruthig provided
Blue Knights Welcome signs. Most creative touch – snacks in Daly Drive In
carry out bags.
Forty people enjoyed a catered gourmet meal complete with wine and all the trimmings. Once again we renewed friendships, caught up on news, shared family photos and engaged in some adolescent behavior – squirt guns wielded by almost-sixty year olds. Ask Betty how to use a pitcher of water to cool down the kids.
Tom Morasky called from California to Dom Piestrak’s cell phone and talked with several people. Cass Swamba provided a trip back in time as he listed . . . Howdy Doody, Gold Bell gift stamps, Mary Jane’s (candy, that is), Roy Rogers, Chum’s Restaurant, Red Rover, Sheila’s Sweet Shop, YoYo’s, beanies, cherry cokes, sneakers actually worn in a gym, your first TV, milk for 15 cents a week, nylons that came in two pieces . . . .
Connie and Carol emceed awards for who
traveled the farthest – Mike Selwa, most children – Sue Carver Kurzyniec and
Dom and Karen Dean, most grandchildren – Pierre Laginess, most changed – Dom
Dean, least changed – Diane Okon Lubaway, most jobs – Bob Kubinec (15),
troublemaker – Cass Swamba (supplier of squirt guns), shortest – Betty
(Connie disqualified herself), highest cell phone bill – Dom Piestrak. A
fantasy fight between Dom Dean and Ken Stack over a girl interrupted the
ceremonies briefly. Sandra Jean, any idea what this was all about?
Then, until midnight, we browsed the
memorabilia table, read what we were missing on the web site, danced, listened
to some of our favorite tunes, talked about when and where we would retire and
visited.
On Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 13th, twenty-four people met for an extravagant brunch at the Holiday Inn. Kate Seymour Rosevear’s husband, Harlan, as well as Tom Hill’s mom and dad joined us. We talked about holding the next reunion in California or Florida or both depending on the level of interest. These goodbyes were harder.
