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Here are some spontaneous thoughts on the reunion copied from emails as the kids returned home.  

 

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Will Chatham 10/14/02 :

It was back to the real world of work today and it was especially difficult after a truly great weekend with all of you.  We had a great time and it was wonderful seeing all of you again after so many years.  It only took us a little bit of time to warm up and we were back having fun and sometimes picking on one another just like we did in high school. A special moment for me however was the remembrance ceremony for our departed friends.  We all miss them very much, and like you, I too was shocked at some of the names that were read.  Our prayers are with them.

 

Sue Ellen Coleman 10/15/02 :

I echo Will's sentiments. It was great to see old friends and to make new friends, as there were several at the Sea Angel that I had not known, except by name, when we were in Vestal. It was also wonderful to meet the spouses of classmates and to find such a delightful bunch of people.

 

One person mentioned over the weekend that it was a pretty scary proposition to decide to have this type of reunion where the interaction was intense, either because so many were staying together in one place or because when we all got together we were spending hours in an unstructured manner - not your typical dinner, dance, and get out of town reunion. When 38 years have passed you're not sure that this is going to work. Work it did, however, even for those of us who were once considered shy, as well as for the people known to be popular but who could now admit to all those teenage insecurities that we each held but never talked about. Amazing what a few years and a whole lifetime of experience can do for a group to make the commonalities surface and make all those other dis-similarities go away.

 

The remembrance ceremony was an emotional highlight. I think we sent our schoolmates off in style, even if we weren't nearby when they left us.

 

Steve Heyda 10/15/02 :

Well, #38 has come and gone and it was GREAT.  I too echo the sentiments of Will and Sue Ellen - I could not have had a better time - from the mixer on Friday, through the memorial service Saturday and dinner, dancing through Breakfast Sunday, pictures and singing on Sunday, DInner Sunday and Breakfast Monday until I had to leave Paradise for the reality of  DC life.  It was a jam packed weekend that filled with all the emotions that anyone could have - and I experienced the ALL.

 

It was great seeing all those people that I knew thought my high school " picture-taking efforts" but did not REALLY know.  The time that has passed has allowed people to mature and we are all more accepting of others who are not like us and we are drawn away from peer pressure to treat those outside out circle differently. We welcomed ALL with open arms.  It was nice.

 

The time spent with ALL of you was TREMENDOUS.  I really feel that Vestal Graduates are special people and that we all have carried the VESTAL name well through the years.  Our lives have taken different paths, but those paths have crossed this past weekend and now a number of us will keep those crossings more frequent.  It took 38 years the first time, it will take a LOT less time the next time.  I especially enjoyed meeting spouses and talking to them.  It was great that our non-Vestal spouses were able to sit and enjoy each other's company and listen to tales being told of our days at Vestal High.

 

Leo Hanifan 10/15/02 :

If you were at the OBX this week, it was great to see you (unless you were one of the "late arrivers" . . . and I missed you because I was an "early leaver".)  In any event, it was a great time.

 

If you were not at OBX, you missed a great time . . .

 

Doug Morrison 10/16/02 :

I agree with the previous notes from Will, Gus, Steve and Leo:  Bonnie did a terrific job of putting this whole event together. Extra special thanks to the Sagans for the outstanding job in the kitchen.

 

I was there Sunday thru Tuesday and what memories we all shared.   It was Vestal's version of "The Big Chill".  My only regret is missing some of you guys that had come and gone by Sunday.   Hopefully, we'll all be at the 40th.

 

 

Patti Loveland Rhinevault 10/17/02 (with a diary) :

Having just returned last night from our fantastic outing at the OBX, I would like to take the time this morning to say some thank-you's, and share some of our fun with those who couldn't make it. So grab a cup of coffee, or whatever you would like to relax with, and prepare to read for a little while - I have a tendency to write just like I talk - long-winded!!

 

First off I want to thank Gus and Kathy Riolo for planting the seed of the reunion in the first place! I want to thank Bonnie Hyde for watering and nurturing that seed, and making it grow and blossom into a full-blown, beautiful time for all of us! I want to especially thank Al Sagan, and his fantastic and funny wife Evelyn, for ALL of their exceedingly hard work, and time, for all the food preparation, and all the effort it took to truck it all in, set it all up, and allow all of the rest of us to relax, have fun, and concentrate on getting to know each other all over again! I want to thank Rich McLean for being the "keeper of the funds" - not an especailly glamorous or fun thing to have to deal with, but he did it very well, and kept us saner than we might have been otherwise. I also want to thank all of the sponsors - Rog Bennett, Will Chatam, Dan LaDue, Nancy Zinke, Bob Ambrose, and if I've forgotten anyone (other than me), I apologize, (and feel free to call me and give me hell for it!) for helping to finance the beginnings of this wonderful time for all of us.

 

Lastly, I want to thank all of the daring folks who came!!! I know it all seemed sort of a big risk to take - not having seen some of these people for 38 years, and then having to spend a few days with them in a fairly close environment - it may have been a daunting challenge for some, but did we prove all of that a lot of BUNK!!! I have never laughed so much, danced so much, had so much to eat at any given time, drank so much in a succession of days - I normally don't touch the stuff!! (hah!) - cried a little over our lost classmates, and an old love or two, and even got a tatoo!!!. (Put your tongue back in your mouth Will!). We got caught up on all of our lives, children, grandchildren, rehashed old memories, and made some excellent new ones! I found out that there were a few of the guys that I missed knowing well in school that I should have looked at more closely, 'cause they turned out to be those "late bloomers" - ya gotta watch those late bloomers, right Bonnie?!!

 

We played in the hot tub - well, "play" may not be the exact word for it, but some of you might not be old enought to have that go further!! We walked together, ate together, laughed together, swam together - well a couple of us even jumped in!  (Elaine and Diane!) - we bonded on so many levels. We developed new friednships with people we thought we knew in school, but who have brought totally new feelings to the surface, and showed us that all of the teenage differences that we thought were so important, were not important at all. We all have the same things in common now - shared experiences, shared heartaches, shared joys, and shared memories of our classmates and friends. We made fantastic new friends with the spouses of our classmates, and have integrated them into the fabric of our lives as well, and are much richer for it.

 

Friday night, when we were all going to be meeting for the first time, I must admit to some feelings of anxiety about what we had brought about, but as soon as I walked into that room at the Hampton, and saw all of the people there - changed naturally, but still the same folks I had known many moons before - the feeling was replaced with a soaring joy that some things do never change! Now that may sound really corny, but humor me - I'm a sentimental slob. We hugged each other and within 5 minutes were picking on each other, and laughing and reminicing about stuff, and it was just like we'd seen each other yesterday instead of centuries ago!!

 

Sat. was a special time - the day was a long one - especially for Al and Evie - but we had a memorial ceremony before dinner that night, for all of our lost friends from the classes of '63, '64, and '65. Some of us had a name, and a rememberance - or if we didn't, someone else did. We said our goodbyes, and while our hearts were a little sadder for a few moments, we also knew that our lost ones were there with us, and joining our fun, and watching over us all somehow.

 

Sunday - normally supposed to be a day of rest! HAH!! - was anything but for all of us! We had a ball again - some just kicking back, some doing some shopping or sight-seeing, some of us just doing whatever we felt like doing - which was mostly having fun! We had another fabulous breakfast to start our day - I am now loving cream cheese waffles, and blueberry pancakes, and funnel cakes have taken on a totally different attitude as far as I'm concerned! - and another fabulous dinner to end the day. And in between we had a lot of great memories made and remembered. We made cider from apples Al had picked before he left the NC mountains, and even came up with a new drink - the "Sea Angel Special" - fresh cider and champagne! It really is good! or at least we thought so while in the hot tub sipping on them! Of course that's when we ended up in the pool, and things just sorta went down- or up-hill from there - depending on your vantage point! We did some serious bonding then tho! (Remind me, I'll tell you all about it some time!)

 

By Mon. some of our folks had gone, and the weather had turned a little cooler, and rather windy. Some of us went on a golf outing - one of us lost her glasses - luckily I had decided when I got them to go for the "buy one, get one free" deal!! Then we had another fantastic meal and evening together. Iris (alias Judy Sverika) - had us doing a group therapy session - we were getting in touch with our feelings! And of course we'd all had a few libations during the day, so some of those feelings were sorta unique! Iris is a hoot folks! She's our Judy, but expanded! (She lives in California and that may explain a lot!) And we love her!

 

Tues. was another day for fun and frolicking - we didn't care what the weather was doing - there are ways to amuse oneself without worrying about the weather, and we found several! Some again went shopping, and a few of us formed our own all girl "kitchen metal" band! We're practicing for next year and we promise to be much better by then!!! We need a name tho!

 

The whole venue was so relaxed and casual - no structures or restrictions, no dressing up, no rules - just sitting around having fun and relaxing, or going off on your own by yourself, or with special friends, for sight-seeing, or shopping, or whatever. We all got to experience new things with each other - some more than others! - and reaccquaint ourselves with old friends and new ones.   

 

 

Elaine Decker 10/20/02 :

I came into the office today (Sun) to get jump-started for Monday.  Instead, I've read everybody's mail, and between laughing you've all got me crying. 

 

When folks here ask how the reunion was I tell them fun, goofy, sad, and really wonderful. I feel very, very lucky to have been found via email, to have corrresponded for all these months with everybody - whether  you made it to the No Carolina or not, and to grown up in that special time with you.

 

Joann Miller Augustaitus 10/20/02 :

 We made it back to Colorado yesterday evening after a wonderful reunion/vacation  in OBX.  I can only add my name to those that have already said THANK YOU for all the work everyone put into the reunion. We all picked up where we had left off so many years ago, there are some bonds that can stand any test.  Keep me in the loop for future events.

 

Bob Sweet 10/20/02 :

Just a short note to you all to thank you for a great weekend on the Outer Banks renewing old friendships.  I have read all the responses and have to agree with all, that Vestal grads are special people who have not changed over these many years. 

 

 

Bonnie Clarke Hyde 10/20/02 :

The fun continued all week, although we did "settle down" about Thursday...and by weeks end, we had our "wave"  polished, as we gave each of our classmates a send off from the steps of the "angel"! These memories are truly going to last a life time (or what's left)...and if they begin to fade, we have more pictures from every possible angle and backdrop, so that we will NEVER be able to forget our REUNION 38 at the OBX, even if we tried!

 

And 10/21/02:

To say that the reunion was "fun" seems a bit lame, considering the range of emotions and interactions we experienced from our first encounter to the last good-bye!  When I saw my classmate's smiles and heard their laughter last Friday evening at the Hampton Inn, I knew we were all there with the same anticipation.  As the weekend progressed, the 38 years seemed to peel away---gone--never happened-- and everyone started to look familiar again. I never laughed so much for such extended periods of time.  It was definitely a "peak" experience .........Camelot? 

 

 

Bob Ambrose 10/20/02 :

Can it be true that we were all together for such a wonderful interlude?!  It was truly an amazing experience for Elaine and me.  It was great to catch up on the lives we have been leading and our wide range of experiences.  This is what America is about.  Each of us with our own quirks and foibles, insights, desires, wisdom, obsessions, crazy dreams and wholesome stability.  E pluribus unum!

 

Rich McLean 10/21/02 (talking about some of the photos) :

I look very brazen don't I? Actually, the girls had to drag me onto the floor for me to get into it, but I didn't need too much encouragement. The great thing about these reunions is the old teenage inhibibitions just aren't there. Bonnie, the girl in the first shot was a cheerleader back then. NEVER would have been able to get on the dance floor with her when we were in HS. Now, it ain't no big deal! We all matured a lot (and look it of course!!). Whether you were a jock, cheerleader or nerd (square) back then, it don't make no difference now!

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As you can see, most everyone was euphoric about the reunion. Not that it was perfect. Most of us recognize we didn’t have the participation we had hoped for. Between the 3 classes, we have 1000 alumni +/-, yet only 33 alumni from the 3 classes and their spouses/friends/children could make it. Here are the  attendees:

 

Class of 1963

Al Sagan

Diane McPherson Sattler

 

Class of 1964

Bob Ambrose

Joann Miller Augustaitus

Gail Gurney Baker

Roger Bennett

Will Chatham (Carol Crisman Class of '67)

Sue Ellen Coleman

Elaine Decker

Nancy Zinke Geith

Don Gregory

Greg Jacobs

Leo Hanifan

Steve Heyda

Bonnie Clarke Hyde

Donna Van Gelder King

Donna Kurst

Dan LaDue

Doug Morrison (Cheryl Coleman Class of '66)

Jack Moss

Gus and Kathy Riolo

Patti Loveland Rhinevault

Judy "Iris" Severika

Patti Shoultes

Ken Spencer

 

Class of 1965

Janet Johnson Bennett

Cynthia Kamin

Dick McCoy

Rich McLean

Bob Sweet

Dave Williams  

Jim Wilson

 

So! That just challenges all of us who volunteer to work for the reunion to find better strategies. Brainstorming and planning has already begun for a joint reunion in 2003, 2004 and 2005, the 40th for the classes of 1963, 1964, and 1965 respectively.

 

If you have any ideas and/or can help please share them. We ESPECIALLY need volunteers to make sure everyone gets contacted for the next event.

 

Please contact Vestal Reunion.  

 

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