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I just attended my 45th high school class reunion.
Williamsport Area High School Class of 1978.
I had a blast. What new and great memories!
I reconnected with lifelong friends and acquaintances – I took advantage of the opportunity.
It was a two-day event at separate venues in Newberry and in downtown Williamsport.
The reunion committee put together a fantastic agenda ... door prizes, a program, a list of classmates we've lost (and a moment of silence), memorabilia, music, food ... and friendship.
We plan to have another gathering in two years (we turn 65!), then on to our 50th year!
I was not a good student in high school, but I had fun and I remember the atmosphere as a nurturing one, thanks to the teachers..
I enjoyed the friendships of so many classmates.
Sure, we had our cliques, but the cliques got along with each other.
I don't remember any animosity toward others, though I'm sure there was some.
Perhaps because it was just a different era back then in the 1970s, but we also had some tremendous role models as teachers, advisors and counselors.
Who wouldn't listen when Frank Girardi spoke?
Or Mike Hudock?
Or Babe Mayer? Ron Kodish. Bob Clokey.
I remember these guys constantly preaching to us about making good choices in life.
Our principal, Wayne Newton, who only recently passed, was a firm but gentle man.
The superintendent, Oscar Knade, ran a tight ship.
And get this, our class advisers, Tony Delisi and Miss Yeager, have come to most every reunion!
Talk about a village!
Our class officers worked hard.
They put together activities, and even organized an off-campus "coffee house" during our high school years for us to listen to music and just hang out.
It was Engine Co. No. 5 in Newberry.
I don't see that kind of thing happening today with our schools.
Our class also raised money ... and graduated with money in a class account.
I note that because I'm told high schools generally don't allow that anymore.
I'm told high schools or districts require graduating classes to gift their money back to the district or to some cause or organization before they leave.
Is that true?
If so, I think that's a mistake.
In our case, the class fund has become a nonprofit – we don't make money at reunions, we break even (unless we get donations ... and we thankfully do!)
And I also know that many graduating classes – let's say in the past 15 years or so – are not holding reunions.
I'm not saying that's because they don't have funds.
They apparently just don't want to get together.
What a crying shame.
I've been to every class reunion.
God willing I won't miss any.
I've been fortunate to serve on the organizing committee.
About 15 years ago we created a social media page and have used that ever since to communicate with classmates.
The days of envelopes and mailing hundreds of letters are long over; the last time we did it we received a ton of returns.
Of a graduating class of roughly 600, I think we have just under 300 social media page or group followers. Not bad.
We use the page to post our reunion registration forms and for announcements.
We also have a chat room for members only.
And of course we post photos of every reunion.
Tons of them.
It's our history.
A piece of our lives that I know I cherish.
We're not 17 or 18 anymore. Those days are gone, and so should any of the acrimony.
Life is short.
As our class president said, we're getting better as we get older.
Bob Rolley is publisher of the Williamsport Sun-Gazette. Email him at brolley@sungazette.com.