UMHS 63 REUNION...and beyond: 2018

Tuesday, November 13, 2018

Saturday, November 10, 2018

Where Are You?

I need your help. We have a list of classmates we cannot locate. If you have any information about any of these, good news or not, please let me know. Ask other friends of yours who might know them.

Any information - email me. mcgheelynne8@gmail.com

Thanks for your help.

Mary Frances (Camasso) Somers - last known address was in Blue Bell, PA

Carolyn Cates

Lois Degan - last known address was in Philadelphia, PA

Sandra Distelrath

Hal Galbraith - FOUND in Tennessee

Dean Hasseman - last known address was in Broken Arrow, OK

Jennifer (Joy) Fuller

Jim Keiper- DECEASED

Karen (Keller) Worthington - last known address was in Perkasie, PA

Phyllis Kusel - last known address was in Abington, PA

William Leas - last known address was in Telford, PA

Ken Kot

Kathy Kropp - last known address was in Hatboro, PA

Ron Lovenstein - last known address was in Philadelphia, PA

Bill Meckes - last known address was in Hartsville, OH

George Miller

James Myers

Daniel Peck

Mary Riccio

John Rickards

Jack Seltzer - DECEASED

Sally Smith - last known address was in Schrewsbury, PA

Wednesday, October 31, 2018

What a great weekend!

We started the fun with the Friday night football game. We all sat together behind our Class of 63 Forever banner. It was homecoming so the stands were full. The night was pretty cold, and those bleacher seats were a mite chilly. I think we all left around halftime. UM was leading at the half, but eventually lost the game.

We all headed to the Willow to continue the night. We had our own little room to enjoy some food and adult beverages. Jimmy and I left around 10, but there was still a good group going strong after that.

Saturday - Reunion time!

The committee members gathered at the VE Club around 4 to put up some decorations and get ready for the fun. We had the new banner, the BIG picture from the Washington trip, and the signed banner from the 50th reunion hanging on the wall. Some beautiful flower and plant arrangements sat on each table. Nametags and address books were on a reception table. The books, put together by John and Tina, were a huge hit, including a lot more than just names and addresses. Great work, you two!

Festivities began at 5. Our DJ arrived early and started playing oldies as soon as people started arriving. Hot appetizers were passed and cold appetizers were out to enjoy. Carolyn, our photographer (and Nancy's daughter), started taking pictures. She even brought along some props that we could use.

People were mingling and catching up on what had been happening during the last 5 years, enjoying the fun atmosphere. Nancy gave a welcoming speech and introduced Tom Hassler to lead the singing of the Alma Mater and offer a prayer before dinner was served.

The food was served at a buffet table. Hot roast beef sandwiches, penne pasta, potato salad, tossed salad, pickles, chips and pretzels, and even special servings for those who are gluten intolerant. Everything looked and tasted great.

Meanwhile, Carolyn (among others) was still taking pictures and the fantastic 50's and 60's music continued. Eventually the dance floor filled up as we showed that we still have all the moves - maybe just a little slower than before. Maybe it's just me, but I don't remember all those fast songs being so long!

Cake and coffee were served, and the music played on. The centerpieces were raffled off with our DJ Ron calling the numbers. He even sang for us - sounded just like Elvis.

Around 9, the music ended with Goodnight Sweetheart, and the room began to empty. Tables were cleared and decorations were taken down. The fantastic 55th reunion had come to an end.

But not completely. Early on Sunday morning, a small group met at Otto's for a post-reunion breakfast. We spent an hour or so rehashing the night before and making plans to all meet again next year (or sooner) for #56.

We have a great class and will continue to get together as often as possible. There are too many great friendships renewed through these reunions not to continue.

I will be posting pictures shortly. I would like everyone who took pictures to send them to me so I can post them. Carolyn will be putting her pictures on a disc for me to post. If anyone wants a copy of one of her pictures, I can provide it from that disc.

Special thanks to all who helped make this such a successful event!

So keep checking back here - I'm sure there will be lots to see!

Reunion Weekend Starts with a Football Game

We started the festivities on Friday night, October 19, with a visit to the Upper Moreland-Cheltenham football game at the high school stadium. A new Astroturf surface was installed recently and many of us hadn't had the opportunity to see how nice it looks.

We met in the parking lot before the game to say hi to old friends. Nora Rosenbaum, who handles the Alumni Association at the high school, was generous enough to get us free admission to the game and have our class announced.

It was Homecoming - how appropriate for us! It was also Pink Out to raise awareness for breast cancer, so there was probably more pink than purple and gold attire. We sat together behind our new banner to cheer on the team. Most of us left at halftime - it was downright chilly! - with UM leading. However, Cheltenham came back in the second half and won the game.

Some pictures of the great Class of 1963!

Our new banner says it all!

Proof that we were really there for a game!

That's Tina Hollingsworth looking over toward Jeff Hassinger and his wife Betty, with Sue Ritchie in front.

John McDonald and Tina discussing the game with Sue.

Bonnie Mills and her man Tom Goodnow sitting next to Ruth Mohr and Chip Potter, Carole Lehman's husband. Tom comes to all our events - we've made him an honorary alumni. And there's Jimmy McGhee looking over Chip's right shoulder.

John, Tina, Betty, Jeff, Sue, and Ray Roberts in the back.

Jimmy, me, Tony Pileggi and Sam Paone.

The always smiling Harvey and Jean Gordon - Jean's another honorary alumni.

Judy VonGerichten and Ruth - Judy came up from North Carolina and stopped in Virginia for Ruth.

Jeff and Betty. Jeff was in our class through, I think, 11th grade. He liked UM so much he decided to stay another year and graduate in 1964.

Chip, Carole Lehman, Karen West, Sandy Granato and Donna Dreisbach.

The never-aging Tony and Sam.

Ray looking pensive.

A selfie of me and Jimmy

The Bear, The Banner, and The Balloons

Some new pictures from Friday night just came in from Judy VonGerichten.

At the new BEAR statue at the football stadium

Ray Roberts, Tony Pileggi, Bonnie Mills, Ruth Mohr, Chip Potter, Sandy Granato, Carole Lehman, Tom Goodnow - and the Bear hiding behind

Now you can see the bear a little! Sam Paone, John McDonald, Jeff Hassinger, Sally Eynon, me, Karen West, Donna Dreisbach, Jimmy McGhee, Harvey Gordon, Jean Gordon, and Tina Hollingsworth holding up her end of the banner.

John and Tina, the bear, and the banner.

Sandy, Donna, Sally, and a good look at the bear.

And the BANNER being hung in the stadium

And here are the BALLOONS!

And Then, Of Course, a Trip to the Willow

After the game - or half of it - we headed to the Willow. This favorite watering hole has always been good to us. We took over the back room for a couple of hours.

Tina, Betty and Jeff. Sam and John discussing real estate in the rear.

Harvey and Jean - still smiling

Ray

A motley crew - Donna, Sandy, Karen, Sue, Judy, Chip and Carole

Tony and Sally

Tom, Bonnie and Ruth

Sam and John

Here's Sally again, flanked by handsome men!

Sally and Sam

Now Sam's with Donna

Harvey and Jean - Harvey, why so serious?

Jimmy, me, Bev Rowland, Egil Nilsson, Joan Freeland, John, and at the end of the table, John McGowan, Joan's husband

Jimmy, me and Bev

Sally surrounded again by Tony and Sam

Tony and Joan

Setting the Stage

DATE: October 20, 2018

PLACE: The German Club in Warminster. It has a long German name that I can't pronounce or spell, so I'll just refer to it as the German Club or the VE Club.

THE CAST OF CHARACTERS