Bethpage-Tribune_2010-10-15

              Volum? 48 Number 37 329 Broadway.,'Bcthpage, NY 11714 ' October 15-21, 2010 (516)681-0440 ext. 21 ' FAX (516)681-9354 EmaU: Nu22u@aol,coni 50 CcntS 3HS Class of 1960 Holds Fiftieth Year Reunion
The Bcthpage High School class
of 1960, held its fiftieth year reunion
this past Saturday evening, October
9, at the Hilton Inn on Route 110,
Huntington. Although not theoreti-cally
part of the baby-boomer gener-ation
(having been born before 1945)
the class is often associated with that
era and was the first to be graduated
from the Cherry Avenue facility.
Heading the reunion committee was
Gerry Flynn, who was ably assisted
by classmates Mike and Betty Croan,
Betty Ann Marangiello, Joe
Minnicozzi, Doris Ramsay, Grace
Spinato and Dianne Golubinski.
Mr. Flynn and the committee
members worked tirelessly in an
effort to contact as many of the 187
members of the graduating class as
possible. In addition to the commu-nications
effort, members of the
committee accepted the unenviable
responsibility for the collection and
dispersing of funds necessary for
rental of the ballroom, dinner and
entertainment costs and all other
ancillary expenses.
Forty-four members of the gradu-ating
class were in attendance on
Saturday evening. Accompanying
spouses and guests brought the total
number to seventy five people.
Classmates received picture identifi-cation
badges of themselves scanned
from the class yearbook upon enter-ing
the reception area. One can only
imagine the looks of surprise exhib-ited
when comparisons were made
between "then and now!" Also dis-tributed
were compendiums contain-ing
classmates' pertinent information
such as current residence and e-mail
listings and valid telephone numbers.
Prior to assembling at the Hilton,
a tour of the Cherry Avenue facility
was held at 11:00 AM. The tour, led
by Superintendent TeiTence Clark
enabled the alumni to see what
changes have been made to the
building and how the impact of tech-nology
has changed the processes of
education. Graduates marveled at
the interactive electronic "chalk"
boards, the new media center and all
the modifications made to the audi-torium
and athletic field. Alumni
were shown the memorial brick
walkway that leads from the edifice
to the athletic field and were
informed the reunion committee has
purchased a brick commemorating
the fiftieth year graduation anniver-sary
of class of 1960.
Those in attendance were treated
to a well-planned program that hon-ored
the class itself and the presence
of Mr. Vincent DeJoy, former guid-ance
counselor, added to the dignity
of the gathering. Entertainment was
provided by The Funtastics, a DJ
group who performed throughout the
evening. A group photo of the class-mates
was taken by a professional
photographer. The cocktail hour
was then followed by a delicious full
sit-down dinner, heralded by formal
printed menus.
Class member Father Anthony
Trapani, led the group in the intro-duction
and invocation. Prior to the
dessert, which consisted of Carmel
Apple Tart and Graduation Cake,
Father Trapani spoke about what the
importance of our education and
how it has led us to where we are in
life today and the influence the town
itself had on our lives. A moving
memorial recognition for our twenty
deceased classmates was then held
with each of the names being read
aloud and the closing benediction
then given.
Sunday morning saw many of us
continuing to renew old friendships
and establish new ones at the 10:00
AM breakfast at the Hilton. The
"groaning board" consisted of a full
hot buffet with scrambled eggs,
many different types of breakfast
meats, pancakes, French toast, rolls,
bagels, muffins and assorted juices
and potables. It was observed that
anytime three or more classmates
congregated anywhere in the room,
the group was met by a flurry of
digital camera flashes and "me
too's." The general consensus was
one of total exhilaration and the
expression of a quiet sadness with
the realization that the weekend's
festivities were about to come to an
end. Even though the formal festivi-ties
came to an end at noon, class-mates
continued to converse in the
lobby prior to saying their final
good-byes a half hour later. A
reunion committee has express its
desire to hold the next get-together
in five years, even if that venue be at
some assisted living facility on the
Island!
Classmates interested in obtain-ing
a copy of the class picture or the
compendium of addresses should
contact Dianne Golubinski Raphael
(dianner62@yahoo.com), Betty Ann
Marangiello (prayzhim(^yahoo.com)
or Mike and Betty Lou Croan
(mbc@optonline.net). Classmates
are also requested to keep the record
of their addresses current by contact-ing
one of the above reunion com-mittee
members whenever a change
to their residence or e-mail address
occurs.
Norman J. Cooperman, RE.
Class of I960
Bethpage High School