We did it!

The official reunion photo! Click to see it larger.

The Class of 1969 50th reunion on Sept. 14-15, 2019, was a huge success. Forty-seven alumni and 18 guests attended for a total of 65 people - an excellent turnout after so many years.

Who came the farthest? Michael Menezes, from Medical Lake, Washington, near Spokane; Darcy Nahigyan Gregory, from Durham, North Carolina; Alice Fernandes, from Pompano Beach, Florida; and Marc Gill, from Parrish, Florida. We're so glad they made the trip.

While the Saturday night reunion party drew the largest crowd, we also had good turnouts for the tour of Old Rochester Regional High and Junior High schools, a visit to Sharon and Woody Hartley's Rochester cranberry bog, and the Sunday brunch at Brew Fish Tavern. In addition, five men played golf at the Reservation Golf Course on Saturday afternoon, courtesy of members John Guilherme and Steve Heath.

A highlight of the Saturday night event was the slide show, created by Chris Perrault Rosperich, of photos submitted by classmates showing highlights of their lives since graduation. Chris has posted the photos as an album on her Flickr account, and you should take a look right now! Many of us stood before the large TV screen and watched the show over and over. Fascinating and heartwarming!

We want to share the reunion fun with all classmates - those of you who attended and those who couldn't make it this time. In the posts below you'll see photos taken by attendees over the weekend. Check back, as we'll add more as we receive them. 

If you attended, feel free to add your reactions and memories of the weekend in the space marked "Add a comment" at the end of each post.

Here's who attended, in first-name order so you can find friends easily:
Alice Fernandes, Anne Hinman Diffily, Betsy Wood Jackson, Catherine Collins, Chris Perrault Rosperich, Chris Sharples Weinberger, Cindy Gibbs, Claudette Millette, Claudia Rousseau Medeiros, Darcy Lonsdale, Darcy Nahigyan Gregory, David Burnett, Dennis Desnoyers, Diane Gifford Perkins, George Fisher, George Hussey, Greenwood Hartley, Janet Phillips Howes, Jean Wing, Joan Stratton, John Guilherme, Kathy Wheeler, Len Gregoire, Linda Bennett Kelsey, Linda Brownell, Louise Lester Bennett, Marc Gill, Michael Menezes, Nancy Hagemann Rheaume, Nancy LaFrance O'Brien, Nancy Prescott Feeney, Norwood Moore, Ray Andrews, Richard DeMello, Ruth White, Sally Gibbs Tomasik, Sandy Arruda Kamins, Sharon Young Hartley, Stephanie Stokes Leguia, Steve Heath, Steve Wainio, Sue Silva Sartini, Sue Letendre Brownell, Sue Livesey, Susan Mouse Hamel

Thank you to Kathy Perrault Guilherme for taking our large group photo, above.

You can go back again - back to high school, that is

At the entrance to ORR Senior High School: Michael Menezes, Joan Stratton, David Burnett, Linda Brownell, Stephanie Stokes Leguia, Sue Silva Sartini (on the mascot!), Norwood Moore, Steve Wainio, Nancy Hagemann Rheaume, and Sharon Young Hartley 

On Saturday at 1 pm, several dozen classmates enjoyed a tour of Old Rochester senior and junior high schools. Our generous guide was Gene Jones, director of facilities. The changes and improvements to our school, and the addition of a junior high, were mind-boggling and impressive! Take a look at some of what we saw.

Here we are gathering outside before the tour. Left to right: Sharon Young Hartley, Jean Wing, Nancy Hagemann Rheaume, Stephanie Stokes Leguia, Anne Hinman Diffily, Sue Silva Sartini, Sue Livesey, David Burnett, Norwood Moore, Joan Stratton, Steve Wainio and Sue Wainio.

Sue, say hi to Sue!

Bulldog Barker co-editor David Burnett greets the barking bulldog.

Jean Wing and Norwood Moore are all smiles.

The cafeteria is huge and filled with light. Michael Menezes checks it out.

Linda Brownell points to our class's Athletic Hall of Fame football star, Steve Heath.

The auditorium looked spiffier. It's the same size as when we were students.

Norwood is still finding his own path!

These colorful ceramic plaques - the work of students - line the halls of the junior high.

The high school library is located where our old cafeteria was. Decor includes student art like this tasty sculpture.

This soothing oasis is located between buildings. 

That wraps up our ORRHS and JHS tour. (Remember, you can leave comments below.)

(Photos courtesy of Chris Perrault Rosperich and Anne Hinman Diffily)

Among the cranberries

Sharon, Woody, Norwood Moore, Jean Wing, Michael Menezes, George Fisher and wife Judy Lochhead 

Big thanks to Sharon and Woody Hartley, who invited classmates to visit their Rochester cranberry bog Saturday afternoon following the tour of ORRHS/JHS. Those who went said it was a "sweet" experience. 

(Photo courtesy of Nancy Hagemann Rheaume)

The main event: Saturday's party was a blast

What a night! We filled the large function room at Mattapoisett's Reservation Golf Club with more than 60 classmates and guests. From the table decor to the memorabilia board to the fabulous slide show to the music (which got many up and dancing), it was the perfect setting for a reunion that rocked.

Janet Phillips Howes (seated) helps Darcy Lonsdale, Nancy LaFrance O'Brien, and 
Darcy Nahigyan Gregory find their name tags.

Classmates mingle (top photo) and pose with the official bulldog banner on loan from the high school. 

(Thanks, Sharon, for arranging that!)

On the far side of the room, a large screen displayed Chris Perrault Rosperich's fantastic slide show of post-1969 photos sent in by classmates both present and absent. It was a huge hit, and we watched it over and over. You can see all the slides at her Flickr page and catch up on on each other's lives. Don't miss it!

Our emcees, Steve Heath and Woody Hartley, captivated classmates (bottom photo) during a brief presentation. 

Classmates danced the night away to oldies - and some recent classics such as "Uptown Funk" (below). Doesn't this look like a great time? 

Funky town! Claudia Rousseau Medeiros and her husband, Cat Collins, and 

Linda Bennett Kelsey busted some moves on the dance floor.

Some of the many great pics taken of classmates at the party:

Four Susans - Sue Letendre Brownell, Sue Silva Sartini, Sue Mouse Hamel, and Sue Livesey

Len Gregoire and Alice Fernandes

                                  Steve Heath, Claudette Millette, Marc Gill (photobombing in back!), 

Claudia Rousseau Medeiros, John Guilherme, and Ray Andrews

Journalism reunion: the co-editors of the Bulldog Barker, David Burnett and Anne Hinman Diffily

Claudette Millette, Cat Collins, Linda Brownell

To view Chris Perrault Rosperich's downloadable photos of 

reunion party fun, visit her Flickr album.

Special floral centerpieces with yearbook photos graced each table, below left. Reunion favors included a custom-decorated sugar cookie, reunion-labeled Hershey's kisses, and an inscribed pen.

Classmates contributed memorabilia from our high school years to share at the party (see below). Three 50-year-old graduation mugs made it back, along with theater programs, a diploma in its case, a baseball jersey, football program, graduation photo, and more. Thanks to all who contributed and to Sandy Kamins for assembling the display.

UPDATE: The photos referenced below have mysteriously disappeared from my (Anne's) Google album. I'll restore them ASAP. Diane Gifford Perkins was in perpetual motion, taking selfies with as many classmates as she could corral! You can see her collection of smile-filled photos at this link. 

Nancy Prescott Feeney with Diane Gifford Perkins, the queen of selfies!

The evening ended on a sweet note with a beautiful red velvet cake donated by the Artisan Bake Shop in Rochester, Mass. Please consider showing your gratitude by ordering your next party cake from Artisan: 508-763-4905 

We had a quiet, somber moment remembering classmates who have passed away since we graduated. See the next post for a list.

September 14, 2019, was a wonderful, heartwarming night of reconnection and laughter all around. Hope to see everyone at the 55th!

Remembering those who have passed away

A display at the reunion party featured a hibiscus tree, donated by Nancy Feeney Prescott, hung with tags she created representing our deceased classmates. The tree will be given to ORRHS in the name of the Class of 1969, and planted on the school grounds as a living memorial.

Those for whom we have obituary information:

Donald J. Ben David, 54
Died July 15, 2006. At the time of his death, he resided in Jersey City, NJ.

Kenneth R. Cacilhas, 66
Died Oct. 13, 2017, after a sudden illness. He resided in Dartmouth and lived most of his life in Mattapoisett. "Shank" worked for Kyler's Seafood and Roadway Express as a driver and mechanic. He is survived by his ex-wife, a son and a daughter, and two grandsons.

Sharon Cobb Verville, 57
Died May 19, 2009, after a long illness. She resided in Mattapoisett and was employed as a licensed practical nurse. Survivors include her husband, three sons, and three grandchildren.

Janice Crabtree Arnold, 66
Died July 24, 2017. She resided in Glennville, Ga., and formerly worked for the Department of Corrections and for the Department of Children and Family Services. She is survived by her husband, two children, and three grandchildren.

Peter A. Cusick, 68
Died July 8, 2018, at home in Dartmouth, Mass., unexpectedly. A U.S. Army veteran, he worked as a chemical processor for the Polaroid Corp. in New Bedford. Survivors included his daughter and two grandchilren. He was predeceased by a second daughter.

Eric Dickerson, 17
Died Dec. 1968. Eric courageously lived with cystic fibrosis and died just before Christmas in our senior year at ORRHS. We remember him as always smiling in spite of his debilitating illness.

Daniel Hunter, 60
Died Feb. 24, 2012. He was a resident of Worcester, Mass.

Bonita Maccarone Senna, 24
Died Dec. 30, 1975. A Rochester resident, she left her husband, Raymond.

Louis J. Marcosa, 28
Died Nov. 13, 1979, in Tacoma, Washington.

David Morgan, 48
David and his wife both died on Apr. 14, 1999, and are buried in Mattapoisett.

Robert W. Phillips, 36
Died Nov. 15, 1987.

Samuel Roderick, 41
Died Sept. 11, 1992, in New Bedford.

Beth Roylance Szeto, 60
Died July 18, 2012. She lived in Mattapoisett all her life. 

John "Mickey" Silva, 67
Died Dec. 13, 2018, in a motor vehicle accident. A Fairhaven resident, he owned and operating Silva Trucking. He was a Vietnam veteran of the U.S. Navy. He is survived by his wife, four children, and a granddaughter.

Stephen Spark, 62
Died Sept. 2, 2013, in Seattle, Wash.

Virginia "Ginna" Todd Mello, 50
Died Apr. 25, 2002, after a long illness. She lived in Mattapoisett most of her life and was an active supporter of ORRHS sports. Survivors include her husband and a son.

Raymond Tuttle, 58
Died Oct. 11, 2009. A Wareham resident at the time of his death, he had been a lead technician for the Polaroid Corp. in New Bedford. After high school, he played football for the Middleboro Cobras. Survivors include his wife and two daughters.


Thank you to Stephanie Stokes Leguia for her tireless work researching the obituaries.
NOTE:
If you know of other classmates who have passed away, or have additional information about those listed above, please use the "Questions/Message" window at right to inform us so we can update this list.

The morning after: Brunch!

Twenty-six classmates and guests - not ready yet to say farewell - had brunch at Marion's excellent Brew Fish Bar and Eatery on Sunday morning, September 15. (Take a look at the menu! Yum)

The brunch was a perfect ending to a weekend of reuniting with old friends, reminiscing about high school days (and earlier), and resolving to meet again before another fifty years go by! Thank you to all who came back.

Claudette's reunion poem

Claudette Millette likes to write poetry, and she composed this poem in honor of our high school graduation year. Thank you, Claudette!

    

1969 - that was a year.
Nixon walked into the White House.
Armstrong and Aldrin took a walk on the moon.

Woodstock delivered peace, love, and sex,
While Manson brought his mania and all of the rest.
The Beatles called it quits and performed on a roof.

As Vietnam raged, we wrapped ourselves in what was to come.
We were given Easy Rider, Midnight Cowboy, and a bit of True Grit.
When the Who released Tommy, that gave comfort to some.

John and Yoko were blissfully wed,
And to promote world peace
They took to their bed.

For $3,000 you could be a new auto,
Put gas in it at a 35-cent cost.
And even at that you still got your windshield washed.

In this year Bryan Adams got his first real six-string.
The Stones had a bloody concert at Altamont.
Jay-Z, Ice Cube, and Gwen Stefani were all born to sing.

But of all the events that made us frown and smile
There was one occasion that rose to the best -
The graduation of the class of ORRHS.

Claudette Millette