Thanking all of you for your work to actualize and enhance our 55th! Your efforts were so many and were instrumental in making the 55th so much fun that therefore I look forward to the 60th.  Looking that far forward is an achievement by me. If I do not make it, please tell the class that I have enjoyed each and every one of them (as Kathy Shea said about herself).  And that they all have remained a part of me for my entire life.  I internalized important principals and even tiny ideosyncrases from them all.  My memory was like an elephant's; I lifelong have remembered every little experience from WHS years. Not aware of how long Eagles remember, lol. 

A Big High Five to Planning and Working Committee for a Soaring 60^th Class Reunion.  Starting in late February, the committee Zoomed together weekly.  Our first task was setting the date and venue for the reunion.  We decided on  an afternoon  gathering after a Mass of Remembrance for our deceased classmates.  Pat and Joe Thomas obtained  our class roster from the alumni office and  we divided up the 8 pages to investigate for correct addresses, phone numbers, email addresses.  Gloria  Morlani Fenton. Phyllis Cautela Dennis, Pat and Joe Thomas, Jane and Greg Kearns, Mary Polis King, Sharon CaulKins Meyer were great networkers and detectives in  compiling an accurate  and updated Class of 1963 roster.  John Dimond was recruited to be our “poster boy.” He led a pep rally at Watterson on April 6^th and Liz O’Dorisio (daughter of Pat and Joe Thomas) did a video of the  Go! Go! Go!***Fight! Fight! Fight!***Win! Win! Win! Event. Georgeanne Diedalis Reuter created and  printed the crackerjack “Save the Date” cards.  Phyllis sent them out by email to classmates with email addresses and Jane Kearns addressed and sent snail mail cards to alumni without email addresses.  Phyllis, the communicator cum laude, followed up with reminder emails throughout the spring.  Mary King checked out our options for caterers and menu and presented to committee for final decision.  Mary also contacted Monsignor John Cody to be the celebrant for the Mass of Remembrance, Barb Smith Betts for readings, Patty Cornelius Rowe for cantor, and Norma Douridas Egelhoff and Sharon Caulkins Meyer as Eucharistic Ministers. Meanwhile, Rita Iannorino Ficheria was planning and purchasing table decorations and favors. With assistance from insert photos online, Francie Kelley Schmitt designed the final snail mail invitation and printed from her home printer.  Jane and Greg Kearns hosted a envelope stuffing and stamping party on June 22^nd and Gloria Fenton, Sharon and Mike Meyer were hands-on at the event.  The invites were in the mail by June 23^rd.  A week before the reunion, I arranged for a lesson at Arthur Murray to refresh our dance moves. Pat and Joe Thomas and I were prepared to "Stroll."   I want to acknowledge what a great help Liz O’Dorisio was in tutorials on the audio-visual tech stuff in Dominican Hall.  Phyllis was able to show all the videos from the 50^th Class reunion, thanks to her assistance.  Liz also took photos during the event and presented an inpromtu, inspiring, vocal with 3 theater students. Thank you Pat and Joe Thomas for having such a talented daughter! The Saturday before the reunion, the decorating committee- Rita Ficheria, Phyllis Dennis, Sharon Meyer, Pat and Joe Thomas did their magic in creating a sentimental and lovely walk down memory lane.  Kudos to the post event Cleaning Committee.  I was sooooo exhausted in the late afternoon cleanup, collecting the soiled tablecloths for washing, when Pat and Joe Thomas volunteered to take all the tablecloths to the Laundermat. Sigh! Sigh!

I have posted photos of the hugs and good times of the 8/13/23 60th Class Reunion on the Class Creator Website.  These photos were taken by photographer Jeff Soui, class of 1968, for the price of a delicious brunch.  To join Class Creator follow these steps: 

Go to https://www.classcreator.com/Columbus-Ohio-Bishop-Watterson-1963/ and choose the Join Here link.

Bishop Watterson High School Class of 1963.   Home page Join Here 

There is no fee and our website only allows only our classmates to join.  You can create your profile and tell friends about your family, interests. travel, volunteering, career and sports.  The friendships, love and connections of The BWHS Class of 1963 are a blessing.  Happy 2024, Francie Kelley Schmitt