55th Class Reunion

First Update - May 12, 2023!

Hi Classmates:

Dave Bishop, Donna Rathgeber, Taffy Corrigan and myself have met several times to discuss the plans for our reunion. So far, we have a nice crowd coming and hopefully there will be more classmates to add to the list below. Please read over the below email carefully and make any suggestions you feel might be helpful.

We have received 51 RSVP's and money from the following classmates:

  • Donald Atwell and Ruth       
  • Lester Bernard and Kathy  
  • Dave Bishop and Diana
  • Marcela Chu Webber and Glen
  • Alfred Creque
  • Valerie DePiper Boughner and Jim
  • John Disharoon and Lori
  • Rae Donaldson
  • Ellen Ermish Lane and Mac
  • Becky Fall
  • Pat Fallon and Lisa
  • Ron Farnsworth and Nancy
  • Wayne Folger and Jane
  • Lee Harwell Grant and Jim         
  • Katheen Johnston Cagle
  • Janet Hunt Watkins and Norm
  • Taffy Koepke Corrigan and Sherri
  • Susanna Kotalik Morse and
  • Gerald "Barrell" Martin
  • Debra McCall
  • Sam McGuiness
  • Chris Mitten Fettler and John
  • Linda Patton Basham and Mike
  • Donna Rathgeber Crump
  • Larry Sellens
  • Patty Siravo Smith
  • Steve Smiley and Doris
  • Terri Smith Flynn
  • Fran Stabler Meyer and Ron
  • Richard Wainio
  • Barbara Wesley Taylor
  • Darleen Woodruff Hunt and Joe

We have heard the following classmates are coming, but have not received a guaranteed RSVP or money yet:

  • Wayne Albritton and Johna
  • Jim Borell and Jody
  • Barry Douglas and Cathy
  • Kurt Muse and Ann

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We are still receiving some kick-back from the Society and Shingle Creek regarding bringing in drinks and food. We have some left over money from our last reunion, so feel confident that paying the hotel to cater a few items may be the appropriate thing to do to stay on their good side. Being discreet with any liquor or ceviche and empanadas we bring to the suite will be the key - DISCREET! We plan on buying some wine from the Market at the Hotel to compensate for being charged corkage fees. Another way of helping us be discreet is for those classmates that live in Florida or are driving from another state to please bring your favorite wine or liquor in a covered bag to the suite after you arrive.  This will help us stock the bar without paying corkage fees on every bottle we bring in.

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Below is the room itinerary the committee thought would work well in conjunction with the other activities the Society has planned, i.e. Society Meeting and Luncheon.

THURSDAY - July 6th

4:00  Decorate Room

5:00  Happy Hour

5:00-7:00   Sign-Up*

7:00-9:00   Sign-Up*

9:00-11:00 Sign-Up*

11:00-??    On your own with 1 person responsible for locking up.

FRIDAY - July 7th

11:00          Room Opens

11:00-3:00  Sign-Up*

3:00-5:00    Sign-Up*

5:00-7:00    Happy Hour / Pizza at 6:00

7:00-9:00    Sign-Up     If you do not want to attend the Friday night dance and would rather stay in the hospitality suite, that will be permitted.

9:00-11:00  Sign-Up

11:00-??     Come back after dance. Party. Clean-up. Last person out, please lock up.

SATURDAY - July 8th

2:00            Room Opens

2:00-4:00    Sign-Up*

4:00-6:00    Sign-Up and Happy Hour / Food*

7:00-9:00    Sign-Up*

9:00-11:00  Sign-Up*      If you do not want to attend the Saturday night dance and would rather stay in the hospitality suite, that will be permitted.

11:00-??     Come back after dance. Party. Clean up. Last person out, please lock up.

SUNDAY - July 9th

8:00-9:00    Final Clean-UP                  If you don't have to check-out early, please help us do the final clean-up in the hospitality suite.

TO SIGN-UP FOR ANY OF THESE TIMES, PLEASE EMAIL TAFFY CORRIGAN AT taffy_corrigan@yahoo.com

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PICTURES:

Pictures are scheduled for Friday, July 7th at 6:00 PM during our Happy Hour. They will be candid pictures only (no group photo can be taken in the room). If you think we need a group photo taken, it must be down at the stairs near escalator. It might be fun to have smaller group candid pictures to buy. If you feel strongly about a group photo, let us know.

See you soon,

Darleen Woodruff Hunt

Dave Bishop

Donna Rathegeber 

Taffy Koepke Corrigan

PS:  If we haven't answered all your questions, please let us know.

Happy New Year to you all. We are excited to announce our plans for a 55th Class Reunion. Below please find our announcement that will appear in the Canal Record in March 2023. We understand that most of you do not get the record, so we will provide the information here.

BALBOA HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1968!

We will be celebrating our Balboa High School 55th Class Reunion at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando, July 5-9th, 2023.

Our new Reunion Committee will be:

DARLEEN (Woodruff) HUNT

DONNA (Rathgeber) CRUMP

DAVE BISHOP

We have booked a 3-Bay Hospitality Suite beginning on Thursday, July 6th through Sunday, July 9th. A committee is putting together a schedule outlining when the suite will be open and closed during those days. Of course, we will need volunteers to help man the suite. There are, however, very specific rules to follow when a suite can be open. In subsequent emails we will let you all know more details.

This year the Hotel has strict rules for bringing in food and beverages that we will need to be aware of and follow as closely as we can. Everyday, snacks and beverages will be provided for those that have registered to attend. The cost for attending our suite will be $50 per person and $80 a couple. This will help offset costs for the suite, snacks and beverages. We are not planning a dance/dinner; just a really big room for us to “catch up”. It’s very important for you to let us know early if you plan to attend our festivities.  Please make your check payable to Donna or Darleen and mail to:

Donna Crump at 3021 Countryside Blvd, 21-A, Clearwater, FL 33761 or

Darleen Hunt at 918 Woodgate Dr., Palm Harbor, FL  34685

You must be a member of the Panama Canal Society (PCS) to reserve a room at Shingle Creek. The cost to become a member is $50.  The web address is www.pancanalsociety.org

If you are not a member, click on Membership first and sign up.  If you are already a member, click on Reunion and you will find all the information for this year’s PCS reunion.

You will see that tons of events are scheduled, i.e. dances, luncheon, golf.

Please contact us with any questions, Darleen, Donna and/or Dave by clicking on their name and messaging them through "Classmate Profiles" on the class website.

It’s hard to believe we have been out of high school for 55 years! What is even more amazing, is that after all these years, we are able to reconnect as if it was yesterday.

Love you all and see you soon.