The message forum is for sharing your post-reunion thoughts.  Share your thanks, your feelings, your suggestions for next time, whatever...    There are no items, topics, subtopics, etc.  Just  Click the "Post Response" button to add your entry to the forum.

Mark Battersby

I had a completely wonderful time.  Everyone was so loving and open. How much we have all mellowed.  Thanks so much to all who worked so hard to make it happened and special thanks to Art Hahn for getting and keeping the ball rolling.

Jim Sanders

I share your thoughts completely, Mark.  It was a very well organized event and indeed a pleasure to see everyone again.  I wish there was a bit more time to see everyone there.  Cheers to all. :0)

Pam Swallow (Swallow)

I loved every moment of the reunion, and was sorry to see it end. The atmosphere was warm, loving, and appreciative. Such wonderful and enthusiastic hugs were exchanged!  And oh those dance moves!  It was a gift to have the opportunity to spend three days together. I hope we can have another gathering in a few years. 

Love and best wishes to each of you.

Pam

Lynne Johannessen (Saunders)

Delightful weekend!  What fun everyone had reconnecting with friends from MANY years ago..

The Steering Committee did a wonderful job organizing this reunion, hard work over 2 years, and so many details well done.

Driving home yesterday, Jim and I were reflecting on the weekend - almost seemed like one was transported back in time..driving through/walking in New Canaan with the same people as 50 years ago...

The 3-day reunion was an excellent format, and holding the events in the same hotel where we were staying was very convenient and sensible.  Keeping the website going is hopefully a MUST - a venue to stay in better touch...and thank you  for the class list of names and email addresses.  I know that was a huge undertaking, tracking people down after 23 years!

You need to retain whoever was in charge of weather!! Beautiful New England fall weekend!

We thoroughly enjoyed the whole weekend, and I hope we can do this again in some fashion, perhaps in conjunction with one of the Class of '62 reunions!

Many thanks again, Lynne

Rick Ackerly (Rick Ackerly)

Reconnecting with so many people, some of whom I had not seen for 60 (sixtry!) years, and meeting so many new people, was so important to me. Sharing stories of old times, hearing about the development of careers and the trajectory of lives and hearing all about children and grandchild was so much fun and, well, educational.

Thanks to all of you for the carefully organized and choriographed (sp?) series of events, and to everyone else for just showing up. Let's do it again next year!

Nancy Hutchinson (Erdmann)

Bob Hughes

When Art Hahn tracked me down about a year ago to reconnect, I was disbelieving at first.  How did he manage to find me, and obviously so many other members of the class?  I had never expected to see so many old friends, and to relive those great early 60's years.  The weekend was exactly right, and the work and organization of everyone who planned this was amazing.  Great job and well done to everyone involved.  Special thanks to Lee Coombs Benjamin for her work in gathering, scanning, and organizing the photos, name tags, and scrapbooks.  Fifty years is a long time between visits, but now we all have the chance to keep up these renewed connections and stay in touch until the next reunion.

John Hauschild

I think the previous comments were right on!  The hotel was a great value and great location.  I took Diane (my wife) and the Boys to Grand Central Station in the City on Saturday and loved the proximity to the hotel of the train.  May AMTRAK next reunion.

Diane and I had a wonderful time.  It was great seeing old friends and also getting better acquainted with some I had not kept up with or know well due to the normal cliques of high schoolers and the fact I had only four years with you all.  We had attended Diane's 50th two years ago and believe me, our planning committee did a magnificent job.  Thank you to all.  Lee put up with my late submission of photos even in a Colorado flood.

Let's get with the folks who missed the event and get them back next time.  I live in lower Alabama (LA) and will always find time to see you all again when ever.  God willing!

I am willing to help pay to keep up a website and vote for another event in five years (or less).  Hope all of you are back and have great health and happiness in the interim period.

Your friend,

John

Linda Higgons

What a wonderful time!  Thank you so much to the many people who were involved in putting it together. It was so hard to believe that I was talking and laughing with people that I had not seen in 50 years.  Those years just melted away.  It would be great to keep the website going.  And I agree with an earlier comment that one of the best take aways was the list of names and contacts.  Another example of the thoughtful work from the organizing committee.  

Linda Higgons

Donna Rae

"We are creatures of love" - David Byrne

What a rocket ride our classmates put together for us!  Everyone brought their best self.  I am still feeling the afterglow.

Duane Arbuthnot

The entire affair was a wonderful success. Congratulations to all involved in the planning and the negotiations.

There were so many people there that I wanted to spend more time with and just catch up with them. That time just slipped away too quickly. We need to have more time for one on one conversations.

Spent a delightful day in New Canaan with Elaine Eskesen, John Neville and Preston Jones on Saturday. Made a new friend and rekindled two others. Look forward to going to Maine and some sailing with John & Elaine.

We need to be realsitic about how far out our next event will be. Time is not on our side. All of us are in the Club House Turn and not getting any younger. Two years sounds like time to recover and the time needed to have the next one.

Mini reunions are a great idea and regionally desirable. We can look in that direction. Jay Saunders and I have been talking about doing something between Baltimore & Charlotte. All would be welcome except Hauschild.

Put the word out on other mini reunions please. We need to put the word out to those that could not make this one.

Candis please take care of our mutual door prize. Have you worn it as a skirt yet?

You all have a friend in Baltimore. The road to a friend's house never takes long to travel.

Duane 

P.S. Happy Birthday to Gordon Streeter!

Dana Webster

Both Jamie & I had a great time.  

It's a good thing we (or at least our badge pictures) haven't changed a bit.

Fantastic job to all who put it together both live and in cyberspace.  

Dancing was great and the music got better as Saturday evening rolled along. (or was that the scotch sours?)  

And what can top the Fall colors in New Canaan.

Barbara Talmage (Germain)

What a grand time we had!!!!  Thank you to everyone on the steering committee for the outstanding job you did !!!  It takes alot of time to organize such a great event.  The music was great, the food was delicious but most of all reconnecting with classmates after 50 years was wonderful!!!! 

Becky Baumgartner (Brandli)

Kudos to Art and the entire committee for making this such a fantastic weekend!

I was not prepared for the depth of memories of South School and our earliest days together that this weekend brought up.  My mom remembers so many of your names, Margot, Candy, Jay, Carol, Jeff, Marion, and on and on, and says that I have many old pictures in my basement.  I will go on a treasure hunt and have my IT person, also known as grandson Robert, help me pass them on.

Love and hugs to all of you who came and made this weekend so special.

Becky

Kyle Runyon (Upton)

What a wonderful reunion!  Many, many thanks to Art, Larry, Mark, Pam, and everyone else on the steering committee. You all did a wonderful job!  I agree with every comment below, especially how relaxed it was and how easy and fun it was to talk to people. My only regret is that it took Budge and I so long to get there on Friday evening due to traffic problems from Boston and that Gail Overbeck and I could not be there on Saturday evening. (We were totally lost somewhere in Stanford -( long, boring story!) so thank heavens for the game on Saturday and lunch on that beautiful Sunday! Hopefully there will be another opportunity to gather in some way before too long. I am happy to host something in the Boston area, if that works for some of you.

Cheers, cheers,

Kyle

Jay Bouton

JAY BOUTON

  I WISH TO ADD MY THANKS TO THOSE CLASS MEMBERS WHO PUT  SUCH GREAT EFFORT INTO A WONDERFUL EVENT .I TRULY ENJOYED SEEING SO MANY FRIENDS FROM BACK IN THE DAY.I PARTICULARLY ENJOYED THE SHARING OF STORIES AND FOND MEMORIES OF WHAT FOR ME WAS A HAPPY TIME IN MY LIFE. MY THOUGHTS AT THE REUNION  TURNED BACK TO TEACHERS AND COACHES [LIKE  MURPH AND JOE THE BEAR ] WHO HELPED ME IN MY CAREER  AS A TEACHER AND HIGH SCHOOL COACH FOR 36 YEARS [I ALWAYS TRIED TO TAKE THE BEST FROM THE TWO MEN THAT I ADMIRED SO MUCH ] . WE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE TYPE OF PEOPLE WE WERE AROUND IN OUR  GROWING YEARS.

             I DID NOT LOOK OVER THE CLASS LIST WE WERE PROVIDED   UNTIL SUNDAY AT THE PICNIC AND WHAT A PLEASANT SURPRISE FOR ME. SINCE MY WIFE AND I  MOVED  TO BREVARD N.C. IN APRIL FOR THE  SUMMER MONTHS  [WINTER MONTHS IN OCALA FL.] I WAS SOMEWHAT ASTONISHED  TO FIND THAT ON OUR LIST THOUGH NOT ATTENDING WAS BONNIE JOHNS [RASMUSSEN]. IT SEEMS THAT SHE AND I ARE IN THE SAME DEVELOPMENT HERE IN BREVARD N.C..  WE HAVE VISITED AND HAD  A GOOD TIME TALKING ABOUT N.C. AND THE THINGS THAT OCCURRED AT THE REUNION .

     I HOPE THE COMING YEARS  WILL ENABLE ME TO SEE AS MANY OF MY CLASSMATES  AS GOD AND CIRCUMSTANCES INTEND . I WISH GOOD HEALTH AND  GOOD TIDINGS TO YOU ALL

Bruce Kelsey

The reunion was great fun and everyone who worked on it shoud be proud of their efforts as it turned out just great.  I thought the mixers on Friday and Sunday were great for gettting to talk with everyone.  The dinner dance was good, but there was not as much visiting. probably due to everyone having a seat.  Jay Bouton and I went the homecoming football game against Danbury.  That was interesting as New Canaan had a 49 to 0 lead at halftime.  But the old spirit that we had back in the 60's seemed to be missing.  Cheerleaders were almost invisible as was the band.  All the students stood up during the game and seemed to be visiting each other like it was a social event.   Our games were always alot of fun and the old victory caravan after a win was always looked forward too.  I'm sure they don't do that anymore.  As we all know, times change  and nothing is ever the same.  One of the houses I lived in New Cannan had been torn down and was now a vacant lot. for sale.  The driveway was theer as well as the pond.  I went into a real estate office in town to check it out.  Apparently the house my folks totally remodeled in 1964 now detracted from the property value.  The existing 2 acre lot was for sale for $1,500,000.  Unbelievable!    It was great seeing everyone and I wish them the best in the years ahead.

Nancy Dailey (Harris)

Hi To the rest of the class of  63'. The weekend was a fantastic event  ! The planners did a wonderful job in all aspects. We must do it more often.  Perhaps in five years, so we don't forget who we are.  Besides checking out our old town I had a chance to see where I lived ( the people who live there now had not done a great  job , color and landscaping) Went to the breakfast at the highschool and the homecoming football came. The score was the opposite of last year of highschool.   We sure luckedout on the weather. I just have one thing that kind of upset me.  I celebrated my 69th birthday this past Sunday the 17th of Nov. and they did not send an e-mail on or before the famous day. I cannot believe I'm that hold. 

Please take care, Nancy Dailey (Harris)

Claire Watson (Garcia)

Happy Birthday Nancy (Dailey). You aren't that old!!!. Best wishes, Claire

Nancy Shumaker (Post)

It was truly a wonderful event.  So much work went into the organization and it all came off splendidly.  It was great to see past friends and I was most grateful for the name tags!!!  Perhaps a bit larger next time.  Thank you all and I look forward to the next runion.  Let's not wait too long!  Nancy Shumaker Post

Art Hahn

Hi Guys!!  Nan Hahn here (Art's wife).  What a fabulous party!  It was great meeting so many of my hubby's classmates.  Thanks for making me feel welcome!

MY high school class (Hanover Park HIgh School, E. Hanover, NJ class of 1964) is JUST NOW trying to form a steering committee and organizing a 50th.  Watching all that's being said (and offering some ideas so that my class' reunion is as great as yours), it seems not to be anywhere near as good as the one New Canaan classmates put on!!  They're planning it for Oct. 11 (just as yours) but only a dinner - just ONE activity!  Not even a DANCE!!  And at the MOST expensive venue in town!

I tried to offer the idea of holding it at their local Marriott so that prices would be more reasonable and everyone (who wants to) can stay right on site so that classmates could have an easier time of visiting together.  Got shot down on that idea.  Also was shot down on the idea of goodie bags and name tags!  Can you imagine!?

Anyway, I have to tell "ya" that you New Canaanites did a bang-up job and I thank you again for welcoming me and throwing the best "party" I've attended in many a year!!

Paul Marlow Jones

I have not yet received the reunion photos I paid the photographer for at the event. Has anyone else encountered this problem?