The story of 5 PHS Reunions

Back in 1998 when it became obvious that the class of 1969 was not organizing a reunion for our 30th, I was out to dinner with Kathi and the girls one evening. Our class only had one in 1979 and I wanted to have another one. I asked Kathi if she would help me plan a reunion. She said she would. It took months, but I searched high and low online to find people just working from my yearbook. The yearbook did not give me married names so it was hard especially if people moved and lost contact with those who stayed in the area. I thought about how much fun the reunions were for the class of 1968 when I went with Ron and discussed with Kathi having them join us. Then we decided to add the classes of 1967 and 1970 and we knew we wanted our Ladycliff friends there, too. I started this website to find people and keep track of everyone. That is how it all began.

I don't remember much of the planning process for our first reunion, but we pulled it together. We had no money to start so Kathi and I paid the deposits. People were very much interested and started sending in money. Crystal Bay was still operational at that time so I posted on the website that we were going to go there the night before and hoped that some people would come. We were floored when over 100 people showed up and everyone was in a partying mood. Many people made reservations in Fishkill where we held our reunion and the next day when we arrived to decorate, many people showed up and helped us. The reunion was fantastic. We amazed ourselves.

We tried again a few years later, but we lost our money because between our reunion in 1999 and the All Classes. Year 2000 Reunion at the armory, everyone seemed tired. So we waited until 2010 to do another reunion. Since we had lost our money, we decided to ask people for a non refundable $20.00 deposit so we could make deposits. For most people, losing $20.00 wasn't a big deal so we all shared in that possibility and never did I hear any complaints about it. We got in the habit of selling arm lengths of raffle tickets and giving away as prizes half the money and holding onto the other half for a future reunion.

After our success with the 2010 reunion, we decided on another one in 2014 celebrating the 45th year since the class of 1969 graduated. To our delight, we pulled it off again. With each reunion including the one last week, we always managed to get a couple of people attending for the first time as word of mouth made people want to come. From the first reunion we did, the class of 1970 always treated each reunion like their own for which I was thrilled. We provided the opportunity and they had a blast.

In 2018, we decided on doing one final reunion. Since Spencer Burnette had come to the one in 2014, he had retired as a Lt. Colonel in the US Army and he and I became good friends. I called him and told him that we wanted to do something we had never done before and that was to honor our classmates and guests who served our country. I asked Spencer to say a prayer and read something about the selflessness of serving. He agreed and it was one of the most memorable and I think appreciated things we ever did at our reunions. Everyone seemed genuinely touched. It also was the 50th reunion of the class of 1968. And don't forget our skit with Kerry Wohlstein, Sharon Skinner, Shirley Ducady, Jill Varricchio and Kathy Panzanaro and our star actor, Kevin Cothren in his itsy bitsy, teenie weenie, yellow polka dot bikini! It was just so much fun. We also decided to ask artists from each class to donate something as prizes. We have some very talented people...Giuliano Sista from '67, Ray Blue and Aaron Hurwitz from '68, Ruth Abbott Clark and Lorraine Hart from 1969, Ellen Lamb Buck from 1970 and a quilt with Red Devils from Nancy Finch Lynam and red devil earrings from Deb Carlin Polhill. We wanted the prizes to be meaningful. Richie Zorn came to his first reunion with us that year and told me if I ever wanted his work, just ask so I did and you all received a wonderful print of The Bandstand in Depew Park. Again, something so recognizable and meaningful.

So once the pandemic started to lift and it became clear that the class of 1970 was not going to try again, I got the itch to do it once more. Kathi was a hard sell so I would try calling places but would get no response and I'd give up. Quite some time would pass and I would start looking again. Finally I started getting some return calls but the prices were just way out of our budget. I made one more call to Cortlandt Colonial and was told they don't do reunions. I told them we do multiple classes and that we were always successful so they said yes. Now I had to call Kathi and talk her into it. Like I said, she was a hard sell but I persuaded her. Everyone seemed completely onboard so we moved forward.

As I explained last Sunday night, 4 months into the planning I received an email asking me to call this person. I called and almost fell off my chair as they wanted our final reunion to be a first class party and wanted to send me a huge check. I could not tell anyone who our donor was, we had to have steak and lobster and any leftover funds would be donated to the Science Department at PHS. My first call was to Kathi and she thought it was a hoax mainly because ai wouldn't even tell her who the donor was. Within a couple of days, the check arrived and I assured her I had the money and who our donor is and everything changed. The looks on your faces when I told you all last Sunday night of this tremendous gift to us was so worth the incredible hard work it was to pull off this reunion. I got dejected when people pulled out and took it to heart every time someone died or got sick. Just 3 weeks before we were to leave for NY, Ron got Covid and 5 days later I got it. I wasn't even sure at that point if I would be able to attend but after 5 days I was negative and tested for the next 4 days to be sure I stayed that way.

It was pure pleasure for both Kathi and I to be able to pull this off one last time. Other than the planning and choosing the menu and favors, we had no real plans for the reunion which was probably a good thing because it made me finally realize the true success of the reunions.
 

It really is quite simple, but I never put it together until last week. It says in the Bible that when 2 or more gather in His name, there is love. When our friends come together, the love and energy in that room takes on a life of its own  breathing life into our parties. So you see, it really is a joint collaboration of all of us together that has made us all a success.

It has been our esteem pleasure to work together all these years on behalf of all of you including ourselves.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, Betsy & Kathi

 

 

 

As you know, the PHS Class of 1969 is once again holding another multi-class reunion on Sunday, October 6, 2024 at the Cortlandt Colonial Restaurant. If you are receiving this, it is because you are a member of the PHS class of 1967, 1968, 1969 or 1970 or you have attended other reunions we held. This reunion is one final huge party celebrating our deep roots and connections. I sincerely hope you will attend and send in your deposit to hold a seat for both yourself and your spouse or date. Thanks and looking forward to seeing you next year. The theme of this party is an Old Fashion Autumn Barn Dance. Dress is casual. Some women are wearing bohemian style dresses, others are wearing jeans. We are all about being comfortable so how you dress is up to you.


PHS Multi-Class Autumn Reunion
Sunday, 10/06/2024 at Cortlandt Colonial Restaurant 

Check In: 6:00pm to 6:30pm
Cocktail Hour: 6:30pm to 7:30pm

Dinner/Dance: 7:30pm to 11:30pm

                                                 
Cost is $75.00 per person

We now have less tha 20 seats left as of today, April 14, 2024 so please get your money in ASAP.  You can send in a deposit but it will be a lot easier on me you you pay in full at this time. Please don't miss out. Once we reach our limit, there will be nothing I can do to get you in so please mail your money in to me soon.

Name:_________________________________

Guest:_________________________________

$25.00 Non refundable Deposit per person

$25.00 x #__________ = $____________

Balance Due by August 15, 2024 = $____________


Make checks payable to Betsy Rodino and mail to me at 748 Lake Artesia Lane, Fuquay Varina, NC 27526

 

 

 

Attention all who attend the PHS Multi-Class Reunions from 1967, 1968, 1969 and 1970 plus Ladycliff friends who have attended previously, the date of the reunion is Sunday, October 6, 2024 at Cortlandt Colonial Restaurant by the rockcut in Peekskill. Watch for an announcement with all of the particulars on the www.classcreator.com/Peekskill-NY-1969 website by July 10th. Let’s make this our best one ever! Our theme will be an “Old Fashion Autumn Barn Dance” and you can dress casually. Wear jeans, boots and plaid shirts if you like. At our age, we are all about comfort. The announcement will be asking for non-refundable deposits per person to reserve your seat. We expect to sell out so please be prompt in getting those deposits in. We need them in order to make our deposits to our vendors. Please share this to your friends who are members of the 4 PHS classes. And please have them sign onto our website for current information and updates. Thanks everyone. Can’t wait to see you all.