What did the 45th reunion hold for Seneca High School’s first
graduating class? Smiles, hugs, handshakes, and friendly
greetings—such as “I remember you!” “Weren’t you in my biology
class?” and “I hoped you’d be here!”
69 alumni and their 33 guests gathered for dinner and conversation
Saturday night at the Audubon Country Club. 42 alumni were local,
while the rest came from out of town. When the festivities started
with a live appearance of Lonesome Polecat (AKA Louis Noel), guests
realized they were in for a fun evening. Polecat triggered the first
of many photos, since the guy with the hatchet was on our side and
willing to pose. We collected our class directories and looked at
the memorabilia and talked and talked.
As the cocktail hour drew to a close, classmates gathered on the
outdoor steps for an official photo. Shortest down front! (Yes,
that’s petite Roslee Simione up there among the tall guys!) Unlike
the 40th reunion, this time we all fit in one shot. We chatted with
our neighbors and waited for the familiar directions to smile—and
most of us did! The results were good and the photo is available for
purchase. Go to website www.senecahigh61.com Click on 45th Reunion
to see pictures.
By then we had all worked up an appetite, so we gladly sat down to a
tasty buffet dinner. Over dinner, dozens of Senecans updated their
memories of classmates from Louisville and across the country. We
met Dr. Mary Greenlee, Seneca’s current principal and member of the
class of 1976! (You’ll see her in the photos wearing a bright blue
jacket.)
Then Sandy Saxton Dryden (senior year class secretary) took the
microphone, welcomed all to Louisville, and began a community
meeting by giving highly coveted door prizes. Mary Harper and Debbie
Delaney had both come the farthest – all the way from California,
and Midge Ostroff has the most great-grandchildren. George Unseld
kept raising his hand (and a big one at that) in answer to every
question—including “Did you get straight A’s.” George serves on the
Metro Council so is used to raising that hand to vote! (Jackie
Richmond, who married George some year’s back, has gotten used to
such antics. This author ran into them recently at a ballet
performance of the Beauty and the Beast.) And Bill Kercher, who is
doing some substitute teaching after having retired, was feeling
extra sharp, so he provided answers without waiting for the
questions. Donna Allen and this writer both wore our class rings
(hey, I didn’t get a prize).
When the gift basket was empty, we were free to mill around, and
that we did. Things discovered along the way—Allan Morris was
preparing for a buying trip at the famous North Carolina furniture
show (Allan owns the Burdorf Center for Home and Office.)
Mary Harper used the reunion opportunity to visit her mother,
brother, and other relatives. She has three children, all scattered,
and is a 401K administrator living about 60 miles east of LA. Mary
appreciated the pictures on the nametags, and the prize session
emceed by Sandy. Nedra Gohagen, now residing in Louisville, is a
guidance counselor. Jerome Lerner was widowed this year. Now he
lives in Cincinnati, and maintains business connections with Haverty
Furniture. He and Steve Goodman are buds. His wife, Linda,
accompanied Steve who is still in business. Midge Ostroff Magnuson’s
husband Harold passed away just a few weeks ago, so reuniting with
friends gave her a boost. She might move to Louisville, but has a
store of antiques in Illinois to deal with first. Her mother Joan
accompanied Midge.
Nick Karem (a runner of marathons) thought the evening was very
pleasant and especially enjoyed talking to Jim Coblin who came with
his wife from North Carolina. Jim is preparing to retire soon. (You
can see Jim pictured in the Arrow along with other student council
representatives.) Bill Dixon, attending with his wife Margaret, said
he enjoyed sitting at a table with his buddies who lived on Sterling
Rd and Hallsdale Road. This included Wally Dutton, Paul Settle, Bill
Wilding, and Tom Reading. (Reading is in Bloomington, Indiana.) “We
rehashed old times and caught up with our current lives. The night
was too short.”
Ellen Smith Charrette said she must have blinked because she missed
Ronnie Ritchey—who was present. She was inspired to reach out by
cell phone to other alumni, such as Charlotte Thurman (who lives in
New Mexico, practically her Arizona neighbor) and Sharon Geer, who
has had a long career at a single hospital.. Skip Clemons was there
as well, looking quite dapper. (Me thinks he missed the official
photo.) Ed Pape enjoys retirement and spends time on his investments
and leisure pursuits. Still running track, Ed? Mary Beth Rose (she’s
on the front row of the official photo) plays lots and lots of golf
now that she is no longer teaching. In one casual photo, she is seen
talking to Don Redden who hails from Wisconsin
Debbie Delaney had both good news and bad—she finished her Master’s
in Fine Arts, but sadly fell victim to Katrina. She had purchased a
home in New Orleans about 4 years ago and it and all her possessions
were destroyed. She is back in California living with her son and
hoping her new degree will open some doors. (Debbie and Roslee look
ready to join Seneca’s current cheerleaders!) Bill Anderson –in from
Atlanta--showed up very late, but had a great excuse. He attended
the wedding of Bruce Kleinstuber’s daughter before making an
appearance. No one questioned Bruce’s priorities!
Also from Atlanta was Pat Finney Singer. Pat retired within the past
year from her journalism career with the World Bank (that put her in
Virginia) and moved further south. (And to think, we knew Pat when
she edited The Sentinel and was in Quill and Scroll.) Barbara Moody
retired from an Indiana school system where she was a speech
pathologist. Now she lives on a Georgia mountaintop! Chris Eadens
and hubby Richard were also here from Georgia. Bruce Day (yes, he
played golf) attended from Alabama, and Beth Armstrong (still with
those sparkling eyes and personality) came from Tennessee. Among
other activities, Beth was in the Beta and Mathematics clubs. Pat
Crowe and her husband traveled to the reunion from North Carolina.
Pat was on the Sentinel Staff and a member of FTA. Sherry Eddleman
(from Arkansas) and Susan Eddleman (Louisville) and husbands double
dated!
Stuart Pearlman will be easy to pick out in the photo—look for the
suspenders. He practices law. Pat Richardson arrived just in time
for the photo shoot. She had been working at the ever-popular St.
James Art Fair, and is retired from teaching and school
administration. Brad Melhorn is easily recognizable in person--look
for the eyes. Brad retired from GE. And be sure to check out Bobby
Watson. You’ll spot bubbly Nancy Gleaves--she helped the committee.
So did Sharelle Lyons, who brought a friend to the dinner. Alison
Finkle also attended with a guest. Charlie Thompson was accompanied
by his wife Peggy—they’re Louivillians.
Alan Loeser, formerly of Sentinel fame, was here from Florida. Other
Floridians included Donna Allen, Bill Dixon, and Paul Settle. It
sounds like Donna has decided to hang up her shears—she has been a
hair stylist. Marilyn Young Bersot was headed from her Prospect home
to Naples, Florida in the upcoming weeks. She is a UK grad and
retired librarian. Laurie Laise also lives in Prospect, and looks
ready to rejoin the Drill Corps. Tom Rabbeth, who manned the
registration desk, came from nearby LaGrange. He is in the insurance
business. From further out in Kentucky were Bonnie Bader, (Ashland),
and beautiful Cathy Miller from Bowling Green. Linda Strong was
happy she talked to almost everyone—she drove in from London.
Elaine Orr Wise (Professor) is at University of Louisville, and
Sydney Schultze, who attended with her husband Tom Buser, recently
retired from there where she taught Russian literature. Also from
Louisville, Judy Bennett and Marsha Crump are both in nursing.
Sheree Embry enjoyed the occasion accompanied by husband, Rusty. Her
e-mail address, “petdocky” alludes to their work in Rusty’s vet
practice. David Fuchs (a runner) and wife Linda, from Louisville,
attended. So did Betty Wiggins and Joe Humphrey—you’ll remember them
as high school sweethearts. (In the official photo, look for a tan,
smiling man in a blue shirt. Pretty Betty is down one row, just to
his left.) Joe Weber, with wife Sue, was seen smiling broadly.
Marlene Smith is retired from teaching and a member of the “sandwich
generation.” The “Class Prophecy” forecast her as a psychologist,
which in a sense is true, since she taught school and parented!
Whew! Are you still with me? Sunday morning brunch brought out more
alumni. Julius Friedman (who owns a downtown art gallery), and Peter
Conn (retired) who moved to Louisville from Florida with his wife,
Tara, made the rounds. This kind of table-hopping is the only way to
go.
Glenn Hoehler (Kay Rogers’s husband) had already put together a
computerized display of photos from the previous night. Thanks
Glenn! And thanks to Kay who played a significant role in the
reunion. Joyce Botner attended with her husband and son.
After brunch, Ronnie Kahn and his wife Suzie planned to take in the
St. James Art Fair. Ronnie is also known as C. Ronald Kahn, MD and
specializes in diabetes research at Joslin—part of Harvard. Contact
him at c.ronald.kahn@joslin.harvard.edu.
Others attended a memorial service at U of L for Steve Singleton,
who had passed away weeks earlier. His wife, Hope, and son Justin
appreciated classmates in attendance, a reading by Paul Settle that
also reflected the memories of Donna Allen and Sandy Saxton, and a
song recorded by silken-voiced Jan Sisk from Oregon. Steve had been
a lover of the water and his boat, a town administrator in Ohio, and
amateur poet and painter. Steve Dancinger and his wife Nancy were
among those in attendance.
Marsh Crump hosted Pat Finney and Barbara Moody for the weekend.
After the memorial service, Donna Allen and Fay joined the entourage
for a visit to the Speed Museum followed by a healthy repast at
Marsha’s house. Marsha’s husband, Jim Serdenis, joined the
festivities. Word has it that he was largely responsible for the
class directory in addition to taking lots of photos. .
Herb Ransdell from nearby Shelbyville planned to attend.
Unfortunately, a sudden cardiac problem took him to the hospital
instead of to the reunion. Our prayers are with him.
We send a fond farewell to our classmates who passed away since the
40th reunion. Sadly, we must add these names to the departed: Betty
Allen, Mike Anderson, Bobby Edwards, Michael Numann, Jack Powell,
Blake Rensel, Peggy Simmons, Steve Singleton, Robert Young and Alan
Yussman. May their souls rest in peace.
The committee (listed in no particular order) included Kay Rogers
Hoehler, Sandy Saxton Dryden, Marsha Crump Serdenis, Alison Finkle
Tripp, Bill Kercher, Joe Weber, Louis Noel, Mary Beth Rose Ellis,
Nancy Gleaves Arnette, Pat Richardson, Sharelle Lyons, Steve
Goodman, Sydney Schultze, Tom Rabbeth, and Susan Eddleman Spillman,
with help from Jim Serdenis and Glenn Hoehler. They did a superior
job and deserve our sincere thanks!
And so I hope this summary provides some inkling of the fun and
enjoyment we had on the occasion of our 45th reunion. I am so sorry
if I missed anyone who attended, and realize I was inconsistent in
including both snippets of personal information and the presence and
names of spouses. I hope no one will feel slighted. I personally
enjoyed tremendously seeing each of you. My only regret is (as
always after a reunion), that I didn’t get to speak to everyone. I
take delight in the time we share. Please use your directory and one
or both of the class lists to keep in touch. Finally, make sure we
know how to reach you for the 50th reunion.
Fay McCutchan—former staffer of the Leaky Pen, later known as The
Sentinel
