Hello classmates,

As you know, we celebrated our 62nd-year reunion in Sebring with a dinner on Friday, June 11.  We had 53 attendees who shared the evening of fun and friendship.

 

When the reunion committee arrived at 4PM at the Royal Palm room on the 2nd floor at the host hotel, Inn on the Lakes, they found the tables had already been nicely prepared for dining.  The committee then added large inflated gold balloons of the numbers eight and zero, a happy birthday balloon and other small 80th birthday items to celebrate that most of our class of 1959 were born 80 years ago, in 1941.  

 

Also placed on the display table were a number of voodoo dolls, the book "The Stingaree Century," a carved wooden replica of the Orange Bowl, a photo collage (made by classmate Norma Rabinowitz Greenstein) from a prior class reunion and as well as  our graduation program commemorating that we had walked across the stage at the Dade County auditorium almost exactly 62 years earlier (on June 8th, 1959).

 

Although we were scheduled to open the doors at 5PM, classmates began to arrive before that and our private bar began to receive attention as many enjoyed a complimentary preprandial drink while the socializing prior to dinner. 

 

About 6PM, as the salads and breads were placed on the tables, classmates began to be seated.  There was a brief welcoming followed by the invocation, the Pledge of Allegiance (led by Eddie Acosta), and a rousing rendition of our alma mater; then dinner was served.

 

Even though the past year had been a difficult one for everyone, including some present who had experienced and were still experiencing personal situations, we did our best to set those aside for one evening to have a good time and some fun, which I think we accomplished.

 

Following dinner, a recording of "Remember Then," written and sung by our late classmate, Jimmy Carter, was played.  For those who have never heard Jimmy's song, it is a musical recollection of Jimmy's memories of Miami High, Miami High teachers, cheerleaders, football team, as well as a mention of famous Miami landmarks (i.e., Venetian Pool, Orange Bowl, etc.).

 

We asked for classmates who wished to share a particular memory from our days at Miami High.  About ten classmates responded with a memory; some were warm and sweet and others were hilarious.  Thanks to all who shared their special memories of our time at Miami High from 1956-59, including one Miami High memory that was connected to a happy event which occurred forty years after we graduated.

 

All were advised about joining the Miami High Alumni Association, the availability of a few class directories for purchase, the sale of Miami High t-shirts (from Judi Nelson Perkins Avant), as well as the Saturday buffet lunch and dinner dance as part of the Stingaree Jubilee weekend organized by Bill Eades '64.

 

As requested by a number of classmates unable to attend, their regards were relayed to the attendees. We recognized those classmates present who had traveled from out of state (Julia and Ennis Proctor and Kathleen and Larry Drawdy from Mississippi, Susan and Chuck Ross from Texas, and Diane and Jerry Davies from California - this was the first class reunion that Jerry had ever attended!).   

 

Special guests were Mimi Beauchamp Wheeler (Josephine Potter Beauchamp's daughter); Cole Olszewski & Lucy Olszewski (son and adorable two-year old granddaughter of Joan Korodin Olszewski); and Kellee Smith (good friend of Dianne Horner Kavanaugh Webb); and Dieter (and Cheryl) Buerger '58.  Also recognized were spouses that are Miami High grads, Milner Irvin '58 (Caroline Dowdell Irvin), Cecil Robins '57 (Donna Cox Robins), and Allen Carr '52 (Sissel Pedersen Carr).  Also thanks to Margaret (Mrs. Al Grieshaber) for bringing delicious homemade cookies to share.

 

Gratitude was expressed to an anonymous classmate who donated toward the meal and hotel cost of any classmate who may not otherwise have attended, and to Jules and Bertha Mitnick, who made a contribution to the Miami High Alumni Association in honor of Milly and Ed and in memory of their son, Mark.

 

Then yours truly made his annual attempt to delve into the world of humor - I will not give up my day job (but, I don't have a day job).

 

Classmates who took photos were encouraged to send them to me so I could share them via email with the class.

 

While our next reunion dinner date is not confirmed, it is likely to be in March 2022.  If you missed this one, we hope you can make it in 2022 (our 63rd-year reunion dinner).

 

We had two last-minute cancellations and some last-minute additions, for a total of 53 attendees (despite the difficulties of the past year), which was slightly fewer than last year's record attendance of 58 in January 2020.  Below is the list of attendees:

Aida & Eddie Acosta

Al Briguera 

Cheryl & Dieter Buerger '58

Lucille Kolvenbach & Jerry Cohen Cole 

Cecil '57 & Donna Cox Robins 

Ann Danford Fee 

Diane & Jerry Davies

Claudia & Gary Douglass

Milner '58 & Caroline Dowdell Irvin 

Kathleen & Larry Drawdy 

Ed Fleck & Milly Nolen Fleck

Bill Gary  

Jo & Jeff Gillman 

Margaret & Al Grieshaber 

Bill Hold 

Kelley Smith & Dianne Horner Kavanaugh Webb

Dennis & Kaye Jones Nye 

Helen & Lou Katchis

Cole Olszewski, Lucy Olszewski (age 2), & Joan Korodin Olszewski 

John Lipe & Pauline Meyer Lipe

Ren & Joanne Lubin Custin 

Bertha & Jules Mitnick

Judi Nelson Perkins Avant

Allen '52 & Sissel Pedersen Carr 

Josephine Potter Beauchamp & Mimi Beauchamp Wheeler 

Julia & Ennis Proctor 

Norman Rose

Susan & Chuck Ross 

Fred Galan & Rosemarie Wilson Twinam 

Thanks to all who attended.

Stingareegards from San Diego,

Ed (aka Eddie) & Milly