Portland and Portland St. Patrick's High Schools Classes of 1969 hold combined 55th Reunion

On Saturday, August 10th, the 1969 classes from Portland and Portland St. Patrick's High Schools held a combined 55th Reunion at the Eagle Park Exhibit Hall.  To the best of our knowledge, it is the first time that classes from Portland and St. Patrick's High Schools have held a joint reunion.  If not the first, it was certainly the first time for the classes of 1969. 38 members from PHS and 7 members from the St. Pat's classes of 1969 attended with spouses/significant others.  While many classmates still live in the Portland area, or in Michigan, one couple traveled from Montana and another traveled from North Carolina to attend.

Members of the classes of 1969 enjoyed a great time visiting, listening to music, renewing old friendships, and making new friends.  There were many displays of picture memories highlighting times in grade school, Jr. High and High School, as well as PHS and St. Pat's yearbooks to peruse.  There was also a picture memorial honoring those classmates that are deceased (25 PHS graduates and 6 that attended grades 7-11 with us, although May not have graduated from PHS, and 11 from St. Pat's.)

Russ Thelen from St. Pat's class of 1969 said a brief prayer before an excellent dinner provided by Swede's Catering of Mulliken.

A brief program was highlighted by the honoring of our classmates for their service in the military and their spouses for their support and encouragement during active service and their continued support throughout the years.  They have both served our country and deserve recognition.  Those present and honored from PHS:  Norma Ackerson and husband Grant Russell, Anne Beard Huhn and husband Dale Huhn, Viola Darling Green and husband Terri Green, Dennis Fedewa, Michael Galey and wife Jean Galey, Scott and Deb Greenhoe Morgan, Linda Phillips Croel and husband Bruce Croel, Betsy Quinn Rogers and husband Gale Rogers, Ed Sandborn and wife Evelyn Sandborn, Bernie Schneider, Laurita Snitgen Showerman and husband Robert Showerman, and Dan Vroman and wife Bobbie Vroman.  Present from St. Pat's:  Marlene Simon Keusch and husband Mike Keusch and Russ Thelen and wife Vickie Thelen.

We also remembered the military service of those not in attendance or deceased.  Not in attendance from PHS: William Burnham, Michael Leyer, Darryl Paul Simon, husband of Diane Fedewa Simon, and Ed VanDerske.  Those not in attendance from St. Pat's:  Bill Brown husband of Pam Weiner Brown, Kathie Russman Chamberlain and husband Don Chamberlain, and Mike Fox, husband of Sue Gross Fox.  Those PHS classmates that are deceased:  David Lee Bekkering, Michael Moriarty, Steven Ray Perry, William Roberts Sumner, Gerald Mark Weller, husband of Ellen Kasner Weller, and Thomas Lynn Wilson.

Those from St. Pat's that are deceased:  Gary Goodman, Michael Honsowitz husband of Jane Pohl Honsowitz, Larry Huhn, Bryon Kincaid husband of Mary Bower Kincaid, William Elton Pittock husband of Amy Brooks, and Betsy Sykes.  Although Graduating from Maple Valley High School, we also honored Jerry Norman Duffy who attended grades 7-9 with us in the Portland Public Schools.  Jerry was killed in action in Vietnam December 12, 1971.  Jerry was the only US Service member killed during the second week of December, and was on the cover of the January 21, 1972 issue of Life magazine.

Following the get-together at Eagle Park, a bonfire was held at the Toni Densmore Blundy farm.

Everyone stated they had a great time.  We look forward to more get-togethers and reunions!

We are GREAT, We are FINE, We're the Class of "69"!

Reunion Committee members included Aletha Honsowitz, Chair, Toni Densmore Blundy, Barbara Dilly Simmons, Dianne Kenyon Cornelius, Marlene Simon Keusch, Denny TenEyck, and Joe Vergeson.  All committee members were from PHS, except Marlene (from St. Pat's).

Courtesy photos.