NHS '48 reunion: golden and stellar

On the eighth day of the eighth month in 1998, the Newark High School Class of 1948 held their 50th class reunion.

A committee of 12 started meeting last September to plan for the event, which kicked off on August 7 with a social gathering at Burnham's Canalside. This was attended by 40 classmates, spouses and friends. The evening was one of renewing friendships, reminiscing, smiles, laughter, handshakes and hugs.

(Row 1) Eleanor Boynton VanHaelst, Marian Davenport Tyler, Helen Fitch Smith, Dorothy DeWind McWilliams, Barbara Viola DePillo, Joan Pitts Goodwin, Thelma Krebbeks Wage, Marion Jane Ross Scutella, Irene Dorn VanGorder; (row 2) Dorothy Lay Zulaf, June Tierson Bishop, Joyce Libbert Bethel, Rita Stepner McHale, Concetta Dedomenico Koury, William Brightman, Erling Ridley, George Townsend, Dean VanGorder, Marjorie Thomas Landry; (row 3) Magdalene Havert Vandenbout, Jane Bosje Ghyzels, Josephine Colarocco Arnitz, Nancy Holmes Palmer, Doris Chamberlin Polakiewicz, Margaret Goetzman Beck, Betty Crisanti Janot, Thomas Negus, John Walters, Dorothy Johncox Priebe; (row 4) John Bailey, Marian Stell Crossman, Nancy Sawyer Herrington, Irene Porrey, Donna Murphy, Doris Hamer Smith, Robert Schinsing, Charlotte Pitrella, Paul Priebe, Sally Slade DeBarr, Pauline Fogarty Derby, Mary Lou Buck Stiles, Patricia Dailey Tripoli; (row 5) Margaret Scofield Sloane, Edwin DeWandel, Clark Dingman, Beverly Pratt Biermann, Cosmo Palermo, Ralph Carlson, Nicholas Marrocco, Harold Gerlum; Eugene Radie; (row 6); Edward DeCausemaker, Millie Cotton Cama, Ann Keane Wileman, Shirley Charlebois Stephan, Ralph Nittolo, Fred Witt; (row 7) Hazel Dulmage, VanHall, Dolores Horton Felker, Fred Follette, John Barberi, Bernard Armitage, Fred Hammond, Robert VanCamp, Eugene DeNagel, Sherman Bloomer.

The Newark Country Club was the setting Saturday evening, August 8 for dinner and dancing. Of the 105 people attending, 65 were classmates. The tables were decorated with gold flowers, ivy and gold ribbon. A reunion book was published and contained classmate comments, addresses and telephone numbers, pages depicting the Class of 1997's dedication of their yearbook (the 50th Edition) to the Class of 1948 (the first edition), "Thanks For the Memory" the Class Song, the Alma Mater, and a "Forever in Our Thoughts" page designating and honoring the 22 deceased members.

A small gold commemorative spoon engraved "1948 NHS 50th" was presented to each classmate. A band provided music for listening and dancing.

The evening's program was emceed by Charlotte Pitrella who reminisced about the "good times" (and some of the not so good times) they had in high school.

Charlotte introduced and thanked the Reunion Committee of John Bailey, Mildred Cotton Cama, Irene Dorn VanGorder, Doris Hamer Smith, Mary Jane Ross Scutella, Nancy Sawyer Herrington, Robert Schinsing, Margaret Scofield Sloane, Dean VanGorder and Co-Chairs Thelma Krebbeks Wage and Sally Slade DeBarr.

Classmates came from as near as Newark and various parts of New York State, and as far away as the States of Washington, Oregon, North Carolina, Florida, Texas and County Cork, Ireland.

Sally Slade DeBarr, on behalf of the Reunion Committee and the Class of '48, presented a plaque to Bob Schinsing, thanking him for his outstanding dedication to the publishing of this and past Reunion Books.

The Class of 1948 has held reunions every five years since graduation. These reunions have kept the class together.

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