Comments about the reunion clipped from emails as of 08/22/2005:
Congratulations on a very successful reunion week-end. Everyone fulfilled their reunion job(s) with such dedication and expertise. I am very proud to be part of this team and thank all of your for your contribution to this cause.
I have heard nothing but RAVE reviews for the whole week-end
Nancy Kroupa
Sun, 14 Aug 2005
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Just got home from a beautiful wedding reception, the end of a wonderful weekend that started with our Reunion Events. I agree with everything Nancy had to say, it has been an honor and a priviledge working with each of you and getting to know you better, the real bonus for me personally. Thank you for all your dedication and hard work.
Jerry Kroupa took the jar for the website funding around for donations and collected over $400 so we are great shape there. Great job Jerry, outstanding last minute effort. I believe the Silent Auction raised well over $3,000, another wonderful job by Myrna and Ruth Ann.
Again, a hugh hug to all of you. A 'PERFECT REUNION' thanks to each of you.
Pamela (Fox) Alexander
Sun, 14 Aug 2005
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I concur with Nancy and Pam. What a great effort by all for a great reunion.
I'm already starting to feel the inevitable letdown/withdrawal even though I have many scanned images and hundreds of photographs yet to sort, edit, and post.
If any of you have digital photos from the various events, send them to me via email in blocks of 5MB or less if there are only a handful ... or via CD if there are a lot.
If you want to post the images yourselves, please put them in the 40 Year Reunion photo gallery under Reunions. Still send me the original images for inclusion on the Reunion CD in a higher res format than that on the website.
A couple of ideas for the next reunions: 1. Make sure we have a classmate doctor or doctors 'on call'... we're not getting any younger. 2. Consider extending the website to include a section with info on our siblings... I got several questions about what my brother and sister were doing since some classmate spouses were older and knew them from school.
And keep sending me emails every so often to help with my withdrawal symptoms.
Roger Rayle
Mon, 15 Aug 2005
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The website is awesome...everyone says that and everyone knows that. It will keep us together for a long time.
Myrna (Schwartz) Downer
Mon, 15 Aug 2005
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I just got a call from Marion Nied and she had a wonderful time Friday and truly wished that she had gone to the Saturday night function. She has visited the website and enjoys it very much, and would also like to purchase a set of (5) CD's.
Don Belyea
Mon, 15 Aug 2005
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Just got back to SW Florida...........
We had the best week I can remember in TC, due mostly to the fact that I had the pleasure of sharing it with you Committee Members, and many other wonderful Classmates. My Boardman School gathering was soooo much fun. We even found some initials carved in the woodwork of the Boy's Bathroom!!! The Friday night Grade School gathering seemed to be a hit, too. The weather was perfect and the mood was soaring. I feel blessed to have been a part of bringing all those 'kids' together, in some cases after at least 40 years or so!!
You are all wonderful human beings and I enjoyed your company immensely. We worked well as a team on Saturday, altho it was a bit like Thanksgiving!!! Girls-need I expand on that one?
And, I would like to add to Paul's note on the physicians being available at later Reunions, let's consider a Defibrilator too.
Best regards to all of you.
Nancy (Fineout) Peterson
Tue, 16 Aug 2005
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It was a journey that brought us from all over the country, with Judy Robinson Heller from Hawaii, possibly being the one to travel the farthest to get home.
I have returned to sultry SW Florida and have serious withdrawal symptoms from this fabulous Reunion planning and the weekend now passed.
On Friday, we all missed the absent kids (and they better have good excuses from MOM), but we managed to be 10 strong for our grade school tour at Boardman, which was a hoot. Then we continued at the HI on the Bay and it was indeed special......great weather and I believe a total success. Thank you all for being a part of this fantastic event. It was truly The Reunion of our lifetimes, so far. We will keep this going every five years now. Let me know how your private walks, talks, picnics, bar-b-ques, etc. turned out. I think Ted and Ken had the largest in numbers for their events.
I now realize why they named the movie 'The Big Chill'. When the balloons were released, that is exactly what I was feeling. Then we returned to an evening of great times with our classmates. I saw people I have not seen in 40+ years. I even got to tell some of my grade school crushes how I felt about them then!!
And, I would be remiss not to mention David Myers, Myers Printing. Thank you so much David for your critical part on this Reunion. The Banner was outstanding, as were all the placards you provided for the tables Friday night. Hope we can get you to be the Glenn Loomis Coordinator next time.
Thanks again to all of you. You are the best.
Nancy (Fineout) Peterson
Wed, 17 Aug 2005
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Hi Nancy,
Glad you're safely home in Florida, but sad that the partying is over for awhile. Thanks for taking up the challenge and rallying the other grade schools. Many from Old Mission have told me what fun they had at their get-together. Maybe we can write a book about adding grade school suppliments to high school reunions.
Our Norris reunion was incredible!!! We met at my house at 1:00 on Sunday, and the last of the 'kids' departed at 6:30. From a class that graduated 29 eighth graders in 1961, we've had one death and one still missing.....and of the remaining twenty-seven, the reunion brought together twenty classmates and ten spouses! The thirty of us consumed a lot of grilled chicken and innumerable 'dishes to pass,' coupled with six or seven desserts. Conversation never stopped. There was a lot of laughter and a little crying, too. Two classmates came from California, one from New Hampshire, one from Minnesota, several from IND/ILL/OH...with the rest from Michigan. We commented over and over about the unusual bond that we have with one-another. Although no specific plans were laid for the future, I know we'll do this sort of thing again.
Sunday morning, early, I received an email from a classmate in the area who had planned to attend, but was writing to say that her husband had died just a few hours earlier! We prayed for her and her family later as we gathered later that day. Another classmate (desiring to remain anonymous) has already sent me a sum money to be used for flowers, etc., when we hear of deaths or tragedies in the family of any Norris classmate. How Blessed are we to have such friendships that last a lifetime?!?!
Ted Smith
Wed, 17 Aug 2005
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Dear committee members and Willow Hillers, we all did a great job, thank you so much
Mariann 'Widge' (Ingwersen) Shapiro
Wed, 17 Aug 2005
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The responses are coming in and are so far unanimous - it was the best yet and a total success, hands down. Congratulations all.
Nancy (Fineout) Peterson
Wed, 17 Aug 2005
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I understand that the reunion was a HUGE success.
Congratulations to all. All of you did a GREAT job!
(name redacted)
Fri, 19 Aug 2005
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Hard to believe we were in TC enjoying coffee on the Lake with Pam and Fred and Vicky and Justina Springer last week at this time, anticipating a very full day decorating and enjoying the results of our many months of efforts. WOW, what an emotional roller coaster ride. I am really happy to be getting such positive reports on the grade school activities outside the reunion. They all had such fun. Looking forward now to catching some photos and keeping the feelings pumped up. ... Without each piece of this puzzle, we would not have had a complete weekend. Thanks again.
Nancy (Fineout) Peterson
Sat, 20 Aug 2005
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It was definitely an interesting weekend revisiting our past!
It would be fun to have mini-reunions, it seems that idea was tossed around a little.
Keep me posted.
Don Chamberlin
Mon, 22 Aug 2005
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I had a great time at the reunion and I really thank all of you that put so much effort into making it a great evening times 2.
I don't know if you remember, but next year or when ever that you need to pay for the TCHS web site, let me know and I will gladly pay for a year or more if needed.
I can not tell you how much it meant to me to see some of the people I went to school with. I had a long talk with George Powell, Paula Divto, Widge and especially you and Roger. I would have come home to just to see you guys. I love where I live but sometimes I wish that I was there with all the old friends from school.
Again, please at your next meeting or when ever you see the people that help put this reunion on, give them my thanks and tell them JOB WELL DONE.
Bill Somers
Fri, 19 Aug 2005
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I was so very sorry that I could not join the group - especially the Willow Hillers for the walks, talks, and memories!! I know the reunion was a very special one this year. Wish so badly that I could have made it. HOPEFULLY the next time!
Sue (Horn) Sheffer
Mon, 22 Aug 2005
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To my 'tourist guide'.
Thank you for showing me the old neighborhood and the State Hospital ground. I did enjoy my visit with all my classmates. It was fun to see everybody again. Since its been a long time. I want to thank you and the committee for all your work that you put into this. My hat goes off to everyone that put their time into this. It was a lot of hours and work. I hope to see you before next class reunion?
Paula DeVito
Monday, August 22, 2005
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