ALL TOGETHER NOW: The Cranston High School Class of 1961 squeezes in for a picture outside their50th reunion celebration at Alpine Country Club. (Herald photo by Pam Tcath)

Cranston He ursday, September 22, 2011

Cranston High School's last class reunites, 50 years laterBy PAM TCATH

In 1961, John F. Kennedy wasPresident, a stamp cost 4 cents,there was no such thing as the Su-per Bowl, and Cranston HighSchool graduated its last andlargest class ever in June of thatyear.

They were called "the last classof Cranston High School," becausein September of 1961, CranstonWest opened across town.

Last weekend, alumni from thatclass of over 700 graduates gath-ered in Cranston to reminisce,catch up and mourn the loss ofclassmates who passed away.

The planning committee for thisundertaking has been meeting forthe past five years at the same lo-cation, the home of Marie Koutso-giane Zurowski. This is the samecommittee that has worked togeth-er for 25 years.

After the 45th reunion, commit-tee chairman, Richard "Dick"Evans started a website,www.chse6l.com, to help class-mates stay in touch and to provideinformation about upcoming re-unions.

Evans said they have 702 namesin their database, 333 active e-mails, 72 classmates are deceasedand they cannot find 79 people.

"I am shocked at how many peo-ple are coming," said committeemember Fran Capirchio Calore.. In total, 22 states were represent-ed and one international guestfrom Hungary attended.

The festivities started Fridayevening, Sept. 9, with a 50's styleold-fashioned sock hop at the Kel-ley Gazzero VFW post on Plain-field Pike. About 100 people at-tended this event, said Dick Evans,the reunion committee chairper-son.

"Carol and Butch Silven won the

best dressed award with her in herpoodle skirt and him in 50's stylesneakers, rolled up jeans, and awhite tee with cigs rolled up in onesleeve. Steve and Jacky Carlsonwon the jitterbug contest, AlexisLeonard won the Hula Hoop con-test, and I won the Yo-Yo contest,"he added.

The main event of the reunionweekend was the dinner dance atthe Alpine Country Club, which280 people attended.

The rooms were decorated intraditional green and white. Can-did photos from the yearbook hadbeen blown up to poster size andplaced all over the room. At regis-tration, each alumnus was given a15-page program that includednames and contact information ofall those in attendance and a spe-cial "In Memorium" area to ac-knowledge those who had passed,as well as a personalized CD withsongs from their era.

Each table had a handmade icecream sundae centerpieces donat-ed by Eileen Kennedy Pallante andher husband Mike.

During the cocktail reception,classmates Bobby Leonard andJean Maio Dionne led guests in50's sing-a-long. The group wasthree people deep gathered aroundthe piano with their song sheets.

Before the main event began, allthe attendees gathered outside fora class picture. Attendees brought

yearbooks to look over.Mayor Allan Fung presented the

class with a citation from the city incelebration of the 50th reunion.

To get the evening started, Evanswelcomed everyone and said aprayer for the evening. RichardDiSano had a moment of silencefor all who lost their lives in 9/11and the classmates who have died.

The committee put all of theclassmate's names in a box anddrew the names of Joel Westermanand Carol Caliri to become Kingand Queen for the night, completewith crowns and a special dance.

Paul and Ann Haltenberger, whojourneyed from Budapest, Hun-gary, received a gift for travelingthe furthest to attend the event.

"We scheduled our vacation sothat we would be here for the re-union," said Haltenberger. "I was 3years old when we moved toRhode Island. It was very impor-tant for me to be here. Growing uphere was so much fun. I became acitizen while living in Cranston,my father was able to practicemedicine again, after leaving Eu-rope during the war."

People left that evening alreadyplanning for future reunions.

The last event of the weekendwas a brunch at the Airport Sher-aton in Warwick. There were 81attendees for this event, andEvans could not get over the posi-tive reactions from the wholeweekend.

"Everyone could not stop talk-ing about how much fun it was atboth the Sock Hop on Friday andat the banquet at the Alpine on Sat-urday. They not only want to comeback for a 55th reunion, they wantto get together in Florida in Febru-ary," he said. "Some live in Florida,some are snowbirds, and some areconsidering a winter vacation tojoin in on the fun."