60th BIRTHDAY PARTY

Bottom left: Peggy DiPaola, Melverta Townend Turek, Daryl Lussen Wilkinson, Bill Shorts, and Diana Taliaferro Huntley.

Second row left: Mike Reynolds and Denny Haney.

Third row left: Jim Fleming, Kenny Porcase, Pam Summers Lee, and Betty Litsinger.

Fourth row left: Ricky Lyon, Nancy Drugan Koehler, Sam Shipley, Heather McEwen Fleming, Susie Akers McCarrell, Ruth Potisuk Ludwick, Angie Petty Toncar, Jane Kleinsmith Roop, Becca Lyon.....(How did she get in our class photo? LOL!!), Mike Marquis and Gary Livengood.

Top row left: Denver Lovejoy, Matt Cristino, Debi Johnston Williams, Jim Canterbury, Linda Edwards Helleckson, Joe Salamon, Eric Courtney, Mark Bowen and seated, Joanne Wise Heinz. Attended but not pictured are Danny Barber and Chris McVay.

As you can see, we had a nice little turnout. The weather was a bit warm, but with a nice little breeze and a lot of shade, it was absolutely perfect. Those who were not able to attend, we missed you! You missed a fantastic party. The hours were 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM, but we had so much fun, several classmates did not leave until about 11:00 PM.

I would like to personally thank Peggy, her sisters and their families for hosting such a wonderful party. With all their hard work, the party was awesome! THANK YOU DiPAOLA FAMILY!!!

I had many classmates ask if we are going to have a 45th class reunion. I obviously do not have the answer to this question, but it is worth thinking about and discussing. We had 267 classmates; 21 of whom are deceased. In the last 15 months we lost Bob DeSimio, Bill Crist, Rick Romito, and we just heard that Larry McCollum passed away on 1 August due to a blood clot traveling to his lungs. Please think about whether we want to have reunions every 5 years or every 10 and let me know your thoughts.

Those who took pictures at our birthday party, please send them to me and I will post them on our blog, or by all means, please feel free to post them yourselves.

BIRTHDAY PARTY UPDATE......

The reservation deadline date for our class 60^th birthday party has expired, but don’t let that stop you from attending. If you know you are going to attend, please let me know via a reply to this email or through ‘Ma Bell’. We no longer have a landline, so please call my cell….1.317.341.0266. If you won’t know your plans until the day of, that is okay too…Just show up, as this is not a problem with our hostess, Peggy DiPaola.

Our birthday party will be held on Saturday, July 30 at Peggy’s home, 5551 South Prospect Street, Ravenna. The festivities will begin at 2:00 pm. Please bring a dish to pass and bring your own beverages.

Sam Shipley is interested in playing golf on Saturday morning if there is still enough interest. He is so interested he will be making tee times. Original willing souls are: Sam, Patti Mazzola Buchanan, Mark Bowen, Ruth Potisuk Ludwick, and John Ludwick. I will play if I am needed to even out a 4-some. If anyone else is interested in playing golf, please let me know ASAP.

FYI……Classmates who received a class directory at our 40^th class reunion, please make a note of Nancy Drugan Koehler’s correct email address…. Nancy@OAR.NET.

YOUNG AT HEART

Some of our classmates have been 60 for a over a year, while some have and will turn 60 in 2011. We all graduated in the class of 1969 so it doesn't matter when we reach this BIG age with a big ZERO in it! Plan to join other classmates to celebrate our special year. We promise not to make anyone wear the accessories Joe Salamon's family provided for his surprise party last week, but we can all look forward to either cheering each other on or crying in our beer at our class birthday party on Saturday, 30 July at Peggy DiPaola's childhood home. Please save this date and watch your email for final details in a few weeks. Questions about the party? Contact me at palsummers@sbcglobal.net or on my cell at 1.317.341.0266. We are looking forward to seeing everyone there! WE ARE NOT GETTING OLDER.....We ARE GETTING BETTER!!

69'ers Cheering RHS....

Eric Courtney, Ken Porcase, Tom Riddle and Bill Shorts cheered RHS during the game against Tallmadge on Friday, August 24. Unfortunately they didn't quite yell loud enough as Tallmadge squeaked by the Ravens 29 to 28, with RHS losing in the last 30 seconds. (Please feel free for all classmates to post any and all photos of yourselves and/or family. We are ALWAYS eager to keep up-to-date on y'all!)

THE ADVANTAGES OF LIVING AFTER 50

I received this from Mike Marquis who reminded me of our aging. With our upcoming 60th birthday party July 30, 2011, I am reminding y'all too. The perks of reaching 50, being 60 or over, and heading toward 70....... ....Kidnappers are not interested in us. ....In a hostage situation we are likely to be released first. ....No one expects us to run anywhere. ....People call at 9:00 PM and ask 'Did I wake you?" ....People no longer view us as hypochondriacs. ....There is nothing left to learn the hard way. ....Things we buy now won't wear out. ....We can eat dinner at 4:00 PM. ....We can live without sex, but can't live without our glasses. ....We get into heated arguments about pension plans. ....We no longer think of speed limits as a challenge. ....We quit trying to hold in our stomachs no matter who walks into the room. ....We sing along with elevator music. ....Our eyes won't get much worse than they already are. ....Our investment in health insurance is finally beginning to pay off. ....Our joints are more accurate meteorologists than the National Weather Service. ....Our secrets are safe with our friends because they can't remember them either. ....Our supply of brain cells is finally down to a manageable size. ....We can't remember where you saw this list. ....We notice all these are in BIG print for our convenience. ....And most importantly, never, ever, under any circumstances take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night! Mark Marini and Diana Taliaferro Huntley will be celebrating their actual 60th birthday on our Class party night. If we have any other readers that will be attending and whose actual 60th birthday is on July 30, 2011, please contact me at palsummers@sbcglobal.net

69'ers 60th BIRTHDAY PARTY

Nineteen-Fifty-One is when most of us were born, We were way too young to understand porn.

It seemed like the years slowly crept by,

It went so slow, we thought we were going to die.

The magic age was, to be sixteen years old,

'Cause a drivers license was what we needed to hold.

Then the magic age was to be eighteen,

So we could go off to college to make a scene.

To be twenty-one was the biggest desire yet,

We would finally be of legal age, and deeper in debt.

Some of us approached marriage, then children came along,

That's when our will became very, very strong.

Some are spoiling grandchildren in our ripe young age,

And some of us are still earning some sort of wage.

Most will be retiring in just a few years,

And none of us will be shedding any new tears.

We are unfortunately getting older as time goes by,

Join us at our class birthday party to just say hi!

JULY 30, 2011 is when this party will be,

So come on by, for our classmates you will see.

The party will be held at Peg DiPaola's childhood home,

At 5551 S. Prospect Street, so bring your comb.

We are thinking of a cookout with our class funds providing,

Brats, burgers and buns with absolutely no hiding.

Classmates are asked to bring one covered dish,

And to bring your own beverages, so whatever you wish.

Snail mail invitations WILL NOT be sent,

Notices will take place electronically 'cause our money's all been spent.

Emails will be sent and placed on Classmates, Facebook and this Blog,

So check out these sites often, so you won't be in the fog!

Time of this party has not been set,

But please attend so you don't regret!

PLEASE RSVP so we can all say Hi,

That way we will know how much food to buy!

IT'S HELL GETTING OLD!!!

Earlier this spring, Nancy Roen Dunlap and I discovered that Mr. Taylor lived just around the corner from Nancy. So we took a short drive and surprised him! Here he is with Nancy. He's retired and still has a great sense of humor (he and his wife had just returned from Florida that morning, but invited us in and seemed pleased that we'd dropped by).

Sally

SAYING GOODBYE TO 'OLD' RHS

Built in 1923; the Coll Annex was built in 1958, and Whitaker Hall was added in 1967. Students leave Ravenna High School for the last time after their last day of classes in June 2010.

Sadly, no one knows what this beautiful iconic building will house in the future. Want one last look? Want one last chance to say goodbye? Want to relive some good ole' memories (or not so good memories) before the doors close for good? The district is offering a walk-through on Saturday, August 14, 2010. (Time TBA)

We are not in the habit of advertising other class gatherings. However, the class of 1968 will be having their 60th birthday party celebration on Friday, August 13 at the English Pub. F.O.G. will be playing, so come out to see many familiar faces from our past so and have some good old fashioned fun!

HERE COMES...2010!

Hello boys and girls, If you were at the reunion this past July, then you know how it went. If you were NOT there.......news flash - you have no idea what happened, now do you? But, you can still get a glimpse of the greatness, by requesting the DVD - which you do by contacting Eric at: e_court@email.msn.com . I'm pretty sure he still has a few left (or can probably burn one). There was some talk of a 60th Birthday Party (granted, this was after some cocktails) but, if this is something YOU might be interested in, I suggest you drop a line to Melody at: megreene50@hotmail.com to let her know - since she is the one who first suggested it (although she'll deny it). This would be something very informal, a cookout, say at Joe's barn (I'm pretty sure he said that was fine - but that too may have been cocktail chatter :) but, if we can't go there, we'll find someplace. Oh, and we will keep the blog as long as anyone uses it. So, take advantage of the space to keep in touch classmates. Have a Happy New Year, and don't been a stranger! Sally

The Class of 1969 40th Reunion...New DVD Release!

Well, the DVDs are all done! They will go out in the snail mail this week. If you ordered the DVD you will receive two discs. One, you can play through a DVD player and enjoy on your TV; one can be played on a computer. Tom Riddle, Eric Courtney, Barrie Stambaugh Forner, Patti Mazzola Buchanan came over Friday night and we worked like little elves! I must say, we (and I mean Patti) had a little trouble sticking to our tasks, because we (ditto) kept stopping to watch the "show!" Tom Riddle gets a BIG thumbs up for the music he selected to accompany the photos. Oh, I almost forgot...a much belated THANK-YOU Student Director Tom, for making sure we actually HAD a senior variety show :) Both Tom and Eric went on a self guided tour of the empty school building, and have included those photos as well - it's memory jogging to visually walk through RHS again! Another Thank-you to Cheryl Summers Creech, for taking photos through out the weekend. Her contributions to the DVD are excellent; all the candids taken Friday and Saturday night, as well as the individual photos of each classmate Saturday night. I saw a couple of people in the Friday night pictures that I had missed, so it was good to at least see them! Both Tom and Eric deserve a "GOOD JOB" as the DVD was no small undertaking (!) but the result is wonderful, and I think you will enjoy their efforts. Of course, a Big THANK-YOU to Pam Summers Lee. While, the boat may have rocked a few times, you didn't let it go over completely, you kept us on course and we made it to our final destination... A wonderful 40th Reunion of the Class of 1969! Sally Kyle Lentz

40th Reunion Discs....

As this is being written, Eric Courtney and Tom Riddle are grinding away to complete our 40th Reunion photo DVD's and CD's. If all goes well, the local committee members will get together this Friday, Sept. 11 to get these ready to be mailed on Saturday, Sept. 12. If you haven't ordered your discs, it's not too late. Please contact Eric at 330-524-0155 or at courtney.e@att.net to order yours today!

Tony Munoz

Tony Munoz sent this photo of himself and his wife, Kelly. Tony was registered to attend our reunion last month, but was unable to be there due to a family emergency.

Tony and Kelly live in Downers Grove, IL and are expecting their first grandchild in January 2010.

OOPS!

For a nano second the "Last Call for photos" was up with an unsupported "link" to the email addresses for Eric and Tom. Apparantley, the blog site can not link to email addresses (which I didn't realize until I "published"). You will need to copy/paste to use them. My bad. Sally

LAST CHANCE to add your photos to DVD!

Eric Courtney and Tom Riddle are finishing up the DVD of the Reunion. Eric has ask that we post the following: “We keep adding more features to the DVDs as we go along. If you have any pictures of yourself, your family, friends, or whatever, either from back in the day or from recent times, and would like to share them with other classmates who bought the DVD set, we could include them on the PC volume of the set. All you have to do is get them to us as soon as possible, preferably through email. If you do choose to send printed pictures, please send copies, as prints will NOT be returned. However, the preferred method is JPG. Just scan or convert the images into "jpg" format and then email them as attachments. Email them to either: Eric Courtney at: e_court@msn.com or Tom Riddle at: Tomriddle@att.net If you have actual photos/reprints (again,these will not be returned) you can snail mail them to Eric Courtney at 3351 Lovers Lane, Ravenna, OH 44266. Which ever method you use, photos MUST BE RECEIVED by September 5, 2009, to be included on the DVD."

OUR NEW CHORUS LINE.....BETTER THAN EVER!!

Being silly and enjoying our 40th reunion on Saturday, August 8, 2009 are Patti Mazzola Buchanan, Nancy Roen Dunlap, Melody Drugan Greene, Sally Kyle Lentz and Barrie Stambaugh Forner.

If you haven't had an opportunity to purchase a Photo DVD of our reunion festivities, now is the time! The DVD will include the reunion Power Point presentation Eric Courtney and Tom Riddle put together and displayed throughout the reunion at the Elk's Lodge, as well as all photos that were taken Friday night at the English Pub, Saturday morning golf, and Saturday evening's events at the Elk's. Contact Eric Courtney at courtney.e@att.net or call him at 330-524-0155 to place your order as soon as possible.

(Photo taken by Cheryl Summers Creech)

GIVE US A 'P'?

From left to right: Rick Pinter, Ken Porcase, Shirley Powell Pennington, Denver Lovejoy, Paul Stukovsky, Rochelle Penrod, Jerry Webb, Kevin Pyles, Ruth Potisuk Ludwick and Bob DeSimio. I believe this was suppose to be a photo of our classmates whose last name started with a 'P'......How did Denver, Jerry, Bob and Paul qualify?....No clue! Perhaps Paul thought he qualified since his first name started with a 'P'? There is still time for classmates to order Photo DVD's of the Power Point Presentation that we viewed during our reunion, along with photos from Friday night at the Pub, and photos that were taken Saturday night of our reunion at the Elk's Lodge. Contact Eric Courtney at courtney.e@att.net, or at 330-524-0155 to order one today. (Friday, August 7, 2009 at the English Pub, Ravenna, OH; Photo compliments of Cheryl Summers Cheech)

THE ENGLISH PUB

To kick off our 40th Reunion weekend, F.O.G. Band graced us with their wonderful musical talents Friday night, August 7 at the English Pub in Ravenna.

Filling in as drummer is our very own Dominic Tortorella in the photo below. GREAT music Guys and thanks to those who put this together!

40th REUNION GOLF

Saturday morning, August 8

brought cloudy skies and drizzle here and there. This didn't stop us 'die hard' golfers.

Winners ~ Losers? Score wise (bottom photo) Pam Summers Lee, Mark Bowen, Melody Drugan Greene and Sam Shipley beat the tar out of (top photo) Nancie Roen Dunlap, Charlie Bailey, Patti Mazzola Buchanan and Sally Kyle Lentz.

Way too much fun and laughing was going on to bother anyone's game. Those of you who skipped out on us, and those who didn't sign up.....You missed a GREAT time! We hope we will have more participants for future golf outings.

(Photos compliments of Melody Drugan Greene)

THE CLASS OF 1969 on AUGUST 8, 2009

Those of us who attended our 40th class reunion, had a BLAST!

F.O.G. band graciously played for a huge crowd Friday night at the English Pub. The music was great, the company of all who attended was superb!

Classmates who were able to attend are: Sue Akers McCarrell, Linda Allen Fosnight, Charlie & Julie Bailey, Clarice Bew Scott, Mark Bowen, JoAnn Brode McEwen, Karen Campbell Frankland, Jim Canterbury, Becky Cochran, Eric Courtney, Bob DeSimio, Barb DeYoung Drabic, Peggy DiaPaola, Melody Drugan Greene, Nancy Drugan Koehler, Mark Drumheller, Patty Ferrara Cartwright, Jim & Heather McEwen Fleming, Nancy Forgus Scoma, Steve Gilly, Dale Hamilton, Alan Harlan, Nancie Heisler Torrence, Kris Hostetler Hampsey, Cindy Huston Ross, Scott & Jayce Rutan Hutchinson, Debi Johnston, Don Kainrad, Bill Kernen, Dale Kirkhart, Jane Kleinsmith Roop, Sally Kyle Lentz, Betty Litsinger, Gary Livengood, Denver Lovejoy, Rich Lyon, Mark Marini, Mike Marquis, Bruce Marvin, Corky (Art) Mauck, Patti Mazzola Buchanan, Steve McDaniel, Chris McVay, Dan & Betsy Vojtkofsky Michelli, Doug Moore, Ruth Potisuk Ludwick, Shirley Powell Pennington, Glenda Prisby Bronner, Kevin Pyles, Mike Reynolds, Tom Riddle, Jim Rigby, Rance Robenstein, Nancy Roen Dunlap, Joe Salamon, Sam Shipley, Bill Shorts, Louise Spagnuolo, Barrie Stambaugh Forner, Paul Stukovsky, Pam Summers Lee, Will Ticknor, Melverta Townend Turek, Jerry Webb, Kim Werle Griffith, Norm Wise and Susan Yarolin Carlton......Oh and 'Randy Raven'! How many names can put with faces in this photo? Not pictured.....Our special guests Mr. Art Fesemyer, Mr. Ed & Mrs. Eleanor Marini, Mr. Gene Roliff and Mrs. JoAnn Tondigila Smith (class of 1968).

Mrs. Cheryl Summers Creech (Class of 1971) volunteered to make our table centerpieces, as well as take photos of our entire weekend events. Susan Yarolin Carlton give a very beautiful, tender convocation. Clarice Bew Scott showed us she still had beautiful, strong 'pipes' by singing acapella 'Impossible Dream'.

If you haven't had an opportunity to purchase RHS Class of 1969 mugs, we still have a few left. It is also not too late to order a photo DVD & CD, which will include the wonderful Power Point Presentation Eric Courtney and Tom Riddle put together for our reunion. There will be two (2) disks sent to each classmate who have ordered and pre-paid.....the DVD can be played on a DVD player. The CD can be played on a computer, so if you don't have computer access, you will be able to view the entire reunion weekend through a DVD player on your TV screen. The final product will also include photos from Friday night's casual gathering at the English Pub, as well as photos from our reunion Saturday evening. Eric and Tom anticipate having these finished and ready to mail about 30 days after the reunion. So, DVD's & CD's should be mailed around September 10th or so. Please contact Eric Courtney for Mug and DVD & CD orders at courtney.e@att.net or at 330-524-0155.

Our reunion golf outing was a success. Eight of us braved the cool, cloudy weather with a few sprinkles of rain here and there. The team of Sam Shipley, Mark Bowen, Melody Drugan Greene and Pam Summers Lee, kicked butt against Charlie Bailey, Sally Kyle Lentz, Patti Mazzola Buchanan and Nancy Roen Dunlap. They were 2 over....we were 3 UNDER.....We be the champs, thank you very much! If you guys want a re-match, we're in! A few photos were taken of this event, which will also be on the reunion DVD/CD.

It was a GREAT weekend! Classmates who could not attend, got a lot more sleep and didn't end of hoarse like most of us. Poor Sam Shipley's voice was totally gone by Saturday night. You all were greatly missed, so we hope you will be able to attend the next class gathering!

(A few more photos of our reunion weekend will be posted here and there over the next several weeks, so stay tuned.)

ANOTHER FAMOUS CLASSMATE

Barrie Stambaugh Forner gave this card to me over our reunion weekend. How fun is this? I absolutely LOVE IT!