The 50th Reunion
Photos
Lots of photos were taken at the reunion. We hope you enjoy browsing thru them. Just click on the link to see the photos.
Attendees - see who attended the event
Comments from Your Reunion Co-Chairs, Arlene (Asher) Davis and George Kachen
Hard to believe we graduated from the old Pink Prison on June 14th, 1957, but we did, and on Saturday, 23 June 2007 at the Claremont Hotel in Berkeley and again the next day at the Montclair Recreation Center, we celebrated the event that saw 424 grads step into the world. We’ve made our mark on the world in diverse and significant ways!
Over the past year we’ve thought a lot trying to figure out what draws us together at these reunions—especially as many of us haven’t been in contact since we graduated. We’re sure there isn’t a “one answer fits all” reason, but we think a lot of us would acknowledge that the “tie that binds” is our common history at a time in our lives when we were learning to spread our wings. High school, especially in the 50’s, seemed to be a time to think about what we wanted to focus on following graduation, but it was also a carefree time when our center was, for the most part, ourself. We graduated, and we got ourselves planted in the world outside that of the OHS safety net that had sheltered most of us for 4 years. Perhaps our 50th gathering was a way of saying,
We Can Come Home Again!
Congratulations to All of Us!! Hope you enjoyed yourselves!!
- Arlene and George
Background Leading Up to the 50th Reunion
The planning for the 50th began over 2 years prior to the actual event. The Reunion Co-Chairs, Arlene (Asher) Davis and George Kachen, wanted to make this reunion extra special for everyone. In early 2005, George began the process of trying to find people—trying to find email and snail mail contacts.
In Spring 2005, Arlene and George, who lives in Boston, MA, met in San Francisco for dinner at Roy’s for a face-to-face planning meeting. They were joined with their ever supportive spouses, Bob and Donna.
Arlene, Donna, George, Bob
Later that year, Arlene began the first of many, many contacts with the Claremont Hotel staff. Although it was over two years before the actual reunion, she had the Claremont pencil in the date of 23 June 2007. The gamble at that point was the size of the room and how many attendees would we be able to commit for!! Although we had less than 100 attendees for the 45th reunion, we bet on a total of 160 for the BIG ONE. [By the way, we did have 156 in attendance.]
For the next year, Arlene and George went about the planning. Notices went out via email and snail mail in 2006 (300 envelopes stuffed by George’s in-laws in the summer of 2006!!) and again in early 2007. Unfortunately, however, large amounts of both snail mail and email came back as “undeliverable”. By the time of the reunion, we had contacts for only 224 of the June 1957 class of 424. If you have contact information for anyone you didn’t see at the reunion, please let us know!!
In 2006, Arlene and friends met to discuss further planning at their annual “get-together. In early 2007, Arlene convened the first of several “Reunion Committee” dinner meetings at her home in Piedmont. The committee consisted of: Marty (Durst) Gulko, Bob Kristic, Loretta (Williams) Talbert, Judy (Thompson) Boyd, Marlene (Cherry) Fingerut, Ann (Wilson) Jones, Mike Snyder, Susan (Warner) Cochran, Fred Selinger, Sandra (Horswell) Steinbeck, Joan (Martinson) Deuel, Maureen (Kelleher) Scarpitti, Kathleen (Colvin) Ryan, Judy (Viera) Tingly, Clark Smith, Mary Lee (Abbey) Clark.
Nike Snyder, Loretta (Williams) Talbert, Susan (Warner) Cochran, Marlene(Cherry) Fingerut, Judy (Thompson) Boyd, Ann (Wilson) Jones, Arlene (Asher) Davis, Marty (Durst) Gulko, Fred Selinger
On Super Bowl Sunday 2007, the first notice went out to everyone to sign up for the event. Gradually reservations came in. At the same time the committee met more often to plan food, prizes, entertainment and the sequence of events. The final weeks before the reunion became very hectic. Arlene had many calls to the Claremont, including visits with Bob Kristic. Marty (Durst) Gulko collected everyone’s write-up and began the compilation for the book that was handed out at the reunion.
Donations came in, including all of the T-shirts, tote bag (with logo) and all of the committee plaques and awards from a classmate who wished to remain anonymous..
Finally it all came together. Arlene (and husband Bob), George (and wife Donna), Marty and Loretta took time out for a pre-reunion dinner two days before the big night.
 Donna, George, Loretta, Marty, Bob, Arlene |
 George & Arlene |
Then the Day Arrived!
Classmates saw each other at the hotel and the reminiscing began!!
 Bobette (Egan) Peterson, Joan (Kroll) Bernardin, Mary Lee (Abbey) Clark, George Kachen |
 Emil & Maureen (Kelleher) Scarpitti, Barbara (Brown) Davis and Donna Kachen |
As the reunion was about to start, committee members scrambled to get things set up, with Ann (Wilson) Jones and others helping Loretta (Williams) Talbert setup the elaborate centerpieces that she had designed and created.
Meanwhile, at the entrance to the Claremont, guests could see vintage 1957 cars brought in by our classmates.
Owned by: Jackie (Lee) & Jerry Lew Owned by: Joan (Martinson) & Garry Deuel
Meanwhile, inside the Claremont Hotel, people began filing into the Sonoma/Monterey Rooms, registered, and began conversations with long-lost fellow classmates. In the background, a movie ran of the past events and school photos—a DVD beautifully crafted by Marty (Durst) Gulko’s grandson.
Finally the reunion started with Arlene and George kicking it off and a welcoming by Senior Class Presidents, Marty (Durst) Gulko and Fred Selinger.
And various awards and acknowledgements were made, including a special award to Arlene’s husband, Bob Davis, for all of the work he did in preparation for the reunion. The inscription on his award read: “This plaque confirms upon Robert Do More Davis the title of honorary member of the OHS Class of June, 1957”.
Arlene, George, Sue (Warner) Cochran & Loretta (Williams) Talbert
The buffet dinner was enjoyed by all.
Bob Kristic acknowledged those who unfortunately are no longer with us, and later he became the roving reporter as he solicited comments from former classmates.
Bob Kristic Chuck Gielow
For entertainment, we had singer Bonnie (Perkins) Munkers, and then Joan (Kroll) Bernardin, Judy (Miller) McNamara, Deanne (Davies) Kelley (and of course Fred) lead everyone in the Oakland High Fight Song!!
 Bonnie (Perkins) Munkers |
 Judy (Miller) McNamara, Deanne (Davies) Kelley, Joan (Kroll) Bernardin, Marty (Durst) Gulko--hidden |
 Joan (Kroll) Bernardin |
Photos of all attendees and the candid shots of the fun evening can be seen at this website.
Sunday, 24 June Picnic
The next day, Sunday, there were chance meetings with classmates who stayed over at the Claremont.
 Joan (Kroll) Bernardin & Maureen (Kelleher)Scarpetti |
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 Marty (Durst) Gulko & Loretta (Williams) Talbert |
Top: Joyce (Edwards) Pendleton + George Kachen Front: Gwenn (Waline) Grondal, Joyce (Fortini) Fritz, Nancy (Paynter) Parkinson & Audrey (Crespan) EngenFor the afternoon, we reconvened for a casual picnic at Montclair Recreation Center. Kathleen (Colvin) Ryan and her team organized this fun time, including the making of salads and sandwiches.
 Loretta (Williams) Talbert, Kathleen (Colvin) Ryan, Bruce Cameron, Marty (Durst) Gulko |
 OHS Baseball Team, “Mike’s Wildcats” Top: Barry Ferris & George Williamson Middle: Bob Kristic & Mike Conners Bottom: Emil Scarpitti & Bob Davis |
 Judy (Adams) Givens, Arlene Davis, Nancy (Paynter) Parkinson, Joyce (Fortini) Fritz |
 Ken Teakle, George Kachen, Bob Kristic, Stan Steele |
Enjoy the rest of the photos on this website.
See you in 3 years time for another fun get-together!!