Saturday, August 18, 2007
The Little Falls High School Class of 1957 held its 50th reunion during this year’s Canal Celebration. Members of the class of ‘57, their spouses and guests, former LFHS faculty members and members of the St. Mary’s Academy Class of 1957 could attend up to six events organized by the reunion committee, which consisted of Dr. Peter Adasek, of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Little Falls; Judy Agrelius, of Rochester; David and Evelyn Miller Blovat, of North Syracuse; and Judy Casadonte McDowell, of Little Falls.
The first event of the reunion weekend was a dinner and dance on Aug. 10 at the Little Falls Best Western, with Dr. Nicholas Dan Richie, of Delray Beach, Fla., serving as master of ceremonies. Richie, the class president, began the evening by introducing faculty guests and members of the St. Mary’s Class of 1957. Faculty and their guests in attendance were Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Tucker, Edwin Komanderek, Mr. and Mrs. Donald Musella, Eloise Frazier and Jane Schubbe. St. Mary’s graduates in attendance were Nancy Bonanni Tretola and Denise Sullivan Moore.
Evelyn Miller Blovat then read a memorial prayer in remembrance of deceased class members from Little Falls High School and St. Mary’s, who were further remembered by a display of their yearbook photographs. Dr. Richie continued by reading congratulatory letters from former faculty members Eugene Whitney, Leon Kreger and Ernest Satkowski.
After dinner, David Blovat presented a DVD of photographic memories of class members and played dance music from the 1950s. Each classmate received a gift bag filled with class memorabilia and items related to local history. The dinner and dance was attended by 67 people. Door prizes, consisting of historical prints of Little Falls, were donated by class member Mildred Pupchek Lowe and her husband Rodney.
On Aug. 11, the class members received a tour of the Benton Hall Academy complex, conducted by Little Falls City School District Business Manager Clete McLaughlin. Many of the alumni had spent their entire local educational experience there, from grade school to senior high school. In the evening, a buffet supper was held at the home of Dr. Adasek.
On Aug. 12, class members and their guests attended a picnic at Moreland Park, and the reunion ended on Aug. 13, with a canal boat ride, with continental breakfast, from Lock 18 through Lock 17 and back, and an afternoon tour of Salada/Redco.
The reunion committee thanked the local merchants and vendors who helped make the occasion a success, including the staff at the Best Western, Ruth Petkovsek, M.J. Carrig, Captain Tom Ryan, Clete McLaughlin, Cindy Campione and the Moreland Park staff.