Brighton HS 60th Reunion

 

Brighton High School Reunion

October 2024

 

            In June I get an e-mail from Martha Presberg Supnik [Note: From now on I’ll use “high school names” for ease & better recognition.] about a 60^th (!!) reunion for our BHS class of 1965, to be combined with the surrounding classes of ’64 & ’66. I’ve made 2 reunions (1985 & 2002) but missed the 50^th due to other travels, so I’m very pleased to have another chance to catch up with classmates. I do wonder how many are still around and able. Martha and a reunion committee put a lot of effort into locating people; it appears that about 35 will attend. A couple of options for lodging are available, and a nice schedule of activities. We’re asked to send a “selfie” and short bio to be combined in a reunion yearbook. It will be interesting to see the lives that classmates have lived. Marjorie will join me. She’s something of a reunion junkie: every 5 years since 1970 except 2020 (due to COVID) for her Portage WI high school; I attended and enjoyed their gatherings in 2000 & 2010.

            We kick off our weekend early with a “cocktail party” fundraiser at St. Pius X for orphanages in the Dominican Republic and other sites. Surprisingly, I still remember how to tie a tie. On the way over I learn the secret of Marjorie’s personality, as reported by fellow Virgo Malcolm Gladwell: “demanding, critical, and picky.” Forget I said that! The fundraiser is a nice affair: a program on the history and current programming of the orphanages, tasty food stations from various local restaurants, wine tasting.

            More than a week of summery 70s notwithstanding, Fall is moving along. We’ve enjoyed traveling around: most of a week in the Finger Lakes, other local scenic drives. Some frosty mornings. Halloween next week. Scariest of all, the election, rated a “toss-up,” in 10 days. Hopefully we can avoid political discussions during the reunion.

Friday, 10/24: “The Old Homestead”

            A lovely morning to start out, sunny & crisp with some frost. Our long-tasting beautiful Fall colors continue for our drive to Rochester. Even a rest area with trucks of many colors. We listen to podcasts, including ones featuring comic Paula Poundstone. Past a car with “Sith Lord” on the side, shades of Star Wars! Haven’t driven along this route in a while-- Syracuse, Montezuma Wildlife Refuge, and other memories. Thru Pittsford, pretty neighborhoods & trees, onto busy Monroe Avenue.

Looking for a bite to eat we pull into Wegman’s (a local institution, founded in 1917) at Pittsford Plaza, a “retail heart” of the community for over 40 years. Perhaps I should say Wegman’s Extravaganza! There’s so much here, so fancy (even chefs wearing toques), so many choices (even movie nights)! We get our bearings enough to get a few bakery items to eat upstairs by the Café.  

Instead of checking into our hotel we continue to “Twelve Corners” (thankfully, not replaced by a traffic circle), then along Elmwood Ave to Bonnie Brae Ave and the neighborhood & house where I grew up; and where Mom lived until about 1972. The house looks pretty much the same, tho some changes to the exterior. The single-car garage in back is still there. I’m struck by how narrow the yard is, surrounding houses seem so close; in my childhood mind the yard was much bigger! It’s still a lovely neighborhood, beautiful trees, the nearby park we used for pickup baseball & football games looks very much the same. A fine place to grow up! I take some photos to share with brother Doug, and another for best friend Carl Reynolds of his house (sorry he couldn’t make it to the gathering). We continue to the other (richer) side of Elmwood thru my paperboy route.

To the Country Inn & Suites on Monroe Ave by mid-afternoon. This hotel is centrally located within minutes of the various reunion venues. Time to relax before reunion activities begin. Well, the reunion begins informally in the hotel lobby when I encounter a group of classmates, including Amanda McKee & husband Bill, Gayle Kerney and her sister, and Kathy Kennedy (who I learn lives on an island near Vancouver!). Amanda has come with lots of memorabilia. A friendly & enjoyable way to get started.

To nearby King’s Bend Park along the Erie Canal for a “Catered Picnic.” Cloudy now, a chill in the air, but nonetheless a pretty site. This is apparently a good fishing spot. We’re gathering in one of two winterized lodges. At the door we receive name tags with our yearbook picture, color-coded by class year; spouse/partners receive the same so we’ll know to whom they “belong.” Picnic fare (burgers, dogs, sausages) served from a food truck outside, ice cream sandwiches distributed later. Not the best acoustics, very loud, but we manage and it’s good to connect with a bunch of people. Marjorie & Bill hang out to chat in a “spouse corner.” A fireplace mantel at one end has lists of departed classmates from each class. Someone reads a nice series of “thankyous” from Hank Liebling (who can’t be here).

Back to the hotel. Game 1 of the World Series, a classic Yankees/Dodgers pairing. And a classic game: Dodgers win on a 10^th-inning walk-off grand slam, the 1^st ever!

             

Saturday, 10/25: “Back to School”

            A pretty good breakfast spread at the hotel, joined by a few classmates. A nice AM, cool with mix of clouds & sun. Marjorie heads out to Buffalo to connect with my stepsis Mar at her framing shop; artist Marjorie is looking for mat board to frame her creations (my classmates are intrigued by her work in alcohol ink). I’ve arranged to ride with Amanda & Bill to a tour of the school. Driving over we note the absence of iconic “Don and Bob” restaurant; tho Bill notes that the original, now named “Don’s Original,” is still open in Sea Breeze. [An internet search finds a “Whatever happened to ... Don & Bob's?” article in the Times Union in 2019.]

            The group gathers at the flagpole in front of the high school. After walking some hallways, into a classroom for an interesting PowerPoint presentation by Principal Tom Hall, giving up his Saturday for us! A combination of reminiscence and how things have changed. Some history: the school’s 1^st graduating class in 1932 had 22 students; now about 300, like our class. We’re reminded of our Principal Bill Greenham (my Mom was his secretary when he was Assistant Superintendent) and Vice-Principal Marion Handel. The school is still very high quality. A National Blue Ribbon School. Rated #1 High School in the Rochester area, #1 in Best Places to Teach and Best Teachers. Strong academic accomplishments by students (who are taking ACT exams as we tour). Changes? More racial & socioeconomic diversity; e.g., a listing of nearly 50 languages spoken in the district, increased eligibility for free lunches.

            Some Q & A. We’re told no books are banned. Indeed, there’s a showcase of books banned elsewhere, students given an opportunity to read and write a report on them. What happened to the infamous “slab” behind the school where smokers would congregate? Answer: buried by construction. How did the Brighton Barons (in our time) become the Brighton Bruins? That had to do with finding a good mascot: a “Monopoly”-type figure didn’t work very well (and perhaps raised some “political correctness” issues). A bear (Bruin) was chosen in 2020 by students over Bulldog & Bobcat. More touring the school. 

Expanded pool (where boys in our day would have swimming classes naked!) and weight room. A nice lunchroom. Auditorium is pretty much the same - memories of My Fair Lady and Finian’s Rainbow. Into a chem lab, triggering more memories (and PTSD?) of my days as a Chemistry major at the U of R before coming to my senses to become a sociologist. Small Alumni Courtyard, a gift of the Class of 1955, where we can donate bricks.

Back to the hotel. A short walk to Dunkin’ Donuts. Another memory: I pass Whepley & Paul, where I’d had many eye exams & purchased glasses. Marjorie returns from Buffalo, after some complications getting out of the city, with time to relax before dinner.

Out to Irondequoit Country Club, a pretty setting for “mingling and socializing.” Tasty appetizers & buffet dinner. Much conviviality and catching up, too much to try to report here. Class photos as we manage to squeeze onto a small staircase. Suffice to say, a good time is had! Back to the hotel, Yankees lose again.

 

          
Sunday, 10/26: “Brunch and Memories”

More chatting with classmates in the hotel lobby. Gayle Kerney does her morning Wordle & Connections routine. Conversation includes Debbie Koop’s organic farming around Cobleskill, where I play golf and deliver blood for the Red Cross. A gathering for brunch in the Café at Wegmans. Some people here I hadn’t seen earlier. More memories, including Mrs. Botsford’s dance classes attended by many of us. Still remember the foxtrot?

Time to head back home. A familiar drive: thru Pittsford, over a stretch of the Erie Canal, by Bushnell’s Basin and onto the Thruway. Another pretty drive. Into one of the new Applegreen service areas, greeted by a cheerful green frog waste receptacle.

 An enjoyable and well-organized reunion. Kudos to the organizing committee, including from our class: Martha, Gail Cherry, Ron Gould, Paul Reissig, Nancy Glessman. Johanna Coleman has asked us to send her photos; as I recall, she will work on putting together a reunion yearbook. It was so good to see many classmates. Some, like Amanda, are easily recognizable (ponytails even!), others not so much. I’ve sprinkled a few names into this account. Others include Bob Breiman, Morrie Gold, Rob Lewis, Art Clark, Joan Rubin, Ross Hunter, Andy Germanow, Arnie Shapiro, Lee Dilley, Diane Ronner. But too many to keep track of everybody, my apologies for missed or garbled names. It was interesting to hear what people have been doing with their lives. I look forward to more complete bios in the reunion yearbook.