Submitted Photo Pictured are members of the Cardinal Mindszenty High School Class of 1967 celebrating their 50th class reunion Saturday, Aug. 8 at the Clarion Hotel. “True friends are never apart — maybe in distance but never in heart.”

Dear Classmates and Friends,

Many reunions ago I learned that one of the duties of a “reunion coordinator” following the reunion weekend, was to write a summary of the events and submit it along with a picture to the OBSERVER. I could do just that and I will. However, the celebration of our 50th Class Reunion turned out to be so much more special than just the events of which it consisted. So to just prepare a statement of facts and “leave it at that,” would be, as we used to say in Catholic school, a “sin of omission.” In fact, this celebration turned out to be so much more than we ever could have hoped…far beyond “just what we did.” And so here it is … “the rest of the story.”

Our 50th Class Reunion…what a momentous occasion! Graduation Day, Sunday, June 25, 1967, seems and actually was a lifetime ago. The term “50 year reunion” implies we’ve been friends for 50 years. However, it doesn’t tell the whole story. Yes, it has been 50 years since graduation — a milestone day of endings and new beginnings, but doesn’t even begin to summarize how connected most of us have been throughout our lives. Some of us started off in kindergarten, then eight years of grade school, four years of high school and adding those years to the 50 we’ve been keeping our friendships alive brings that total to around 63 years! Translated into words, that means we’re more than “just” friends — more like a family of friends.

Our class graduated 110 and over the years we have lost 18 of our friends. Our 50th class reunion was the really big one and the most important thing to making it a success was to “invitingly convince” (sometimes by any means possible!) as many of our remaining 92 classmates as possible to attend. “Should I stay or should I go?” became our 50th reunion catch phrase and we were determined to try to get everyone not to stay home. As the reunion dates and deadlines for reservations got nearer, “the committee” resorted to other tactics.

My husband may have even told me I was “pushy” and that he wouldn’t answer the phone if he saw that I was calling! I smiled and reminded him that I was being pleasantly persistent, yet determined! To that end, almost every one of our friends were contacted through text message, email, and phone call to get basic contact information to update a new class directory. If the info was not readily available, there was always a classmate or “someone who knew someone who knew someone” to finally make the contact. Okay, it may have taken a little more than persistence. There was also some nagging, bugging and whining involved. When those failed, the greatest of all weapons in the Catholic arsenal had to be brought out — guilt! Let’s just say that even after all the years since Catholic school this proved to be an effective method to enhance reunion turnout. One of our committee members resorted to threats and intimidation.

A classmate revealed that she went to pick her car up after an oil change only to find that the car was being held for ransom! She was told by the owner of the business that she couldn’t have her car back unless she signed up to come to the reunion! She did so on the spot.

And come you did. It was amazing to watch 51 classmates and friends from as far away as Las Vegas, Washington state, Florida, Ohio, Michigan, Rhode Island, Kansas, North/South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Missouri, Massachusetts, “out of area” New Yorkers, and “the locals” seeing one another for the first time in years. At shortest time five years since the last reunion and in some cases, the longest being 50 years since graduation. Yes, there were a number of first timers, as well as one dear friend we were “after” who for the past 20 years at reunion time always promised “the next reunion.” Finally got him! And another friend who said: “After much thought about coming or not, we decided to make the leap. This is the first one I’ve been to. There better be name tags!” Another “I’m in!” They just happened to pick the best and most important reunion since graduation!

The Clarion Hotel was our venue for both Friday and Saturday nights. Martha Frey, the Clarion’s Restaurant and business manager, could not have been more wonderful, helping us every step of the way with our menus, room/table set-ups and accommodating any request we had. It was a warm, welcoming and classy atmosphere to celebrate our 50th reunion. The word perfect comes to mind. The large heavy felt purple and gold Mindszenty Banner, retrieved from safekeeping at the Dunkirk Historical Society, was on display in the banquet room, a tribute board to our deceased classmates was present, a large “Class of 1967” banner was available for all classmates to sign, get well cards were ready to be signed and sent to those who were not able to attend the reunion, tables were decorated — and with that, the CMHS Class of 1967 “One and Only” 50th class reunion was ready to begin!

For the reunion “regulars” it was easy. We’ve been together a number of times over the years –knowing we’re no spring chickens, not as much hair and with a few more wrinkles, we come anyway. First-timers are a little more leery, but they soon learn that nobody cares what anyone looks like as long as you know who they are! It was a joy to watch old friends reconnect — even with our senior yearbook picture name tags it was sometimes hard to tell who was who. A typical initial encounter between classmates went like this: A hug and…”Hi! How are you after all these years”?!…and grabbing the nametag…”Now WHO exactly ARE you?”…and then: “NOW, I remember you!” The same scenario played out all night.

The “Sammy Slicker Band” provided great music. There was dancing, singing, the usually craziness between friends — and absolute nonstop talking, talking, talking — so much talking that everyone had to be reminded several times that there was food to eat! Everyone loved the name tags, reunion mugs and the class directory. One classmate brought Mindszenty t-shirts for everyone! The memorabilia from the days of yesteryear was unbelievable. Mindszenty jackets, sweaters, prom pictures and even the signs we had to wear for our “Freshman Initiation” back in September 1964 were on display! There were even Beatle cards!

How do you put into words the emotion that you could feel in the room and still is remembered in your heart and mind? Sam Mancuso was our bartender. If there was ever anyone you would want to talk with/confide in at a bar it would be Sam. Besides being a great bartender he is an even better person, knows everyone, and has been a part of so many local lives in one way or another. Sam paid our class a great compliment. He said: “I’ve worked a lot of class reunions but I’ve never seen the camaraderie and genuine affection between classmates as I have here tonight.” I told him that we were always a close class but the friendship he was seeing between classmates existed because we had all genuinely really liked each other so many years ago.

A classmate’s spouse said: “I was trying to figure out what was different (about your class and this reunion) — then it hit me — it was your faith in God. There was a feeling of unity, faith, and friendship that emanated when you were all in the same room.” Yes, it was true, you could almost touch it.

Our Reunion Mass on Saturday evening was held outside at the home of Maureen and Ed Stegle. Fr. Joseph Gatto, CMHS Class of 1975 and Rector-President of Christ the King Seminary, was the celebrant. Inspiring, emotional, and heartfelt would only begin to describe Mass and the accompanying music. Fr. Joe gave the perfect homily both in word and presentation. He stressed that he would not be the person he is today without the influence of the priests and faculty from Mindszenty, role models who lived the “Courage, Faith, and Loyalty” they hoped to impart to their students. He told us that the priests didn’t just teach us but were responsible for other numerous duties as well.

“Fr. Dowdell not only taught Spanish, but mowed the lawn, washed windows, and worked around the school grounds.” Although pay for both religious and lay staff was minimal, they were happy to be at Mindszenty. Fr. Nick Rossello, our chemistry teacher, used to tell us that whenever faculty members got together they always said their best years working were the ones they spent in Dunkirk at Mindszenty. They loved the school, the kids, and the city. Many tears were shed listening to Father Joe express what being a part of Mindszenty meant to all of us.

Our Saturday night sit-down dinner at The Clarion followed Mass. Gifted bottles of wine, personalized for our reunion, were given to class members. The enthusiasm picked up right where it left off the previous evening. There was dancing to the music of our D.J. Joe Gould, and Kevin Polowy, our photographer for the evening, continued to capture new memories in the making. Much time was spent at the memorabilia table to which more had been added this night, and the visiting and conversations continued.

So many many memories were remembered and shared again and again…

*Friends we have lost and friendships renewed…

*Dances in the gym…the tap on your shoulder from a Faculty member with the reminder: “You’re dancing too close!”

*The girls (homerooms and lockers) on the second floor, the boys on the third floor…

*Pep rallies…the girls on the left side of the gym, boys on the right…

*Masses in the gym…girls on the left side, boys on the right…

*Kneeling to make sure our skirts weren’t rolled and too short…AND that there was not a note tucked in that rolled skirt

*Making sure the top button on our blouses was safely closed…

*Getting detention for wearing a girdle in girls’ gym class…

*Escapades of several well-known and loved classmates involving “The Point,” climbing out a classroom window etc; *Multiple reports of the “parties behind the garage” at…WHERE? You were there! You know where it was!

*Junior Day: Mass in the gym…receiving those coveted, long awaited Mindszenty class rings…and giving them away; the memorable Junior Day Dance that night

*Fr. Breitnauer’s golf ball…and his “tail”

*Mindszenty sports…football at the Mindszenty Field behind Holy Trinity Church; basketball in the gym…cheers so loud there was ringing in the rafters, especially during Dunkirk and Fredonia games

*Homecoming, musicals, Junior and Senior proms, a special Halloween Dance…

*Biology Lab, Chemistry Lab, and Physics Lab all operating out of the same room

*The CMHS “Annex” at St. Mary’s School which housed several years of Mindszenty freshmen because there were so many students enrolled we couldn’t all fit into the “Main Building” on Central Avenue…

*The faculty, role models who knew us, taught us, put up with our craziness, knew when we tried to pull a fast one, loved us anyway, one who lent a classmate his car to take his date to the Senior Prom…

*And classmates, the friends we came to Mindszenty with, the ones we made there, and who still, 50 years later, remain so important, the ones with whom we share old memories and now the joys and trials of our present lives.

The list could go on and on, memories of a lifetime all taking place in a very special building on Central Avenue.

And so, our “One and Only” 50th Class Reunion Weekend has come and gone. It has been said that there are four things you can’t get back: “The Word after it’s said, the Stone after it’s thrown, the Occasion after it’s missed, the Time after it’s gone.” This was truly a special moment in time — a once in a life time occasion to celebrate with the people who helped to make so memorable four of the most important years in life.

Thank you to everyone in our class who made this the “absolutely best reunion weekend ever.” These are not my words but yours, sent by text, e-mail, phone calls, letters and cards. Thank you, my friends, your very presence made our reunion a success. Thank you for your generous donations, and for those “over the top” gifts of the band, table wine, DJ., photographer, and t-shirts. For our friends who were unable to come due to conflicting commitments, health issues, etc. — out of sight is not out of mind. We remember each and every one of you, in our prayers, the “stories” we retell, and the memories we keep.

On behalf of Jim, Tom, and myself, thank you for your many, many kind phone calls, text messages, and e-mails. It was our great honor to have been “in the thick of it” renewing old friendships and strengthening the bonds of friendships that still continue to grow. We were, and still are, blessed to be part of the Cardinal Mindszenty High School Class of 1967.

Although Mindszenty is closed as a teaching facility, the spirit that lived within its walls forever remains alive and well in each and every one of us…

“Purple and Gold, never apart…lives forever in our hearts.

Fight on Mindszenty…THE SPIRIT STILL LIVES!”

With much love and many memories old and new…

RUA, (Remember Us Always)

Maureen McGraw Stegle

Tom Ivory

Jim Nichols

P.S. Can’t wait to see everyone again the weekend of July 12-13, 2019 to celebrate our 70th (WOW!) birthdays!

Editor’s note:

While not nearly as old as members of the CMHS Class of 1967, it was a pleasure seeing many of them on the Friday night of their reunion. The following letter expresses the feelings of many CMHS graduates I have spoken with over the years.

Gib Snyder

CMHS 1968