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Class of 1967, 50th Reunion NIFTY FIFTY!
Twenty members of the Class of 1967 gathered for a 3-day fete of their 50th Reunion, on May 5-7, 2017, almost half of whom traveled considerable distances to attend.
The planning started a year in advance, when classmate Monica MacAdams began bombarding everyone in the class with emails, while collaborating with MV’s alumni-liaison Weezie Foster Stoddard '82 and classmate Lynn Forni Bohnengel to organize the events.
The celebration kicked-off with MV’s annual Smead Luncheon on Friday, May 5th, where classmate Gail Steketee was honored with the Alumni Achievement Award. Dr. Steketee, the Dean and Professor at the Boston University School of Social Work, focused her fascinating remarks on her special area of expertise: “hoarding disorder,” inspiring many to resolve to run home and clean out their attics.
After lunch, Head of School Gary Boehm led a group on a tour of the “new” school; classmates who joined-in used one word in particular to describe the new facilities: “WOW!” We may be nostalgic about the “old” Upper School (new back in our day), but we’re envious of the kids who enjoy the current digs.
On Friday evening, classmates Lynn and Andy Bohnengel hosted a lively cocktail party at their beautiful home in Ottawa Hills, where classmate John Martin added to the merriment by showing up with extra libations and his MV report cards. The noise level suggested a good time was had by all, but confirmed when Lynn reported that little of the scrumptious food and almost NO drink were left over.
A wonderful docent-guided tour of the Toledo Museum of Art started Saturday morning on a lovely note, and caused some of the out-of-towners to wonder “why-oh-why-oh did I ever leave Ohio?” Several stayed for lunch at the Museum Café, where the food is tasty and the portions humongous, and toured the Glass Pavilion on their own. Not to be missed!
Saturday night dinner was held at the elegant (downtown) Toledo Club’s Corinthian Room, where the Class of ’67 was delighted to be joined by several “young-uns” from the classes of ’68 and ’69, as well as by MV staff. The Toledo Club provided a TV to view the Kentuckey Derby and a pitcher of Mint Juleps for those who wanted to get into the spirit, but spirit is one thing the event did not lack! Andy offered a warm and amusing greeting, and touched us with a toast in memory of our departed classmates: Stephen Morgenroth, Roland Zachman and Lyman Spitzer. As Andy later observed, the only downside to the evening was not having enough time to speak to everyone one-on-one.
On Sunday, May 7th, a smaller group joined in a “farewell” brunch on a beautiful (at last!) morning at the Carranor Club in Perrysburg. The sky was deep mid-western blue, the sun blazed, the food was delicious and the conversation even better…such that the Carranor staff had to throw everyone out!
Thanks to the classmates who helped plan/contribute to the Reunion: Monica, Lynn & Andy, Cathy Donnelly and John; to Gail for her Smead Luncheon “keynote speech;” and to the wonderful Weezie. But most especially, thanks to all the classmates who attended (including spouses and guests), because no amount of planning could have made the 50th as much fun as it was…it was the good company of dear old (OLD! Yikes!) MV friends that made the weekend such a big success.
Maumee Valley Country Day School is the only PreK-12th grade accredited, co-educational, and independent school in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan.
