We hit 60, Baby!

Class of 1966

Left to right: Barb Ketchessin Pysher, Lillian Nadolsky Guzic, Patty Martynuska Oravecz, Darnell Yarnish Steberger, Elva Costlow Lutton, and Kathy Moyer.

Standing: Hugh Conrad, Larry Summerville, Joe Stauski, Frank Kawtoski, Romie Robine, Tim Panek, Marilyn Muldoon Krisko, Bruce Wheeler, Linda Glenn Behe, George Klayko, and Linda Marks Novotny.

When 54 students walked across the stage to receive their diplomas in May 1966, we knew that it was an ending and a beginning. The ending of Lilly-Washington High School and the start of an adventure in the unknown.

We have known happiness and heartache, joy and sadness, acccomplishmentand loss, but what we never thought of that night was that more than 60 years later, almost 32 percent of us would have a great celebration together to commemorate our lives that started on that day.

What was particularly gratifying is that we had such great interactions after those 60 years. We talked and laughed and thought about everything that had happened to us during that time: the children, grand children, great grandchildren, the accomplishments and areas of pride, and some of the heartache that inevitably are part of life.

Great thanks to those who were able to attend. We missed a few who were celebrating their own special days that continued like Joe Panek and Jean Seno Reitz, and we recognized the 11 of our classmates who are no longer with us.

However, the night at the Lilly American Legion was special, and I will post more photos and memories of that night.

The only thing I had to say of any relevance was this: “We hit 60, Baby,” and we hope to continue with another celebration in the future.

Special thanks to Barb Ketchessin Pysher for her gargantuan efforts, to Romie Robine and George Klayko for their recruiting efforts, to Lilly Nadolsky Gucci for decorating help, and to Margie Risko Panek for the great photos — and to those who celebrated a special evening.

More to come.