To the Editor:
Through your newspaper we would like to convey our thoughts to the 1,400 plus Milford High School alumni and their guests who gathered on the former football field June 29 to enjoy the camaraderie and good times of days gone by. We hope you enjoyed the day. The weather was perfect, and the memories flowed.
We all owe a great debt of gratitude to the committee who worked for over a year to set up the event and provide for a smooth-running affair. Especially the committee officers and chairs of the sub-committees, Joel Baldwin, Nell Moll, Bruce Kuryla, Marty Merk, Ken Hawkins, Gail Sostilio, Jacquelyn Hartmann, Barbara Bordeau, Stacie Hart Plaut, Carol Molloy Smith, Ellen Richetelli, Valerie Seeley and Chris Carroll. To our Chairman Emeritus Bob Gregory, ’55, who handed over to us a well-oiled machine.
We honored 100-year-old Dorothy Winkler Paul from the class of ’31 as our queen, and Trevor Davis from the class of ’44 as our king of the reunion. Thanks to Beachwood Florist, who donated the flowers for the queen, king and their court.
Thank you to Mayor Benjamin Blake for the proclamation, Dotty Kal Kozlowski, for the permission to use her drawing of Ansantawae for our event banner, the Baseball League, who let us disrupt their schedule for a weekend, Foran High School Natural Helpers, Key Clubs from Joseph Foran and Jonathan Law High Schools, the board and tenants at River Park Apartments for opening “old Milford High School”, Steve and Anne Maher for the use of the “cop bucket”, for the Classic Cars on display, Durham Bus company for the shuttles, the Hampton Inn and Fairfield Inn, EMT’s, the Public Works Department, Recreation Department, Police Department and Fire Department for their cooperation, and the service clubs; Milford Elks and Kiwanis who sold food and drink to the assembled crowd, along with Oregano Joe’s Pizza and ice cream by Brain Freeze.
We thank Colleen Birney who sang the National Anthem and Girl Scout Troops 38345 and 30139 for ably assisting with a Flag ceremony and the Pledge of Allegiance. To “RJ the DJ” who spun records from all the eras. You all were great!
The final tabulation has not yet been made, but we know that there will be a significant contribution to the All-Class Reunion Committee Scholarship Fund that provides financial assistance each year to a graduate from each of the Milford high schools.
The financial success and the ability to keep the cost of the event down would not have been possible without our sole sponsor, The Milford Bank. Truly a local institution, The Milford Bank has been a dedicated partner to so many community activities.
Thanks to all who came and made the day a successful one. See you in five years for the next MHS All-Class Reunion.
Deb Franco Smith, ’75 and Win Smith, ’76
Co-Chairs, MHS All Class Reunion