Okay, so it hasn’t been as long as since the TV show “Car 54 – where are you?” aired on TV (1961-1963) but can you believe that it’s been nearly 40 years since we last walked the hallways of Tecumseh SS as students? Forty years!
Another way to think of it would be to remember back, nearly 45 years, when we attended our very first day there in 1972!
I remember clearly meeting up with the friends from grade school (who also picked Classical Humanities so as not to have to go to CK) out in front of the school and heading in to our new adventure. It didn’t take long before we met new friends and as they say “the rest is history”.
How come I can easily remember sitting in the gym watching Paul Henderson score the goal that beat the Russians, or the flower making parties, or the dances where we walked in circles around the gym like inmates do in prisons, or the bush parties, or throwing water-balloons off the roof with Mitch Habas and Mark Merritt down onto an outdoor assembly, but I now can’t remember what I did last week or the name of a person I’ve worked with for 35 years as I meet him and his wife in a mall?
I’ll tell you why…because we were young and impressionable and those years shaped us into the persons we’ve become!
Those years, and the experiences at Tecumseh, with the teachers we had and our classmates both in our own grade and with the schoolmates in years ahead of, and behind us, left a lasting impression on us.
I can honestly say I don’t think I’ve spoken with anyone, from anywhere, who says they continue to have regular contact with their high school classmates like Tecumseh students seem to have. Although we’ve gone our separate ways since 1977, many have stayed in touch with each other.
The Class of ‘77 had a couple of reunions: a 10 year reunion one at the Polish Hall, and then a golf outing a few years ago. It’s always nice to run into a classmate and reminisce a little bit. Then there was the large 1970’s reunion, organized by Scott Primeau and his committee, to recognize the significance of Tecumseh, with a historical plaque and then to celebrate with a huge dance at the Kinsmen Auditorium.
If you attended that reunion I’m sure you’ll agree it was a fantastic event, and those that missed it probably heard from others how much fun it was.
Well, now we all have another opportunity!
This July 22 & 23 we’re organizing another reunion for the Tecumseh classes of ’76, ’77 and ’78 to get together in Chatham to renew old friendships, tour the old school, have a few drinks and then go back in time and party to the band Friends at a dinner and dance!
This might just be that opportunity for you to head back to Chatham for the first time in years, with your “significant other”, your children and hell maybe even your grandchildren to show them some of the old haunts like the Dairy Queen, your elementary school … if it still exists, the house you grew up in and some of the drinking establishments we frequented like the Kingsway, the Parkview and the Tiltin’ Hilton!
Chatham may be a good place to come from but it’s a nice place to return to as well.
This reunion is the reason to return! I know what you’re thinking! “I’d like to come but I’m not sure I want to be around that class of ’76! They were so cliquey!” Well, I don’t disagree with you. Their class list is about 90 percent up-to-date with current email addresses, Facebook information, home addresses, birth dates and shoe sizes. So yes, they do seem to be very familiar with each other, whereas our class list is more in the 30 percent range for current contact information.
Soooooooo…..here’s the challenge!
Let’s do our best to contact as many of our classmates as possible and outnumber the classes of ’76 and ’78 at this reunion! Visit the website and then see if you can reach out to some of our classmates and get their information to us.
Send an email with a link to this website (www.tecumsehreunion2016.com) to any classmates you keep in touch with, or know how to get in touch with. The sooner we do this the sooner travel plans can be made. Send me (thomasobrien@sympatico.ca) or Mark Delanghe (mdelanghe@kent.net) any new contact information you have, or share our email with your contacts!
Book the two events as soon as you can as Friday’s capacity is very limited and Saturday’s tickets could go fast.
Don’t regret missing this reunion. I guarantee this will be a fun event and one you’ll be glad you attended.
Cheers,
Tom O’Brien, Class of ’77
Becky
WowTom you look just the same!