It’s 2021 — One Year to 50th!!

https://www.wcax.com/2021/06/17/essex-high-school-celebrates-50-years-graduates/?fbclid=IwAR0KC2qhRXEmaCLvUwVu_UFi0VWBE5sa74KZUCfsfkN5r-D7D_EgM1r-54w

  WCAX Story of 50 Years of EJSH !!

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2017  ~~~  HELLO EJHS CLASS OF 1972!!!!

Are any plans in the works for the 45th Reunion???

Please let us know, so we can publish to this website!! 

People are asking!!

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2016  

We have been invited to the EJHS Class of 1976 40th Reunion!

~~ our first planning meeting for 45 Reunion of EJHS72 may happen then! ~~~
Here is the plan, with room to create and edit all events except Saturday evening!
FRIDAY, July 29: a late afternoon tour of EJHS, then meet in the evening at a Essex Jct. bar. We are thinking Backstage Pub, as On Tap has changed hands and can be extremely crowded…
SATURDAY DAY, July 30: tour of EJHS (if not on Friday), golf games and other activities planned by YOU in small groups!
SATURDAY EVENING: meet at 6pm and Dine and Dance on the Spirit of Ethan Allen. Boat sails from 6:30pm-9pm. $60 per adult. After the cruise, relive the Church St days or head over to Breakwaters if you are willing! Evite link: http://evite.me/ZSeElvhCW8M
SUNDAY, July 31: BYO picnic at the Sand Bar (or another beach of your liking) to spend time together. Perhaps a bike ride led by one of our classmates…
The only thing “set in stone” is the Spirit of Ethan Allen. Everyone is invited; they do not have to be official members of our class. Please pass this info onto others and I will create a Facebook Event, so you can invite Facebook Friends!   Thanks! EJHS Class of 1976 committee   ~~  Helen Prakelt Bishop

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EJHS 70s Alumni Barbeque  —

Sunday August 16th 2015  10-6 pm

Maple Street Park   Essex Junction  VT  

It’s all set and ready for YOU!!! 

It’s time for another EJHS 70s Alumni Barbeque. 

 Sunday August 16th ~~ Maple Street Park , Essex Junction

~~ Pot Luck Barbeque ~~

  Beverages/hot dogs/veggie & beef burgers/corn cob supplied

$10 donation suggested per person.   

Additional activities will happen– let’s party!

There may be a Saturday night get-together – ideas welcome!

Click here for FACEBOOK and sign in as ATTENDING!

Then share it with all your EJHS friends!!

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Happy New Year  — 2014-1972= 42 !!!!

It’s hard to believe that it is already 2014 —                                                that makes it 42 years!!  Wow!

    When Summer 2014 arrives, we WILL have another EJHS Barbeque.                   It went well at the Maple Street Park in August, and unless anyone has a better idea, let’s do it again!!

August 2014 ~~ Pot Luck Barbeque.  Beverages/hot dogs/veggie & beef burgers supplied. 

$10 per person.    Additional activities will happen– let’s party!

 How is that for easy to plan!!!  Let me know if you are planning to come.   Please make the effort — as this is a really fun time, and as you know, there will be fewer chances for us to connect as the years slip by.  We have been fortunate to have lost fewer than the statistically average number of classmates.   But every loss is sad, and a reminder of how important every day is, and the chance to connect with friends from the Essex Junction of the 1970s!!   

As the new year begins, we are blessed with all four seasons during the first two weeks of the year!   Snow, rain, warm, bitter cold.. you name it, we have had it!!   Some of you have headed to warmer places, either to live or for the winter.   Those people are now considered the smart ones ….  and get the class awards for “Most Likely to use Common Sense”!!   Actually, there is a lot of beauty and spectacular photo ops this week, if you can get past the flooding, ice jams, mixed precipitation, and occasional snow storm!  When the sun comes out it is really quite lovely.

Since last summer, we have lost two of our classmates.  Jim Jacobs died September 19 2013.  He had a view of Mt. Mansfield and was surrounded by his loving family.  And this week, news came that Jim Taft died January 10 2014 at Fletcher Allen in Burlington.   Both obituaries have been posted on this website (Gone But Not Forgotten).    From the Class of 1972, our thoughts and prayers to both of their families.

Please stay in touch with each other, and with this website too …   news is always welcome.  And if anyone want to help author/update the website ..  that would be great too!!!   Please feel free to make suggestions and to help plan out get-togethers!!   Remember that the older classes (EJHS ALUMNI EXCHANGE on Facebook) have their every-other-month dinner in Colchester.  All interested alumni are welcome!    

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We Had a BLAST at EJHS Class of 70s Bash!!!!

 Sunday August 4th !      Maple Street Park, Essex Junction

We started setting up at 10:00 and people started arriving in small groups ….   unfortunately my camera ran out of batteries just as the party got going.  More promised pictures which be posted at  Reunion Pictures

I have been promised more pictures from the other photographers, so there will be more!!  Start tagging, please, because some of us want to remember who we were talking to!!   The weather was great — with only a few drops of rain and a couple of small wind gusts…  the Pavillion was great!!   Many Many thanks to Donna Weston Piche, Audrey Manning Hendee, and Mary Kate Foley Rowan and the others who pitched in to help!! And very special thanks to Peter Rowan for manning the grill and keeping up with the corn, burgers, and dawgs!!   You’ll get that letter E soon if you keep this up!!

With music from the 70s (and late 60s for our older guests) in the background, we all had a great time at the park that looks nothing like the pool where some of learned to swim…..   We wrapped up about 5:00, just as the big black clouds with pelting rain and thunder and lightning engulfed the greater Essex Junction area!! 

The final vote was that we had a great time, and will likely do it again next year!!!   Remember to send you thoughts and ideas to ejhs72@gmail.com

 

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The Class of 1973 is having their 40th Reunion the first week of August!

We wish them as much fun as we had —  We have talked about a barbeque/picnic for Sunday of that weekend, and inviting classes of the 70′s to a day of fun and laughter!

Time to start planning — this way there will be lots of time for people to come from near and far.   The Maple Street Park is available for that day, but there is a no-alcohol rule.   We have the date, and it is time to start planning!  Let’s plan a get-together and get some ideas started. 

A GREAT way to avoid the mud-season blues!

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Send address/email to: ejhs72@gmail.com         Reunion Pictures

        EJHS72 Directory — Coming Soon!

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2012

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Send address/email to: ejhs72@gmail.com         Reunion Pictures

        EJHS72 Directory — Coming Soon!

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 40 Years! ~ Aug 18 2012  ~  The Inn at Essex

We DID it!     The Party was amazing!!                            

It has been an amazing two months,  reconnecting with 72ers and building up to a wonderful night full of hugs, laughter, and great memories … some remembered, and many new memories made.! 

Special thanks to Howard Longway .. who made the event incredibly memorable by helping us to remember so much!!

To Gene – with his wonderful gift of music and sound, to Kayte – who added her sparkle and song to the mix, to Marycatherine and Donna who planned and decorated and made it fun and beautiful, and to Jeanne, whose flash and camera will help us to remember for next time!    

  This has to be one of the most memorable nights I have had in a long time.   As many people have said, there were a lot of people I wanted to talk to more and didn’t get the chance…   That is a sign of a good thing, to leave wanting more!   Finally, a thank you to everyone who came and made the night amazing!!

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The Last Couple of Days

And now, as we head into the last couple of days before ejhs72 40th reunion….   there are only odds and ends remaining.  We are still trying to update the directory, so if you haven’t added your address and email to the mix, please do so now!!

If you find that you are magically going to be able to attend, there may be a few last minute seats (and plates) available.   Please contact me directly at ejhs72@gmail.com, and be ready with cash–  as the credit card door is now closed!!  If you are going to crash the party, let me know that too!  

BE READY FOR AN AWESOME ROCKIN’ PARTY!!!

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Final Week!!!

We re down to the last stretch now !!  We are counting napkins and making name tags!!  And what a blast this has been!   There are great oldie playlists being compiled and awesome decorations from the dynamic decorating duo team (Donna and Jeanne)!  Gene is fixing to set up the sound system for our old but discerning ears!  We previewed the spectacular DVD that Howard has put together, and he continues to work on it (send pictures!)  We are making reminder calls and hoping that you are calling your friends to be sure that they are aware of the reunion —  and (hopefully) planning to come!!  The more people, the more fun!  

There is a small (but very nice) committee of 72ers who plan to visit (local) classmates who are either too ill or housebound to attend, to share our best wishes and an ejhs72 goodie bag!!   Please let us know if you know of anyone who we can add to this list!

              HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!!

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~~~Two Weeks to go — Update ~~~

What a beautiful Vermont summer day!! We are ordering up another day just like this for next Saturday.  We had a wonderful meeting a with the event organizer at the Inn at Essex (Cindy Dolan’s niece).  All the details have been carefully planned, and a good time is expected for all!  We are going to have a BONFIRE!  From 10-11 p.m. there will be a bonfire at the pit outside. S’mores and a good time! And that is just the finale, wait until you see the reunion program!

We have found and contacted almost 80% of our classmates, and have a definite 50 people registered for the party.  There are many more who have said they are going to come, but haven’t registered yet — you know who you are!  This has been a really fun week, talking to old classmates and remembering things that happened and other people.  Found Maureen, who has been great and tracking down some of the last hidden classmates!!   For the next two weeks, it is important that we continue contacting classmates.  Right now, today, there are only 10 DAYS left to reserve a seat at the table.  It would be a shame to miss this great party! 

Mary Kate (formerly known as Mary Catherine) has joined the organizing team, and is putting together information and et cetera for classmates who are ill and/or unable to attend. Please let us know if there is someone we should put on this list.

Is there someone you want to see at the party?
  You better get on the phone and call to remind them!

We NEED pictures, videos, etc for DVD show … which should be available with the reunion booklet!  Remember, this makes a great 2012 End-of-the-World present!

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DAY 40

If anyone said that a reunion is impossible in 60 days — don’t believe them!

We are in the midst of record-breaking planning and partying!   We started about 4o days ago, and now have only 20 days before we get together and have a blast!!  The planning is underway, and this week we are talking to the Inn at Essex to make the final arrangements.   If you are coming and want a VEGGIE meal or have other special considerations, now would be the time to let the planning committee know!  Drop a note:   ejhs72@gmail.com

The name tag committee is hard at work, and the google-doc peoples are assembling the database of names and addresses.  Hopefully we will have a reunion booklet to share on the 18th.  If you want this booklet, please request one at ejhs72@gmail.com.   There is a group of older elves (aka 72ers) who are hard at work preparing ring.  There will be a bar available, and some background music.   Dinner will follow, after whichthis right now!!  Anyone who wants to can cyber-help!

We are also accepting pictures, videos, etc for DVD show … which should be available with the reunion booklet!  Makes a great End-of-the-World present!

The party, you say?   Well, there is the 4-6 pm gathering the party really gets going!  I saw the pictures of the older reunioners, and there appears to be a lot of sitting and passing around a mic.  I am hopeful that the planning committee has ideas for more active participation from this (much) younger group!   Not saying that you you have to dance or anything, but it would be sad to think of the class of 72 as sedentary and declining!  The new 60 should be 30, and perhaps we can come up with a theme around that.   I assume that when we have our 50th reunion, we will be sitting more .. but for now, get up and show what you still have!!

If you haven’t registered yet– do it today!!!

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july 25

What a great planning meeting! 

Things are in the works now —  we have a small sized crowd of reunioners guaranteed to make this a fun time!   There is an equal number of 72ers who have said they are going to come, but not registered.   There is a cut-off date — not sure when — so please be sure to REGISTER if you want to come.  Three weeks can go pretty fast in the beautiful summer weather!  

We have reached a big chunk of classmastes, but there are still some who have not heard.  Please continue to spread the word.   And NOW is a great time to remind classmates to put the date on their calendars and sign up.  Many of us need reminders — you know, post-its on everything, notes on the fridge, reminders here and there!   Not that we are losing our edge, it just comes with the reading glasses! (Post cards are available for download!)

               Make a couple of calls to classmates, and see you all real soon!

Mid-July

As of now, we have contacted about 60% of our classmates, have about 30 people coming to the reunion for sure, and a bunch more who have said YES but have not registered yet.   So .. .if you are one of the people who want to join in the fun, the time is NOW to make your reservation.   We create momentum as more people sign up and talk to each other — this looks to be a lot of fun, and the research shows that people in our age group will live longer if we have more fun!!  (Okay, I made that up, but it worked for Ben and Jerry!)

There has been some talk about reviving the slide show from Reunions Past.  This may be a problem as we aren’t sure if the slides are still available, and if so whether we can actually find a slide projector!!  We may have to embrace the technology of the 21st century, and possibly cyber-recreate a new version.   Any techno-whizzes wanna take this on??    There is a meeting at the Inn at Essex on Tuesday 07/24 at 4 pm — all are welcome!  I will have my iPad with wifi there, so if anyone wants to facetime, we can pass you around!

Meanwhile … Please — take a look at the STILL MISSING (click) list, and contact anyone you can dig up.  Googling, facebook, and other searches are permitted!!!   We should have started up a list of classmates with emails and addresses, which will be the next project.

Considering we have only been doing this for 33 days, we are doing a tremendous job!  Remember, any points scored after August 18th count for the 50th year reunion, and we aren’t sure what kind of shape the world (or any of us) will be in —  2022!!   Yup — better find everyone for this one!!

If you can’t make the reunion, please be sure to post your regrets and say HI to your old friends!

mid-June Posting 

Planning this event started in mid-June when (gasp) it was suddenly very apparent that the 40 year milestone of the 1972 high school graduation was about to slip by unnoticed.  This could not be!!  There is so much talk about 2012 (maybe) being the end of the world and all …    Something had to be done!!        

So, the word started to find its way out on Facebook .. and now the invitation is starting to find its ways out to classmates in all parts of the country, and probably the world!! 

While we understand that some members of the Class of 1972 probably still use the telephone and other types of communication, we do want to try to contact everyone in the class.  To that end, please click on Still Missing to find a list of classmates we are still trying to find …  Help us make this a great party and let your friends know!! And then, let us know who you have found and invited!!  You may just find yourself in contact with classmates that you forgot you liked so much!!

There are a number of classmates already on the Facebook event —  Click here to find out who!!

Please join us if you can on August 18th.

Complete details are to be found on the links on this page.  Join us, as we catch up with old friends and revisit the memories we share from so long ago in a very special time and place.

Class of 1972 -ish 

With thanks to John Stec and the alumni of years before, who set the example on how to reconnect.

  Look for EJHS Alumni Exchange on Facebook!