70 Years Later, Memories Still Bring the Class of ’56 Together

by Julie Cordingley    

There’s no doubt about it: nostalgia is the driving force behind all high school reunions. And this one is no exception

As a chronic late person, I was feeling good, dare I say, proud of myself for arriving at the Washington Grill a half an hour before the start of the event. That is until I looked left, looked right, and realized there were already revelers before me. Seems the Boyertown Class of 1956 wanted to get their 70th high school reunion party started.

Okay; let’s do it!

There were walkers and canes, along with smiles and laughs, unsteady steps and a lot of hand holding. The three organizers Leon Mest, June Herb, and LaRue Sheetz were very pleased at the number of classmates attending even if they weren’t expecting everyone so early. Between the initial greetings, they had attendees sign in and don nametags. There were no assigned seats, but everyone seemed to find a great place to sit so that they could see and converse with ease. There were hearty handshakes and fierce hugs, the kind witnessed numerous times with the exclamation, “Oh, I was hoping I’d see you !”  

Sandy Bishop Ensminger and Barbara Yost Leister

It was decided that Sheetz would be the master of ceremony. As she laughingly explained, “No problem; everyone knows I’m not afraid to talk!” She welcomed everyone to their 70th and remarked how wonderful it was to see everyone. She expressed gratitude that they all made the effort to be there and asked them to kindly remember friends that could not. She gave a brief overview of what their reunion planners envisioned including asking each alumnus to think of something memorable, poignant, and/or exceptional about their Boyertown school days because later on, there would be time to share.

The organizers decided that it would be best for everyone to order from the regular menu rather than planning the traditional style banquet. The food was good and very plentiful-perhaps too much. Many could be seen taking containers home. When lunch was winding down, Sheetz resumed her role announced that it was time for some nostalgia!

LaRue’s instinct for leading a lively conversation proved correct. She got the party started by recalling when she made band front as a flag bearer. She was one of the shorter students so her position was at the end. It was no big deal if the parade route was straight, but if there was any kind of curve or turn, Sheetz would have to full out sprint to keep that all-important straight line. But the worst was when she got her flag caught in an overhead wire and couldn’t yank it free, that’s when she knew that a career as flag bearer was not meant to be. Maybe she’d fare better as a twirler.  

Carolyn Sell Izzi stood up next and, as a kind of addendum to Sheetz’s story, she recounted her high school tryout for the very coveted baton twirler team. The veteran twirlers kept telling her that they looked for someone who could kick really high. Taking them at their word, with adrenaline on her side, she kicked so high, that her knee knocked out a front tooth. That was a no to twirling and a yes to becoming a three-sport athlete!  

Carolyn Sell Izzi and Jim Peck

Classmates were very proud to be part of the band front and band and recalled, the thrill of marching down Philadelphia Avenue when the football team won. It was a lovely Boyertown tradition of letting the town know its students have done it proud - even if it meant the police had to divert Zern’s traffic! Many alumni gave well - deserved praise to Arlen Saylor, who at that time, was the newly appointed music director. This tradition carried on for another 25+ years, until it eventually ended in the 1980’s.

Whether teams won or lost, the memory most often shared were the school dances on Friday night. Everyone would race home to change, and then run back to the school gym so as not to miss a minute. They did the twist, jitterbug, and a lot of hip shaking to favorites songs by the Chubby Checker, or Fats Domino and of course, anything Elvis. Anyone interested could play DJ, spinning the 45’s! Jim Peck reminded everyone that during their senior year, the basketball team made state playoffs. Not only was it a great sports achievement but it made those Friday nights even more joyous. Eleanor Body Fetterman couldn’t have agreed more. “I loved the basketball games and especially the dances afterwards.”  

Eleanore Body Fetterman and Carole Wilke Stabilito

There were mentions of mentors like shop teacher, Mr. Gotshall or their typing teacher Ms. Grimm, but there were also those teachers that got a little more “attention” than usual. Just ask Richard Frecon. He, along with a few buddies, decided to disguise a case of beer by hiding it in a television box. Over Christmas break, the “TV” was delivered to Mr. Andrew Miraslaw hoping to cause high school anarchy! Just the mention of their former teacher elicited many nods, “ah yes, I remember him!” When returning after break, instead of getting into trouble, Miraslaw deflated the hopes of those adolescent troublemakers by saying “next time, make it Budweiser.” 

Richard Frecon

It was clear that some high school activities would prove to foreshadow future careers. Ronald Schock recounted how he was pulled from his typewriting class so many times that he believes he only went to one or two classes. No, he wasn’t in trouble – just the opposite. Anytime the school had issues with anything technical or encountered computer problems, they called in Schock, their resident expert. After high school, he built an unbelievable resume which included such notable employers as the United States Air Force, NASA, and Microsoft. If there is any doubt of the his many earned accolades or his numerous accomplishments, just seek out Ronald Schock’s name on the Smithsonian Institute’s Honor Wall.  

Ronald Schock

Toward the end of lunch, cake and coffee was served - as a couple of 1956 yearbooks were passed between tables. Senior portraits sparked memories: “he was a pip,” “she was a wonderful singer”, “his nickname was Duals,” and it was the consensus of her table that Fay Moser Ecker looked just as pretty today as her picture! Carole Mest, a member of the BASH class of ’58, pointed out her husband Leon’s picture, while smiling and nodding that she made a very smart decision! Joel Peck intimated the same thing. His love of basketball paled in comparison to his fondest and greatest achievement – finding, courting, and marrying classmate Mary Wiser.

Rosalie Shanon-Nyce couldn’t stop herself from quietly boasting about her husband Ronnie Nyce and their beautiful family he helped raise for 68 years. Nyce’s daughter Adriene Fluharty (BASH class of 1991), accompanied her parents to the reunion and made sure both were well taken care of. Fluharty had her good friend and fellow ‘91 classmate, Robin Reigner, who was there with her mom LaRue Sheetz, to keep her company. At a nearby table, another mother-daughter duo was celebrating as well. Sabre Corum pointed out that her mom Ethel Curtis Corum, had not attended any previous reunions. Corum said “this is an important one, and I told her [my mom] you’re going! Simple as that.” Mrs. Corum just smiled as if to say it was certainly time!  

Rosalie Shannon-Nyce and Louise Sullivan Herbert

Leon Mest, Carl Specht, and Leon Conrad

And it was time! Having enjoyed their gracious comradery and not eager to overstay my welcome. I thought it best to leave the class of 1956 with their memories. By all accounts, it was a wonderful reunion. Looking left, looking right, there were still a few tables of alumni who showed no signs of leaving. They were more than content to bring their friends up to date since leaving high school seventy years ago.

Boyertown Area Sr. High School Class of 1956

Reunion attendees in alphabetical order:

Joan Swavely Benfield, Leon Conrad, Charles Downer, Fay Moser Ecker, Sandy Bishop Ensminger, Eleanor Body Fetterman, David Frain, Richard Frecon, Clarence Flumer, June Burdan Herb, Louise Sullivan Herbert, Richard Hoppes, Carolyn Sell Izzi, Charles Leister, Leon Mest, Dolly Rhoads Moyer, Rosalie Shaner Nyce, James Peck, Henry Rush, Carl Specht, Ronald Schoch, LaRue Frymoyer Sheetz, Carol Wilkie Stabilito, Clarence Weller

The classmates listed below could not be located.   If anyExpression readers have any information, please contact us and we will pass along their contact information to the reunion organizers. 

George Carter

Mary Emma Weller Fox

Pearl Christman Hoffman

Anna Knepp

Warren Kozak

Robert C. Landis

Robert Leinbach

Steve Norris

Fred Smith

Janice Drumheller Steely

Lowell Swenson

Thomas Taggert

Bernice Walker Welsh

If you missed the previous article about the planning of this reunion, you can read it here.

Jim Peck and his buddies.

Charlie Downer

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