The 50^th reunion of the great NFA class of 1960!

What a fantastic series of events occurred the week of August 23 through 29, 2010.  It was acclaimed by many as the best reunion ever ("absolutely wonderful,"  "awesome,"  "greatest ever,"  "incredible,"  "complete success,"  "very special," and "a fun-filled week"). 

The following activities happened:

• Early in the week some classmates went on the Riverwalk over the new walking bridge in Poughkeepsie, toured the nicer parts of Newburgh, and toured West Point.

 

• On Thursday evening out-of-town classmates were treated to a nice pasta dinner by Joanne and the Reunion Committee.

 

• From Thursday through Saturday the Ramada loaned us their VIP Room, which we decorated with NFA colors and memorabilia. Oldies music from the 50s was played while we reminisced and viewed yearbooks, issues of The Graduate, and classmate photos.

 

• Friday morning brought us a wonderful two hour tour of NFA hosted by Mr. Lopez, an Assistant Principal. We left the tour raving about how NFA has brought back control in the school. The administration is positive and passionate about the importance of education. There is a no-nonsense approach to discipline with approximately 100 security cameras throughout the campus.  The academic performance of students is excellent. NFA of the 50s looks the same today, except there are more buildings and more students.

 

• Friday evening was the traditional "ice breaker" which was held at the Ramada Inn. 200 classmates and guests showed up for this enjoyable time together.

 

• On Saturday 224 of us were treated to outstanding weather during an all day BBQ at the Laborers' Union Training Center Pavilion.  Many old memories were discussed, and many old friendships were renewed. Even better, most of us made a lot of "new" friends.  That common bond of being high school classmates becomes more precious with age. You wonder if we hug our families as much as we hugged people that day!  A DJ played "our" music for background entertainment.

 

• Sunday morning was another special treat. Kathy Koran Woods (a professional chef) offered a sumptious breakfast at her house to the out-of-towners.

 

• Then came the boat ride! 103 of us went on a two hour cruise of the Hudson River on The River Rose, a paddle boat that was brought to Newburgh from New Orleans.  It was a final time of visiting with classmates on a beautiful Sunday afternoon on a nice riverboat.

 

Photos of this grand event can be seen below.
 

Please keep us informed of address or e-mail changes.

Barbara Leifheit Watters    bleifheitwatters@aol.com

Mel Lacey   mellacey@charter.net

 

 

Below are photos of the Laborers' Pavilion:

 

 

 

  

Reunion photos:

1. These pictures are of classmates I met with on the road (we drove 7600 miles across the country and back for the reunion):

Becky and Leo Berry in Caldwell, Idaho

 

Pete and Rose Cosman in Casper, Wyoming

 

Mel with Larry Bockar in Denver, Colorado

 

  Chris and Susan Shipp in Aspen, Colorado

 

  2. Planning and preparation work:

Bonnie Moran, Carol Markuson, Lorraine Perrone

 

 

 

 

  3. Photos in the VIP Room at the Ramada (Only maiden names were used generally.)

 

 Barbara McAfee, Josephine Calhelhas

Alberta "Cookie" Maklary Visconti

 Donna Sprague, Mark Moses

 

 

Lewis Cook, Tony Fusco

 

Lewis Cook, Tom Meddaugh, Carol Powles

 

 Janet Feldt, Bonnie Elder, Herb Berkwits

 

  Linda Rhodes

 
 

 Pete Daniels, Bob Gardner, Rich Crisci

 

 Pete Daniels, Tony Fusco

 

 Rudy Baird, Kent Sinisgalli

 

Sue Tatman, Bob Brown, Barbara McAfee, Rich Crisci, Mary Rogowicz

 

Ted Fitzpatrick, Mark Moses

 

Violet Fasciano, Rosalie Zaia

 

Sondra Sloves, Sugar Cohen Loeb, Alan Loeb

 

Watching class photo show

 

4. Joanne's Thursday dinner for out-of-towners

Bobbie and Mark Moses

 

Bonnie Moran Morehead and Bob Morehead (on committee)

 

Elaine Sabo Zamenick and Paul Zamenick

 

Linda Connelly Reimer and Walt Reimer

 

Helen VanDenEssen and Carlos Scheer

 

Len Eckhaus and Linda Rosenthal Eckhaus

 

Mary Ann Madonia Melick and Charlie Melick

 

Rich and Helene Silver

 

Sandra Panarello and Pinky Patel

 

Stuffed clams 2010

 

Stuffed clams 2005!!!

 

Val Warren and Paul Zamenick

 

  Carmen Chilla Grasso and Joe Grasso

 

5. Tour of NFA Friday.

 

Willie Smith, Val Warren, Mark and Bobbie Moses, Lorraine Perrone, Sugar Cohen

 

 Jim Wade, Carlos Scheer, Dave Krawiec

 

 Sue Tatman, Kent and Guy Sinisgalli, Val Warren

 

 Kent and Guy Sinisgalli

Carmella and Rudy Baird, Mark and Bobbie Moses 

 

 Len and Linda Eckhaus, Mary Rogowicz

 

 

 

 Bob Brown, Stu Copans

 

 Jay Wexler, Val Warren

 

 

 

 

 Mr. Fowler

 

 Jay Wexler, Rich Crisci, Jean Johanson, Dave Krawiec

  

 Barbara McAfee  (in the former cafeteria)

 

 

 Auditorium

 

 

 Gym (no change since 1960!)

 

 

 

 Lab

 

 Music room

 

 Planetarium

 

 

 New pool

 

 New rubber running track

 

 

 Kent Sinisgalli, Bob Brown

 

Elaine Chinoransky, Sugar Cohen

 

Sondra Sloves, Jean Johanson, Rosalie Zaia

 

 

 Jay Wexler

 

 Len Eckhaus, Mel Lacey

 

 Mr. Townsend's son, Carlos Scheer

 

5. Friday night Ice Breaker.

 

 

 

 

 Jo-Ann Swanson Versusky and Jack Versusky

 

 Tony Tallarico, Carlos Scheer, _____________

 

 Vinnie Santagada

 

Jon Evans, Carol Moss Evans

 

 Nick and Juanita Ronsini

 

 Jennie Root, Mary Robinson

 

 

Barbara Harris ('61), Gerry Shapiro, Linda Rosenthal

 Fred Mitchell ('59), John Leombruno

 Lucille Tarsio and Donna Revell

 

 Val Warren, Jennifer Bell, Jay Wexler

 

 Al Fusco and Sandra Kane Fusco

 

 

 Bob Brown, Dale Rockwell ('62), Mel Lacey

 

 Bonnie Elder, Norm

 

 Olymphia Daniel Green and her brother Charlie

 

 Do you still have your 1960 class ring?

 

 Dave Kraweic, Pat Ferguson

 

 Barbara McAfee, Anita Buchanan, Kathy Koran, Sandra Panarello, Pinky Patel, Pat Ferguson

 

 Jean Johanson, John Ostrander, Barbara Horace

 Jeff and Donna Werner

 

 Jerry Argenio

 

 Jim and Gail DeCerbo

 

 Rick D'Addio and Joan Stortecki D'Addio

 

 Joan Stortecki D'Addio, Pete Daniels, Rick D'Addio

 

JoAnn Swanson Versusky, Jack Versusky, Joan Versusky Taranto

 

Joanne Affuso, Carol Labue

 

 Coach Joe Gaspard and wife Joan

 

 John Ostrander, Angelo Crisci

 

 Len Eckhaus and Stan Kahn

 

 Les Kohlman, Ken Bento, Ted Fitzpatrick

 

 Lucille Tarsio

 

 Marie Baldwin Gerhardt and Richard Gerhardt

 

 Martha Gardner Mack and Don Mack

 

 Ron Frost, Mel Lacey, Coach Joe Gaspard and wife Joan

 

 

 Pat Ferguson, Barbara McAfee

 

 Dick Levin and Patty Malinowski Levin

 

 Pete Reilly

 

Greg Papa, Mel

 

 Ron and Pat Frost

 

Ruth Burgess Pewitt and Michael Pewitt

Spero Chumas, Mel Lacey

 

 6. Saturday BBQ.

 

 Jon Evans, Carol Moss Evans, Karen Mottola

 

 Alayne Araman, Rosalie Zaia, John Sloboda

 

 Alayne Araman, Sandra Panarello, Cathy Molloy, Anita Buchanan

 

 

  Barbara Leifheit, Rudy Baird, Elaine Sabo

 

Bev and Ken Mennerich

 

Pat Randolph

 

 Betty Jane Whalen Morehead, Martha Gardner, Jim Morehead

 

 

 

 Cathy Sibley, Pat Ferguson

 

Chris Sophoclides

 

Diana Consorti, Angie Monaco, Mary Gizzarelli, Jerry Argenio, Nick Ronsini, Jim Decerbo, Bob Dempsey

 

Dick Wollman

 

Donna Werner, Gerry Shapiro

 

Donna Sprague, Lorraine Perrone, Pat Doulin

 

 

 Dottie Norvell

 

 

 Edna Spellman Babcock and Joe Babcock

 

 

 

 

 Mr. Frank Scarzfava and Mary Bolduc

 

 George Burgard and Sue Calyer Burgard

 

 Harold and Barbara Lopinot

 

Helene Silver, Stan Kahn

 

Jerry Argenio, Nick Ronsini, Juanita Ronsini, Dottie Argenio

 

Joanne Affuso, Cathy Sibley, Rich Crisci

 

John and Marsha Dockstader

 

 Judy Stone

 

 Pat Rhodes Griggs (Linda Rhodes' sister), Gary Griggs

 

Mary Rogowicz, Alayne Araman, Joan Stortecki, Mary Robinson

 

Mel and Shirley Lacey, Herb Morse, Judi Harris Morse

 

Melanie and Tony Talarico

 

Nancy Giametta, Joanne Affuso

 

Ray Traver, Carol Weiss

 

Rick D'Addio, Linda Rhodes

 

 

Rose Greenberg

 

Nick Ronsini, Diana Consorti,  Jim Decerbo

 

John and Cathy Brangaccio

 

Tony Suraci, Kent Sinisgalli

 

Karl Schwartz and Linda Monroe Schwartz

 

_________,  Mary Gizzarelli, Diana Consorti

 

 

 

 

 

 Dick Reynolds and Judy Chrystal Reynolds

 

 Rich Crisci, Sandra Kane Fusco, Al Fusco

 

Regis Dugue and Ruth McDougall Dugue

 

Tom Bonnie Forrester 

 

 

Gil and Brenda Faison, Dave Kraweic

 

Adele Lukacik, Mary Kania

Jim Nugent, Cathy Molloy Nugent

 

Lewis (LC) Cook, Sue Gaffney

 

Tom Meddaugh, Al Fracasse, Stan Kahn, Bob Gardner, Jim Nugent, Mr. Scarzfava

 

Nancy Gianetta, Barbara Ermolin

 

Tony Fusco, Lucille Tarsio, Donna Revell

 

Tony Suraci, Barbara Leifheit

 

Willie Smith, Jim Nugent, Tom Meddaugh

 

Bob Trifilo, Bill Warren

 

Steve Sager, Harold Lopinot, Bob Trifilo, Bill Warren

 

7. Sunday Breakfast

 

 Butch Coleman, Jenny Spignardo, Kathy Koran

 

 

 

 Kathy, our chef!

 

 

Carlos Scheer, Mel Lacey, Kathy Koran, Richard Gerhardt, Marie Baldwin Gerhardt

 

Rich and Helene Silver, Stan Kahn, Linda and Len Eckhaus

 

Walter Clarke

 

 Richard Gerhardt, Marie Baldwin Gerhardt, Sugar Cohen

 

8. The Sunday afternoon boat ride

 

 

 The River Rose

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capt Duke Panzella Marlboro HS class of '60 or '61 with Walt Clarke

 

 

Herb Berkwits, Jeanne Bull, Pat Scofield

 

Pete and Dolores Berkowsky

 

Jim Wade,__ Karen Knott Wade

 

I-84 Bridge

 

The Heights

 

Waterfront