A NEW DAY DAWNS - Boston Latin School

eUNioNS
reunion 2007
The sun shone brightly for Reunion Weekend 2007, as nearly 600 alumni and guests
descended on Avenue Louis Pasteur. The class of 1957 kicked off its golden anniversary
celebrations on Thursday, May 10, with a cocktail reception, followed by an early arrival
at Alma Mater for breakfast with the head master. During the morning session, the class
heard from Senior Class President Michael Baskin ’07 and unveiled a second classroom
plaque, celebrating yet another milestone class gift effort. Just five years ago, this
same class became the first to raise more than $100,000 for a 45th reunion celebration;
in 2007, led by John Ganick ’57, Jim hegarty ’57 and Ron Kramer ’57, the illustrious
class of 1957 raised more than $300,000 to support Alma Mater and two named
scholarship funds. A stellar Prize Declamation was followed by a memorial service led
by the most reverend Bishop William Murphy ’57, bishop of Rockville Center, NY.
in the afternoon, the other classes joined in the fun and took part in a “Latin for Former
Sixies” refresher course and school tours before heading to the Assembly hall for a
preview of the spring musical, “Fame.” Then, with all the pomp and circumstance
befitting a 50th anniversary class, nearly 70 members of the class of 1957 marched
across the stage to receive their golden diplomas. With golden alumni pin in hand, the
gentlemen and their guests then joined the other alumni and friends in the dining hall
for the BLSA Welcome Reception.
As the shadows grew outside, many alumni headed off to hear the Boston Pops at
Symphony hall, while members of the 20th, 30th and 50th reunion classes headed off
to still more parties.
Saturday offered family-friendly activities, as some revelers took in a Duck Tour of Boston,
others explored the Big Dig and old ironsides and still more toured the collections at the
isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Then the action moved to the Boston Park Plaza
hotel for the much-anticipated reunion banquets. From the serenades of the class of
1957 to 1987’s overflow crowd and commissioned artwork, from sharing the class song
with 1947 and family photos and a love of trivia with 1977, each celebration was as
unique as the classes themselves. As befitting a silver anniversary class, 1982 made short
work of the ceremonial class picture, eager to get back to reconnecting on their own.
The class of 1972 chair cut an impressive rug on the dance floor as the class of 1967
CLoCKWISE FRoM ToP LEFT: Robert yanover ’57, with his wife, Paula, proudly displays his 50th
reunion golden diploma. a Several members of the 50th and 25th reunions served as judges
during Prize Declamation on Friday, May 9, 2007. From left to right: Paul Rooney ’82, Louis
Corsini ’57, Kelly Lenz Carr ’82, Head Master emeritus Michael Contompasis ’57, John Daley
’57, Head Master Cornelia A. Kelley H’44, Ronald Kramer ’57, Richard wulf ’57, Frank George
’57, Richard Slifka ’57, John Ganick ’57, Rev. william Murphy ’57, Rosemary Macedo ’82. a
Monique Symes ’07 (on left), Andrea Martin, BLS guidance counselor, and Rashaun Martin ’97,
history program director, are all smiles during Friday’s reunion festivities at the school. a
walter Mayo ’67 (on left) and Howard Zibel ’67 enjoying their 40th reunion banquet on Saturday
at the Boston Park Plaza. a John Higgins ’57 (on left) and Vincent Gilarde ’57 see the
transformation at the school with tour guides Rashanna Roach ’07 (on left) and Jennica Allen
’07 who, along with their classmates, were gracious hosts for the 50th reunion class during
Friday’s reunion activities. a Romano Formichella ’57 (on left), his wife, Nancy, and Jim
Hegarty ’57 enjoyed themselves at the Boston Park Plaza during their Saturday evening reunion
banquet. a Liz Siegel ’87, along with her husband, Gregory, share a laugh over liber actorum.
28 Bulletin fall 2007
continued on page 31