Conant High School’s graduating Class of 1971 gathered for their 50th reunion Saturday, Oct. 30, at Hidden Hills Estates in Rindge. Twenty-four graduates, along with 10 other classmates and 22 spouses and guests, made a total of 56 participants.
After signing in at the Marble Room with reunion coordinator Donna Archambault Cormier, photographer Tim Boyle snapped photos of each participant. Boyle also later took a group photo of the graduates and classmates. Hors d’oeuvres were enjoyed as everyone mingled with old friends and caught up on life events since the last reunion, the 40th. There was a long table with yearbooks, photos, programs and other memorabilia available for viewing and perusal throughout the night.
An anonymous member of the Class of ‘71 footed the bill for the reunion and the banquet meal from Four Star Catering, with choices of either chicken, fish or roast beef. Graduate Irvin Norwood, who could not attend, paid for everyone’s drinks. The bar sported a large banner saying, “Drinks on Irv!”
Classmates dined to the music of Sound Choice DJ Services of Jaffrey. For dessert, everyone enjoyed a piece of a large sheet cake from Hannaford, with a photo of the old Conant High School in the frosting in the middle, and decorated with purple and gold flowers, the class colors. The Class of 1971 was the final class to graduate from the current JRMS building, before the current Conant High School building was constructed.
After dinner, there was time for dancing or visiting among the tables to catch up with more friends and classmates. There were many smiles and laughs over recalled times and pranks, and catching up with life events, grandchildren, ailments and reflections on life in retirement. All agreed there was excellent attendance for this, possibly the final reunion of the Conant High School Class of 1971.
CONANT CLASS OF 1971 GRADUATES ATTENDING
Donna Archambault Cormier, Sandra White, Marilyn Simons, Mary Robinson Pelletier, Richard Cleveland, Michael Given, Dennis Lambert, Peter Tremblay, Jonathan Davis, David MacNeil, Faith Young, Theresa Haskell Desrosier, Georgianna Langevin Connor, Stephen Buckley, Michael Birmingham, Roberta McDonald Norby, Lou Ann Garfield Studer, Renee Letourneau Poirot, Lewis Gregory, Leonard Stewart, James Chamberlain, Kevin Simmons, James Halfpenny, Brenda Martin Fournier.
OTHER CLASSMATES ATTENDING
Catherine Butler, Patricia Bacon Brideau, Martha LaFreniere Harris, Blythe Coleman, Caron Tenney Foster, Robert Wooster, Linda Labonte Richard, Dale Matthews, Kimball Davis, Deborah Davis Winikka.
James Pelletier, a member of the Conant High School Class of 1971, wrote the following poem to mark the 50th reunion:
My hair is gray
my teeth aren’t white
and I can no longer
stay up all night.
Some friends now gone
My hair now grayed
And I ache in places
where I once played.