More RHS Reunion Stories

By Joe Scotchie

As reported in last week's The Roslyn News, Roslyn High School alumni from seven decades gathered at the Duck Pond on Saturday, Sept. 23 for a unique gala reunion that included any former graduate, attendee, teacher, administrator, or employee of the high school. Organizers were pleased with the turnout, which totaled nearly 500 people. In fact, several of them are already planning next year's reunion.

Pictured above, clockwise, are the following RHS alumni: Larry Bilsky (Class of 1963), Ed Kallen (Class of 1963), Peter Gach (Class of 1964), Sue Rotasuber (Class of 1964), Ann Kopple (Class of 1964), Chester Gelband (Class of 1962), Art Rugen (Class of 1963), and John Ekland (Class of 1967). (All photos by Jeffrey Kirsch.)

As expected, RHS alumni came from all parts of the country. In addition to Ken Merena, one of the organizers, who rode in on his motorcycle from his home in Utah, other alumni traveled long distances to be at the reunion. They included Bill Martin (Class of 1960) who drove to Roslyn in his motor home from Bellingham, WA; Patsy Sendlenski Penry (Class of 1957) who journeyed in from Mountain Home, AK; Gail McVay Jullie (Class of 1957), a former RHS secretary, traveled from Florida to join in the festivities, as did Margo Campbell Kopcienski (Class of 1957), Alan Gardner (Class of 1955), Steve Yeckes (Class of 1968), Robert Cotsonas (Class of 1957), and Julian Kaiser (Class of 1964). Amy Harrison Michael made the trip from St. Paul, MN, while Matthew Glazer (Class of 1988) traveled to Roslyn from somewhere in California. Ms. Penry of Mountain Home had an especially busy weekend. Not only did she attend the reunion in the park, she was also busy organizing a Class of 1957 reunion held the evening of Sept. 23.

According to the organizers, several Roslyn graduates noticed the crowd and the reunion signs posted along Roslyn Road. They stopped whatever they were doing on that day and joined in on the festivities. Mike Revien (Class of 1964) learned of the event when a patron at his skating rink mentioned on the day before that he was going to an all classes reunion for Roslyn High School the next day.

The crowd reached its peak in the early afternoon as the alumni and faculty members "refused to leave the beloved park" despite occasional sprinkles that marked the day. The rain eventually forced the gathering into Roslyn High School itself. But the reunion didn't end there, either. Some attendees wrapped up the long day by traveling to another favorite hangout, Ragtime, home of the former Roslyn Café, for a long evening of reminiscences and renewed friendships.

---Merri Hollander assisted with this article.