Published September 06. 2011 05:00PM
The Tamaqua High School Class of 1961 celebrated its golden anniversary with activities recently. The 50th anniversary reunion was held Aug. 6 at Genetti's Banquet Hall, Hazleton. The welcoming address and invocation were offered by Bobbie Parfitt Coccio. In addition to a cocktail hour and dinner, DJ Juice provided music for dancing.
A candlelight ceremony was held in remembrance of 21 deceased class members, including Nancy Lee Billman, Alice Mary Bobarsky, Pamela Davis, J. Peter Ehrig, Russell Eltringham, Eileen Geiger, Sharon Krell, George Lutz, Ann Louise Sittler, Beverly Rarick, Harry Adams, Lois Houser, Leonard Yushko, Clarissa Trout, Gerie Tarsavage, Shirley Houser, Fred Uhrie, Bill Klingaman, Diana Derr, Richard Ghares and Paul McDonald.The ceremony was conducted by Ann Neifert Kline and President Coccio.In addition to classmates from Pennsylvania, participants traveled from Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, Florida, North Carolina and Idaho. The reunion committee was composed of Ann Kline, Bobbie Coccio, Nancy Pluto Moser, Dave Schock, Barbara Carr Scott, Carol Schuetrumpf and Ruth Miller Schwoyer.An Aug. 5 pre-reunion event was attended by 30 class members and their spouses.
Members of the Tamaqua High School Class of 1961 who attended the recent reunion include: (first row) Barbara Carr Scott, Carolyn Evans Wagner, Charles Roberts, Ann Neifert Kline, Betty Bulavage Slaby, Sandra Yost Ronco, Donna Kellner Chickirda, Bobbie Parfitt Coccio, Norma Hill Conrad, Ruth Kerr, MaryAnn Oertner Ulrich, Nancy Schaeffer Bokeko, Elaine Bradley, Sandra Hoppe Zehner; (second row) Joseph Fether, Dororthy Nortavage Shubeck, June Fiel Fether, Norma Krapf Burke, Peggy Fegley Gertz, Carol Schuetrumpf, Nancy Pluto Moser, Yvonne Balliet Onuscho, Sharon Balliet Hill, Helene Protivak Calabrese, Ruth Miller Schwoyer, Jayne Barron McLaughlin, Sandra Edmonds Boyer, Charles Schimpf; (third row) Judi Pierson Titus, Ruth Wallasea Tomchick, Norma Warne Hyland, Cary Whetstone, R. Thomas Berner, Jay Barthel, Walter Schimpf, Gary Chickirda, David Nahf; (fourth row) Lafay Hope, Barry Cunfer, James Roberts, Marlin Zehner, Gary Keich, Thomas Olson, Michael Shilko, Dale Titus, George Tomchick, Jack Myers, Robert Argust and David Schock.