Bay High Class of 1973

The friendships that we enjoyed during our high school years were some of our most significant, but time and distance have taken their toll on these relationships. This web site hopes to renew those friendships and perhaps even cultivate a few new ones. We hope to reconnect by sharing information. Finally, this web site will be used to help organize our future reunions. -The Reunion Committee-

Classmate Lisa Butts Hanson selected as the Ohio Music Association Outstanding Teacher of the year. Just click here to read the article and see the video.

A BIG THANK-YOU to Tim Clarke, Ken Dechert, Bill Doerr, Dana Lindstrom Nicloy, Sue Ritchie Voegtly, Vicki Parkhurst Smith and Dan McCarthy for the great pictures (click here to view) of our 55th Birthday celebration!

Meeting Minutes: Bay High Class of ‘73 Group Therapy Retreat, 30 Jul - 1 Aug 2010

It started out innocently enough….no one meant any harm. We gathered at Margaux Quayle’s love-shack Friday night. The scene was mystifying. People actually started showing up. Even the Bay Police. Thank God the two Officers were finally able to talk Heldt down from the kitchen table where he threatened to jump if someone didn't immediately refill his beer stein. Kim Harris and Lee Christman waited on Gary the rest of the night as a public service to his children. The acoustic duo of Back Bay, featuring Chris Pritchard and Dave Speaker knocked out some ridiculously awesome Eagles tunes and then some. There was a 55th birthday cake which no one ate because we were still in denial. Kim Johnson took it home and plans to recycle it for her kid’s late October wedding. Later on, the food tables were cleared in a minute flat and competitive games of Flippy Cup ensued. Flippy Cup is a highly-sophisticated team sport involving beer. Jeanne Krueger won the most improved Flippy Cup Player Award. No one could agree on which team deserved the trophy - no one particularly cared. Margaux’s son Dave periodically provided adult supervision. Even Wendy Boden, a class reunion virgin (never been touched by a reunion before), showed up. When asked her impression of the group, Wendy shook her head and replied, “I'm appalled”. Later on, Betsy Arnold, Kim Arkes, Shelley Wysong and Becky Obey led those with IQ’s below 50 to sing and dance like fools until the cows came home.

And then Saturday night is when the ghosts and goblins came out…OMG. The crowd reconvened for yet another round of adolescent behavior. This time the gig was at the Copper Cup. Jackie Albert took a wrong turn in Chicago after his golf outing and showed up. Lisa Butts, Sue Ritchie, Kathy Fritz, and Jill Horning were out of control early. Vicki Parkhurst, Barb Chrystal, Martha Huey, Dana Lindstrom, and Marcia Maus were out of control later. Dan McCarthy was out of control. Nirvana, featuring Hody Peters, Kenny Kresge, Billy Bush, Jim Henke, Mark Wysong and Ray Biltz opened up with some song everyone seemed to like named “Mr. Skin”. Soon after, Nancy Hardy broke out of the crowd dancin’ her fanny off and the place pretty much went up for grabs. Illegally downloaded songs from the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s punctuated the night air when Nirvana members were using their oxygen machines. Tim Clark, Barry Shemela, Tim Regan, and John Reulbach were observed to be karaokeing to "Build Me Up Buttercup" and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”. Inexplicably, Chris Fearing grabbed the mic and soloed his favorite Boy Scout Troop 41 camp song. I had no idea Chris could sing tenor. Roger Bisbing was tossing the dance moves out with willing women, which was just about everyone. Pete Campbell was unexpectedly coherent most of the night. Later we learned his girlfriend had him heavily medicated. Mark Carlson clipped Bill Bryan for $5 (US) correctly betting that Mark Kresge and Ken Kresge were not brothers. Laurie Johnson/Crawford Craft, Bev Holschuh/Dale Willman, Barb Allen/Joel Loufman, and Cindy Harper/Ken Dechert beat the national average and are still happily together after all these years. Dave DiBenedetto’s weekend parole terms and conditions permitted him to briefly attend. Everyone was interested to see Dave’s ankle monitor. Randy Foster was rambling on about the origination of “The Pranksters” pointing reverently to the Prankster Flag hanging in the corner. No one except Steve Babson much comprehended Randy, and Steve wasn't so sure. After securing a quick release from the hospital for alcohol-related poisoning symptoms, Jean Groya, Karen Miller, and Teri Smith led the group in singing the Bay fight song, "Victory Will be for Bay". It wasn't half bad considering the circumstances. Greg Gross had enough presence of mind to request each elementary school class gather together for a photo op. Ed Galligan mildly protested just to be obstinate. The Westerly School graduating class was overwhelmingly voted best-looking class (voter eligibility was restricted to the Westerly School graduating class). Then some loon started gatoring to “Sweet Caroline” right in the middle of an arm-in-arm circle of Neil Diamond Wannabes that in actuality could not harmonize to “Row, Row, Row Your Boat, Gently Down The Stream” if their collective lives depended on it. Let the minutes reflect that the Bay High Class of ‘73 does not suffer largely from stage fright, shyness, or pride. We were supposed to do some sort of disco and limbo contest thing, but we forgot. The Committee even had purchased some lame sticker prizes to pass out (like Mr. Gray used to give Mike Mingo for being a good boy and not snickering in Health class). At the end of the evening, we did a clown show for the still-standing and Todd Carmel volunteered to make puppy dogs out of long balloons for everyone. OK, the last sentence I just made up, but I sense this crew would have gone along with the program if we had done it.

Somehow Sunday happened. Not certain why or how. We did a breakfast thing at some local flapjack joint, I forget the name. Mark Totten showed up on his Harley Hog sporting his plaid bandanna. I showed up on my banana-seat Schwinn Stingray sporting my plastic pocket protector. Others trickled in for breakfast depending upon their capacity to trickle…sounds like my urological problem. Meaningless “we need to get together” exchanges were offered up before everyone departed speculating that perhaps there might be a 40th reunion in our collective futures. Lord knows.

A special thanks to the Reunion Committee for making this reunion a personal top five lifetime memory and I'm including the natural births of my two legitimate children as well as my mother-in-law’s 85th birthday in the count. Thus endeth my Bay 55th Birthday Group Therapy Retreat trip report.

35th REUNION RECAP

Dear Classmates:

Our 35th Reunion Weekend was terrific! For those of you unable to join us, we missed you! You missed a weekend of reconnecting at its very best. Those of us who were able to make it, know it would have been even better had YOU been able to join us. Everyone mingled and enjoyed spending time with each and every classmate; leaving us wanting even more! Click on the links above to see a sampling of the pictures that only begin to capture the fun.

The pre-game at Margaux's was such a blast that almost all of us skipped the football game and went directly to Ironwood. This was an ideal place for us to party until 3:00 AM, dancing and singing (okay, making fools of ourselves) to 70's CD's!

The early morning Saturday golf outing was as Mark Twain quipped, "A good walk spoiled," but not by the quality of the golf, but by the intensity of the hangovers.

Hody, the gifted heart and soul of the group, brought NIRVAVA together again for an unforgettable performance that took us back to the 70's. Each of them individually are incredibly talented, and together, unbelievably! We were amazed at how rehearsed and harmonious they sounded! Kenny, the marvelous Piano Man was in full swing!!! The Hody wanna-be's and the Nirvana groupies (all of us) moved and grooved with smiles from ear to ear. Kim and Mark's lovely home, and the glorious weather served up flawless ambience for a perfect ending to a remarkable and extraordinary weekend!

Well, there was one other defining, hilarious (now it is!) moment for some. Go here to read the detailed, factual account of that now infamous incident, but keep in mind the "article in the WestLife" part is a prank. What would a Class of 1973 reunion be without at least one scandalous story to recount for years to come?!

Unanimously, we can't wait till 2013, so we may have a 2010 summer birthday get-together to celebrate all of our 55th's! Stay tuned!...This class web site will always be the place to check for the latest and greatest on the real CLASS OF 1973.

Until then, please keep your contact information current on our web site! Go here to update it now.

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