Category Archives: General

Now that we have all made it home and had some time to recover from our big 30 Reunion it is time to make sure we thank all those involved with our Class of 85 30th Reunion events and activities.

I would like to start out with a Thank You to our Class Agent Pat Kennedy. He got things running back in October with a call out for help in planning this year’s reunion. Without his forethought, I don’t think we would have had a Reunion as great as we did.

Also, now that I’ve been involved with the planning, I would like to thank both Pat and Vic Young for the excellent job they did with our past reunions. I now have a greater appreciation for all they have done for the Class.

A Big Shout out to the Reunion Committee whose monthly and sometimes semi-monthly meetings got everything set up and planned for this year.

Those members being

Pat Kennedy, Lisa (Schockley) Smith,  Annette (Boynes) McCray, Annette (Cordano) Davis, Michael E. Barnes, Ursula Culpepper, Michelle (Wiragh) Lucas, and myself, Mark Dodd

We had other members of our class that donated time, provided funding to our class fund, or contributed other items for our events.

Those being

Ken Erdely, Sherman Flowers, Tong Ma, Michelle (Houser) Kissinger, Dusty Durand, Drew Wolf, and Tina (Lenard) Casey

The other Big thank you goes to Mr President, Pete Gurt, his assistant Kim Lepperd, and the MHS staff. Whenever we needed anything they were always there for help or guidance.

Now for details on all those involved in each event.

Our first event of the week was a Wine and Cheese get-together

Hosted by Michael Barnes, Abby Yurkonis, and her sister Gina. From what he has told me it was a big success with 30-40 of you participating.

Friday was our big day for multiple events.

Pete and Jane Gurt hosted a party for our class at his home, The Homestead.

For those who missed it, you missed a great get-together event where the MHS culinary staff produced an impressive display of great tasting food and an awesome ice sculpture of the Class of 1985. Thank you Pete and Jane for inviting us to your home and to your staff for putting on such a great event.

The Reunion Dinner itself.

I wish to thank those on committee for all their effort to make this a successful event.  I think all had a great time at the event.

Thank you  to the following for helping make our Reunion Dinner Special

To Adam Paris for making a beautiful and great tasting cake for our class and for stepping up after we put him on the spot to cut the cake. You all should appreciate how much that saved the class in fees.
To Michael Barnes and Annette Boynes-McCray for the Wine Classes.
The School History Dept and Susan Alger for the DVD’s of our Graduation Commencement and for the CD of Photos of our class during our time at MHS.
To the classmate who donated the Class of 85 30th Reunion T-Shirts.
To Jeff Whitney for providing photos of our class during our time at MHS

And lastly our Class of 85 30th Reunion Raffle event.  

There are many involved with this and I will list in detail below. If it hadn’t been for all of your help, the Donations of Baskets, Cash funds, and your time and effort, we would not have been able to raise the funds we did for MHSAA.

The unofficial total that we raised on behalf of the Class of 1985 for the MHSAA is

$3382

I would like to acknowledge those who helped out and donating items and they are listed below

Members of the Committee involved with the Raffle

Lisa (Schockley) Smith,  Annette (Boynes) McCray, Annette (Cordano) Davis, Michael E. Barnes, Ursula Culpepper, Michelle (Wiragh) Lucas, and myself, Mark Dodd

Any spouses that were at Homecoming that dig in and helped out.

Classmates and family that stepped up and help us sell the Raffle Tickets at the various locations

Sandra Piazza
Tom Sorentino
Ursula’s Daughter
Cheryl Dodd

Those donated cash online prior to Homecoming.

Ken Erdley
Sherman Flowers
Dusty Duran

And those who donated the Baskets themselves who without we would not have had a successful Raffle Event.

Lisa Smith – Assorted Beer Basket
Lisa Smith –  Tastefully Simple Basket
Lisa Smith –  Tastefully Simple Basket
Annette Boynes –  Alcohol of Grey Goose, Patron, and Hennesey Basket
Annette Boynes –  Cash basket donation of 180
Annette Boynes –  50 inch big screen television
James White –  Donated 100 cash was added to the cash basket that he then won, basket was 280. And he won the 50/50. Seems he had a good night
Mike Barnes –  Alcohol of Black Reserve Crown, Apple Crown, and Bottle Crown 2 glasses
Mike Barnes –  4 bottles of wine, Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, 4 glasses and one bottle opener
Abby Yurkonis –  (Tin by Lisa Smith 75 dollar value) Absolut Vodka, Evan Williams, Captain Morgan, Pinnacle Coconut, Jack Daniels Whiskey, Pinnacle Caramel Apple
Colleen Hennessey –  Keurig Kcup with Starbucks French Roast Coffee
Peter Gurt –  Chocolate, Chocolate Basket
Roger Smith –  Assorted Shirts, Long T-shirts and short sleeve athletic tee’s
Michelle Wiragh –  Fulton’s Harvest Pumpkin pie candle, old moon Zinfandel, Caramel Apple Candle, 8 Hershey Bars, Scarf and bracelet
Adam Paris –  2 bottles of yards, 2 bottles of small town, 2 glasses, 1 book 33 bottles of beer, 1 book hoptastray guide, 3 packs hoptime Craft brewing specialist, 1 box Gildid Nut
Ursula Culpepper –  Pumpkin Basket, Pumpkin light, 1 harvest candle, 3 scented pumpkin spice
Darryn Greene –  Bath and Body Works 30 different items
Dave Gotlieb –  Alcohol basket.
Mary Ann Federinko –  3 Bottles of wine in a wine holder
Annette Cordano –  Fall Box
Mark Dodd – Framed 11×14 photo of Founders Hall at Night.

Thank you all and it was great to see all of you especially those that have not been back in a while. I think this was the biggest major year reunion we have had with at least 55 classmates in attendance.