Reunions

The Class of 1952 Gathers for its 50th Reunion

by Virginia Chock Matsumiya ’52

R EUNION ATTENDEES

Mildred Chang Ai-Chang Mildred Awana Judith Miyamoto Brown Donald Chang Dennis Chee Grace Hu Ching Herbert Chong Kenneth Hee Lillian Inatsuka Muriel Lum Kao Annabel Pa Kam Nadine Correa Kealamakia Nani Lee Dorothy Goo Man Amy Miniami Masui Virginia Chock Matsumiya Abel Mattos, Jr. Mary Helen Tom Morrow

Harold Ordenstein Richard Sakihara John Takesue Gladys Tiwanak Sevener Gwendolyn Shirai Shirley Ann Mamiya Tokunaga Virginia Lum Wat Betty Lou Lum Wong Beverly Choy Wong Richard Wong Evangeline Ocalvey Wong Eleanor Takara Yamauchi Jean Nakahara Yamamoto Alice Fong Yee Beryl Yee Young Marion Yuen Delta Chang ZuttermeisterThe Class of 1952

The Class of 1952 celebrated their 50th reunion on four different days in July.

On Thursday, July 18, they met for coffee and dessert at the Yum Yum Tree and closed the place having so much fun.

Saturday, July 20, those who attended the Alumni Week Dinner were honored with pins commemorating Maryknoll’s 75th anniversary and the 50th reunion of the class.

On Sunday, July 21, thirty-five graduates and their spouses partied at a luncheon at the Hale Koa Hotel.

On Tuesday the 23rd, a farewell luncheon was held at Buffet 100.

On each of the occasions, no one wanted to leave…so they are planning to meet again in 2003.

(Lto R) Mildred Chang Ai-Chang, Annabel Pa Kam, Gwendolyn Shirai, Nani Lee, Muriel Lum Kao, Mary Helen Tom Morrow.

Reunion committee: (front Lto R) Beverly Choy Wong, Virginia Chock Matsumiya; (back Lto R) John Takesue, Evangeline Ocalvey Wong, Mildred Chang Ai-Chang, Donald Chang.

(Standing Lto R) Mildred Awana, Judith Miyamoto Brown, Lillian Inatsuka, Annabel Pa Kam, Nadine Correa Kealamakia, Alice Fong Yee, Muriel Lum Kao, Grace Hu Ching. (Kneeling Lto R) Betty Lou Lum Wong, Gladys Tiwanak Sevener

(Seated Lto R) Gladys Tiwanak Sevener, Mary Helen Tom Morrow, Harold Ordenstein; (standing Lto R) Marion Yuen, Donald Chang. (Lto R) Donald Chang, Herbert Chong, Kenneth Hee, John Takesue, Abel Mattos, Jr., Dennis Chee, Richard Sakihara, Harold Ordenstein.

“The Gathering Call” of the Class of 1957

by Edmund Young ’57

The Class of 1957 celebrated its 45th reunion in Portland, OR last summer. They enjoyed a tour of Washington Park Rose Test Garden, Columbia Gorge and Bonneville Dam. They had curbside bleachers seats to view Portland’s Grand Floral Parade. They attended Mass at the Grotto (the National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother). They shared meals – and, most importantly, their lives – for several days, and had a glorious time. Following are excerpts from Edmund Young’s reflections on their gathering.

Front (on the floor): Gordon Tom, Mako Nishimura 1st row: David Kaili, Marion Ohira, Darlena Medeiros, Margeaux Cooper Pearson, Sadie Mau Lew, Jeanette Salado Martin, Harry Eng, Winnie Judd Thomas. 2nd row: Bill Pearson, Ronald Ohira, Gen Nishimura, Pat Chu Ho, Bobbi Elias Iseri, Jack Martin, Pat Gilsey Eng, Lorraine Shirai Maeda, Nancy Tasaka Tyau. 3rd row: Allen Tyau, Wanda DeMoss, Charlotte Nishimura, Ernest Bonilla, Mike Ho, Manny Medeiros, Lionel Iseri, Lu Lew, Constance Greeco, Velma Lujan Young, Ed Pfeiffer, June Maeda, Kimberly Berg, Violet Kaili, Ed Young.

REUNION

It was a clan meeting called to meet at Portland, Oregon during June 6th – 9th, 2002. They came by airplane. They came by motor vehicles of all descriptions. They came with the express purpose of answering the gathering call of the graduating class of 1957.

THE HOSPITALITY ROOM – HOLIDAY INN ROOM #531

In my mind, the Hospitality Room is the place to be at. Not a sour note on Winnie Thomas’s ukulele or David Kaili’s voice (accompanying Winnie) to be heard; not a discordant “Banzai” was experienced there. It was pure fun, easy relaxation, and a place to laugh, experience good cheer, and share some reminiscing in fine company.

Thanks to Manny Medeiros and his lovely wife, Darlena we had great company as well as cases and cases of liquid refreshments for all to enjoy compliments of the Medeiros Corporation.

Eddie [Pfeiffer] spent more than 15 hours smoking many of the salmon he caught with his own two hands. [He] smoked several chicken too! His contributions filled an entire Catholic-family-sized ice chest. I saw plates of rice floating past me as people made a beeline for the smoked goodies piled high at the banquet table behind the roses and Lionel Iseri’s favorite chair.

Thank goodness for the helpful hands at the end of each evening who tidied up the Hospitality Room. Gordon Tom, Jeanette [Salado] and Jack Martin as well as Sadie [Mau Lew and her husband] were “regulars” each evening at clean up time…. The hotel staff was so impressed with the tidiness of our hospitality room and the cleanup efforts that were expended each and every night. Thanks, gang!

TRANSFORMINGTHE ORDINARY Windows Restaurant on the sixth floor of the Holiday Inn with this elegant group and you have a magical setting accented with floating bouquets of balloons at each table, Sadie Lew sharing her talents and gifts of a luggage identification tag made of Hawaiian printed fabric, Velma Young giving away those shiny, beautiful, kukui nut leis (and kisses to boot) while Lorraine Maeda placed maroon and gold fabric leis on the necks of classmates, spouses, as well as guests and entertainers. Patricia Ho found the time and resources to provide school pins for each and every classmate. CDs of 1950s music found their way into the hands of all.

Winnie Thomas graced us with her singing. Thanks to Margeaux Cooper Pearson, we were able to have dancing, 1950s style at the conclusion of our evening. Many of the couples have not lost their dancing skills as evidenced by the smooth demonstrations on the dance floor. Where were the nuns with the rulers to measure the dress hems, and priests to push the gentlemen onto the dance arena?

UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN

For three and a half days I was in seventh heaven, with a marvelous group of individuals who knew the secret to group dynamics, mass fun, cooperative energies, and that special love the Hawaiians refer to as the Aloha Spirit. It was the most heartwarming experience that I have ever enjoyed.

■ World traveler Edmund Young is a retired teacher, and a coauthor of the book “The Language of Respect: The Right of Each Student to Participate in an Environment of Communicative Thoughtfulness.”

Class of 1967: Still Strong after 35 Years

by Pat Muneno McIntyre ’67

The Class of 1967 aboard the African Queen.

“To Dream the Impossible Dream” (our grad song) has endured for us for 35 years! In honor of this momentous occasion we enjoyed a week of festivities beginning on Friday, July 19, with a “three-hour tour” to “Gilligan’s Island” aka Coconut Island. Leonard Gollob captained us across Kaneohe Bay aboard his African Queen (real name). This was a real treat since few are invited to the research facility. Twenty-four of us ate, drank and caught up until the wee hours. Just the right amount of unplanned excitement was added when we ran aground on the return voyage. Luckily, careful maneuvering by several hardy reef-walking classmates saw us safely on our way. Another adventure was added to the legend of the Class of ’67!

Tying our banquet in with the annual Maryknoll Alumni Class Dinner on Saturday was a great success! Willa Gaud Papandrew created beautiful favors and centerpieces for our tables. Not only did we enjoy the company of Knollers from other classes, but an added bonus was visiting with one of our favorite teachers, Mr. Allan Yuen ’46. He taught many different courses but our best memories are of his typing class. With no stress and no homework to worry about, we learned a skill that we, as computer users today, are so grateful for.

Sunday morning found 21 of us at a sumptuous brunch at the Outrigger Canoe Club that we repeated on August 11 for those who couldn’t make the prior activities. After the first brunch, several of us went on to attend classmate Didi Lum Ah Yo’s medical fundraiser at Aloha Tower Marketplace. Didi wasn’t well enough to participate in any reunion activities, but she’s holding her own in her battle against leukemia.

Although we started planning later than we should have, with the help of the Alumni Office this became one of the best reunions we have ever had! By taking care of the money and planning the banquet, the Alumni Office made everything so easy for us.

Aspecial mahalo to our class agent Linda Niemitz Langley for nudging us along and to the other core planning committee members for creating such a memorable event: Barbara Chun Chong, Leonard Gollob, Pat Muneno McIntyre, Willa Gaud Papandrew, Lionel Tejada, Eric and Gail Nakagaki Tiwanak.

We’re already looking forward to the next reunion!

■ Pat Muneno McIntyre ’67, a realtor with Signature Properties, Inc., is married to Bruce P. McIntyre ’67.

The Class of 1982 Celebrates 20th Reunion

by Lori Shimabukuro Nakayama ’82

(Bottom row, Lto R) Duane Wright, Marla Naito Boley, Betsy Fabro-Borg, Rhonda Corpus Picar, Terri Arquero Wong, Stacey Chong Foy, Michele Goo Chang, Rochelle Goo Sasaki, Patty Lum Pang, Lori Kam Tam, Anna Kim (Second row, Lto R) Denise Loui Leung, Monica Siu Brissette, Kelvin Oya, Lisa Erb Stewart, Kathy Kubo, Sydney Kam Guiterrez, Lori Shimabukuro Nakayama, Mary Mau, Steve Fanciullo, Richard Kishaba (Third row, Lto R) Karen Mendes Soares, Loren Lee Tripoli, Lisa Wong Gruebner, Donna Chang Eremian, Joli Leong Toth, Ryan Kaya, Stuart Lee, David Boyle (Fourth row, Lto R) Rick Leong, Stacie Tanaka, Mari-Ann Zeiler Keithan, Lisa Tom Spencer, Faith Brash, John Zerbe (Top row, Lto R) Robert Kamahele, Howard Komine, Brad Chun, Patrick Tom

For those of you contemplating attending your class reunion, my advice to you is…DON’TMISS OUT! I did not attend previous reunions simply because “I wasn’t ready to go.” But after the passing of classmate Jeff Kanalz and the September 11th terrorist attacks, I realized that I might not be here for the next reunion. With that in mind, I decided to join of the committee with Lisa Wong Gruebner and Monica “Nikki” Siu Brissette.

Our reunion was held on the weekend of July 20-21, 2002. The event began with a cocktail party on Saturday at the Honolulu Country Club in Salt Lake. Sixty-five people including 40 classmates, spouses, and guests attended. An evening of reminiscing about life 20 years ago included looking at yearbooks, photos and scrapbooks, playing games of Maryknoll “trivia” and listening to back-

Reunion Committee members at Family Day: (Lto R) Lori Shimabukuro Nakayama, Nikki Siu Brisette and Lisa Wong Gruebner.

ground music from the early ’80s. Classmate Alfredo Garma made name tags that included our individual pictures from each of the yearbooks.

The evening concluded with the awarding of door prizes. Mahalo to the following companies and individuals: Richard ’82 and Sandy Kishaba, Hawaii Pacific University, Honolulu Country Club, Lions Coffee, McDonald’s Restaurant at Manoa Market Place, Debi Shimabukuro Okamura ’80, Papa John’s Pizza, Patty Lum Pang ’82 of Patty’s Floral Designs, Safeway Beretania, Sam Choy’s Restaurants, Sheraton Waikiki Hotel, Starbucks Coffee, and Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort. Clearly, the four hours allotted was not enough since many of us continued the party at a karaoke bar.

Family Day was held the next morning at the Waialae Ridgeline Recreation Center. This gave us an opportunity to meet our classmates’children. The day was filled with activities (games, crafts and prizes) for the children and many of the alumni continued to catch up with events in each other’s lives.

What took a year to plan quickly ended in two days. Aspecial thank you to Lisa and Nikki, Richard and Sandy Kishaba, Howard Komine, Alfredo Garma, Dean Horikami (Honolulu Country Club) and the Alumni Office for helping us make our reunion a success!

So remember, go to your reunion! And to my classmates, I hope to see all of you at the next one! ■ Lori Shimabukuro Nakayama is an administrative assistant at Hawaii Pacific University. She and husband Carl have a three-year old daughter, Dori.