WHHS Class of 1962 celebrates 50th reunion

In what made for a festive, touching and memorable gathering, members of West Hempstead High School’s Class of 1962 came together to celebrate their 50th high school reunion on June 24.

More than 40 graduates united for a special two-hour brunch at the high school cafeteria, where they were able to reconnect, remember good times and glance through old photographs from back in the day, which were provided by the West Hempstead Historical Society.

The Happy Hostess deli — based in Rockville Centre and owned by West Hempstead resident Jay Post, a member of the Class of 1964 — catered the event, supplying a variety of foods, including bagels, breads, salads, fruits and pastries.

“It was the highlight of this year,” said Janie Feinberg, 67, a Valley Stream resident and member of the Class of 1962. “June 24 is when we actually graduated. It’s special. We’ve been planning this for three years — it’s been such a joy to reconnect with people.”

Leslie Badaines, a Knoxville, Tennessee resident and also a member of the Class of 1962, connected with Feinberg on Facebook in 2009, and the two decided to plan the reunion. The rest, she said, was history.

“We had many enthusiastic people — it was marvelous,” Badaines said. “People came in from all over — Hawaii, California, Arkansas. It was very exciting.”

Feinberg, who described the gathering as “a treasure,” thanked the West Hempstead Board of Education for allowing them to use the high school cafeteria for the gathering. Feinberg added that she, like many who attended the event, will always have fond memories of West Hempstead High School.

“This brought back a flood of memories,” she said. “It was a supporting, nurturing environment. We had a great education — we had teachers who cared. It’s really been wonderful.”