By Beth Wallach
The stroll down Memory Lane was helped by the big band music in the background. From Helen Forrest's dreamy "Long Ago and Far Away" to crooner Bing Crosby's "Swinging on a Star," there was no shortage of memories for the class of 1945, who all looked and acted remarkably youthful.
This class, which has had four other reunions over the years, keeps in touch primarily through the Internet. Including spouses, there were 33 attendees at the reunion, some class members coming from as far away as Michigan and Florida.
Ansell DeFau, who was the assistant co-coordinator of the reunion and now lives in Trumbull, Connecticut, left RVC in 1952 after a stint in the service. "I have such fond memories. You know, we were the class who went through WWII," said DeFau, who said personal contacts, e-mail and word of mouth contributed to getting in touch with class members.
Mitchell Pike, who now lives in Sands Point with his wife Marilyn, was drafted into the Army after graduation. He and Marilyn met in Colorado, but came back and settled in Baldwin. "I've lived my whole life on Long Island," said Pike, who cut short his vacation in Florida just to be there. Pike attended the 40th, 50th, 55th reunions of his class, as well as the 100th anniversary of South Side High School. "Wherever you go you meet someone from Rockville Center. It's a very famous place."
John Matz came all the way from Traverse City, Michigan to hang with his old buddy, Don "Moose" McCarthy, who made the trip from Ocala, Florida. Matz called the reunion "terrific," and said it felt like he never left all these great people. The two boyhood friends remembered playing basketball, soccer and caddying at the Rockville Links, where they got a dollar a bag for a round of 18, plus a dime tip, filling in for all the professional caddies who were in the service.
"It was just the highlight of the year," said Dorothy Widoff Wolfe, of the Red and Blue competition. Wolfe remembered how supportive all the teachers were of the kids, always lightening the homework load during the week leading up to the meet. A captain of the Red Team in '45, as if it were yesterday, Wolfe said, "The Red Team won because of the basketball relay. I was the last one to go and I got it in!"
For organizer Chet Hopper, who lives in Newton, Connecticut, the reunion was bittersweet because his longtime friend and previous reunion organizer, Barry Brown, was not well enough to attend. Hopper took it over and had no regrets. Although a tight knit group of former South Siders who live in Connecticut have lunch together every five weeks or so, said Hopper, "It's very exciting and interesting. Some of these people we haven't seen in many years."
Echoing the sentiments of everyone in the room, Moose said it best. "I hope I'll be around for the next one."
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