On Saturday May 9, 2009, a Mini-Reunion was held at the Mt. Vernon-Wharf Restaurant, North Shore Road in Revere by members of the RHS 1962 class. The date and place was selected to accommodate a visit by our Lantern Blog Editor, classmate and friend, Rose Franciosa Sisti. Rose flew in from Florida and was visiting her family during the Mother's Day weekend.
What started out last year, when Rose visited, as a simple luncheon get together with Sal Carmosino and his wife Carolyn, which eventually attracted 8 former classmates, this year grew to over 20 classmates for yet, another reunion luncheon.
Rose was the first to arrive and was quickly joined by a number of friends at the bar area. Some of the people that came were not at the RHS 2007 Reunion or at last years luncheon. Therefore, we hadn't seen some of them in well over 40 years...or since high school!
Everyone was having such a good time socializing that we simply forgot that we were there to have lunch. One surprise visit melted into another, as more and more people appeared. The poor waitress and even Meri Mastronardi, who was the coordinator for the day, tried to move people into the pre arranged sitting area....to no avail.
Finally, we all moved to the sitting area and tried to figure out who was sitting with who. Once we were settled, Meri read aloud a poem that she had composed to honor Rose for the work she has done with the Lantern blog. It was moving and well deserved and Rose was applauded. An envelope was passed around for voluntary contributions to Rose for any expenses she may have incurred for the Lantern.
What made this event extra special was that several people had major health problems, yet still made a determined effort to attend. Dora DiBartolomeo Vickery has had health problems and had been in and out of the hospital a number of times. Thankfully, she was well enough to come and we were very glad to see her. She was accompanied by her sister Lena and then later picked up by her husband.
Robert Scott [Scotty to his friends] had a stroke only a month ago and no one ever expected him to come, especially driving alone from Maine. Scotty valiantly appeared despite, walking with a cane, a lazy foot and a large bandage on his arm. It was great to see Scotty and also to view his fancy car, we call the Bat-mobile. as it has every gadget in it known to mankind!
This gathering showed that it was more than just a simple luncheon of friends. It showed people who genuinely enjoy being with each other, some making some big time sacrifices to attend. Chuck Beatrice also came a bit later as he left his ailing mother in Intensive Care at a hospital. If Dora, Scotty and Chuck had any reason not to make it, their's were certainly legitimate. Billy Melchionno was on the list to attend but his mother had passed away only last week. Therefore, Billy had obligations to be with his family. Our condolences went out to Billy via the Lantern.
As usual many of us didn't want to leave or have this grand time be over. As is the case for any reunion, one never gets a chance to speak with everyone. However, that fact hopefully whets our appetites to have yet another reunion. These get togethers seem to be an extension of our great class reunion of 2007. Our sincere thanks go to Meri Mastronardi and Diane Screnci Beatrice for organizing this event and contacting the large number of people that were able to attend. It was truly a great day for us all and a wonderful way to honor our classmate and friend Rose.
The following people were in attendance. Hopefully, we have all of the names and if anyone is omitted please accept our apologies. We can always add names later if necessary.
Rose Franciosa [Sisti]
Meri Mastronardi [Yianacopolus]
Diane Screnci [Beatrice]
Chuck Beatrice
Sal Carmosino [wife Carolyn]
Roger Keith
Barbara Lagorio
Kathy Crane [Delena]
Robert Scott [Scotty]
Peter Zaccone
Patty Pierce [Sullivan]
Lena Stuppia [Stasio]
Janet DeSimone
Linda Spagnolo [Lattanzi]
Paula Taylor [Stevenson]
Ruth Arvanian [Bowler]
Joe Greenberg
Joanne Nardone
Joanne Strazzulla [McCarthy]
Dora DiBartolomeo [Vickery] [her sister Lena]
Linda Margolis
Vinnie Gennaco
Janet Campello [Meany]
Our thanks to one and all who attended and if we can keep convincing Rose to come every year, we can make this annual event. Through the efforts of Rose and her creation of the Lantern, it has been a major vehicle for all of us to "keep in touch". It has enabled all of us to be friends forever.
God bless you for that, Rose.
Sal Carmosino
RHS 62
Hi Rose,
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to thank you again for all you do, your talents are incredible. I showed your blogs to a friend of mine who is a graphic artist and she was very impressed. She just wrote a book and is promoting it on the internet and she just started tweeting (sp). From what she tells me it is what you do before you start a blog. In any event it is all Greek to me and appears to be terribly time consuming. I mention my friend because I think you also have the talent necessary to write a BOOK, hint, hint.
Glad you had such an incredible time back East. Everyone looked like they were having a wonderful time at the reunion. Between your pictures and Sal's update, I have a sense of having been there.
Leatrice Cardone
Sal,
ReplyDeleteSuper job creating a summary of our wonderful luncheon.
I can't thank all of you enough for your kindness and monetary gift.
I was thinking, perhaps we can put together a weekend in some quaint place...not too expensive....but something nice so we can have more time together. Just throwing a thought out there.
Sad to report, Dora is back in the hospital. Hoping they will release her today. I believe she has been in since last Monday. I will keep you posted.
Hugs, Rose
Sal, Great article. I feel like
ReplyDeleteI was there. Enjoyed seeing the
pictures that Rose put on the Lantern. I could tell all of you
had a great time.
Janice Scandone
Sal
ReplyDeleteAwesome job! You summarized and commented perfectly. Just want to make sure that everyone knows how much effort was made by Diane, not me, in procuring the space and arranging everything. She did a great job.
It was a great time and I look forward to the next gathering.
Dear Rose: As I told you last week, the work you did to cause this wonderful event to happen is a truly good deed. As you saw, all of us had a wonderful time and many of us are talking about doing this again soon. I would love to and hope that we can be joined by those who could not attend and those we have not been able to contact yet.
ReplyDeleteThanks for giving me the opportunity to see so many old friends and to have such a memorable experience, Joe
Hi Rose and Sal Sal you did a great job writing up the luncheon. I am so sorry to have miss seeing everyone but between you and Rose I feel almost like I had attended as you describe meeting and greeting and being so hard to go sit down I can feel the exciement you all were feeling.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to hear Dora is back in the hospital I want to thank everyone for there well wishes sent to me in my recent hospitization Good to say I am good as new. Hope to see everyone at the next one Jeanine White
Sal, I was so looking forward to your entry about the luncheon. you put it all so nicely, and Rose thanks for keeping this going because this is why we are all able to reconnect.
ReplyDeleteI had such a great time seeing everyone.
We came from a time when all was so different, we danced differenty (remember traveling) we dressed differenty, we were different from other towns and that may be why getting together as we have is so special to us all.
Diane an Meri nice job. Thanks
Rose/Sal,
ReplyDeleteSal, Just read your comments - It was as if I were there. You missed your calling. You defiantly should have been a reporter.
As you know I tried my best, but at this time health does not allow a trip from Tampa. I look forward to the next get together and will do my best not to miss out on the fun and camaraderie.
Fred Ciampi