Class of 1956 sets date for 55th reunion activities

Below is a copy of the letter about the 55th reunion sent out to members of the Madison Central High School Class of 1956:

April 1, 2011

Dear CHS Classmates,

Just five short years ago, we were working on details for our very successful 50 year reunion. At our celebration, those who were there encouraged us to plan for at least one more gathering as a class. You spoke, and we listened. Mark your calendars - here is the plan for our casual and fun loving,

CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1956 - 55 year reunion

Friday, September 16, 2011. Time: 5:00 p.m.– 10:00 p.m.
Madison Masonic Center (small dining room)
301 Wisconsin Avenue, Madison, WI 53703
Cash bar social beginning at 5:00 pm, buffet dinner at 6:30 pm
Only $25 per person

We are excited about having the reunion in our old neighborhood. We can walk the steps where our class picture was taken and we can also stroll around the Central High School arch, which still stands as a reminder of the “good old days.” Be sure to bring your cameras (or phones) to capture some memorable moments to share with your families. Over the weekend, stop at Vilas Park to see the bench donated by our class in 2006 with accumulated excess funds from our past reunions. The bench is located near the Children’s’ Zoo and is clearly marked as a gift from the CHS class of 1956. 

Can you help us find these members of the Class of 1956?

Central High School, Class of 1956
We do not have current addresses for:

Mary Ellen Blaser
Tom Bliss
Norman Buchert
Mary Lou Connery Claus
Pauline Dunow
Thomas Harper
Jerry Hoven
Betsy Bohmrich Janke
Catherine Rombou Ketselidis
Janice Watzke Lavine
Joyce Clavadatscher McLain
Clifford Olson
Sue Parisi
Bryant Randall
Dan Smith
Dave Swenson
Norma Brager Tracy
Sally Pells Sather
Sue Lueth Taylor
Roger Watson

Please send any current info to crthomps@charter.net

Class of 1961 sets dates for 50th reunion activities

From Sandra Kay Sabroff Weber (Class of 1961:

50th Reunion
Madison Central High School
Class of 1961
August 19-21, 2011

The Madison Central High School Class of 1961 will begin its 50th reunion on Friday, August 19, 2011 at the Coliseum Bar, 232 E. Olin Avenue in Madison beginning at 5:30 p.m. There will be no charges for this meet and greet event as we are not renting a room. Food and drinks will be the responsibility of each individual.

On Saturday, August 20, 2011 the class will meet at the Elks Club, 711 Jenifer St., overlooking beautiful Lake Monona. Price is $35.00 per person. Time begins at 5:30 p.m. with a social hour followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. Enter the parking lot at the corner of Blount and Williamson streets.

Choice of dinners will be chicken maison-chicken breast topped with wild mushrooms and shallot sauce; or 10 ounce prime rib, cooked medium; or vegetarian dish consisting of pasta, vegetables and sauce.

On Sunday, August 21, 2011 the class will take a 12:00 noon cruise on Lake Monona. The $35.00 price per person includes an entire meal plus the two hour cruise, but does not include the open bar. We will meet at the boat ramp parking lot at the entrance to Olin Park towards the end of Lakeside Street.

Reunion Book: Anyone not attending the Saturday or Sunday events is requested to donate $5.00 toward printing costs.

Please fill out an information page with a current picture if possible and return. Classmates who already submitted this information do not need to fill this out.

Rich Bennett is moving the All Central Reunion to a new location in 2011

The annual All Central Reunion organized by Rich Bennett is moving! This year's event will be from noon until 6 p.m. on Sunday, February 13th, 2011 at the VFW Post 7591, located at 301 Cottage Grove Road on Madison's East Side (between Monona Drive and Dempsey Road/Highway 51).

Class of 1956 sets date for 55th reunion

From Cheryll Thompson comes this report: "The Central High School Class of 1956 is in the process of planning for our 55 year class reunion. The reunion is scheduled for Friday, September 16, 2011 beginning at 5:00 p.m. at the Masonic Temple (our old stomping grounds). As details develop, they will be posted on the Madison Central High School web site.

Video from the joint Class of 1968, 1969, and 1970 reunion held in August 2009

Video by Bob Wombacher III (Class of 1969)

Class of 1950 holds its 59th reunion on July 18th

An anonymous commenter left a reminder that the Class of 1950 holds a reunion every year on the third Saturday in July at the VFW on Lakeside Street. This year, it will hold its 59th reunion on July 18, 2009. If you have additional details about this event, such as what time it begins, please contact me and I'll post it.

The anonymous commenter also left a copy of an ode to the Class of 1950's 50th reunion, which I'm reproducing here:

ODE TO 50TH REUNION -CLASS OF 1950

Our 50th class reunion was a grand affair, thanks to the committee.
Almost all our classmates were there from the best school in the city!
The guys still as handsome as handsome could be..
"Girls" looking the same as in 1950.

Friday night was our special time To get reacquainted over munchies and wine.
Though we were laid back and mellow it's true,
We managed to sing a song or two.

Saturday night was our dinner dance
All together again, here was a chance
To spend a few precious hours(how fast they flew by)
With our dear friends from Central High.

We hugged, we talked, we danced (not much.)
We reached for an old friend's hand to touch.
We laughed, we joked, we reminisced in style...
Young and carefree again for a while.

Don Noel spoke, praising our school..
Said we had diversity before it was cool.
For we welcomed all without any fuss
Their Race/Religion unimportant to us.

Sunday's brunch was our last event..
Our Joyful reunion was nearly spent.
Ron Imhoff took pictures about the room
And we tried to forget we'd be parting soon.

Some of us went once more to the arch
Where we used to wait for school to start.
We revisited downtown Madison
For that was our turf, where we had so much fun.

Then time ran out as it always does..
None left to remember the way it was.
It was time to go... we said our good-bys
And it hurt us so...brought tears to our eyes.

We'll keep in touch with our high school friends..
Though we are parted..it's not the end.
The e-mail, letters and cards we'll write
And telephone calls will keep memories tight.

Some grads like me stayed right here in Mad City.
If we don't meet now and then
Twill be such a pity.
For we have been blessed to belong to a class
That's as wonderful now as it was in the past.

The official Class of 1964 class reunion poster by (who else?) John Schmelzer

The Madison Central High School Class of 1964 is holding its 45th reunion on July 25, 2009 at the Elks Club in Madison. The official poster, created by John Schmelzer is shown above...and there's more to come. John sent me information about limited edition Bling, but I need to clarify who's eligible to to acquire it. I'll be posting more information soon. In the meantime, you can find out more about the reunion by visiting the Class of 1964's website.

Note: If bare breasts offend you, you may not want to click through on the link to John's website.

Classes of 1968, 1969, and 1970 will hold "combined" reunion on August 8, 2009 at Howard Johnson's East

Here's a copy of the information and registration sheet reunion organizers recently mailed to members of the classes of 1968, 1969 (the last class to graduate from Madison Central High School), and 1970 (the class that should have graduated from Madison Central High School):

Classes of 1968, 1969, and 1970 joint reunion planning meeting at Alt'n Bach's

From Bill Cator (Class of 1968) Our next meeting for the combined Class of 1968, 1969, and 1970 reunion is at 7 p.m. Thursday, February 19, 2009 at Alt'n Bachs Town Tap, 2602 Whalen Lane (next to American TV off the Beltline at the Todd Drive exit).

Note: Use the link to click through to the Alt'n Bach's website and check out the free beer offer (while it lasts).

Classes of 1968, 1969, and 1970 set a date for a joint reunion

From Bill Cator (Class of 1968) comes this news: "We are having a combined reunion for the classes of 1968, 1969 and 1970."

Although Madison Central High School closed in 1969, members of the class that would have graduated in 1970 have held periodic reunions for almost four decades.

The combined reunion will be held on August 8, 2009 at the Howard Johnson's East located at 3841 E. Washington Ave. Madison.

As soon as more information (including lists of "lost and missing" classmates) is available, I'll post it here

A spaghetti dinner prepared by Central alumnus Joe "Buffo" Cerniglia at the VFW Post named for Central alumnus Marion Cranefield

Roger Boeker (Class of 1960) sent the following announcement:

Fun – Food – and a Fallen Warrior Fund-Raiser.
Your Chef: Joe “Buffo” Cerniglia

Find treasures in the silent auction – gifts for the veteran.
If you have a bulletin board, post the attached poster – Thanks!

All-Central Reunion scheduled for Sunday, February 8, 2009 at VFW Post 1318

The this year's All-Central reunion is scheduled to take place from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, February 8, 2009 at VFW Post 1318, 133 East Lakeside in Madison.

VFW Post 1318 is the Lieutenant Marion C. Cranefield Post, named after Madison [Central] High School alumnus (Class of 1914) killed in action in France during the World War I Battle of Grimpettes Woods.

Class of 1964 sets the date for its 45th reunion

'64 Central Grads, mark your calendars for
JULY 25, 2009!
It's 45th Reunion Time!!!
Party like it's 1964, or party like you're almost 64.

The Madison Central High School Class of 1964 will hold its 45th reunion on Saturday, July 25, 2009 at the Elks Club. There will be an informal get-together on Friday, July 24, 2009 at the VFW on Lakeside Street.

The Class of 1964 reunion committee has set up a website -- complete with illustrations by class member John Schmelzer.

There are quite a few "lost and missing" classmates on their list. If you can provide any contact information for these people, please send me an e-mail. In addition, I've posted obituaries for deceased members of the Class of 1964 on the CHS obituaries blog. If someone is missing from obituaries archives, please send me a copy of the printed obituary and I'll be glad to post it.

Lost and missing members of the Madison Central High School Class of 1964

William Allred
William Bakke
Beverly Barr Jackson
Chris Bartholomew Morgan
Jean Beecher Boench
Ronald Betts
Judy Borge Adams
Sandra Brown
Carolyn Burgess Ballweg
Sandra Cohen Zeitlin
Pat Conway
William Crane
Lyle Crary
Ellen David Foley
Carol Deakman
Frank Degenhardt
Evelyn Farr
Diana Felland Gregory
Ken Fischer
Joann Frederick Francis
Robert Gallagher
Sandy Hainstock Moore
Edith Hohlstein Smith
Barbara Holton
Dawn Huett Coker
Sharon Hughes Ragan
Christine Johnson Verges
Susan Kelly Duncan
Sandra Knudson Holte
David Larson
Alan Laymon
Mary Mislivcek
Jeanne Narloch Vasen
Kathy Patterson
Adelia Patterson Johnson
Nancy Paul Cavanaugh
Rose Paxton Selk
Linda Perkins
Don Piper
Barbara Post
Frances Prevas
Mark Roberts
Lynn Robertson Teresa
Dariel Rousar Beaudet
John Ryan
Marilou Scallion Jeffcott
Joan Schlicht Hopp
Bernard Schnering
Larry Schultz
Barbara Scott Carpenter
Ruth Shriver Gill
Connie Spoolhoof
Miles Standish
Dennis Stovall
Pat Sullivan
Phyllis Tinley
Bill Van Dyke
Dennis Vanderbloemen
John Vogel
Paul Weaver
Carol Wiedmann Copeland
Bethany Young

Geroge Choles (Class of 1943) celebrates his 84th birtday

From the October 26, 8008 "Celebrations" supplement to the Wisconsin State Journal

Class of 1943 makes plans for its final reunion -- its 65th

Selma Dewey Calnan recently sent me the following e-mail about the Class of 1943's plans for its final reunion this summer:

I just received the notice from Tom Jafferis that our final reunion --our 65th -- will be held on Wednesday, July 16th at the Elks Club, 711 Jenifer Street with social hour beginning at 11 a.m. and buffet served at 12:30. It will be held in the lower level dining room. In his notice (the only one he is sending) he says "You are one of the great Class of 1943 and one of those from the Greatest Generation American has ever seen. Please come. We need your memories."

Tom's address is
1306 Stratford Ct
Middleton, WI 53562
608-824-0350.

Joan [Severa] will be doing a program. You already have her contacts.

I am far far away with no input to the plans but will be promoting it where I can. I do a monthly column, "The Best is Yet to Be," for the Inyo Register here. The photo that appears with my weekly column "Selma's Sierra Ramblings" for the Sierra Reader published here in Bishop, Ca. At 83 I may be the only un-retired Central alumna!

I love what you are doing for all of us.
Selma Dewey Calnan

Note: I also have an e-mail address for Tom Jafferis, but I'm reluctant to print it in this post, since he might become the target of spammers. If you'd like to get in touch with him by e-mail, please contact me.

Date set for 2008 All Central Reunion

The 2008 All Central Reunion will be held on Sunday, February 10, 2008 at the usual place: VFW Post 1318 located at 133 E. Lakeside Street in Madison. The event starts at noon. I'll post more details as soon as I reach the event's sponsor, Rich Bennett.

Classes of 1950, 1951, and 1952 schedule joint reunion

According to Kris Crary's "Scrapbook" column in the Wisconsin State Journal, the Madison Central High School classes of 1950, 1951, and 1952 will hold at joint reunion at the Coliseum Bar, 232 S. Olin Avenue, on Saturday, June 23, 2007. The event begins at 4 p.m. There will be an hors d'oeuvre buffet from 5-8 p.m. Reservations are due by June 1st. Contact Bob and Pat Launderer, 6325 Piedmont Road, Madison, WI 53711. If you have questions, please call 274-2843.

"What's this blog all about?" you may ask...

In order to make information more accessible, I've begun moving posts about current alumni news and reunion news from the Central History blog to this new blog. All new posts about alumni news and reunions will be posted on this blog, but the Central History blog will continue to have links to reunion news.

During the transition, some posts may appear on both blogs. Be patient. Also, if you encounter any broken links, please send me an e-mail or leave a comment. I can only repair them if I know they're broken.

Madison Central High School Class of 1957 sets a date for its 50th reunion

Two weeks ago, there was a brief announcement about the Class of 1957's plans for its 50th reunion in Kris Crary's "Scrapbook" column in the Wisconsin State Journal. It said the reunion was scheduled for July 21, 2007 at the Elks Club in Madison. I've e-mailed the contact person, Sharon Lee Olle, for more details, but haven't received a reply yet. As soon as I have more details, I'll post them on this blog.