Celebrating 60th birthdays proves good way to bring Medina’s Class of ’81 together

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Nearly half of the Class of 1981 got together over the weekend to celebrate their 60th birthdays. All class members are in their 60s or will be by the end of the year. They are gathered here on Saturday night at the VFW in Medina.

MEDINA – One thing the Class of 1981 from Medina Central School is proud of is their closeness and staying in touch.

In addition to the traditional reunions every few years, the class plans other special activities, just to get together.

Friends sharing old times at a birthday party for the Class of 1981 are, from left, Wayne Montalvo, Kevin Furness, George Pogel and Dave Maiorana.

One of those was this weekend when nearly 100 classmates and their partners got together for a big “birthday party.” The occasion was to celebrate the fact all the classmates recently turned 60 or would hit that milestone by the end of the year. The youngest is Ellie Prawel, who will turn 60 on Nov. 21.

“You can call me the baby,” she joked.

Classmates traveled from Texas, Florida and Virginia, as well as across New York state.

Kevin Furness helped organize the party, which included a gathering Friday night at Tapped on Main and a final get-together Saturday night at the VFW Post on East Center Street.

A previous get-together several years ago was a “sports party.”

Class officers were Betsy Phinney, president; Bob Blake, vice president; Kelly Crane, treasurer; and Kevin McKeever, historian.

There were 215 original graduates, and they have lost 17.

Dave Maiorana, who came from Florida for the party, stressed how close the class has remained.

“It didn’t matter if you were an enlisted man climbing the ladder or a high profile educator, we were all important and we all stuck together,” he said.

Several classmates have been friends since kindergarten, including Furness and McKeever and Phinney and Bridget Hobbs.

“Kevin and I still call each other every week,” Furness said.

Several members of Medina Central School’s Class of 1981 got together Friday night at Tapped on Main. Standing are Glorida Williams, left, and Darcy Brabon. Seated, clockwise from left, are Sandra Belson, Laurie Bower, Bridget Hobbs, Betsy Phinney and Bonnie Doberstein.