Tight-knit Medina Class of 1961 celebrates 60th reunion

Photos by Ginny Kropf: The Class of 1961 from Medina High School met at the White Birch in Lyndonville Saturday to celebrate their 60th reunion. Seated, from left, are Russell Young, Raissa Zolin Semanchu, Jessie Eckerson Green, Jackie Gardner Nicolay, Margo Riemer Schuner and Linda Hudson Hansler. Second row, from left, are David Green, Dale Bacon, Paul Barnes, Don Pritchard, Dianne Pask Domoy, Joyce Hill Cook, Ellyn Keller MacCornell, Ward Crafts, Charles Slack and Marvin Sills. Third row, Richard Hellert, Sue Bliven, Nicki Rogers Fredericks, Marlo Neal Huer, Patty Waters Blackburn, Dave Ehrenreich and Bob Young. At rear are John Slack, Jack Beedon, Everett Harmer, Arnie Canham, Ron Thomas and Peggy Hart Nelson.

MEDINA – The Medina High School’s Class of 1961 has remained a close knit group since they graduated, getting together every five years to renew friendships.

On Saturday, 29 members of the class and their guests met at White Birch in Lyndonville to celebrate their 60th reunion.

Dave and Jessie Green of East Shelby became class sweethearts in seventh grade, and have been together ever since, she said. They, Nicki Fredericks, John Slack and Peggy Hart Nelson have been to every reunion.

There were 138 original members in the Class of 1961. They have lost 38. Robert Crafts was president, Dick Stimson was vice president, Susan Albright was secretary and Jessie Green was treasurer. Edward Devlin was principal at the time.

The class boasts the first Foreign Exchange student in Medina, a boy nicknamed Chico from Italy. He lived with the Jim DiGuilio family. On Saturday afternoon, the class was delighted to contact him on Zoom.

The classmate who traveled the farthest to the reunion was Bob Young, a missionary from Africa. Others came from Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky and Texas.

The committee who organized the reunion has done it every year. They included Dave and Jessie Green, Nicki Fredericks, Patti Blackburn, Diane Domoy, Ellyn MacConnell, John Slack, Linda Hansler and Ron Thomas.

“This is a very good class,” Jessie Green said. “Everybody gets along.”

Dave and Jessie Green, seated, look over a yearbook from when they were in school.