St. Joseph High School Class of 1961

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St. Joseph High School Class of 1961 - Class Reuinion Dinner/Mass

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Body:	<i>Here is a note from classmate Tom Quinn about his experience at the reunion: Al Ruksenas and I had such a good time at the reunion dinner Saturday night that we did not want to leave. So we didn't. As our aging classmates headed out the door past their bedtimes to get some sleep, Al and I partied on. Sometime around 11, we realized we were the only Vikings left standing at the bar, and indeed in the whole place. For both of us, it was a reprise of some 40 years earlier, when we use to meet at a Willowick bar in the midnight hour after we had finished the second shift at our respective downtown newspaper jobs. Back then, as we imbibed, we talked of current events. At the reunion we talked of the past. The evening of celebration, as well as stag night, both meticulously planned and executed by the reunion committee, seemed to go off without a hitch -- the food delicious, the conversation convivial and the spirits abounding. Tim Ryan and Dave Pfriem darted about keeping all running smoothly. At dinner I found the Viking wives charming, exuberant and engaging -- and a tad more interesting than their mates. It was a special joy for me to huddle with three Vikes who were also my St. Mary Magdalene classmates, Joe Severino, Edward Alan Strauss and Dennis Jeray, none of whom I had seen since our high school days. 'The Last Supper,' a buoyant Father Jim Heft announced to his fellow Vikings as he bounded up the steps inside the Acacia Country Club to the make-shift chapel for our Mass of Remembrance. As I sat in the front row as Mass began, Harry Waldron, seated to my left, handed me a copy of the welcoming speech he was to give at the dinner. I looked it over, thought it adequate and turned to give it back. But he inexplicably refused to take it. Did Harry want me to give his speech? Father Heft's sermon was inspiring, but we New Testament-challenged Vikes all flunked his one-question Biblical quiz. I'm sure some of our wives knew the answer but did not want to embarrass us. Maybe Dave Pfriem should start a Bible study group for local Vikes. As dinner was beginning, I pulled out Harry's speech. 'Are you giving a speech too?' an incredulous Roger Sustar asked. As it turned out Harry had another copy, and, as all who were there know, Harry gave his speech. Harry, you did fine. Al and I eventually did leave the country club. As we downed our final drinks I decided to buy a round for all remaining Vikes, and proclaimed boldly, 'Spin the joint!' at no economic consequence to myself. My famous author classmate said he had never heard this expression used to buy drinks for all. It had been shouted out on occasion at the old Headliner Cafe, a one-time Plain Dealer watering hole. As we departed, Al and I drifted toward the Acacia's front door, an arm on each other's back, listing starboard then to port with our obliging wives in tow. We tried gently to push each other out the door as we burst into the open air -- I a half step behind Al. The 50th reunion of the St. Joseph High School Class of 1961 had come to an end. But let history record that I, Tom Quinn, was the last Viking out the door.</i> *
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