Connections
HIGHLIGHTS IN THIS ISSUE Gerry Pavelek a celebration of lifelong friendships
“The Gathering” 2011 “The Gathering” 2011 Highlights & Photos NEARLY 500 ALUMNI SHARE OLD to do to help bring together page 2&3 MEMORIES, RENEW FRIENDSHIPS AND Serra Catholic and Sacred 2 CELEBRATE TOGETHER. Heart Academy alumni in their new home at Blanchet. A few 3 What an amazing success it was for “The awards were made: to Gerry Pavelek, Serra ‘58, Serra Remembers: Gathering” 2011! You got it. Nearly 500 for his remarkable leadership for the triennial Baseball A-2 attended, traveling from at least 14 states “The Gathering” event and to Elaine (Nelke) Swyt, Championship and representing Serra Catholic and Sacred SHA ‘67, who was instrumental in the creation Coach Snook speaks to Heart Academy classes as far back as of “Connections” the new Serra & SHA alumni Blanchet Students 1940. The Live 5 was fabulous, fabulous, quarterly newsletter, now reaching over 2,000 4page 4 & 5 fabulous! alumni. 5 Mass, celebrated by Fr. Christian Mondor About 6:15, we all could hear the music beginning and Fr. Jim Coleman, was SRO (standing next door. Blanchet Catholic’s Brandy O’Bannon Alumni In Memoriam room only) following the early bird social. and her team of Blanchet students and helpers Letter from Bill O’Brien Then drinks and more visiting and a buffet transformed their gymnasium into a replica of the Alumni Upcoming Events: supper followed. Group photographs were past. There they were -- The Live Five on stage for Annual Blanchet Auction offered throughout the dinner hour. the first time in 40 some years, together again with The Winter Alumni Social their classmates in the bleachers, at tables, on the page 6 & 7 6 Chuck Lee, Blanchet Catholic’s President, dance floor, and bringing back those sounds from wrapped up the dinner hour with welcomes the 60’s, more amazing than ever. It was a “sock to all and thanks to the Legacy Alumni hop” to beat all from the past. The dance floor 7 Steering Committee for their planning and was jammed all night long. About 7:30, we were The List of Attendees execution. Then, Tim Pickett, Serra ‘67, the presented with late evening spread -- sandwiches insert LASC chairperson, added his thanks to and dessert delights with coffee and assorted Blanchet for all they have done and continue beverages. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Then, the raffle. Marlene Gerig, SHA ‘56, won the grand prize trip to the Oregon Coast at Tu Tu Tun, Gold Beach. Embroidered blankets were awarded to early bird registrants and commemorative t-shirts were also raffled off along with many other excellent prizes. But no one left without a gift. All alumni were given a beautiful souvenir coffee mug, compliments of John Salstrom, Serra ‘67, and Salem Trophy.
The evening ended with socializing into the wee hours, while a video of the Serra Sabers winning the ‘65 football state championship played on stage compliments of The Gathering renews Dave Snook, Serra ‘66. The Live Five like never before. They will be back in 2014 to celebrate their 50 years together. And so will we! All classes from Serra Catholic were represented. Gertrude (Zielenski) Crary was from the earliest class from Mark your calendars. “The Gathering” and the spring musical each year. it was “a happening” Sacred Heart ‘40. Only five classes did will celebrate once again on August 9, Keep posted on those events in our not have a representative which were 2014! The Live Five will be celebrating newsletter or online. ‘45, 48, 70, 77 and 78. 50 years with us. Don’t miss it! Check out our website to see more photos and But there’s more. If you want to It was a memorable evening, one that soon (to be added) a video from the arrange for your class to celebrate we will not soon forget. Our sincere event. an upcoming reunion, you can do gratitude to all who helped make this it at Blanchet, using their facilities. reunion a success, to our nearly 100 A small postscript. Yes, “The Call Brandy O’Bannon at brandy@ sponsors and to Blanchet for all they Gathering” will be 3 years out, but blanchetcatholicschool.com or call her do to bring us together. By the way, you don’t have to wait to get together at (503)391-2639. Blanchet is “a new the proceeds from thisCONTINUED event funded NEXT COLUMN the until 2014. The Legacy Alumni Steering place to call home.” § event AND completed the funding for Committee plans a winter social event the trophy case in the lobby!
a few more sponsors The following sponsors didn’t make the evening’s written program. Our sincere thanks to everyone who helped make this event a success!