LDSS reunion sparks memories

By Mark Ribble

With the highly recognizable riffs of Randy Bachman’s pumpkin-orange Gretsch belting out the opening of American Woman, about 58 former classmates filed into the common area at the Leamington District Secondary School on Friday, October 14.

The gathering was a meet-andgreet, which opened the 50th High School Reunion weekend for the Class of ’72, which was followed Saturday by a dinner/ dance at the Roma Club and other activities over the course of the weekend.

Organizer Nick Lutsch was busy mingling with some people he hadn’t seen in-person for 50 years.

Many stopped at the memorial wall to pay respect to those who are no longer with us.

The reunion was a follow-up to a 45th reunion held five years ago and this time, graduates of 1971 and 1973 were also invited as guests of the 1972 class.

Lots of hand-shaking and hugs filled the room, along with many “You haven’t changed a bit” type phrases which were audible throughout the common area.

The event was catered by the LDSS culinary program and Mr. Joe Youssef, who had his team there to highlight their culinary skills. The LDSS culinary program offers catering as well.

Over 120 students take part in culinary programs at LDDS, led by Youssef and Janine Deneau.

Three classes worked on the catering for Friday’s event and five students helped out at the meet and greet itself.

Anyone requiring catering is encouraged to call the high school at 519-326-6191.

Many former classmates travelled from afar to see their contemporaries.

Karen Otton left Leamington after high school to attend the University of Guelph and after spending one year there, left for the University of Victoria in British Columbia.

She arrived with nothing and ended up staying in Victoria, where she still resides. She came to the last reunion and had so much fun that she returned for this one.

“It’s just a blast,” she says. “I flew into Hamilton and I’m here for two weeks.”

Karen then took the time to bring over Ernie Cornies, who came to the reunion from Montreal.

After a year at St. Clair College, Ernie moved to the University of Waterloo, where he became a mechanical engineer. He visits Leamington often to visit his family.

“It’s great to see all these people again,” he said. “There’s more camaraderie now than there was back then.”

Fellow graduate Richard Henderson went to St. Clair College for three years and moved west to join the RCMP after graduation.

He retired from the RCMP in 2000 and has been doing a lot of volunteer work. He missed the 2017 reunion, so he’s glad to be back after leaving Leamington 47 years ago.

“I’ve seen faces I haven’t seen in 50 years,” he said.

Dennis and Eileen Egyedy drove all the way from Nova Scotia for the reunion and are amazed at the changes in Leamington.

Dennis worked at Chrysler in Windsor for five years after graduation, but eventually went back to school and got his degree in public administration. After a job offer in Northwest Territories, he left for out west, where he met Eileen, who is from Halifax.

The pair spent 10 years as owners of two Baskin Robbins franchises in Dartmouth and Halifax after moving around the country for different job opportunities.

Dennis hasn’t been back home in 36 years. “I came to see my best friend from high school — Frank Mastronardi,” he said. “It’s great to see all these people.”

Of course, there were lots of locals in attendance —people who stayed in the community and built their lives here — such as Victor Winter, Nick Lutsch and current Leamington Mayor, Hilda MacDonald.

Former teachers Joel Westlake, Ernie Purr, Dan Zannier and Peter Quick were also there for the meet-and-greet and enjoyed reminiscing with their former students.

All of those in attendance gathered for a photo opportunity on the new LDSS front staircase with lots of smiles all around.

The students of the class of 1972, along with guests from 1971 and 1973, gathered on the stairway of Leamington District Secondary School on Friday, October 14 as the LDSS 50th reunion kicked off. In front are three of the teachers who mentored the students in 1972, from left, Dan Zannier, Ernie Purr, Lions Mascot Snoil and Joel Westlake.