Our 30-Year Reunion was everything that the committee had hoped for and was actually a three day event held over the weekend of September 13th, 2002. Below is a summary of all that transpired. Pictures of each event can also be found by visiting the 30-Year Photo Gallery page.
GOLF
The weekend began Friday morning, September 13th, at the Los Verdes Golf Course with the very first THS Class of 72 Golf Scramble. Twenty three of us played our very own version of the “skins” game (as Marie Poulin will attest). By the way, Los Verdes Country Club was where our class held our very first 5-year reunion. The round of play was a great prelude to the fun and companionship that would await all of us during the rest of the weekend. We all agreed that this will probably become a yearly event around which others would be invited to attend and an unstructured “mini-reunion” might revolve. From Washington to Arizona, anyone interested in organizing such a scramble at their own course can click here for suggestions on how to do so.
RECEPTION AND DINNER
Our 30-Year Reunion was held in the ballroom of the San Pedro Hilton at the Cabrillo Harbor Marina. The weather was beautiful at the harbor side patio as our classmates and their guests checked in and had cocktails before sunset. Dinner in the ballroom was started off in warm prayer by Karen Smith-Larkin, who filled in for the injured Rev. Bob Hutchison. Bob is O.K. after getting T-boned in Texas by another car just days prior to flying out. He says that it only hurts when he laughs, which has been constant as he hears of all that transpired over the weekend. Getting everyone’s attention to welcome the class was tough but crowd control was finally established by firefighter Scott Schneider’s P.A. announcement that there was a fire in the house (go figure!).
John Dickson welcomed the "greatest class that THS ever had" and thanked Monte Robold, Theresa Fagan-Hollis, Jana Leonard-Hertel, and Scott Schneider for helping him on the committee to bring it all together. The results of the Trivia Contest were announced and a special T-shirt was presented to THS Trivia Queen Kathy Bergen-Rossier. Through noise and applause an attempt at determining which elementary school brought the most amount of spirit to the reunion was made. Although not conclusive, Hickory seemed to be the best followed closely by Adams. John also acknowledged the attendance of our classmate, Rodney Pate, who was attempting to put the pieces of his past together after losing his memory in a crash shortly after graduation.
Monte Robold then took the stage and recognized faculty in attendance (Woody Griggs, Pat Wright and Jerry Holland), and presented a plaque of appreciation to our Guest of Honor, a very special Mrs. Rose Farnsworth (Richelle’s mother), for her warm and caring smile so many years ago while we sat in the counseling office. The President of the Torrance High School Alumni Association, Gail Morgan, was introduced and it was announced that our class became life members with a $100 donation. A bench acknowledging our class's donation will soon be placed on campus. Milan Jones, who we should all thank for initially suggesting and setting up the golf tournament, then took the stage and presented various awards from the morning's tournament. Later in the evening the class was asked to stop and reflect on the memories of Todd Holloman and Kosta Asselanis whom we lost since our last meeting. Particular honor was paid to our late and “most spirited” friend, John Gillette, who passed away a few months before. A special video tribute was played by Eric Peterson and then presented to John’s wife, Linda, and brother, Bobby, who were hosted by our class. Unfortunately audio problems took away from the full magnitude of the tribute, but not from the amount of love that our class had for Johnny. A call was made for elementary schools to assemble for pictures before the music was finally cranked up for dancing.
DANCE
We showed we haven't lost a step since those days at Co-Rec over 30 years ago as everyone took to the dance floor. Special thanks to John Dickson's wife, Jeanne, and son, Bryan, for downloading, pre-arranging, and making available copies of some very special songs exclusively from 1966 to 1972. Copies of the 5 CD program went like hotcakes for a donation of $20 to help pay for the continued development and maintenance of this web site. If you are interested in a listing of the songs on the program or wish to obtain a copy for yourself, click here.
PARTY
Those who didn’t quite get enough of the night adjourned to the hotel bar and eventually to John and Jeanne’s room where the word is (as evidenced by a divot in the ceiling) that another round of golf was attempted early in the morning.
SATURDAY
The day was spent by many of us just relaxing around the pool and the patio area, exchanging stories, and developing new friendships. A small group of us basically took over the patio area and got the music from the reunion cranked up again. Others drove their friends and family around the old neighborhoods and beach areas. Some ran into each other at Mickey’s Deli in Hermosa. That night some of us met in the cafe for dinner at the hotel. It was followed by (you guessed it) another party in room #103. By the next morning the room looked like the Annex cafeteria after a good food fight.
SUNDAY AT THS
The turnout at the Senior Pond on Sunday morning for coffee, muffins, and a walk around campus was absolutely amazing and included many who did not attend the reunion. Unbelievably we were actually able to make it from the Main Building to the Annex in five minutes! Theresa Fagan-Hollis was able to get us into the gymnasiums and a classroom as we made our way back. The morning ended with a group picture of all of the classmates on the very steps where we had our Senior picture taken over 30 years ago. It was all very magic for those who had not been on campus for a while, or were walking their children around. Except for a dry fountain, it's amazing how nothing has changed on campus.
PICNIC
We ended the whole weekend by meeting at Wilson Park where even more showed up who were not in attendance Friday night. To say we were all pretty tired is an understatement. We had reserved a softball diamond but nobody picked up a ball. The closest anyone got to a glove was to use it for a pillow as we all sat around continuing to reminisce about our great days at THS.
THE FUTURE?
There can be little doubt that we are a very special class as evidenced by the continued great times and high turnout at our reunions. The love and camaraderie, the old friendships rekindled, the new friendships made, all represent the heart and spirit of our group.
The reunion committee received and acknowledges several ways in which we can make the next one better including less emphasis on food and program, and more time and space to be with one another. You can be assured that you will all be surveyed as the next reunion approaches to determine which is the best time of the year to have the event. There has been a little discussion with the chairpersons from each class about a joint reunion with '70, '71, and '73 also. Please keep us updated on how to contact you by using the Information Update Form as all news, surveys, and communications in the future will be through this web site and email.
Until then, we will keep posting pictures to the photo galleries, continue to develop and improve the site, keep you abreast of news concerning our class, and wish for your continued health and safety until we meet again.
The Class of 1972 Reunion Committee
John Dickson
Monte Robold
Theresa Fagan-Hollis
Scott Schneider
Jana Leonard-Hertel
