News from the Committee

Wednesday, January 30 I accompanied my daughter Kelly to Gabi's eye appointment in Greentree. While sitting in the doctor's waiting room, a well-appointed boutique window across the way called to me. "I'll just be a minute or two," I said to Kell pointing to the window. The store was filled with beautiful, artsy, interesting and different gift items for every taste, especially mine. The saleslady came out from behind a curtain and we began to chit-chat. I told her I was not from around here and she replied that she wasn't either, she was from Latrobe. I shouted, "I am too!" She shouted, "Karen Prohaska!" I shouted, "JoAnne Paganelli!" as we laughed and hugged. (Now I ask you, what are the odds of that ever happening????) Anyway, she's not only the saleslady, she's the buyer, accounting clerk and inventory control person--she owns the store ....and what a lovely one it is. She worked for Kaufmann's as a Vice President for many years,and opened her own store 6-7 years ago. She couldn't make the Reunion because of family committments, but I told her to check the pictures out on the blog. (Hated to make her feel bad, but I had to tell her she missed a great one, if I do say so myself.) Of course I brought my daughter and Gabi over to see the store and to meet JoAnne and I left promising that we'd get a group together for dinner some night. What's the name of her store? I don't know, so, JoAnne, if you're reading this--give one of us a call and we'll give you some free advertising!
-----------------

January 18, 2008 - Thank you Rita for e-mailing us (Kathy), we never tire of hearing what a great time a classmate had at the reunion!

Hello Kathy, This is Rita Olczak Piper (the one that has the wrong name attached to her picture in our yearbook - they switched me with my cousin Paula.

Thanks so much to all involved with our reunion. It was so relaxed and comfortable. I enjoyed visiting with everyone - wish more could have attended. It was sad to see how many of our classmates have passed away.

Also - WOW - I really loved the High School / Art Presentation Tour held the following morning! There is no way anyone could ever guess our school is 40 years old! The upkeep, renovations & art collection were impressive. We should all be very proud. If anyone ever has the opportunity to do the tour - do not pass up the chance! To finish off the reunion weekend - Paula Olczak Klotz, Peggy Merzenski Yurchik, Kathy Olecki Dominick & I went over to the new Valley Dairy after the tour to continue "visiting" with each other. We all had a great time. I can't wait for the next reunion.

Ron (graduated from Ligonier) & I have been married for 38 years. We have 3 children.

Nicole (Nikki) graduated from Penn State - works in the space/engineering field in VA (near DC).
Heather graduated from Seton Hill - works in the marketing/advertising field in the Greensburg area.
Neither daughter is married.
Sadly, our son, Ryan, died in Oct 2001. He was married and gave us the most beautiful grandson, Kyle Edward. Kyle is the joy and light of our lives. We get him almost every weekend and holidays, which keeps us very busy and active. He is 6 1/2 and is in the first grade.

I worked at various places since school - but for the past 17 years I have been employed at Gutchess Hardwoods in Latrobe. Retirement is approaching but probably not for 7 or 8 years.

I am looking forward to seeing everyone and the next reunion - 45th or 50th?
---------


TO ANSWER DON FALBAUM'S E-MAIL QUESTION, "WHO ARE THOSE COMMITTEE GIRLS": HI. MY SISTER-IN-LAW, KATHY RAFFERTY, SENT ME YOUR E-MAIL. HOPE YOU WON'T MIND ME REPORTING THAT YOU HAVE BEEN LIVING AND WORKING IN ASIA FOR THE LAST 25+ YEARS. (No wonder we haven't seen you around town for awhile!) TO CLEAR UP THE MYSTERY OF THE "COMMITTEE GIRLS" FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: ME, KAREN (PROHASKA) RAFFERTY (I married Denny's older brother); KATHY (SARTORIS) RAFFERTY; IRENE (WATKINS) GUNITHER; BEVERLY (TINY PAPUGA)DePETRIS; AND MILLIE (LAZOR) DUNLAP.

Also, spoke with Joyce (Mercinko) Steuart who just recently relocated to South Carolina. She had a hard time figuring out who everyone was in the pictures. (And we thought we hadn't changed a bit!) Joyce and her husband have 3 grown boys: two of her boys just got married within the last year and also living in S. Carolina; her youngest is getting married this year.

Received some news from Kathy (Markiewicz) Edwards via a Christmas card. She is living down in Georgia, married and has two children: Scott, 19 and Tracy, 17. Yep, 19 and 17. While many of us are anxiously awaiting grandchildren (or more grandchildren, Kathy is still in High School and College mode. They're all doing very well.

---------------

Most of the comments and kuddos came by way of our website (which Kathy (Sartoris) Rafferty is the keeper of and by way of a telephone call to Kathy and a few were sent through the mail. The following is a synopsis of what some of our classmates had to say.....

Bea Conn - appreciated all the hard work being done, would not be able to attend by hoped to see everyone at the next reunion.

Pat (Torock) Brigode - "I am married to Bob Brigode (Class of 66 from Hempfield) and we have a son Andrew who is 22 and going to college for computers and working some too. I have worn many hats through the years since I've seen you all at good old LHS. I worked as a legal secretary for 23 years, coached a high school rifle team (shooting) for 17 years at Hempfield, worked at Westmoreland Hospital as Barclay Rehab Department Secretary for 15 years and have been the Mayor of Hunker Borough for 10 years."

Dick Riggs - "It was so nice to speak with you and your committee recently. It brought back a lot of fun memories. My wife Carol and I will be happy to attend.
Keep up the good work youʼre doing organizing this thing, I can imagine how much work it must be. Sorry I canʼt help with any addresses of missing classmates, but donʼt have a clue about any on the list. Frankly, Iʼm impressed you found me. See you all in November."

Donna (Marshall) Krall - "Thanks to all you...for trying to get us all together. Sounds like fun. Looking forward to it. I visited the blog-good idea."

Dave Rollins - "Thanks for the invitation, but we will be unable to attend.

For your bio file: Married Joan Rice - June 5, 1971 - just celebrated our 36th anniversary! No children; 2 dogs. Live in Pittsburgh BA - Economics - Slippery Rock University - 1971 MBA - University of Pittsburgh - 1979

Project Manager for Innovative Decisions, Inc. (IT Consulting firm) since 1997.
Prior to entering Consulting, worked for Westinghouse Electric for 20 years."

Rich Roble - "...my wife Cheryl and I will be attending the reunion. Thanks for the efforts pulling this together."

Beverly (DeVitto) Smith - "... I am looking forward to seeing all of you.
Since most of my family still lives in western PA, I am in the Latrobe/Greensburg area frequently. Typically, I am there for most of the holidays. In fact, I was there three times in July (way too many trips at $3/gal for gas!). I am pretty much a free spirit, so whenever something is going on with my family, I just jump in the car and head wherever. I will definitely be in Latrobe for Thanksgiving, so having the reunion that weekend works out very well except that is my biggest shopping day of the year! But at this age, I can't shop quite as long as I use too. My favorite thing about shopping in PA, is no tax on clothes. Do not ever change that.
Hey, I noticed the stamp on the postcard looks like a "wildcat." Nice touch!
See you in November. Thanks for doing this for all of us."

Toni (Catanzarite) Ness - "SORRY WILL NOT BE ATTENDING THE REUNION. WILL BE OUT OF TOWN FOR THE THANKSGIVING WEEKEND."

Sharon (David) Vincent - "will not be able to attend the class reunion. Hopefully I can view photos on blogspot.com. Have a blast!"

Barry Helfferich - "Hi, I and a guest plan on attending this year's 40th class reunion. Thank you and I look forward to this milestone event."

Carol (Zeltner) Vanderspiegel - "My husband & I plan to attend the reunion. Thanks for taking this project on for all of us in the class. See you there!"

Cindi (Mehal) McIlnay and Larry McIlnay - "I am writing our regrets a little later than the due date, because we had hoped to come to the reunion. Unfortunately Larry and I will be attending a wedding (Larry's niece, which happens to be in Ligonier). Our plans were to leave the wedding a little early and make it to the reunion. We just found out the wedding is in the early evening, so we won't be able to get to the reunion too.
Thanks so much for helping to organize everything. I really would have loved to see some special high school friends.
Larry and I have had a busy and very happy life ( so far :). Both very busy with jobs, our sons and their families (including 2 grandsons we adore)
Our very best to everyone."

Joseph Dudzinsky - Joe misplaced his invitation (which we assume others might have done too) so he just needed firmed up on place and time.

Bill Karazsia - "Sorry, but my wife and I cannot attend the reunion this year. We will be in New York City visiting our son and daughter-in-law.
Hope all is going well."

John Underwood - "Thanks for setting up the reunion. Unfortunately, my wife (Diane) and I will be unable to attend as we will be traveling over the holidays."

Paul Marnell - "Great job girls. I can't thank you enough for putting the time, I'm sure it will be well worth it." Paul also placed a comment on our blogspot.

Pete Ensinger - "First of all, thanks for all of your work. I'm sure that it has been quite a challenge hunting down people, including me.

I only attended GLSHS for a year and 1/2. If you have
any recollection of a guy arriving during the middle
of junior year from Alabama, that was me. Consequently
I have only vague recollections of my time there.

Bob Dowler and I went to Penn State afterwards and
roomed together for two years. I still keep in touch
with him.

I won't be attending the reunions but I was curious
enough to read the blog. I was shocked and saddened
to see that Jane Neely was deceased. I remember her
from history class. I sat behind and to her right. I
had a little crush on her and spent a good part of
every class staring at her. In the periodic reviews
one makes of one's life, I have thought that she was
the girl that I should have pursued in high school
(but I was too romantically incompetent)."

(That was ohhhh so cute, Pete!)

Suzanne Pavlocak - "Thanks for sending the notice about the 40th reunion of our class to Sandra. Please give our best regards to all attending."

Donna (Marshall) Krall - "Please pass this on to all the Committee:

Just wanted to say thanks to the Committee for all their hard work - it certainly showed last night - you girls out did yourselves!!!

We enjoyed last night - it was perfect - a casual setting for a get-together of old friends and classmates. It was fun to walk around and see those you knew, some you weren't too sure if you recognized but then did - hugged - reminisced - it felt like 40 years faded away - we hugged - we laughed - we cried - we danced - we talked till I for one was losing my voice.

I could go on and on (as I usually do) but what I am trying to say is THANKS for all your hard work. It was a great night!!!"

(Thank you, Donna, for your great review!)

Marsha (Campbell) Pasaniello - "I had a great time at the reunion. Really appreciate all the planning that the committee did. Thanks so much." (Marsha also sent us a comment to the blogspot.)

Cindi (Mehal) McIlnay - "Thanks so much for following up with me!!
Would loved to have been there!! We were actually in Latrobe that night, but were so busy helping run errands for Larry's neice's wedding that Sat. We had such fun but really hectic 2 day visit.

Again, thanks for all your hard work. I actually had my own business in Event and Wedding Planning, and know all the hard work that goes into organizing an event. Let me know if I can do anything for you when the next one rolls around.

Will there be any pics available for purchase or on-line that we can view??
Thanks again :)"
Cindi

That's the end of our comments via the website. I'll see what else we can come up with!