About 100 Class of ’53 grads were at the 60th Reunion, participating in reunion events that included the elegant Ladies’ Luncheon at the Seattle Yacht Club, the traditional get-together at the Dutchess Tavern, a golf “tournament” (seven hardy golfers made it in the early morning of July 19), and the grand Reunion Dinner at the Nile Country Club at 4 PM on July 19. Attendance including spouses and family members was more than 130 souls. About 25% of the people in our class attended one event or another. By all accounts, everyone had a great time.

Each year, the class with the most Golden Grads luncheon attendees wins! Class of ’53 Secretary Joyce Hitt Butchart holds the Jeanne DeFriel Gardiner Golden Grads Luncheon Outstanding Attendance Award, won by ’53 alums in 2007, 2009, 2010, and 2013.

The luncheon, which includes a very short Annual Business Meeting, Election of Officers and approval of the 2013-14 budget will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, June 8, 2013 at the Nile Country Club located at 6601 244th St. SW, Mountlake Terrace, WA. (1 block west off I-5 on 205th). Free parking is available in the Country Club parking lot.

RHS grads MUST BE current dues-paying GG Members to attend. Non-grads can attend as guests or spouses of members. Reservations are required and must be in our hands by Monday, June 3, 2013. For reservation form to fill out and mail in, click here.

The musical selected for Spring 2013 is Beauty and the Beast. The Spring Musical is free for Golden Grads at the dress rehearsal, May 21 at 7:30 PM in the RHS Theater.Spring Musical paid performances will run from May 22 through June 2, 21013 at 7:30 PM, with a Musical Matinee at 2:30 PM on June 2. May 21st.

Roosevelt Theatre has consistently produced world-class, internationally recognized theatre education. Even if you don’t live in the Seattle area, the Music and Drama departments would love to have you come and see the next generation of Broadway stars right here at Roosevelt.

by Mike Peringer, Class of ’53

It was an unusually damp and cool morning in June when the phone rang. You do remember phones, right?

A pleasant voice – “This is Meredith Reis. I’m calling from 30 Rock in New York” Yes she actually said that! “I’m a producer on the TODAY show here at NBC and I want to talk to you about Urban Artworks. Your non profit was nominated for a Pepsi Challenge prize of $100,000 and I’m pleased to announce that Artworks was one of four chosen out of 700 nominations” Silence .. More silence ….

“Wow!”, I cleverly opened with. “That’s really neat.” “Yes,” she continued, ” your group was nominated by your Program Coordinator and the judges immediately put Artworks on the top of the list. Now we need to arrange for a film crew to visit Artworks and produce your segment on the show, the one that will determine the winner by national vote.” Well, that’s how it started.

A few days later, a four person film crew showed up and spent the day taping over 8 hours of Artworks material from the studio, of our kids, some murals and other projects we have done over the years in the Greater Seattle area.

For those of you who don’t know Artworks, it is an organization I started some 15 years ago to clean up the industrial area of town we call SODO (SOuth of DOwntown). To do that we began using at risk adjudicated youth from the Juvenile Detention Center, mid level felons 13-17 years old. Over the years we have used over 6000 kids creating over 2500 public art projects mainly murals and contruction site panels.

It seems that Kathleen, our talented Program Coordinator, while getting ready to come to work, was watching the TODAY show and saw the story about the Pepsi Challenge and simply submitted out story. She didn’t even mention it to me but she too got the call from our new friend, Meredith, the producer.

So at 3 AM on July 1, we and our friends with the film crew were all at the studio when the announcement was made live from NYC (the show is delayed on the West Coast). Well, we didn’t win the top prize. it went to a gulf coast nonprofit. How can you compete with that? But, we were all delighted to be told by the Pepsi lady being interviewed by Meredith Vierra, that the runners up were going to get $50,000!!!!! And, believe me we were all yelling and screaming when they made that announcement. It couldn’t have come at a better time since most nonprofits are struggling big time right now.

That’s it. Should you want to see the 58 second piece that appeared on the show, you can go to https://urbanartworks.org/.

It was a good, fun experience, particularly the positive outcome.

The Annual Business Meeting, Election of Officers and 29th Annual Luncheon will be held Saturday, June 4, 2011 at the Nile Country Club located at 6601 244th St. SW, Mountlake Terrace, WA. (1 block west off I-5 on 205th). Free parking is available in the Country Club parking lot. RHS grads MUST BE current dues-paying GG Members to attend. Non-grads can attend as guests or spouses of members. Reservations are required and must be in our hands by Monday, May 23th, 2011. For reservation form to fill out and mail in, click here.

Tuesday, May 24th is Golden Grad’s opportunity to see the RHS musical “Titanic – the Musical” free at the dress rehearsal, 7:30 PM in the RHS Theater.

Roosevelt Theatre has consistently created world-class, internationally recognized theatre education. And we always have a wonderful time at Roosevelt High School productions. It’s like a mini-reunion for Golden Grad members who attend, and especially those who performed in RHS productions in the day. Don’t miss it!

Tuesday, May 25th is Golden Grad’s opportunity to see the RHS musical “Curtains” free at the dress rehearsal, 7:30 PM in the RHS Theater. Don’t miss it! For more information contact: Dick Follis, acting interim President; John Fahnestock, Vice President (’53); Joyce Hitt Butchart, Secretary (’53) and GG Secretary for the Class of 1953; Marcia Hixon Mahaffey, Scholarships Chair, or Tad Bigelow, Teachers’ Wish List; Grapevine editor Dick Follis.

We are saddened to tell you of the loss of the beloved leader of the Golden Grads, President Bob Berst, class of 1948.

Bob passed away on January 27, 2010 at Swedish Hospital in Seattle after losing his battle with melanoma. He was an inspiring leader and steadfast in his service to GG, handling so many areas so capably. We will miss him terribly.

Bob lived his life to the fullest with his hands into many things, of which some were music (loved jazz bands as he had his own at one time), piloting his plane, bird hunting, gourmanding, wine tasting, travel, friends, relatives, strangers and charities all in living his life zestfully, fruitfully and fully.

At different times in his life he was President of the Young Men’s Republican Club, Commodore of the Seattle Yacht Club, President of the King County Bar associations Senior Lawyers Section and at his death, President of RHS Golden Grads. He is survived by his wife Evalie, daughters Carla & Kay, his brother Chuck and sister-in-law Roelina and nieces Nelina and Caroline.

A memorial celebration will be held at 3 pm Friday, February 5, 2010 at the Seattle Yacht Club. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to Roosevelt High School Golden Grads, Bob Berst Memorial, P.O. Box 98442, Seattle WA 98109-1442.

Continue on your journey Bob–we will miss you!

May 19, 2009 is Golden Grads night at the 2009 RHS Spring Musical. Be at the RHS Theater at 7:30 PM for a rollicking production of ‘CATS’! Don’t miss it!