The class of 1966
Kathy Decker Levasseur was the primary organizer of a Newcastle High School Class of 1966 reunion held Aug. 24-27 in Newcastle, and the agenda included plenty of time for musing, memories, and music.
Levasseur said the highlight of the reunion was really just getting together after all these years and visiting and reminiscing.
“I think we have an exceptionally close class,” Levasseur said. “A lot of us were fortunate to go all the way through school together. I feel very close to all of them.”
The group officially kicked off their reunion with coffee and caramel rolls at Weston County Senior Services on Friday morning, then made a trip to Anna Miller Museum and gathered for lunch at Washington Park. Later that afternoon, NHS Principal Bryce Hoffman provided a tour of the school, and the group took the opportunity to pose for a photo in front of the Dogie bronze statue following the tour.
“We all agreed that the 1950s and ‘60s were the best era to grow up in, in Newcastle,” Levasseur said.
On Saturday, the group gathered for breakfast, a Corn Hole tournament with recognition of the classmates they’ve lost, and an evening dinner.
According to Levasseur, approximately one-third of the classmates have passed away since graduation, and she and her classmates continue to recognize them and think about them.
“We lost Shirley Lampert two weeks after graduation. She had diabetes and was in a wheelchair at graduation. But we all loved her and miss her,” she said.
The classmates so enjoyed the reunion they are already making plans to gather again.
“We were happy with how things went in Newcastle, and our plan is to have a reunion every year,” Levasseur said. “We already reserved [Newcastle Lodge and Convention Center] for next year.”
Levasseur noted that the class also took up a collection and donated to the Newcastle Veterans Memorial Park.
“We have a lot of veterans in our class. We graduated in May, and many of our classmates either joined or were drafted the following January.”
