Journal Staff
When news broke that Vision Nursing Home wants to buy the vacant SCITS building for housing it was heartily cheered by one group of local 80-somethings.
Students from the graduating commercial class at SCITS in 1954 formed an uncommonly strong bond with each other that continues to this day.
In fact, when a 65th anniversary reunion was held at the Sarnia home of Dorothy Hyde on Oct. 15, a remarkable 14 of 43 grads came for cake and potluck.
“We joked at the irony of us all perhaps in the future ending up back in our beloved SCITS, should the school be taken over by Vision Nursing and Rest Home,” Hyde said.
“Now that would be a reunion!”
When SCITS closed its doors this year the group mourned its loss, said June Rummerfield, the group’s historian.
The ‘Class of ‘54’ was made of 42 girls and one boy, she recalled.
“Jobs were fairly plentiful at the time and I believe most, if not all of us, obtained employment. Many graduates went to work in the Chemical Valley while others went to work in professional offices, banks, (the) board of education.”
The lone male became a high school teacher.
When the group held its first reunion in 1974 one woman came home from Alaska just to attend.
Three years later, SCITS marked its 75th anniversary as a school. The gals collectively attended the events and later with their spouses all dined together. One came from California.
At the 50th anniversary reunion, when 26 of the grads met for lunch at the Bridge Tavern, they agreed to make it an annual event — on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving.
“We are all in our 80s now. Some have moved away, some have passed away, and some have medical issues which no longer allow them to attend,” Rummerfield said.
“But for those of us who can attend, we look forward to the camaraderie, the fellowship and the friendship that has developed and lasted for 65 years.”