Newburyport High School class of 1953 marked the 55th anniversary of its graduation with a celebration at the Newburyport Elks Function Hall on Sept. 20.
After social hour, a delicious meal was served consisting of fish chowder, lasagna, spiral ham, haddock, baked shrimp, potatoes au gratin, green beans, corn, tossed salad, cole slaw, rolls, dessert and coffee. The planning and preparation of the excellent meal was catered by the reunion committee headed by Mary (Ross) Wood.
The event was attended by 45 classmates, spouses, friends and special guests, Walter and Connie Sheridan, and NHS Librarian Christine (Dahlsen) Bolick and husband Doug.
The reunion committee members who planned the event were Joanne (Girard) Baker, Carlene (York) Barnette, Carl Beal, Murial (Walters) Cummings, Valerie (Miller) Faxon, Sally (Blake) Lavery, Nina (Rogers) Meader, Russell Peirce, Ben Plouff, Arthur Smith, Norma (Coffin) Taylor and Mary (Ross) Wood.
Activities included achievement awards such as the classmate who traveled the farthest, most grandchildren, etc. conducted by Sally (Blake) Lavery, and trivia games remembering "Old Newburyport" conducted by Joanne (Girard) Baker.
Ben Plouff and Arthur Smith conducted a raffle to raise money for the class treasury. A special thanks went to Arthur Smith for his many contributions of raffle items.
Guest Walter Sheridan was honored with special tributes from Carl Beal and Nina Rogers for his outstanding coaching legacy and humanitarian endeavors.
A special Class Award was presented to Ben Plouff for his many contributions to the class over the past year including the donation of his Topsfield Fair blue ribbon-winning doll house used a fundraiser for the NHS library.
The highlight of the evening was the drawing of the doll house by Christine (Dahlsen) Bolick. The raffle included three prizes, a $100 third prize won by Georgia Twomey, and second prize of $200 won by John Larnard. The first prize was won by Charles Beal.
Those in attendance were: Joanne (Girard) Baker and husband Rick, Carlene Barnette, Arthur Chaisson and wife Pat, Muriel (Walters) Cummings and husband Roger, Raelene (Noyes) Duggan, Valerie Faxon, Beverly (Jewett) Grant and husband Alan, Jean (Jolotta) Gustavson, Dan Kneeland and wife Rhoda, Sally (Blake) Lavery, Nina (Rogers) Meader, Russell Smart, Arthur Smith and friend Peggy, Jackie (Waite) Bateman and husband Tom, Norma (Coffin) Taylor and husband Brownie, Carl Beal and wife Ginny, Mary (Ross) and Dave Wood, Janice (Gilman) Coutemanche and husband Leo, Gerry Volpone and wife Jane, Rodney Lewis and wife Nancy, Jim Tuxbury and wife Rosemary, Edward Roaf and wife Peggy, guests Walter and Connie Sheridan and Christine (Dahlsen) Bolick and husband Doug.
