FA L L 2 0 2 2 | 5 3 N O T E S Hefner, Mike Shay, Tom Stoneback, ClarkeWoodruf, JackWorsley and this correspondent. All agreed that we would plan for a very special reunion this time. We decided to “splurge” on an embroidered polo shirt to complement the fedoras (rather than a standard printed T-shirt). We had quite a few signs that could be recycled fromprior reunions. Those announced that 1972 is “Lehigh’s Last All-Male Class,” but we’re “Always CelebratingWomen at Lehigh.” Lehigh hadn’t had a reunion on campus since 2019 due to COVID safety concerns. This year they combined the two classes that had missed theirs with the rest of us who were due. As the 50-year class, we were joined by 1970 and 1971 at a well-attended Friday evening reception with University President Joseph Helble ’82 at his home on campus. The 50-plus classes did lead Saturday morning’s parade, oldest frst, as has been the tradition, but the 50-year classes were held for the end. We were the absolute last class to appear. As we stopped in front of the judges stand, the Alumni Band played a pep song used at sporting events—“Everybody Takes His Hat Of to Lehigh.” We turned to face the judges, removed and waved our fedoras and sang the short eight-measure tune, then turned and marched away as the band played us of. Through nine previous milestone reunions, we never won any parade awards. This time we were runner-up to the Class of 1987 for the coveted Petty Flag for the classes of 2s and 7s. Still special. Saturday dinners were arranged for groups of three classes celebrating the same milestone. As a 50-year class, however, we were permitted to hold ours separately. Early in our planning, the committee identifed Saucon Valley Country Club as our preferred venue. The club was hesitant, because the U.S. Senior Open was scheduled to begin there soon after our date. Greg, Ollie and Tom were able to “pull some strings,” and that became our upscale way to top of our reunion weekend. After a fantastic meal in the Main Ballroom, John Heil emceed a retrospective audio/video presentation that he and ChipMagdelinskas had prepared. It was followed by a trivia test that proved we don’t remember everything about our four undergrad years. That may be a good thing. ’73Patrick Fekula, 1891 Evans Drive South, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250. (904) 4514949 (M); Pfekula7@gmail.com I returned to Bethlehema few months ago for the frst time in almost three years. That’s the longest time gap since I left my hometown for Florida over 45 years ago. (You can probably guess the reason for that time gap.) So, why am I telling you this?Well, I had an unusual reunion with someone while I was in Bethlehemwho I had not seen in almost 69 years. I called her “GeGe,” although her real name is Georgine. She was my babysitter when I was between one and two years old. Mymother used to tell me stories about her long after she lost touch with Georgine after wemoved to another section of town; so I never forgot about my connection to this mythical “GeGe.” Not long ago, while online on the “Bethlehem, Pa.: For History Lovers” website, I saw a response to a post from someone named Georgine. Since that is not a common name, I took a chance and replied, asking whether she had once been called by the nickname of “GeGe.” She immediately responded with, “Paddy, is that you? I used to babysit you when you were a baby.” Turns out she has lived in the Bethlehem area all her life, currently residing in Hellertown with her husband, who is a retired schoolteacher. We corresponded a few times and were able to visit and re-connect while I was in the Bethlehem area last summer. We talked about our lives, shared family photos, and GeGe blushingly told me that as a seven-year-old, she had a crush on my father. After learning I was a Lehigh grad, GeGe’s husband, David, told me that, in addition to being a teacher, he had also been a head wrestling coach at an area high school and had the privilege of coaching Lehigh wrestling coach Jerry Leeman’s sons. Well, to say the least, this turned out to be a wonderful visit and a day that I will always remember and cherish. By now you’re probably thinking, “Good for you Paddy, but what has this to do with this Class of ’73 column that I am reading in the Lehigh Bulletin?” Well, I submit, it is relatable… and here is why. As a member of the Lehigh Class of ’73, you spent a lot of time on “Ol’ South Mountain.” That time mattered. You grew, matured, made connections, and then moved on to build a career… a family… and a life. Last summer I took the time to drive through the Lehigh campus. Everywhere I went to was full of memories… of professors… of fraternity brothers and roommates… of past wrestling matches and Lehigh-Lafayette games. I’ve since come to realize that these memories and connections are important and I believe if you refect on them you too will come to the same conclusion. Our reunion is coming quickly. The reunion dates are: June 8-11, 2023. In conjunction with the Alumni Relations ofce, the reunion committee has been working on plans for this momentous event. Class President Bernie Seuss is leading the committee. In addition to Bernie and me, the committee consists of: Bob Abadessa, John Dittmeier, JimDuane, Bob Hoerner, DavidMorrison, Bruce Smith and Celeste Varricchio. Start your planning process now to attend our 50th Lehigh class reunion. Remember… it’s all about the connections. ’74Bill White, 5418 Holiday Drive, Allentown, PA 18104, whitebil1974@gmail.com I confess that almost everything I’ve written about our classmateDon Wasson, dating back to my days on The Brown andWhite, was false. My only excuse is that Don, despite being a New Providence High School classmate and Lehigh fraternity brother of mine, never has contacted me. Given the intense interest in his life, I felt compelled to fctionalize it. Luckily, we not long ago had a 50th high school reunion, and although neither of us attended, it resulted in an email to all our classmates fromDon’s wife–and another of my high school classmates–Patty. It included great biographical information about both of them, but I’m going to focus on Don, post-Lehigh graduation. “We married fve years after our high school graduation,” Patty wrote, “and have lived in Delaware County, Pa., outside Philadelphia, ever since. Don attended Lehigh University, where his dad had also gone to school. Don and Bill White were fraternity brothers. Sorry, Bill, but for years I encouraged him to write to you and update via the alumni magazine. Obviously, I was unsuccessful, but here’s your opportunity for some ‘real’ news for the next issue. “Don graduated with a degree in chemical engineering and worked for 47 years at an oil
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