In April, Joe Mitchell '56 sent an e-mail and said why don't we have a reunion for the first classes. So we held one for the Classes of '53-'61 on June 25 in the Serra gym.

 

Father Frank Prieto '55, Serra's first ordained priest said Mass in the chapel. John McNeil '57 and Gerry Stadler '55 did the readings and Mike French '54 was the server.

Four members of the Class of '53 attended. Left to right above are Gerald Benecke, Alain Hurdle M.D. (We owe Alain a prize), Don McElrea, and Bob Fritzen. McElrea traveled from Foristell, MO.

After Mass, some took a tour of the campus. The first stopping point was in front of one of the planters that Manual Andrade '58 built.  Manual is the man in the middle.  Tom Simundich '60, on the far left,  delivered a few lines from "Command Decision."  Tony Yanko '60, not pictured, starred in the same play.  Next  to Tom is Mike Haboush '54 who came in from Sedona, Arizona.  On the right is Rev. Charolette Marrah and  Ed Marrah Jr. '57.

The Classes of '60 & '61 look very happy. Standing, left to right, Mike Cienfuegos '61, John Kopczak '61, and Bob Schneider '61. Seated, left to right, Mr. & Mrs. Jesse Bojorquez '60,  Mr. & Mrs. Bob Hynes '61 and Mr. & Mrs. John Hynes '60. Mike Cienfuegos '61 took a bunch of pictures at the reunion. Bob Schneider '61 played in the first game in the Serra gym as a junior varsity guard in the fall of 1957.

Serra's Championship Basketball Coaches, Dwan Hurt, left, for the boys and Mac Hadley, right, for the girls brought the crowd up to date on the latest accomplishments of their teams......to include the 100% Division 1 graduation rate for Serra's Class of 2012.

Paying rapt attention to Hadley and Hurt are Mr. & Mrs. Tom Reidt '57, Dave Reidt '58, Jim Bohan '60, and John Kretzchmar '55. 

Following the coaches, sophomores Myles Taylor and Lauryn Okeke spoke about why they chose Serra, their accomplishments here and what they plan to do next.

Andrade, Valot,  Dempsey, Rensing,  Haboush and wives smile for the camera while they wait for desert.

In the old days, we had "welcome week" for the freshman complete with beanies, carrying books etc. Incoming Freshman mom Marilyn Neal and her son, incoming freshman Mahkyi Tutu were interviewed about why they chose Serra. Short answer; academics, faith-based, and, oh yes, athletics. Public speaking may be more difficult than wearing a beanie.