MAY 2006 REUNION - A HUMDINGER
Almost 60 young good-looking and handsome alumni gathered at the Sumner School in Washington on May 6th 2006 for the Annual Reunion of Central High School graduates and camp followers. It was one of the best Reunions yet, and too bad we didn't have more attendees. Sumner School's beautiful auditorium was the gathering place, and in the same building is the CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL ROOM. That room is a major part of the Sumner School Museum, and contains memorabilia of Central's Golden Age. Ours is the only Washington High School that maintains a room at the Museum, and this is because of the efforts of your Alumni Association to establish and maintain it. A visit brings a lot of memories.
The meeting was chaired by Vice-President John McAdams '37 in the absence of President Mary Zimmer Hooper, who had just suffered a nasty fall. There were the usual reports (yes, your Association has a bank account) and the election of Officers for the 2006-2007 year. The results brought back our previous energetic president, Esther Kronman Litman '34. Appreciation was expressed for the excellent efforts during the year just past, of our outgoing President, Mary Zimmer Hooper '36.
The newly elected supporting cast is:
Vice-President John McAdams '37
Vice-President Beverly Schlesinger Kligman '41
Vice-President Gitta Novick Friedman '41
Honorary Treasurer John Alexander '47
Treasurer Lucius "Pete" Dickson '47
Asst. Treasurer Martin Gilbert '41
Recording Secretary Marge Dunn Gustafson '46
Corresponding Secretary S. Frances Lambert Hunt '37
After the election, President Litman gave an informative acceptance talk, which is summarized in a separate article.
We are proud to tell you that we have 1338 members and still looking for graduates who have gone astray. We were warned to notify Membership chairman when we move so that we too don't get lost. If you know of any out-of-touch alumni, please let Marge (Dunn) Gustafson know at 6000 Parkway Dr., Laurel, MD 20707.
Then the best part of the program came, with first, the award of a Central High School Certificate of Accomplishment to Maurice Atkin '34. Mr. Atkin has had a long and successful career in economics, agriculture, international activities and humanitarian efforts. His entertaining acceptance talk was filled with reminiscences of Central days - 15 cents for a gallon of gas, 3 cents for a student street car ride. Delightful!
And the indefatigable Merv Conn - he has been squeezing that accordian for how many years? - led us in several of the old cheers - Brecky Co-ax for one - and the old songs - 'Tenax Propositi', 'Central Will Shine Tonight" - and some old Irving Berlin favorites. Good fun!
By that time, we were ready for the excellent lunch from the California Grill, arranged for us by Marty Gilbert and Gitta Friedman. The dining rooms began to roar with conversation about grandchildren, memories and politics. Lots of wishes to see everyone next year, and we left softly singing "Steadfast of purpose march along........."
Musing from the Reunion:
I look at the name tag and the memories come crashing back along with bruises and strains. Here is Don Dunlap '35, outstanding Central varsity footballer, at our May 2006 Reunion. And I stare and it all comes back. Summer days on a remote grass field at the National Zoo just below the Adams Mill Road entrance, near where I lived on Calvert Street. About ten or twelve kids gathered for a pick-up game of football (so-called). We are maybe 13 to 15 years old, and one of us is Don Dunlap. So we pick sides and I am on the team opposing Don's team.
Shortly after we start playing, I am on the ground looking up at the sky. Wham!! What happened? So I get up and pull up my socks, and ...Wham!!.. again! This guy is like none of my other buddies. Where did he come from? Tough! Strong!
We got together a few more times on that field and I learned that Don lived nearby - Garfield Street, I think. But I decided that I didn't belong on the same field with him. Good thing, too, if I wanted to survive!
But what a pleasure to see him again and to remember those wonderful - and terrifying - summer days!
Joe Hamer '35
