It was an exciting weekend for Oak Harbor High School’s Class of 1953 who met for dinner at Kasteel-Franssen with 22 classmates present. Among those attending were Erling and Susan Molver of Gig Harbor, and Mel and Nancy Haga from Michigan. Time takes its toll, and it was difficult to recognize the two couples who came to Fairhaven to visit the mother of one of their classmates, Mary Lee Neil. But it didn’t take long to remember those golden days of the 1950s when high school was the center of fun and learning.
Erling and Susan are retired, he from school business and Nancy from the administration office. Erling remembered how everyone met at the Neil home before class proms and other happenings for a happy hour of cookies and punch before the big evening. With Mary Lee and Jim both in high school, and Jim a member of the dance band who practiced at our house where a piano was available, one can only imagine the music.
Mel and Nancy are moving but staying in Gig Harbor; they send their new address. The Erling Molvers are moving to Ionia, Mich. But couples are looking forward to next year’s class reunion, a picnic.
We received a letter from Larry Stevens, formerly of Oak Harbor. Larry recalled how he and his brother Lee grew up in Oak Harbor. Larry sold Whidbey News-Times in Victory Homes for Glenn Smith, publisher in the late1940s and early 1950s.
O.A. Westlund spent a day in Port Townsend where his grandson celebrated his fifth birthday and his granddaughter her seventh birthday.
Two students from Oak Harbor High School attended Gonzaga’s Debate Institute recently and came away winning the tournament. Eric Chalfant, a senior at Oak Harbor High School, and Robby White, a sophomore, attended the two-week camp to learn more skills. At the conclusion of the camp, all students participated in a tournament and the Oak Harbor team of Chalfant and White took first place. Chalfant also received the tournament’s third place speaker award.
Chalfant has been debating at Oak Harbor High School for three years. This past year, he and his partner Mark Vilaflor did well at numerous tournaments and advanced to state and national tournaments. Vilaflor graduated in June 2003 and has been accepted at Pepperdine University where he will continue to debate. White he has only been debating for one year and has had success in the novice divison, winning and placing in various tournaments.
Under the coaching of Todd Moore, who is starting his third year of being debate coach at Oak Harbor High School, the students are looking forward to another successful year of debatings.
Oak Harbor High School Class of 1984 is looking for alumni. Their 20-year reunion will be Aug 13, 14 and 15, 2004. E-mail information to: ohhs1984@yahoo.com. Or call one of the reunion coordinators: Teresa (Michel) Besaw 675-4589, Connie (Eppard) Connolly 679-6417 or Sheryl (Grace) Demarsh 675-9277.
