SMC Reunion A Great Success

The room was filled with friends and families. Laughter rang out from every table. Friendships were renewed and memories recalled. It was a night to remember.

Please send photos from the reunion along with a list of people in the picture and the class year to use on this blog to:

mesclifford@charter.net

Looking for Something to do on Friday Night August 8?

Lots of alumni will be in town for the All Class Reunion on Saturday, August 9th. If you are looking for something to do on that Friday evening the free P.R.I.D.E. Friday Night Live concert will be held downtown Saginaw.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE

Morley Plaza
Downtown Saginaw
Every Friday Night
July 11- August 15, 2014  5:30-9 p.m.

Directions to Morley Plaza, Downtown...

Morley Plaza is the park between the Temple Theatre and First Merit (formally Citizens) Bank.  For directions, please use the address: 101 N. Washington, Saginaw, MI  48607

It will be the Oldies Night

Featuring:   Billy Mack & the Juke Joint Johnnies

             Josh Ramses Band

     

Friends Forever

By Now you should have received your invitation to the 

August 9, 2014, All Class Reunion!  

If you have not - contact me at mesclifford@charter.net 

and I will send one out to you.

Class of 54, Kay Eckerman Snyder sent this picture.

If you have a Friends Forever picture send it to me to post here.

See you in August!

Piano Duet

Mr. James Kraemer was one of our favorite teachers. He was a science teacher. His son, Michael, sent this picture. Michael's prom was at the Bavarian Inn in 1971 where he and his dad found a piano in the hallway and began an impromptu duet. Also in the background is Jerry Witchger with his ever present camera.

Sr. James Farewell to Home and School 1961

St. Mary Cathedral School

Sunday, June 25, 1961

Dear “Home-and-Schoolers”:

At last I am getting to the point where I can attempt the message that should have reached you long ago, and yet, now that I do attempt it, what can I say except that there do be times when words are totally inadequate to express what one thinks and feels, and this is one of them. You have overwhelmed me with gifts and kindnesses; you have more than cooperated in every venture initiated by either grade or high school; you have shown an intelligent and ardent interest in everything that concerned the school of the future as well as of today; you have spared yourselves no effort, no sacrifice, no hard work, to be present and active whenever there was anything to be done. What more could any school administration ask? I only hope that my successor will realize right from the first what a treasure of support she has to call on in your organization.

The financial assistance rendered to the school has been no small consideration; yet more important to me has been the spirit in which the help has been given: what the school, the Sisters, or the children needed, that they will have. You knew we could not always be right, yet you accepted our suggestions and acceded to our requests. All this, in an atmosphere of friendly though spirited discussion of all phases of education and our concerns about children.

The Home and School Association has been one of the brightest spots in my six years at St. Mary’s. All I can say now is “Thanks!” and “Carry on!”

Sincerely,

Sister M. James O.P.

Makeup of St. Mary Cathedral School in 1979

1982 Saginaw News Article

List of Dominican Sisters at St. Mary Cathedral 1977-1978 from the Marywood of Grand Rapids Michigan Directory

Class of 1970 Reunion - St. Mary Cathedral - Saginaw

The St. Mary Cathedral - Class of 1970 met in Flushing for an exquisite dinner at Tom Price's restaurant, "Fandangles". We had a fabulous time - Clarence Lum was invited to bring some of his artwork to add to the collection showing at Fandangles this month. I put lots of pictures of the food and the restaurant (it is only a short distance from Saginaw - a half hour - and we loved having it there) as well as pictures of classmates. Click on the picture below and then choose slideshow.

Class of 1954

Carol Ann Dankers Creswell sent in the picture above - listed with her picture were the following names:

M.L. Bray, Larry Hendricks, Barb Socier, Tony Kolleth, M. Ecarius, Janet Reimer, J. Kratz, Mike Green, Mary Green, Karen Keating, Jeanette Sonefeld, "TEACHER" Carol Dankers, Terry McInerney, Lloyd Bishop, Jack Kocks, Nanette DeRosia, Mike Ryan.

Along with an email to my brother Jim she sent some memories of the High School baccalaureate breakfast of 1954.

The song they sang follows:

FROM THE HALLWAYS OF CATHEDRAL HIGH, WE SAY FAREWELL
AND WE’LL REMINISCE THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, AND HER PRAISES TELL
AND AS WE PART TODAY, CLASS OF FIFTY FOUR….
KEEP HER MEM’RIES EVER IN YOUR HEART, NOW AND EVERMORE.

On that 1954 Baccalaureate breakfast day, she said she gave a recitation, and it’s still crystal clear:

THE TOUCH OF THE MASTER’S HAND
T’WAS BATTERED AND SCARRED, AND THE AUCTIONEER
THOUGHT IT SCARCELY WORTH HIS WHILE
TO WASTE MUCH TIME ON THE OLD VIOLIN,
BUT HE HELD IT UP WITH A SMILE.
‘WHAT AM I BIDDEN, GOOD FOLKS?
‘WHO’LL START THE BIDDING FOR ME?
‘A DOLLAR? A DOLLAR? NOW TWO? ONLY TWO?
‘TWO DOLLARS. AND WHO’LL MAKE IT THREE?
‘GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE, GOING FOR THREE’,,BUT NO!
FROM THE ROOM FAR BACK A GRAY HAIRED MAN CAME FORWARD,
AND PICKED UP THE BOW.
THEN, WIPING THE DUST FROM THE OLD VIOLIN,
AND TIGHTENING UP ALL OF ITS STRINGS,
HE PLAYED A MELODY, PURE AND SWEET,
AS SWEET AS AN ANGEL SINGS.
THE MUSIC CEASED, AND THE AUCTIONEER,
IN A VOICE THAT WAS QUIET AND LOW, SAID
‘WHAT AM I BID FOR THIS OLD VIOLIN?’
AND HE HELD IT UP WITH THE BOW.
‘A THOUSAND DOLLARS! AND WHO’LL MAKE IT TWO?
‘TWO THOUSAND! AND WHO’LL MAKE IT THREE?
‘THREE THOUSAND ONCE, THREE THOUSAND TWICE,
‘AND GOING…AND GONE!’ SAID HE.
THE PEOPLE CHEERED, BUT SOME OF THEM SAID,
‘WE DO NOT QUITE UNDERSTAND.
‘WHAT CHANGED ITS WORTH?’ THE MAN REPLIED,
‘THE TOUCH OF THE MASTER’S HAND.’
AND MANY A PERSON WITH LIFE OUT OF TUNE,
AND BATTERED AND TORN WITH SIN
IS AUCTIONED CHEAP TO A THOUGHTLESS CROWD,
MUCH LIKE THE OLD VIOLIN.
A MESS OF POTTAGE, A GLASS OF WINE,
A GAME, AND THEY TRAVEL ON..
THEY’RE GOING ONCE, THEY’RE GOING TWICE,
THEY’RE GOING AND ALMOST GONE…
BUT THE MASTER COMES AND THE FOOLISH CROWD
NEVER CAN QUITE UNDERSTAND
THE WORTH OF A SOUL AND THE CHANGE THAT’S WROUGHT
BY THE TOUCH OF THE MASTER’S HAND

Facebook Group

There is a new Facebook Group -

Attention: St. Mary's Graduates of 1985

If you graduated in the 80's you will want to go to to visit this group! Go to facebook and search for the group "St. Mary's 1985"

Class of 59 Reunion Photos

Ron Fredricks (Fedorowicz)
Class of 1959 sent the following photos from the All Class Reunion

Restored Class of 1961

Jim Shea sent this improved class picture of 1961

Postcards of Saginaw

Fran Novak sent this link - it has a lot of interesting pictures from beautiful buildings in Saginaw. Even though some pages are not available because this book is for sale - the ones that are there are great.

CLICK HERE

Still looking for lost Year books!

There is a list on the right that shows the books we are still looking for - I heard a rumor that the Sheltraw family may have all of the missing books. I would make sure they got right back to you. Thanks - Mary Ellen

Bosch Studio - Class of 1947

I remember going for my class picture at Bosch Studio on Hamilton Street. It was a very formal event - we sat straight on the stool in a few different poses. We couldn't wait to get those pictures back to exchange the wallet sized ones with our friends and of course both Grandma Brandi and Grandma Shea needed a 5x7 and Mom wanted the 8x10.

Flash forward to my daughters' picture days. There was nothing formal about it. I can truthfully say that both those days were favorite memories. They each had four outfits to change into - 45 photos were taken inside and outside. By a barn door, sitting on a rock, all dressed up standing by a column.

Flash forward to grandchildren - they now get everything on a CD - lots of pictures to choose from - they can print off any extras they want.

Even though the technology has changed - the way you feel that you have "come of age" that graduation is just around the corner. That you really are going out into the world. It is a rite of passage. One that is time honored and appreciated by all.

Strangers in the Box

Tom Kennedy wanted to know where to send some pictures - I told him to ME of course, I would love to add more to the blog. I am still looking for the Yearbooks listed on the left side of the blog - I would love to have every year represented. Then today Tom sent the website to this poem and I thought it was lovely, too.

Strangers in the Box
Come, look with me inside this drawer,
In this box I've often seen,
At the pictures, black and white,
Faces proud, still, serene.

I wish I knew the people,
These strangers in the box,
Their names and all their memories
Are lost among my socks.

I wonder what their lives were like.
How did they spend their days?
What about their special times?
I'll never know their ways.

If only someone had taken time
To tell who, what, where, when,
These faces of my heritage
Would come to life again.

Could this become the fate
Of the pictures we take today?
The faces and the memories
Someday to be tossed away?

Make time to save your pictures,
Seize the opportunity when it knocks,
Or someday you and yours could be
The strangers in the box.
© 1997 by Pamela A. Harazim


In 1997, I authored the poem titled, "Strangers in the Box." At the
time I was teaching scrapbooking classes, and used the poem in my
presentations. I have found it in so many places, printed as "author
unknown," but I am trying to correct this and ask that you credit me.

I originally wrote the poem when my mother had dementia, and I realized
that the stories she loved to tell me about her youth and her family
were locked inside her, and I didn't remember them like I was so sure I
always would. Hence, the box of strangers. I have few stories of
family before my grandparents--I need to do some genealogy hunting for
myself!

Feel free to include my email address, in case anyone has any questions.

Thanks,
Pam Harazim
East Hampton, CT
dpharazim@cyberzone.net

1947 Class Members at the Reunion

2008 Reunion pix

Pix 1 - LtoR - Tom Kennedy, Shjirley Wren Cole; Dorothy Rapin Easlick; Dennis Borden

Pic2 - Tom Kennedy, Sister Jean Reimer, Dennis Borden

All members of Class of 1947

Calling All Volunteers

Both of the All Class Reunions were smashing successes! Everyone had a great time and it was so great to see so many friends again. It would be a good idea to get new people involved in planning the next one. Most of the work is in the year that the reunion will be held. The present committee feels it shouldn't be every FIVE years - so the next one will probably be in four or six years.

If your class will be having a reunion - why not make it the ALL CLASS REUNION? Or if your class isn't having a reunion one of those years - and you have that St. Mary Cathedral High School Class Spirit and you feel the urge to volunteer. Or if you just had a great time and want to help out with the next one......

Call or email Jim Shea today!

jiml82@aol.com

America the Beautiful

I received an email from Marc Melvin - class of 1973 - he sent a picture of a clipping from the school newspaper in either 1969 or 1970 when Jim Schaeffer and he were freshmen. It was a project we did for Mr. Kraemer's Civics class.

Girls Choir - 1948

In 1948 the inside and back cover of the labarum had this picture taken on the steps of St. Mary Cathedral. I assume it is the girls choir.

NEW PICTURE ALERT

As alumni send pictures of the 2008 All Class Reunion I will post them at the top of the blog - also - I'll change the background.