Members of the Waller High School Class of 1962 gathered on Saturday, September 29, to celebrate the 63 years since they graduated. The celebrated at Sun City resident John Martinez’s home.
Waller High School, located in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago, is recognized for its college preparatory and vocational programs. The school eventually became Lincoln Park High School. The graduating class of 1962 had 165 students.
Martinez said, “I have hosted six other reunions; other classmates have hosted reunions also. We have had about sixteen reunions.”
The informal reunion drew 19 members of the Waller class of 1962, accompanied by their spouses and friends, as well as one teacher. They came together to celebrate each other and reminisce about old high school memories. They came from Tennessee, Kentucky, and Alaska.
As Martinez fondly put it, “The memories come flooding back. It’s a beautiful sight to see the joy and excitement in their faces when we see each other. It’s like we’re back in high school, reliving those precious moments all over again.”
There was one teacher present at the reunion, Barbara Bonner.
Martinez said, “Ms. Bonner was our favorite teacher. She taught English to all four of us for all four years. I was trying to find her and called a classmate, Emidee.”
Emidee Wozniak said, “I had Barbara Bonner’s address and gave it to John, who couldn’t believe how close she lives to him.”
Bonner is a Sun City Resident and lives less than a mile from Martinez’s home. Bonner blended in with guests, and could have been one of the students.
“I was only in my second year of teaching when they were Freshmen in my class,” Bonner said.
Although she asked to be called Barbara, Sandy Bennet, a former student, said, “I can’t think of calling her anything else but Ms. Bonner.”
Martinez recalls another teacher who had a profound impact on his life. “My home room teacher, Miss Kern, was more like a mother to us.”
This is not the first time the class has been featured in a newspaper. The Sunday Chicago Tribune carried a story about the graduating class of 1962, featuring a full-front-page photograph of the graduates on June 17, 1962.
Bill Armbruster said, “We had reunions more often, but unfortunately, not all are around to attend. I lost my best friend, who was my best man at my wedding. I feel lucky to be around and able to come.”
The classmate who traveled the farthest to come to this reunion was Mary Ann Neesan.
“I came from Alaska. When John called me, I said I would think about it. I am glad I came,” she said.
The classmates began recalling names, school events, and sports. They reached into the recesses of our memory, and names became faces and faces became people, and they remembered those who were not there. Pranks and intellectual feats were discussed.
Martinez and others talked about Friday night activities at Waller.
“We roller-skated, shot at the ROTC rifle range, danced, and played an assortment of games. ROTC helped me in my next step in life as a United States Marine,” Martinez said.
Adams recalled, “We had a lot of extremely talented people. Some went on to New York, danced, sang, acted, and we even had a classmate who was in Playboy Magazine.”
Teddy Shiakallis enjoyed the walk down memory lane, “I loved coming here and catching up.”
