Class of 1969 reunites in California to celebrate 55 years since ASL graduation

In mid-October, a group dubbed the “Tenacious Ten” by host Jerry Post ’69 gathered in Eureka, California, to celebrate the 55th reunion of the ASL Class of 1969—broadened to include the classes of 1967-71. Jerry, who made a career in journalism after his ASL days, reports on the merriment and connections sparked by the reunion, which was the most recent of many held by his classmates over the past five-plus decades. Read on for Jerry’s exuberant reunion reflections!

We were the last 10 standing. Dozens of folks at one point or another had expressed hopes of making it out West, but ultimately were unable to attend owing to health or personal issues. Such is the reality of attempting to gather when one’s classmates have all hurtled into their 70s and are negotiating the daily consequences of all that entails.

But gather the Tenacious Ten did—incorporating an emotional and heartfelt Zoom connection with a couple dozen additional folks who joined the festivities virtually on Sunday.

And what a delightful celebration it was. The gods blessed us with extraordinary weather, allowing us to get out and visit all of the remarkable attractions I had hoped to share over our five-day visit.

One of many weekend highlights was a tour of a fully operating 19th century sawmill—Blue Ox Millworks—conducted by the 76-year-old maestro of the world-renowned operation, Eric Hollenbeck. In addition to all of the milling and crafting operations, we visited the site’s charcoal-burning kiln, hand-operated print shop, blacksmithing operation and so much more.

We later climbed 100 feet up into a towering forest of old- and second-growth redwood trees by way of the Redwood Skywalk. A recent addition to Eureka’s charming Sequoia Park Zoo, the skywalk provides an opportunity to visit a rarely seen ecosystem that exists in the lush canopy of these ancient forests.

Another day found us meandering through some of the 64 glorious acres comprising the Humboldt Botanical Gardens, and yet another put us on a spectacular stretch of Pacific Ocean coastline just 10 minutes from town.

Along the way we enjoyed exquisite meals at several of the most eclectic dining establishments the Humboldt Bay region has to offer. We even squeezed in a sundae-and-milkshake stop at a hamburger joint that has been in operation since 1951—the year that my ’69 classmates and I, and the school that brought us together, were born!

Our Sunday morning Zoom session was an absolute high point of the weekend, regally facilitated by my dear ’69er chum and esteemed classmate, Richard Livesley, from his Toronto-area home—and ably assisted by his dear wife, Heather.

Each call participant got at least a few moments to hold the “talking stick” and share a little updated personal history or some fond remembrance of our time together in London five decades ago.

All told, it could not have been a more magical weekend, right down to the reunion’s storybook rekindling of the high school romance of Mr. Mike Hazard ’69 and Ms. Anne Wilson Cannon ’70. There simply couldn’t have been a more suitable cherry atop our flavorful reunion sundae than that.

Looking ahead, Mr. Livesley and I have already discussed plans for future virtual reunions covering this five-year class spread, possibly hosting another as early as next fall.

I want to express my personal gratitude to Síofra Rucker and Julia Holzman, our ASL contacts, who helped spread the word far and wide about our gathering. Our alma mater kindly gifted lovely ASL tea towels to all attendees, which sport the location not only of the present-day School, but also that of the illustrious Gloucester Gate campus where our esteemed institution was once located and where all attendees except one tenacious ’71er put in some serious classroom hours.

So a heartfelt thank you to the Tenacious Ten and to all of our beloved classmates who joined us in spirit for a most memorable weekend. It was pure bliss.