50th Reunion 2023:

The Dinner

Scott Faiia, Carol (Jigliotti) Akers, Sue Jasmine, Suzanne (Laverdure) Cash, Karen (Czelusniak) Ranbom and Michael Kendra at the Cocktail Hour before Dinner

Michael Eckstut's introduction to the Special Wines purchased for the 50th Class Dinner

Thank you Gary and good evening fellow classmates. The Reunion Committee decided to purchase wine for this dinner tonight and since I lived near Napa Valley for almost 15 years, I took on the task! We wanted to find something that relates to this once in a lifetime event.  So here goes.

Many of you remember Greek mythology -- The Trojan War, a ten-year war fought between the city of Troy and a number of Greek city-states. It was sparked by a poor decision by Paris, a Trojan prince. He chose the wrong woman when asked to name the most beautiful woman in the world. Many of us here tonight made the same mistake 50 years ago and for some of us, it felt like a ten year slog here in Troy! 

There is another Judgment of Paris sometime later, a historic wine tasting event that took place in 1976 in Paris, where California wines, particularly Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, competed against renowned French wines in a blind tasting conducted by a group of French wine experts. Surprisingly, the American wines, produced by Napa Valley winemakers including Chateau Montelena (Chardonnay) and Stag's Leap Wine Cellars (Cabernet sauvignon), outperformed their French counterparts and these two won, marking a significant turning point in the wine world and it put California on the map!. 

Even though the wine tasting took place in 1976, the wines that won were 1973 vintage -- the class of 1973 won the Judgement of Paris!!

We could not afford the original 1973 vintages from these two vineyards, but we have the current vintages which are also pretty damn good!

On behalf of the Reunion Committee, enjoy!!

Clockwise from left front:

??, Margaret Addeo Craigue, Les Craigue, ??, Matt Ter Molen, Sarah Jane Linehan (Standing), ??, ?? and ??

Left to Right:

??, ??, Jose Alvarez, Sherie Kaziger and Bob Mayer

Clockwise from left front:

Bill Kominers, Ken Hoffman, Dan Haim, Mike Rogers, ?? and Kurt Rockstroh

Left to Right:

Tom Iovino, Allan Flamholz, Bruce Miller, Tony Barbarito, Paul Cevoli, Michael Kendra (foreground), Jon Mills, Dave Kahn and Drew Morris

Left to Right:

??, ??, Chuck DeGeorge, Beverly DeGeorge, Marilyn Cogansparger and Lee Cogansparger

Clockwise from front left:

Mary LaFleur, Bob LaFleur, Sarah DelRosso, Mario DelRosso, Barb Tackett, Mike Tackett, Jary Shimer and Julie Shimer

Clockwise from the foreground

Angela Pachuki, Rich Pachuki, Brenda Bean, Phillip Morse, Michael Bubniak, Rita Bubniak, Marybeth Wray and John Wray

Clockwise from the foreground:

Patricia Palumbo, Gerry Palumbo, Sue (Laverdure) Cash, Karen (Czelusniak) Ranbom, Wayne Ranbom, Sue Jasmine, Carol (Jigliotti) Akers and Larry McKeen

Left to Right:

??, ??, ?? John Shilling, Anthony Palumbo, Terry Freemen and Susan DiCamillo

Fred Scipione and Scott Faiia

Fred Scipione, Scott Faiia, Sharmail Faiia and Gail Lieberman.  

Sharmila Faiia, Scott Faiia and Gary DiCamillo.  

Unfortunately, we didn't get complete pictures of two of the tables:

Attendees: Steve Norton, Pete Spaulding and Zilan Chen, Michael Eckstut, Bob Eckart, Tom Regan, Joe and Sheri Robinson, Ken Hoffman and Vivian Gaits, Fred Scipione, Scott and Sharmila Faiia,Gary DiCamillo   

Back Row L to R: Mike Tackett, Tom Regan, Joe Robinson, Ken Hoffman, Gary DiCamillo, Larry McKeen, President Marty Schmidt, Michael Eckstut, John Wray and Steve Norton

Front Row L to R: Sarah Jane Linehan (Alumni Coordinator), Pete Spaulding and Wayne Ranbom

ACR Reps Gerry Palumbo, Bob Mayer and Larry McKeen