The hostess of the weekend:

Mary Fran Rodzai O'Herron, who hosted two dozen class members at the Friday night party and put three classmates up for the weekend — in between business trips!

Best "hat" at the Friday night party at Mary Fran's:

Tina DiRienzo McDermott, who remembered that a handkerchief was considered an adequate head covering when you couldn't find a mantilla to wear to chapel.

Most pleasant surprise:

discovering a new class member after 35 years. Martha Doell Swacen (who attended classes with us disguised as a Sister of Mercy) made the wonderful decision to find out who her classmates were, and now we have a new best friend!

Another most pleasant surprise:

the lovely flowers sent for the Friday evening party by Mary Weinschreider Mallett. Thanks, Mary Butsey!

Most emotional moments:

Watching Msgr Shannon ride to the back of the Motherhouse Chapel in his "cart", then process down the aisle, aided in his walking by his specially sculpted crozier. He introduced himself at the altar as the self-proclaimed "Bishop of East Rochester" before celebating the liturgy. His homily reminded us that his excellent and incisive mind has not been dimmed by the passing years, as he pleaded to all: "let us let God be God!"

Another proud contribution of the Class of 1965:

Tina DiRienzo McDermott and Kathy Parker's selection as two of the three Eucharistic ministers at the liturgy.

Most exciting news:

Nazareth's recent agreement to purchase an additional 75 acres, including several buildings, from the Sisters of St. Joseph. College president Dr. Robert A. Miller and his staff presented the details to a receptive audience after the Saturday luncheon.

Prevelant topics of conversation:

young adult children (and a few still in college, with even fewer still in high school); lots of weddings and more grandchildren than five years ago); elderly parents and the levels of care available; retirement (some almost there, with Joan Hull and Bernadette Malone McMahon leading the way); health (the "C" word unfortunately dominating); life decisions (you had to be there!); religion (you had to be there).

Surprise extra:

Denny O'Herron's movies of several 1966 weddings, transferred to video. At the Friday party, we watched reruns of the weddings of Peggy Rooney and Russ Hall, Margie McCarthy and Bill Hanratty, Cathy Brieaddy and Art Quinn, Mary Jean O'Connor and John Tani, and Mary Ellen Foody (class of '66) and John O'Leary.

Most common excuse for not coming:

teachers who can't get away from home in September. Joan Curtin Landewe has promised to be retired and able to attend the 40^th reunion in five years — how about the rest of you?

Most unique excuse for not coming:

Sally Beecher's desire to celebrate Rosh Hashana with her husband's family.

Only husband to attend Saturday events:

Nancy Jo Geiger's husband, Erik Rambusch (he may have been there as a Fisher spy). As a reward, he was dubbed the "class husband."

Finest car:

Helen Kaney Dempsey's BMW, a wonderful toy with all the bells and whistles (not that its computer kept her from getting lost on the way to the champagne reception and luncheon on Saturday).

Best minor coup for the class:

no, it's not our being the noisiest group at a reunion, nor that we were by far the most numerous (though both are true). Instead it's that we (especially Cathy Brieaddy Quinn) knew most of the songs in the Saturday evening dinner entertainment medley. In contrast, those youngsters in the Class of '95 only joined in after the singer left the old Broadway show tunes. Final count (by Margie McCarthy Hanratty's scorecard): 90 for our tables, 3 for theirs.

Greatest source of class pride:

being honored for the class's endowed scholarship, for which over $20,000 was raised during this anniversary year. Kudos to all, especially to Susan Reynolds Baime who spearheaded the effort and to all those who worked on it and contributed to it.

Greatest challenge to the Class of '65:

Susan's goal to increase the size of our scholarship endowment so it can produce a full tuition scholarship in our lifetime. It appears that this will be possible if: 1) we live a long time, 2) the stock market stays healthy, 3) Nazareth doesn't raise tuition too much, and of course 4) if we continue to be generous in giving back to our school.

Second biggest challenge:

remembering how to sing the Alma Mater. Bonus question: what were the former words for the line that now reads "We will ever as thy sons and daughters bless the mother of our youth?"

Person who made the weekend most memorable:

Denny O'Herron and his magic digital camera; without Denny, this web site wouldn't exist because there wouldn't be much to put on it.

Best part of all:

just hanging out and catching up on all those events and people near and dear to each of us. Happy news and sad, challenges and triumphs — all those aspects of our lives that we were able to share with old friends.