Fellow Classmates,
Our senior yearbook listed 420
people. In the course of this locator effort, I have determined that there is
some disparity in actual #s as some really didnt graduate (but were listed in the yearbook) while others did (but were not
listed in the yearbook), so no matter how you try to figure it, the following #s will NOT add up to the 420 yearbook classmates! (I can assure you that I have gone bonkers over trying to make the #s jive, but there
are too many nuances!)
All I can give you are these #s from the actual
locator effort:
404 found
377 classmates (including
7 early grads in 1973)
14 classmates who want no further contact (one is early 73 grad)
13 friends of the class (went to PHS, but
didnt graduate with us)
10 verified as deceased L
10 presumed in error from last directory (still
looked for them)
41 missing (includes one early 73 grad, two European
non-AFS, one AFS)
465 total to find
% found (less deceased/presumed in error): 91%
After 30 years, I consider this to be a phenomenal
success. I was MOST fortunate to have an INCREDIBLE team who wanted to locate
each and every one of you so that we could jointly reflect on our memories of PHS.
My sincerest thanks to the
following wonderful volunteers who took time out of their busy schedules to help find you: Ted Baruch (he took two lists),
Lisa Horton (Richter), Bob Manduca (he took two lists), Jim Peek and Janice Rosenberg (Buczkowski). This was a major time-consuming project and these volunteers did so without any type of compensationexcept
for your periodic thanks, some laughs, and their hope that we would have a major turnout and bang-up reunion! My personal thanks and appreciation, Team! When you see these
amazing volunteers at the reunion, please step up and thank them personally for their time and dedication.
I cant ignore the assistance
provided by other classmates in this endeavor: Sheila Servis, Cindy Davison (Clausen), Bette Gavalchin (Farber), Kathy Bellow,
John Bowker, Mike White, Dave Gurk, Dave Martin, Nancy Hobler, Jeff Drummond, Denise Farrell (Nowacki), Class of 77, and many
others who provided some great leads. All of you were absolutely great! Thanks for helping!
During the course of this
locator effort, many of you have asked why it took almost 30 years for us to find you.
I wish I could give you a good answer. Reunions were held for the 10th
and 20th. For the 20th, a reunion organization was hired. The directory that we inherited had 150 people on it without any information, except
for their names, or they were not listed at all...thus; thousands of hours have been expended in trying to locate everyone
PERSONALLY for the first time ever.
I will state, though, shame
on me (as your Senior Class Secretary) for not being involved in past reunions.
I knew about them, but never offered any assistance. I will take
my licksbut I would like to think that I have made up, for my past indifference by tackling this endeavor with a vengeance
to ensure all possible classmates were found and informed of this reunion.
Special kudos need to be
given to Bob Manduca. Not only was Bob an integral part of the locator effort,
and an OUTSTANDING private eye in tracking you down, but, of his own volition, he took the extra step to provide this website
for our class. I would hope that everyone who attends the reunion, and even if
you just read this online, will tell Bob how much you appreciate his efforts as this is truly a wonderful resource for now
and the future.
Though no guarantee, Bob
and I are presently determined that we will try to continue to keep the website and class directory up-to-date until the next
reunion. This evolution was truly a nightmare and we dont want anyone to ever
have to start from scratch again in trying to find you. However, this will depend
on YOU, our classmates, to keep us informed! So if you move, change your email,
change your spouse or change ANYTHING, please let us know.
My best,
Martha Dorgan
1974 Senior Class Secretary/2004
Reunion Head Locator
PrincetonHigh74@aol.com
