Nearly three dozen former Jefferson School colleagues recently held a reunion, bringing back many fond memories for members of the group.
Organized by school nurse Martha Ironman and classroom teacher Martha Reilly, the reunion played out on a recent Sunday at Black & Blue Seafood Chophouse on Wall Street in Huntington Village.
Three months of planning went into the get-together, which drew Sue Jeno, Andrea Stewart and Mary Ugliaro from their current homes in Florida. Mrs. Ironman and Mrs. Reilly decorated Black & Blue with candid photos of years gone by, including the legendary Jefferson fashion shows of yesteryear.
Retired librarian Georganne White solicited interesting and little known facts about each staff member. The information later formed the basis for an enjoyable guessing game. Shirley Baker and Keith Meyers won special prizes based on their ages. There were plenty of laughs to go around for everyone.
The reunion menu included lobster bisque soup, Caesar salad, fresh fruit, fresh mozzarella and tomatoes, Thai-style calamari, Nutella and banana French toast, eggs Benedict, grilled veggie wrap, Monte Cristo panini, linguine shrimp Pomodoro, steak and eggs, pan-seared chicken and lobster encrusted salmon. A variety of house made desserts were also served.
The reunion attendees also paid tribute to their fallen colleagues, including Jackie Amodeo, Pearl Bury, Evelyn Daniels, Annette Friedland, Cal Hansen, Margot Impellizeri, Toni Irvine, Mac McCune, Rose Nastasi, Bill Nickerson, Nancy Organ, Peg Petrone, Ann Rotella, Corinne Sacca, Nancy Schilling, Mary Jane Sitterley, Dorothy Tufano and Hannah Vogt.
Many former staff members who are now living out of state and who were unable to attend the reunion sent warm written messages about their time at Jefferson that were shared in a journal.
Those attending the reunion said they loved going to work at Jefferson each day. “It was a special time in education, when everyone was a family at work,” said teacher Maryann Daly, who was among the attendees. “We had many silly and hilarious times together that still bring all of us to laugh.”
The reunion’s attendees included Shirley Baker, Angela Berner, Sandy Brusca, Linda Cirillo, Nellie Coffinas, Mary Coyle, Maryann Daly, Jackie Donofrio, Chris Dugan, Valerie Galanty, Martha Ironman, Susan Jeno, Robin Jhaveri, Francine Johnnidis, Barbara Jones, Carol Levatino, Elaine Lynch, Claude Massear, Theresa Matthews, Keith Meyers, Marsha Neville, Catherine O’Brien, Linda Porciello, Martha Reilly, Francine Schalik, Joan Skelly, Andrea Stewart, Barbara Towers, Mary Uglialoro, Carmen and Julio Vega, Georganne White and Lori Wilcox.
When it came time to say goodbye, many tears were shed.
