Octogenarians, you would never know it!

Monday, May 07 2007, 04:22 PM EDT

Contributed by: Mel Fabrikant

65th Reunion
Click here for a video clip

The graduating class of Paterson Eastside High School January 1942 held its 65th Reunion this past Sunday. Over 50 people attended! Commendations to the Class President and Vice President, who happen to be married to each other, were presented from Paramus Mayor James Tedesco. Paterson Mayor Jose ‘Joey’ Torres was contacted at the last moment and he also sent Commendations to the committee for their 65 years of dedication.

Due to attrition and the demise of the previous chairman, one of the committee members, Fran (Franny/Fay Mandell) Sax prevailed upon Mel Fabrikant to take over. President Al Kachadurian was down in Florida for the winter, but he and Janet, his wife, heartily endorsed the idea last year. The committee was reactivated!

As soon as the ‘Kachy’s got home, they called a meeting at their house and everyone attended. Plans for the following year’s gala were discussed and praise given to Ben Rozenzweig, the former chairman. Ben kept accurate records which were a boon. In addition, two of the busiest members, Elsie Botwick Kaufman and Carolyn Barth Abramson were available. They took care of the mailings and Elsie, the financial details.

Judge Arthur Minuskin tended to the public relations and Jackie, his wife, made chocolate lollypops which proved to be a big hit. As in previous years, Marge Breen Egedy took charge of the floral arrangements. The entire committee made phone calls to people who hadn’t responded and quite a few seniors (who are subject to senior moments) responded.

Attendees came from all over; one chap from California paid but couldn’t make it due to health reasons so he donated the costs to the group. Carolyn took sick at the last moment; she and her husband had to forgo the function. This was the first one she missed in the 65 years. Another party of three cancelled from Lake George, NY because of health, but people came from Florida to be here, one of them in a wheelchair. Others came from Texas, Pennsylvania and Maine.

People would never know that the attendees were that old. Of course the name tags were the largest font (72) that Word has for the first name in order to be seen and recognized easily. When the floral arrangements were given away, numbers were assigned at each table. The president suggested that we give them away right away before someone at the table had a ‘senior moment’.

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