We invited our Class Members and Teachers from Elementary School, Jr School, or AHHS - between 1959 and 1971, even if they did not graduate with us.
And the AHHS Classes of '68, '69, '70, and '72
Invocation and Memorial Prayer
Rev. Dr. Chrys Lambros Parker, 24 September 2011
According to Webster's dictionary, a "reunion" is a coming together of those who have experienced a period of separation. But all of us present here tonight know that it is much, much more.
For some, it is the opportunity to embrace dozens of friends. For others, it may be a once-in-a-lifetime chance to seek out and thank the one person who did not abandon you when you suddenly found yourself socially infected in third grade by a "koodies" pandemic; the one who would always run the 600 with you in junior high; the one who loyally continued to sit with you in the cafeteria when no one else would, until you graduated from Alamo Heights High School and into the life beyond it.
Reunion is more than just the exchange of business cards, Facebook addresses, and invitations to become "Linked In". It is an occasion for sitting back and reflecting on the hourglass of our lives, and on our expenditure of that stuff of which our lives are elementally made… TIME. It is the "currency" of life which only the Almighty can mint. How have we spent it? What dividends have we reaped? Have we simply hoarded ourselves away for a rainy day that may never come, or joyously distributed our "human capital", interest free, among our fellow men? What truths do we know about ourselves today, that we did not know as high school seniors?
No, I think that reunion is not JUST a dinner, a dance, or a walk around the emblem in the entranceway of our alma mater. It is a return to the very point of our beginning, to take stock of what we have learned, and count ourselves mightily blessed to have the opportunity to do so.
If THIS be the true measure of reunion, then the 34 classmates who left our midst too soon are every bit as much engaged in this occasion, as if they were with us still. For in their reaching what WE may believe was the end point of their lives, they have in truth returned to that cosmic point of THEIR beginnings. Each of them was someone's son or daughter, husband, wife, mother, father or grandparent. Most importantly, each of them was a friend to someone in this room.
We remember them tonight so that we may acknowledge their passing, feel the tender pangs of their loss, and have gratitude for the friendship which they blessed us. SO… let us invite them to this party and include them into the communal return to the place of our beginnings. We lovingly remember:
Bob Adams, Richard A. Bailey, Bill Ryan Baker, Jr., Ed Chambers, Jim Collins, Marshall Cooper, Shera Sue Davis, Edmund Eichenroht, Mike Fisher, Nance Frese, Sherri Gerth Huckleberry, Mark Hamilton, Debbie Harding, Diane Hillman, Kathy Keating, Pat Landrum, Linda Mc Dougall, Mac McSwain, John K. Moses, Carolyn Good Mueller, David Overstreet, David Richardson, Valerie Riley Fisher, Bill Rives, Garry Samuels, Joe Sielski, Louis Edgar Smith, Susie Stanberry, Blake Steinberg, Elizabeth Stubbs, Tommy Sykes, Robert Turnbull, Quinn Williams and Clyde Witkowski.
There is a great prayer * that speaks to us in moments such as this. It is not a prayer for the departed, but their prayer for all of us. I think it is their legacy, their wisdom to be given to us, and it goes like this:
When I die, if you need to weep, cry for the suffering person
who is walking the street beside you.
And when you need me, put your arms aroung others,
and give them what you need to give to me.
You can love me most by letting your hand touch other hands,
and letting your soul touch other souls.
You can love me most by sharing your joys
and multiplying your good deeds.
You can love me most by letting me live,
not just in your mind, but in the kindness through which
your eyes see your fellow man.
And when you say the memorial prayers for me,
remember what the Scripture teaches:
Love doesn't die. Only people do.
So, when all that's left of me is love…
Give me away.
The time to give ourselves away in love for others is not someday.
It is NOW. Until we meet our departed friends at that one Great Homecoming, let us remember them in love and ROCK ON !
(*Postscript: A number of people have asked about the origin of this beautiful prayer. Since learning it, it has been a part of every funeral or memorial I have ever officiated, and has served as a guide for the living of my daily life. For the gift to me of this beautiful Jewish prayer, I acknowledge my friend and colleague, the Rabbi Julie Danaan, who included it in a memorial service which we co-officiated on 9-19 for Jay Daniel Stein, who was killed on the 73rd Floor of World Trade Center Tower One. Shalom, Julie. ~ Chrys Lambros Parker)
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Recap of 40th Reunion Weekend Activities:
Friday Sep 23
Mules Homecoming Game
"Re-Meet & Re-Greet" Mixer at La Fonda Alamo Heights in Sunset Ridge
Saturday Sep 24
Golf - Saturday
morning, at multi-million dollar revamped Brackenridge
Park Golf Course
Golf Scores coming soon
Tour of Alamo Heights High School: on Saturday morning, Elizabeth Smith Stratemann, daughter of Day & Paxton Smith, and teacher at AHHS led a tour through the halls of our alma mater.
Brown Bag Lunch at Pearl
Park Amphitheatre www.atpearl.com
40th Reunion Party at The Witte ~ THE MAIN EVENT - 7-11pm
Our evening started off with a surprise appearance and serenade by AHHS Band Members. The played the AHHS School Song, The Horse, a couple other 'period' tunes, and ended the Fight Song. Thank you Gordon for arranging for this fun surprise!
Delicious Mexican Dinner Buffet Catered by: El
Jarro de Arturo
Live
Bands: The Neon
Shakers with special
guests, Cain's
Children
Professional Photographer: Kelling Photography. Keepsake Class Photos printed on site at the Witte, and available for purchase as well as a CD of candid photos. More details to come on how to order the Class Photo print and/or Photo CD.
Two special presentations were made on Saturday evening:
Mr and Mrs Paul Foerster were introduced and presented with a Donation by the Class of 1971 to the Paul A Foerster Mathematics Fund.
More detail to come.
Mike Lyman was introduced by Gordon Stevenson and John Heaney, and presented with our first Distinguished Graduate award:
Alamo Heights High School
Distinguished Graduate Class of 1971
Captain Michael D. Lyman
US Public Health Service
In Recognition of Humanitarian Services World Wide
Presented by Your Classmates
Reunion 2011
 . 
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Read more about Mike HERE
Sponsorship Opportunities
Help us defray expenses, keep ticket price down, and build seed money
for 2016 and 2021
Contact Toni for details
or questions
Expenses: Witte Facility & Equipment Rentals, Security, Printing & Postage, La Fonda Appetizer Buffet, Namebadges/Lanyards,
Caterer, Beverages, Live Band, Audio/Video, AH Foundation
Donation decorations, Teacher Tickets, AHHS Band Donation, Class Donation to the Paul A. Foerster Mathematics Fund
Benefactor Levels
$1000 ~ Blue & Gold
$500 ~ 0-Niner
Sponsor Levels
$250 ~ Super Pooper Scooper
$100 ~ Muleskinner
$50 and under ~ Caledonia Compadre
Please advise if you wish to be listed as 'anonymous'
Donate
with a Check, Credit Card or PayPal
(PayPal has a .03% fee)
A) Check: Mail your check to Toni payable to "AHHS71 Toni Stevenson Admin"
B) Credit Card (non PayPal Account Holders): Simply Click the Donate
button below to donate to AHHS Class of 1971 Reunion Fund. You DO
NOT have to set up a PayPal Account. The .03% fee is debited from
AHHS71
C) PayPal Account Holders: Sign In to www.PayPal.com and "Send Money" to ahhs71@gmail.com. (You have the option
to cover the PayPal .03% fee)
Thank You, THANK YOU Sponsors
as of 9/25/11
Benefactors
Blue & Gold
Gordon
& Toni Schmid Stevenson
O-Niners
Anonymous (1)
Sponsors
Super Pooper Scoopers
Jenny
& Rick Schimpff
Blanca Maria & Mannti Cummins
(Mannti was an actual AH Pooper Scooper for years ..
he definately "knows the business end of the animal.")
Gary Gates
Ann Wigodsky
Anonymous (1)
Jamie and Elizabeth Baskin
Mr & Mrs John P. Kimball, Jr.
Randy Mayo
Ken Barber
Kellis Chandler
Muleskinners
Bowen Moursund
Anonymous (1)
John and Mary (BooBoo) Jockusch Reynolds
Blake (John) Hardy
John and Judy Arizpe
Walton Tassos Selig
David Henkes
Lynn Fawcett Russell
Bettie Bernhardt Borton
Roy Campbell
Kathryn West
Peggy Becker Payne
Sarah
Ryan Carpenter
Joe Labatt
Caledonia Compadres
Devereaux Temple
Jim Kerr
Steve Muegge
All
amounts are VERY much appreciated
We can't have too many Sponsors and Benefactors
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