GHS Class of ’38 gathers for reunion

MARQUETTE - When Dorothy Genetti told her friends in downstate Clawson that she was going to the Upper Peninsula to attend her 70th class reunion, they were a little surprised.

"When I told my neighbor I was coming up for my 70th class reunion they thought maybe I'd be the only one," she said laughing.

Well she wasn't the only one. In fact, about 13 members of the Graveraet High School Class of 1938 showed up for the reunion held at Wahlstrom's Restaurant in Harvey on Saturday.

Marquette resident Frank Richardson, who helped organize the event, said people came from as far away as Kansas and Iowa, though most who attended still live in Marquette County.

"We're not planning a 75th," Richardson said with a chuckle. "That would put us in our early 90s and I don't think as many of us will be around."

Richardson said he's seen several changes in the area. Even though schools have closed due to decreasing enrollment, Marquette has prospered, he said.

The class of 1938 had a 10th, 20th and 50th class reunion but they hadn't had one in recent years, instead combining with reunions of classes from 1936 or 1937.

Mildred Ford, who lives in the Kansas City area, said Richardson should be commended for putting together the reunion.

"A 70th reunion is not something you'll ever do again," she said. "Even though we all came a long way it was just something we had to do."

Ford said after graduation from Northern Michigan University she taught kindergarten in Kansas, and recently that same school has hired her granddaughter as a teacher.

Bob Moore of Marquette said one of his favorite memories of Graveraet was band class where the students learned a lot about classical music. He said he has played the trumpet in the city band off and on since he was 13.

"I went back to the band last year and I'm having a lot of fun, playing under a wonderful director," he said. "He's the best I've ever played under - Dr. Matt Ludwig."

As more graduates arrived at the restaurant they hugged one another or shook hands, calling out names of former classmates they'd not seen in years as well as talking to the spouses and children of their former classmates.

"I love it up here and I love coming back to it," Genetti said, looking at all the face in the room. "I had some wonderful, wonderful years up here."