Jesuit High School of New Orleans

Class of 1956 Overcomes Obstacles to Celebrate 60 Years

Posted May 4, 2016 / Last updated May 23, 2016

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The Class of 1956 celebrated 60 years.

The Class of 1956 celebrated 60 years with two events, April 16-17, 2016.

Neither a flood nor repair work to an iconic building could prevent the Class of 1956 from celebrating their 60th year reunion on the weekend of April 16-17. The class that meets monthly for lunch had to overcome a change of venue to both their stag and their couples events to be together for the celebration.

First, all of Barra Bircher’s hard work came undone when just a month before the stag event the powers that be at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome informed the class that their room at the Dome was being renovated. Kicked out! Quickly, the ’56 troops marshalled their forces and settled on the Landmark Hotel in Metairie for their Saturday evening stag.

With the guys and their guests ready to enjoy a Sunday brunch at the Southern Yacht Club, they woke up to find the roadway into West End Park under water. Undaunted, Al Gooch quickly secured Landry’s Seafood Restaurant, the setting of the class’s summer lunch, for the couples brunch. Within hours a sit-down buffet brunch for 96 people was moved – lock, stock, and barrel – across the canal to the Lakeshore Drive restaurant.

Add to the Sunday agenda a family Mass celebrated by class member Fr. Phil Postell, S.J., and you have a typical Class of 1956 event full of friendship and Blue Jay Spirit.

Resources

Galleries

Reunion 2016: Class of 1956, Stag, April 16, 2016

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    Jim Larose and Rob Schroeder
  • Reunion_1956_Stag_20160416_0008web  
    Al Gooch and Fr. Anthony McGinn, S.J.
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    Frank Courtenay, Danny Zelenka, and Dave Schof
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    Al Hermann, A.J. Tridico, and Ewell Smith
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    Elliotte Harold and Tim Caserta
  • Reunion_1956_Stag_20160416_0024web  
    Barra Birrcher and George Kreider
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    Bob Saucier, Bob Burns, and George Cassard
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    Rob Schroeder and Tom Arata
  • Reunion_1956_Stag_20160416_0034web  
    Raymond Condon and Joe Heidingsfelder
  • Reunion_1956_Stag_20160416_0037web  
    Elliotte Harold, Al Hermann, and L.A. Grossimon
  • Reunion_1956_Stag_20160416_0039web  
    L.V. Seicshnaydre, Ron Borne, and Bob Winn
  • Reunion_1956_Stag_20160416_0041web  
    Tim Caserta and Vincent Ciolino
  • Reunion_1956_Stag_20160416_0043web  
    Phil Postel and L.A. Grossimon
  • Reunion_1956_Stag_20160416_0046web  
    George Kreider and Pat White hold up their 60 Year Reunion T-shirts, complete with a class roster on the back.
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    Ted Borgman and Rich Johannessen
  • Reunion_1956_Stag_20160416_0072web  
    The Class of 1956
  • Reunion_1956_Stag_20160416_0080web  
    The Class of 1956's 60-year reunion committee.
  • Reunion_1956_Stag_20160416_0091web  
    "Going the distance" classmates who traveled over an hour to attend their 60 year reunion.