Smack Dab in the Middle of It: Bill McCurdy, Larry Baggett, & Martha Fischer Kubicek celebrate in joy the 60th anniversary of their 1952 graduation from St. Christopher’s Parochial School (8th grade) in the SE Houston neighborhood of Park Place.
Yesterday, Sunday, October 14, 2012, is a day that a handful of us will remember forever as the 60th year reunion of the St. Christopher’s Parochial School 8th grade graduating class. Eleven members (8 men and 3 women) of the approximately 20 surviving classmates made it to the home of classmate Garland Debner Pohl and her husband, Bill Pohl, for the afternoon dinner social. For many, it was our first glimpse of each other in the total lapsed time, but a few of us had made it to a slightly wider range class year reunion at St. Chris back in 1997.
The eleven St. Christopher’s alums in attendance included Larry Baggett, Earl Cobden, Don Dittlinger, Foster Foucheaux, Martha Fischer Kubicek, Bill McCurdy, Star Boyle O’Connor, Jerry Peters, Garland Debner Pohl, John Robinson, and Neil Sweeney. – Nine spouses also attended.
For the record, and with our thoughts and prayers for each in remembrance, our nine identifiably deceased include Joseph King and his wife, Mary Lou Dalberg King, Robert Long, Barbara Jean Marshall, Ronnie Martinsen, Ronnie Massey, Billy Murphy, Jon Roark, and Marshall Seavey.
For one reason or another, as life always works out, several other surviving members of our 1952 class were unable to attend. We thought of you too, even if you could not join us in your own versions of aging flesh. As the old song goes, “time waits for no one,” and Father Time leaves no door bells unrung. Had you been here, you would have been in the good and loving company of some of your earliest friends on the planet. Maybe next time, if there is one, you will be here too.
St. Christopher’s Parochial School
Houston, Texas
Class of 1952
Garland Debner Pohl
Our Gracious Reunion Hostess
We spent a lot of time reminiscing over little things, like the way our principal Sister Mary Immaculata held the power to control us into silence with her eyes alone – and how we used to qualify for special holidays on “Canned Goods Day” by bringing our pastor, Father Fulkerson, enough food of what he liked to eat from his own pantry.
I’m guessing they have laws or rules against pastoral holiday declarations in exchange for food contributions in today’s world and, speaking of such, there was no talk of politics yesterday, nor what our generation might have done to better save the world. We were just there together for a few precious hours that will likely never come again – and that seemed enough.
“Will be good shepherd for food” sounds funny, doesn’t it?
We plan to cover all the “meaning of life” lessons we’ve absorbed at out next reunion. That one is now set for 2052 and the 100th anniversary of our eighth grade class graduation.
As for all of you e-mail wired fellow alums, look for pictures of the eleven classmates I took in your Internet mailboxes today.
Have a nice day, everybody. And have a nice life.
The Pecan Park Eagle 
October 15, 2012 at 12:48 pm |
Reading something so worthwhile like this entry really makes my day. Life was good then, wasn’t it!
October 15, 2012 at 1:17 pm |
Thank you for finding me. I had a great time. Your write up was wonderful . Thanks to our hostess. Star Boyle
July 18, 2013 at 11:18 pm |
I attended St. Christopher’s in the early 60’s. Some of the best days of my life. I remember Father Fulkerson very well. But, my favorite was Father Braden. He was actually a cousin to my father – and a visitor to our home and homes of our neighbors. I attended the little red school across the freeway and was there standing on the curb with the rest of the school when President Kennedy drove by in his motorcade – the day before his assassination. Does anyone have a photo of the little red school building?