Class of 1960 members enjoyed a belated 60th class reunion in August, which included an unexpected celebrity guest. Former Miss America Kai Lani Rafko Wilson attended with her mother, 1960 grad Jackie Sullivan Rafko (top right).
Consistency evidently was a key trait learned by the Trenton High School Class of 1960, which celebrated its 60th class reunion in August at a gala event at the Chateau on the River in Trenton.
The event marked the ninth time the class has met to celebrate its graduation from THS, after gathering together for their fifth, 10th, 20th, 30th, 40th, 45th, 50th and 55th — all held locally in the Downriver area.
The evening prior to the reunion, some members met at Truago for dinner, class member Beryl Stajich said. The event itself had about 55 attendees, most of whom were graduates, and included guests and significant others. The agenda for the evening allowed plenty of time for socializing, a sumptuous dinner catered by the Chateau staff, time to browse on the riverfront, listen to “oldies music,” and enjoy the Chateau’s atmosphere of total relaxation and onsite comforts. A few late owls moved the celebration over to Sibley Gardens afterward, to wind down in the “afterglow” of it all.
In terms of travelers, Stajich reported, the classmates are scattered throughout the United States, with some overseas as far away as Australia. For the 55th reunion, travelers from California, Arizona, Texas, Florida and Massachusetts hopped on a plane to share their warmth with others.
The recent resurgence of the coronavirus pandemic, however, caused many of these outlying travelers who wanted to attend to reluctantly decline because of potential problems with health issues that could be impacted by exposure to the virus. Overnight auto-bound travelers who made it included Jim Markich from Chicago, Max Stokes from the Pittsburgh area, and Zita Saunders from Traverse City, among others.
To make the night even more interesting, an unexpected celebrity guest, former Miss Michigan/MissAmerica, Kae Lani (Rafko) Wilson, was in attendance. Wilson accompanied her mother, Class of 1960 graduate Jackie (Sullivan) Rafko, which was an added surprise for all attendees. Both of these “National Pageant” winners now reside in/near Monroe. Jackie, a former contestant winner herself, was active in many areas as a pageant contestant. Some of her more prominent accomplishments included winning the National Miss Dairy Queen Title her senior year at THS, placing as a finalist in the Miss Michigan pageant, and winning and competing in many local County Fair-type competitions, Stajich said.
Attendees were also treated to a 25-minute video, prepared by one of the graduates, summarizing how a portion of the $58 million of new bond funding was being applied to the high school environment. The video featured an on-site tour by Assistant Principal Peter Youngblood and Athletic Director James Trush, detailing how the budget of new monies was being applied, both structurally and academically, to support the strategic plan for the senior high school.
On the interior, the walk-through tour included how the commercial shop areas are being changed into new technology learning labs. The drafting areas have become design platforms for learning about CAD and STEM analysis. The former library will become a Communications Center, where research and learning will be done in the “online cloud.” Curriculum changes are being redeployed to support the new general direction for the systemic learning plan.
On the structural side, a new physical fitness area replaces the old pool and natatorium. A new natatorium and pool provide a much larger footprint, using 11 lanes for the pool and two levels of diving boards. Swimming lanes will now run both the width and length of the new pool.
On the outside, a new stadium, featuring artificial turf, a new pavilion for food, clothing/memorabilia and restrooms round out the north end. Boys and Ladies’ ball diamonds have been adorned with dugouts, artificial turf, and electronic scoreboards.
Stajich, a former longtime Trenton resident who has lived on Grosse Ile since 1984, said the reunion attendees were very impressed with the extent that Trenton voters/taxpayers stepped up to the plate and provided funding for these improvements and were excited to see the direction that the high school is taking in preparing students for starting their careers and how these future generations will be best prepared for the future. He said the attendees were happy to be brought up to date on changes that the Trenton School System is making in keeping pace with environmental and marketing developments now and trends for the future.
“Thank you for all your hard work putting together the 1960 class reunion,” one attendee shared. “It was a beautiful occasion, a perfect evening, the food was excellent, and it was good to see classmates we haven’t seen in years. Also, a big THANK YOU for the (virtual) tour of THS, then and now. May God bless our class.”
While it is recognized that the future is guaranteed to no one, Stajich said, the group is looking forward to getting back together for another relaxing evening of socializing and catching up in the not-so-distant future, with The Chateau at Elizabeth Park serving as home base.