Written By:

MEI Alumni Office

Date:

June 5, 2023

AlumniGrad YearPast Reunions1972

We were so honoured to have the Class of 1972 🩅 back in “the nest” for a portion of their reunion this weekend! Class of 1972: watch for an email from alumni@meischools.com with a link to download Paul Funk’s photos.

> Read full reunion recap as submitted by Marilyn Edwards

 

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MEI Class of 1972 Reunion Reflections
Submitted by Marilyn Redekop Edwards

Graduating from high school in 1972 as a group of 52 ‘almost-adults’, was important to us, but not so unique. Re-uniting for a weekend as ‘mature adults’ after 50 years was an out-of-the-ordinary experience! Over one year ago, our reunion committee thoughtfully began organizing a weekend of four events, intending to give us time to be together at a variety of venues. Wonderfully, 33 (70%) of us accepted the invite to at least one of the weekend events generously hosted at MEI and at several of our classmate’s homes.

We were unique individuals in ’72, and our takeaways of the reunion I’m sure, are unique. For me, it was truly a life-marker. After 50 years, we are all in another stage of life. As adolescents in ‘72, we were striking out with fresh plans for independence. Maturity has made us more appreciative of supportive friends, and more tuned to our similarities than our differences.

The reunion was a perfect opportunity to connect and reconnect. We will all need caring friends in the next stage of life. Who better than some of our classmates who shared those special years with us as teenagers? I, for one, am already enjoying the refreshed connections with texts, coffee meet-ups and emails. I sense these will continue.

Thank you to the reunion committee and those who put so much thoughtful effort into planning and executing the reunion. Thanks to those who travelled from far places including California, Ontario, Quebec, Washington, Alberta, Manitoba and Peru. Thanks to MEI and our many teachers including John Neufeld, Music Teacher and Concert Choir Director who was able to attend Friday evening’s event. We appreciate God’s goodness and His gift of friends to share our life journey. The reunion was excellent in every way!!

Previously Posted

Your MEI Class of 1972 reunion committee is planning for a 50+1 year reunion, scheduled for the weekend of June 2 – 4, 2023. > See UPDATED PLAN

Please reply to Dan Woodland or Vic Thiessen to express interest and keep informed.

Connect with the MEI Alumni Office

We’d love to keep in touch with you! Due to privacy laws, your reunion organizers cannot share your contact info with us. Here are some ways to connect directly with your MEI Alumni Association:

  1. Update your address with the school so that you can receive the Connections magazine twice a year
  2. Subscribe to our monthly alumni e-news
  3. “Like” / “Follow” us on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

> more info about class reunions

MEI Class of 1972

January 25, 2023 UPDATE from Reunion Planning Committee

Of the 51 graduates, we have been able to establish communication with 47. Two of our members have passed away and two have not yet been located. Many emails and phone numbers have been exchanged and connections re-established. On two occasions we had Zoom reintroduction meetings whereby we could fill in some of the blanks as to what had transpired in our lives in the preceding half century. It seems that our voices had changed the least. Roughly half the class (24 members) were able to participate in one or both of the sessions.

We have had some really good input regarding facilities, food, catering, activities, etc. to use/do during the weekend. This is in addition to the generous offer of the use of an MEI facility for a main program on the Friday evening. Several volunteers are working on the local details to ensure the smoothest sailing possible. All help is appreciated.

We look forward to finalizing many of the various details soon. We have tentatively outlined the schedule to include the following activities, which are being designed to include spouses:

Friday night (June 2)

  • 5:30 pm arrival time at MEI Middle School (Multi-Purpose Room)
  • 6:30 pm start of Secondary tour (leaves from and returns to Middle School)
  • 6:50 pm start of MEI Head of Schools presentation at MEI Middle School (Multi-Purpose Room)
  • 7:15 pm reunion continues as organized by the committee until 9:00 pm

Saturday (June 3)

  • Morning: Brunch at the home of Stan & Grace Hindmarsh
  • Evening:  Supper and program at the home of Irene & Jack Willems

Sunday Morning (June 4)
Breakfast, Reflections, Closing Comments – location to be determined

On behalf of our far-flung organizing committee:

Dan Woodland    Trujillo, Peru
Vic Thiessen        Baden, Ontario
Ewald Unruh        Winnipeg, Manitoba
Dan Loewen         Battle Ground, Washington
Dave Loewen       Lincoln, California
Julie Unger Lane  Maple Ridge, British Columbia