Although not all might be able to come, organizers said they are expecting a good number of their classmates to attend the special event.
The reunion dinner will be held on Dec. 4, Friday, in the Seaside Hall of the Saipan Grand Hotel.
It will be attended by the Class of 1956 of Chalan Kanoa Elementary School, now William S. Reyes Elementary School, and the Class of 1959 of Saipan Intermediate School, now known as Hopwood Junior High School.
Carlos Shoda, one of the organizers of the class reunion, said this will be the first official gathering of their classes after graduation.
“We are getting old and we like to see how everybody is doing,” he said.
Almost half of their classmates can no longer join them because of sickness or family matters that need their attention. Some have already passed away.
For the rest, the gathering is a well-deserved break from their chores, which now include looking after their grandchildren.
“We just want to enjoy life as our age advances,” Shoda said.
More than 50 of them finished sixth grade in 1956, and the same batch completed their ninth grade in 1959, he added.
It was Paz Castro Younis who initiated the reunion dinner.
Shoda said all of them are now retired government or private sector employees.
Theirs spouses and their children are also invited to attend the event that will start at 5:50 p.m.
Participants are encouraged to wear island casual attire.
“This is the time that we can reminisce about the past and the happy moments of our younger years,” Shoda said.
During the gathering, he said they will discuss if they will pursue the plan to organize and elect officers.
The reunion will be made possible by the support of Connie Concepcion, Mercedes Palacios, Joaquina Mendiola, Rafaele Terry, former Speaker Pete R. Guerrero, John C. Lizama, Mr. and Mrs. Marina Camacho, Jesus B. Pangelinan and Vicky Olopai.
For more information, call Paz Castro Younis at 256-0315 or 888-7549, Mike Sablan at 287-2272, or Nanai Concepcion at 235-7488.
