Weekend Spotlight: KP Class of ’75 Regroups for Annual Multi-Class Reunion

This Saturday, will be held at Callahan's Beach in Fort Salonga, from noon to 5 p.m. Awill follow at 6:30 p.m. at , Kings Park.

This multi-class reunion, which has turned into an annual event, all started with an invitation, forty years ago. 

“On graduation day for the Class of 1971, Gene Pizzolatta handed out invitations to a Millennium New Year's Eve Party,” recalled Sue Alvar, Class of ’72 graduate and reunion organizer.

“He said he would run an ad in the New York Times the day before and after Thanksgiving giving us his address and we would all get together to ring in the Millennium together,” said Alvar.

“When the day approached, Al Wood [Class of ‘71] found the invitation in his yearbook and sent it to a lot of his classmates,” continued Alvar. “We all began e-mailing Gene asking if he had handicap access, could we bring dogs, hook up our trailers to his electricity and other ridiculous questions.”

“Imagine having to tell your wife that at seventeen you had invited your entire class to your house?” Alvar said.

With everyone starting to reconnect, Alvar decided to organize a reunion. In 2001, the Class of ’71 held their first reunion at .

“We all had such a good time, we decided to do it again the next year and invite more people, expanding it to classes of the 60's and 70's,” says Alvar. “From that point on, we did it yearly.”

At this year's multi-class reunion, former classmates will toast Bill Smith, Class of ’75, who passed away last year.  

“We all feel fortunate to have grown up in such a great community,” says Alvar.

Reflecting on the success of these reunions, she concludes, “This just shows that you can take the kid out of Kings Park, but you can't take Kings Park out of the kid.”

When:     August 6, 2011

Time:      Picnic - 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Callahan’s Beach                

               Multi-Class reunion - 6:30 p.m. at Celtic Crossing

Where:   Callahan’s Beach, Callahan’s Beach Road, off Route 25A, Fort Salonga

                Celtic Crossing Tavern, 83 Pulaski Road, Kings Park

Price:      Picnic - without Town of Smithtown parking permit, fee is $10

Why:       To reconnect with longtime friends

Note:      The reunion will be sharing the picnic area with the Kings Park Volunteer Fire Department. They have hired a DJ. Bring your own food, charcoal, cups, plates etc. There are public restrooms and grilles available.