Toronto to hold all-school reunion (2024)

TORONTO — At least nine decades of Toronto High School alumni are expected to turn out for various events held as part of an all-school reunion this weekend.

Coinciding with the Toronto Arts Festival, the celebration marks the 135th anniversary of the school’s first graduating class in 1889. Saturday’s events include a golf scramble in the morning, a parade of the school’s classes on Fourth Street at 10 a.m., a reunion dinner in the late afternoon and a block party from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Fourth Street.

Alumni and guests are invited to attend a concert by the Fantasy’s from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Gazebo Commons, located at Third and Market streets.

The concert will be held inside Toronto First Presbyterian Church in the event of rain.

The concert is part of the Toronto Coalition for Revitalization’s series of free summer concerts and was moved from its usual Wednesday time to coincide with the weekend’s festivities.

The Red Knights football team will play their first home game of the season at 7 p.m. Friday on Clarke Hinkle Field.

Maureen Taggart, superintendent of Toronto City Schools and chairman of the volunteer planning committee behind the reunion, said the reunion has been held every five years during the Labor Day weekend in order to coincide with the Toronto Arts Festival.

On Saturday and Sunday, Third and Market streets and the Gazebo Commons will be filled with vendors selling various hand-made and other items. Food vendors and live entertainment will be located in the area of Main Street and the Riverview United Methodist Church.

Now in its 46th year, the festival is held by the volunteer group Focus in Toronto.

Taggart said she and other members of the Class of 1988 took on planning this year’s all-school reunion. Since March, classmates have met monthly or weekly to prepare.

Limited to 40 players, the golf scramble will begin at 8 a.m. at Dyer Country Club. Registration starts at 7:30 a.m. at the cost of $30 per player.

For information, call (740) 317-6367 or 317-0746.

Taggart said graduates of various years are invited to march behind their banners along Fourth Street from Liberty Square to Volmer Street at 10 a.m.

“It’s always a good time because you get to interact with members of different classes,” she said.

Taggart said the block party is a new event this year and is open to everyone.

There will be a beer tent operated by the alumni association, along with various other food and drinks for sale. Music will be provided by the Remainder and Sasquatch, two rock bands featuring Toronto alumni. Bon Journey, a Pittsburgh-based Bon Jovi and Journey tribute band, will also perform at the block party.

In addition to offering more opportunity for socializing, the dinner will serve to recognize seven alumni who have distinguished themselves in various fields.

They are: Gene Calabrese, a 1945 graduate and founder of Calabrese Homes and Property Development, which has been behind more than 1,000 area buildings; Stacie Grant Call, a 1988 graduate who oversees more than 2,000 nurses as market chief nursing officer for Bon Secours Mercy Health in Youngstown and Lorain; Col. Robert Chadwick, a 1974 graduate whose 25-year military career included oversight of more than 3,100 logistics specialists worldwide; Nicole Davis, a 2005 graduate named Fairfield County’s 2018 Young Professional of the Year, and one of Columbus Business’ first 40 under 40 for her professional accomplishments; Robert Daniel Gescheider, a 1990 graduate who learned modern Arabic and served as a translator while serving the Army in Iraq; Christine Cattrell Hargrave, a 1965 graduate who is president of Cattrell Cos. Inc., and chairman of the alumni association foundation for more than 30 years; Brandon Reese, a 1990 graduate who is a practicing local attorney and president of the Jefferson County Regional Airport Authority, each for more than 20 years; and Taggart, who has led the school district through the construction of a new elementary school and renovations to various athletic facilities.

Now located on the second floor of the Karaffa Recreation Center, formerly Karaffa Elementary School, the alumni association’s office has copies of the school’s yearbooks, school memorabilia and information about upcoming activities. The office will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday and Friday and from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Saturday.

The recreation center is the new home of the Historical Society of Toronto’s Main Street Museum, as well. The museum will be open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday and from noon to 3:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Taggart said many of Toronto’s graduating classes have planned mixers or dinners for the weekend. Announcements for some can be found on the Toronto High School Alumni Association’s Facebook page.