Above / Roberta Priz stands in front of the spectators in Naperville Loves a Parade, a Century Walk mural. Â A tribute to her family’s business founded in 1868, Boecker Coal & Grain is featured high in the skyline.
Every five years since 1960, Roberta Boecker Priz has helped to organize the reunion for graduates of her class at Naperville Community High School. This weekend 65 members of the Class of ’60 and their significant others for a total of 100 revelers will celebrate the 55th Year Class Reunion with festivities planned over the course of three days.
Above / Naperville Community High School is pictured back in the day when Wheaton Community High School was its original rival. During Homecoming 2015, Naperville Central HS (formerly Naperville Community HS) will play Wheaton-Warrenville South (formerly Wheaton Community HS, then Wheaton Central HS). Â (Photo courtesy Naper Settlement)
On Friday, Sept. 25, plans include a tailgate barbecue party organized by Ruth Witt Coleman before the NCHS Varsity Homecoming Game.
Saturday, Sept. 26, begins with a tour of Naperville Central High School, followed by afternoon activities available around town before dinner at Cress Creek Country Club with its silent auction.
Above / The campus of Naperville Central High School can be seen from the observation deck of Moser Tower, home of a 72-bell carillon located at the base of Rotary Hill along the Riverwalk. Knoch Park and Edward Hospital are in the distance.
On Sunday, Sept. 27, class member Sally Gebhardt Pentecost, Chairman of the Naperville Heritage Society and Naper Settlement board member, will host a brunch.
Class of ’60 members who replied by July 1, 2015, have the complete itinerary.
Update  / The 2015 Class of 1960 55th Reunion Committee includes Sally Pentecost, Ruth Witt, Mary Jansen, Toby Hayer, Tom Priz, Ed Vanecek , George Matson, Norma Wooley and Roberta Priz.  The picture of Washington Junior High School was where the class attended junior high.  NCHS was built in 1952.  The Class of 1960 spent 1956 – 1960 at the new school.
PN brings back high school memories
The other day Roberta called with a request for 25 more copies of the September issue of Positively Naperville, noting that the monthly publication featured at least seven stories relevant to her class. Â She mentioned she’d picked up a bunch of papers at Casey’s Foods, but she didn’t want to take all that were on the rack.
When we dropped off the newspapers, Roberta showed us the large posters she’d been assembling with photos of classmates and other stories featured in other media.
Bryan Ogg’s column about Angeline Gale with the letter she’d received from Dwight D. Eisenhower was among several connections with Naper Settlement, she said, noting that Sally Pentecost who is hosting Sunday’s brunch was in her class.
“I saw Bryan the other day and I told him how much I enjoyed the story,” Roberta said, with vivid images of Gale more than 55 years ago.
“Angelina Gale was a guidance and veterans’ counselor who told everyone where to go to college or what to do,” Roberta said, remembering that her class included 248 graduates. “Angeline always encouraged people to join the service if they didn’t know what they wanted to do.”
Roberta said references, images and photos in the September issue about Cock Robin Ice Cream and all that’s new at Oswald’s Pharmacy, now celebrating its 140th anniversary, also brought back memories of her high school years when both of those businesses were located in downtown Naperville.
Silent auction will benefit Naperville Heritage Society
“The silent auction will include ‘priceless’ NCHS memorabilia such as Redskins mementos, Smoke Signals (school newsletter), Dial N, Yearbooks, letter sweaters and so on,” said Roberta who was vice-president of her class and a contributor to Smoke Signals.
“Any leftover items and funds raised from the silent auction will be donated to the Naperville Heritage Society,” she said.
Redhawks vs. Tigers Friday / NCHS Homecoming
Watch for updates about this special homecoming between two longtime rivals in the DuPage Valley Conference. The Naperville Central Redhawks match up with the Wheaton-Warrenville South Tigers beginning at 7:30PM Fri., Sept. 25 in the athletic stadium.
—PN
Above / Thanks to Bill Beckman of Fort Myers, Florida , and NCHS Class of 1960. Early on Sept. 27, Bill sent a photo from the 55th reunion weekend for Homecoming 2015. (PN T-shirt by S & R Monogramming)
