Back Row: Tom Tanner, Carol Newman Moore, Aunt Virginia Smith, Miss Lil Ward, Mr. Gene Smith, Roger Rich, Diana Gammon Liljedahl, Ellen Eastman Mast
Front Row: Ruth Thiesen Kerr, Joy Townsend Tuggy, Penny Smith Embry, Susan Wacker Nordin
Our requisite for attendees of the reunion was that they must have attended Yarinacocha School at some point in time and that they had graduated from high school in the year 1966. We knew of 11 persons who fit those requirements from high school and all but two were able to attend. The two that did not were Stephen Pike who attended only short times due to his father's (Dr. Kenneth Pike) travels with linguistic teaching, and Steve McGukin, who attended only 1 or 2 years in high school. Most of those who attended basically grew up together at Yarina and knew each other as family. We were also blessed with the attendance of Mr. Gene and Aunt Virginia Smith (our Principal and School secretary) and Miss Lil Ward (the teacher most of had for most of our lives).
Roger Rich
The Yarinacocha Class of 1966 is planning a class reunion in Waxhaw, NC, from June 1st to Jun 3rd. Here's an e-mail I received from Roger Rich:
We are planning a reunion of the class of '66 on 1,2,3 June at JAARS in Waxhaw. I say class of '66 because that is when we graduated from High School even though all from different schools at that time. This class consists of myself (Roger Rich), Tom Tanner, Joy Townsend Tuggy, Susan Wacker Nordin, Ruth Thiesen Kerr, Penny Smith Embry, Ellen Eastman Mast, Diana Gammon Liljedahl, and Carol Newman Moore. Stephen Pike and Steve McGuckin also were part of the class for a short time but I do not think that they will be able to come to the reunion.
I think of the class as unique (to me) because Tom and I were usually the only boys with 5 or 6 girls. Of course many of the classes were unique down there at Yarina! This is also the year that all the members of this class are turning 50 years old so it will make a good reunion. Gene & Virginia Smith are also planning to come to the reunion and Miss Lill Ward has been invited.
Just thot I'd mention also that we are having an entire Peru night on the 1st to which anybody and everybody who ever was in Peru is invited. Ginger Gammon is helping us with this - maybe actually doing it all since she is there and we are elsewhere. A number of people have heard of our reunion and are coming to join in on the all Peru night.
If you have questions, please e-mail Roger Rich at rdrich@juno.com.
Hey! You who are turning to the Big 50 this year!! Celebrate your birthday with the other Yarinachocha Alumni during the JAARS Big 50 June 1 at a Peru Potluck at the Townsend Building.
The rest of the Alumni, no matter if you're celebrating 50, or more or less, Y'all come - Hear?
Each one bring a covered dish, plan to eat at 6:30. If you have a favorite Peru dish - bring it! Photos, tales, be ready to share it all.
Please bring your spouse and offspring. Let them enjoy their Peru heritage. If you know someone who may not be on e-mail, alert them to this wonderful time of celebrating.
Aunt Ginger and Aunt Esther Jenkins