Class Reunions

On Friday, July 23rd, Reunion Weekend 2021 kicked off at Whispering Woods Golf Club with 18 groups of Prep & Villa Alumni hitting the links during the day. That night, over 700 Alumni and guests gathered on Dollinger Field at the Hagerty Family Events Center to celebrate the first-ever combined Reunion Weekend! Prep & Villa Alumni made the most of the beautiful evening enjoying picnic food, beverages, and field games on Dollinger Field. Alumni from the Class of 1950 to the Class of 2016 returned home to Prep & Villa and reminisced and recounted memories they created during their high school years. Classes ending in “1” and “6” were accompanied by classes ending in “0” and “5” for this year’s Reunion Weekend due to the latter’s weekend being cancelled by Covid-19 last year.

Alumni enjoyed looking over the wide variety of memorabilia set up in the Café `64 concourse at the Events Center including old school uniforms, yearbooks, renderings of the under-construction Salata Technology and Innovation Center, and a slide show featuring students and events at the schools over the years. Outside, Dollinger Field transformed from an athletic field to a picnic grounds with a food tent, “beer garden” located at each end of the field, DJ Ben Jefferys `12, who played music from the 60’s to the 2000’s, and field games located on the field. Alumni enjoyed a lovely picnic provided by Calamari’s.

On Saturday, Alumni had the opportunity to head back home to roam the halls and recall their days as students by taking a tour. The classes also held individual activities on Saturday including golf outings at several courses, classmate hosted picnics, dinner with live music at the Bay House Restaurant, a cruise on the Victorian Princess, and a gathering at the Plymouth to name a few. Many who attended these events commented that it was a great way to reconnect with their Prep and Villa classmates from years past, and they were very glad they attended.

On Sunday July 25th, Mass and Brunch were held at the Hagerty Family Events Center to round out Reunion events. Fr. Mike DeMartinis, Villa Chaplain, Fr. Jason Feigh, Prep Campus Minister, and Fr. Jim Sanner ’51 concelebrated a lovely mass. They were joined at the altar by Deacon Ronald Onslow ’81. Music was provided by Cathedral Prep Music Director Will Steadman and Villa Maria Academy Music Director Andrew Alesso. Alumni readers Dan Brabender ’70, John Knauer ’71 and Cheryl Dylewski Brzezinski ’66 contributed beautifully to the Mass. After Mass, alums and their families enjoyed a breakfast in our Cafeteria catered by Calamari’s.

On Friday, July 21, a record number of over 250 Alumni and guests from 1947 to 2012 gathered on the Villa Maria Academy back patio to enjoy Reunion Weekend Celebrations! Guests began their evening reminiscing over their time at VMA by looking through a variety of memorabilia set up in the VMA Conference room. The memorabilia included old school uniforms, Villa Notes, yearbooks, photos of the school and a slide show featuring students over the years. The weather that evening was perfect and the Villa’s back patio was transformed from a gathering place for students over the years into a high-class venue including tables adorned with white table cloths, daisy bouquets, and sparkling lights on the trees that lined the patio. Tables were labeled with class years for Alumni to easily find one another and enjoy their meal. As the evening continued, the Alumni enjoyed music from the 60’s through 2000’s that was played by DJ and Prep Alumnus, Austin Smith `09. The largest group gathered that evening, with over 50 classmates and guests, was from the Class of 1967 who came out in force to celebrate their “50^th reunion!”

The classes held a wide variety of individual activities on Saturday, including an evening at the new Marriott on the Bayfront, an evening at Presque Isle Lighthouse, a gathering at Beer on the Bay, and drinks at the Public House. Many who attended these events commented that it was a great way to reconnect with their Villa sisters and brothers from years past, and they were very glad they attended.

An Open House featuring a Mass and brunch were held Sunday, July 23^rd, at the Villa Maria Academy Auditorium and Cafeteria. Fr. Scott Jabo and Villa’s Campus Minister, Fr. Mike DeMartines, concelebrated mass and welcomed our Alumni thanking them and their families for returning home to Villa for Reunion Weekend. Villa’s Show Choir Director and Music teacher, Mr. Andrew Alesso, and his wife Mrs. Jessica Alesso, also a VMA faculty member in the MVP Department, provided the music to make for a beautiful service. Alumnae Sr. Nancy Fischer `67 and Marcia Jobes Welsh `67 contributed to the Mass celebration as readers. After Mass, a brunch was held at the VMA Cafeteria. The school was open for tours throughout the Open House, and the Villa Victor Spirit Store was open for all interested in taking home a VMA souvenir. Alumni were pleasantly surprised at the recently updated Dance Studio, Science Labs, Fitness Center, Chapel, and Villa Café. Many came with their families and talked of the wonderful days spent at VMA. The special bond held by those who graduated from VMA was strongly felt by all who attended.

What a perfect weekend to return back to VMA to celebrate the spirit of Villa with Alumni from throughout the decades! The weekend was kicked off with the Party on the Patio on July 15th where over 200 Alumni gathered for a night of fun. Guests were treated to appetizers, refreshments, dinner and dessert. During the evening many decided to take a tour of Villa. Everyone was impressed with the progress and improvements of the building, but loved that the true Villa character was still intact. The party continued on Saturday as the individual classes met for a variety of activities around the Erie area. On Sunday, Fr. Scott Jabo, President of Cathedral Prep and Villa Maria Academy, led the Alumni and their family and friends in a reunion Mass. Mass took place in the Villa Auditorium followed by brunch and more tours of the school. We would like to thank all of the Villa Alumni who returned this weekend to reminisce about old times and make some new memories with us!

It was a great weekend of Sisterhood for Villa Maria Academy’s Prep’s Alumni! The weekend was kicked off with the Party on the Patio held in the gymnasium and back patio of VMA on July 17th where over 200 Alumni celebrated. Guests were treated to a sneak peek of the renovations to our building including several new Science Labs and the addition of air conditioning on our third floor. Many also saw for the first time our recently renovated Library and Café. All were impressed with the progress of building while still maintaining the character of the facility. The celebrations continued on Saturday as the classes met for a variety of activities including lunches, a trip to the casino, and wine tours to name a few. On Sunday, Fr. Scott Jabo, President of Cathedral Prep and Villa Maria Academy, led our Alumni in a reunion mass in the Villa Auditorium followed by brunch and more tours of the school. Thank you to all of our Villa Alumni for making this a weekend to remember.