Highland Park High School Class of 1963 - Reunions

Reunion Information

Items on this page:

• 60th Reunion Information
• 55th Reunion Information
• Offsite Links
• 50th Reunion Information
  • 50th Reunion Welcome Speech
  • 50th Reunion Invitation

60th Reunion Information

All the Reunion News you can use

The HPHS1963 Reunion Committee has scheduled our 60th Reunion for the Weekend of October 13-15, 2023. All events are casual, to give classmates an opportunity to mix with one another. Costs of Friday and Saturday evening meals are included in the $75.00 Reunion fee.

• The Friday night event will be heavy hors d'oeuvres, cash bar served in the Hotel Renaissance lounge, 933 Skokie Blvd, Northbrook, at 7:00 pm.
• There will be a casual drop-in event, coffee and light fare, at Curt's Cafe, 1766 2nd St, Highland Park, Saturday, starting at 11:30 am. (extra cost event)
• Saturday's dinner, cash bar, will be at the Bocce Ball Courts, 440 Bank Ln., Highwood. Appetizers served 6:00 pm-7:00 pm, dinner at 8:00.
• Sunday brunch will be at the Renaissance Hotel, 933 Skokie Blvd, Northbrook. Brunch is served on Sunday from 7:00 to 11:00. Drop in any time and hang out. (extra cost event)

Payment details:

$75.00 for Friday and Saturday night.

Checks

Payable to
William Gould
294 Sunset Dr.
Northfield, Illinois 60093

Online

Out-of-town guest arrangements

The Reunion Committee has made arrangements for a block of rooms at the Marriott Renaissance at $110/night.

• Renaissance Chicago North Shore Hotel
• 933 Skokie Blvd, Northbrook, IL 60062
• (847) 498-6500

Ask for the Highland Park High School 60th Reunion Group Reservation to get this rate.

55th Reunion Information

You asked for it and we planned it - a casual weekend of food and fun - along with a place to meet friends on the weekend of July 20th, 2018.

Out-of-town visitors stayed at the Renaissance Hotel on Skokie Blvd in Northbrook.

Friday night was an informal get-together at 7:30 p.m. in the bar area for light snacks and cash bar at the Renaissance Hotel.

Saturday night's party was held uptown at Michael's -1879 2nd Street at 7:00. This venue has become an institution in Highland Park-featuring comfort food along with a great salad bar. Once again -cash bar.

Offsite Links

• Dance and Prom photos taken by Lance Golden, 1961-1963
• HPHS 1963 Yearbook, scanned by Andrew Cassidy
• A Ravinia Christmas
• Ravinia School
• First video from Rick's welcome speech May take several seconds to download.
• Second video from Rick's welcome speech
• Third video from Rick's welcome speech May take several seconds to download. Press F5 if screen is jumbled.
• HPHS Favorite Things

50th Reunion Information

HPHS Class of 1963 50th Reunion Welcome Address

Rick Schwab

July 27, 2013

Welcome 1963 HPHS classmates.

It's been 50 years and that itself is amazing and even more amazing that all of us here have stood the test of time. This is really a celebration of life.

Ten years ago I had the honor and pleasure to address those of you who were there for our 40th reunion. At that time if we can remember back--this morning is hard enough--I said we would have large nametags since our eyes were beginning to fail. Well for our 60th I will propose to have a bull horn or megaphone since our hearing probably will be failing at that time. My 40th welcome speech anonymously acknowledged the amazing achievements of many of our classmates and recognized how our fellow classmates filled every imaginable sector in our society. I will repeat myself and say that the class of '63 was and is the best class ever to graduate from HPHS.

The 10th reunion through the 50th would never have happened if it wasn't for the willingness, time and effort your committee members put in to make this event happen. We hope you enjoyed the cocktail hour last night at McBirdies, the HPHS and grammar school tours this morning, the brunches hosted by your grammar school classmates, this amazing event tonight and tomorrow's brunch.

At this time I would like all the reunion committee members to please stand up and be acknowledged. Please take a long and hard look at them now because I am going to turn back the clock 50 years--5 decades--and let you see how many of these people have not changed their looks and their moves. Play video (download will take several seconds).

On this the 50th reunion two classmates have really truly stepped up - over and above the call of duty. We would like to acknowledge them and present them with a special award. It is not the mirror ball. Let's give it up for Larry Marks and Lee Cioni. (Presentation to Larry and Lee: football shirts and mouse )

Our class amongst others during our graduation era experienced in my mind some of the most momentous political, social, cultural, historical, scientific, medical and humanistic events and breakthroughs than any other generation in America. Again let me take you on a short journey of the past 5 decades. Please take note that I have purposefully left out one war in particular for personal reasons. Play video.

As I pointed out earlier this is truly a celebration of life and I hope that we all can continue to enjoy and appreciate all the good that life has to offer. Unfortunately, for some of our classmates this celebration tonight did not become a reality. I would like to take a few minutes to pay tribute to those 44 classmates that we know of who have departed but are vividly remembered by us tonight.

They are all still and will always be members of the class of '63! Play video (Download will take several seconds. If your screen appears jumbled and no music plays, press the F5 key.)

We have planned a lot of fun activities and valued time for renewed friendships and conversations for you for the remainder of the night. So at this point in the program I would like to again thank all of you for taking your time and money to share in this great celebration.

So before saying bon appetit I think at this time it would only be fitting that we all stand up and join in on one song that we sang many times from 1959 to 1963 and again now (if we still remember the words). Therefore let me introduce the HPHS Little Giants 1963 marching band. (HPHS marching band plays HPHS Fight Song and 2 songs from the 60's.)

50th Reunion Invitation