LIVERMORE – The Livermore Falls High School class of 1953 held its 50-year reunion on July 19 at Maple Lane Inn. The celebration started at noon, with a social hour held before dinner.

The reunion committee began meeting in September of 2002 at the Chuck Wagon in Livermore Falls and met every month until this month. Members are: co-chairmen, Raoul LaPlante and Marilyn Foss Rice; secretary, Frances Riggs Sawtelle; treasurer, Betty Nemi Barclay; Byron Bean, Lawrence Hinkley and Kay Newberg Whidden.

LaPlante served as Master of Ceremonies. Riggs Sawtelle offered a prayer of remembrance for the 11 classmates who are deceased. The reunion was dedicated to Pauline Beaulieu Shink, a recently deceased classmate.

Bean presented a special gift of appreciation to Margie Parker Homer for the work involved in finding the address of every member of the graduating class. Homer gave each classmate a book she had compiled containing the biographies of class members.

A highlight of the day was the presence of a special guest, Anna Derby Griffen, 91, kindergarten teacher of most in the class.

LaPlante presented hand-painted wooden “gold medals,” made by Rice, to winners in the following categories: First to Retire and First to Respond, Dawn Rideout; Most Diverse Careers, Bill Randall; Traveled Longest Distance, Lionel Dube; World Traveler, Roger Jacques; Changed the Most, Raoul LaPlante; Changed the Least, Louise Emond Richard; Most Great-grandchildren, Gloria Watson Smith; Most Supportive Spouse, Marsha LaPlante; Stay-at-Home Kid, Lawrence Hinkley; Most Like Sherlock Holmes, Margie Parker Homer; Best Private Eye, Byron Bean.

Raffle tickets were sold for many donated items. Class members voted to present the sum of $500 to the high school to install hand railings on the bleachers, making them more senior citizen accessible.

A committee for the 55th reunion was appointed: Joyce Fuller Richard, Bill Randall, Frances Riggs Sawtelle, Marilyn Foss Rice, Byron Bean and Raoul LaPlante.

Attending were Betty Nemi Barclay, Ted Barker, Byron Bean, Joseph Benedetto, Rita Ouelette Balsamo, Rita Turner Crawford, John Demoras, Corinne Fournier Drake, Lionel Dube, Joan Rea Fleury, Zelmon Fuller, Julia Dysart Gardiner, Rachel Fournier Hamel.

Also, Walter Hewett, Lawrence Hinkley, Roger Jacques, Raoul LaPlante, Rachel Maxwell La Pointe, Caroline Chenery Laverdiere, Wilfred Laverdiere, Jeannine Goulet Lyman, Norman Nemi, Richard and Claire Therrien Parker, Lorraine Jacques Pittman, Barbara Thomas O’Connor, Dawn Rideout, Marilyn Foss Rice, Bill Randall.

Also, Joyce Fuller Richard, Louise Emond Richard, Robert and Reinette Simoneau Richards, Frances Riggs Sawtelle, Harold Small, Nancy Leadbetter Small, Gloria Watson Smith, Albert St. Pierre, Lois Taylor Trytek, John Wade, Kay Newberg Whidden, Russel Norris, Bob Walton , Janet Hood Mitchell.

Classmates, spouses and guests totaled 83.