By Sara Beth Williams–
The parking lot at Rusch Community Park was packed on Saturday, Oct. 7, as current and former San Juan High School students and staff gathered for an all-class reunion picnic hosted by the San Juan Alumni Association (SJAA).
The free event lasted from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and took place in the west end of the park. A handful of San Juan affiliated booths were present, including a table selling SJHS athletic gear, and a table representing the many career paths available at San Juan. Multiple classes set up individual tents to represent their graduation year and alumni gathered in groups to reminisce. Food and drinks were provided by the San Juan Boosters.
The event also included music, classic cars, a dessert table hosted by San Juan Athletics, an “opportunity drawing” raffle with proceeds going toward the SJAA, and an antique San Juan High school bus from 1914. According to SJAA chairman Dave Patterson class of 74, the entire gathering took an all-class reunion photo in front of the bus halfway through the picnic.
“We’ve had a very good turn out today,” Patterson said, noting “excellent” representation from many of the classes. Patterson said the San Juan High School band performed during the picnic, along with a bag pipe player.
The SJAA has hosted an all-class reunion picnic for at least thirty years, according to SJAA representative Rich Giusti, class of 65. Giusti said the picnic used to be hosted at Fair Oaks Park, but relocated to Rusch Park.
An SJHS Legendary Exhibit table was also on display, showcasing decades of the high school’s history. A permanent Legendary Exhibit was established in 2013 when the school reached its centennial anniversary, and more artifacts and memorabilia have been added throughout the years since.
