The Boothbay Region High School class of 1964 held its 50th reunion this past weekend. Fifty-five alumni and their spouses celebrated themselves at Gallery Gatherings on Saturday, Oct. 4. Fellow alums Steve and Laura Francis were extra gracious hosts and by acclamation were summarily and respectively demoted and advanced into the Class of '64.

The evening was highlighted by having several honored guests, including Coach Keith Mahaney and his wife Karlene, Marvin Rosenblum, beloved bus driver Swing Lewis, a band of Beatles wannabes, and a somewhat tarnished athletic trophy on loan from Freeport High School.

Rupe Neily, chairman of the reunion committee, introduced a surprise “guest” when he unveiled the 1964 Gold Basketball, symbol of statewide supremacy. Coach Mahaney admitted he had “nightmares” for years after his Seahawks missed nine foul shots in the last two minutes of the pivotal tournament contest that could have — “should have” — gone to BRHS.

Rather than defeat, however, Rupe offered the view that the class of '64 was blessed with its own “trophy” of golden opportunities, in particular a couple of faculty members whose contributions still inspire.

In the fall of 1961, Coach Mahaney foresaw his sophomores as potential state champions by their senior year. His aspiration set an irresistible bar for the whole school. Another blessing for this class, and for the Boothbay Region for years to come, was the creation in 1964 of the Student Aid Fund by Marvin Rosenblum. Marvin had become the BRHS’s first guidance counselor during that year and his efforts to raise expectations for continuing education produced immediate dramatic results.

Aspirations aside, the class of 1964 had no way of adequately preparing for a cacophony of social and political upheaval. President Kennedy had recently been assassinated, civil rights demonstrations were lighting up headlines and the Vietnam War was spilling out of its Pandora’s Box.

Despite all the turmoil, some classmates were able to tune into the loudest drumbeat of those times, by imitating the now-iconic Beatles. Not surprising, then or now, our time-honored troubadour Arthur Webster, accompanied by another original BRHS Beatle, Jonathon Purinton, used this reunion occasion to air a few of Lennon and McCartney’s most classic tunes.

This memorable evening of reunion and revelry culminated with appropriately timed screeches from the adoring girls in attendance. And when our favorite bus driver headed for the exit, everyone knew it was time to go home — and return to being model grandparents once again.