Rick Gaecklein can now show off his class ring with pride at his upcoming 30th reunion. Until last week, he hadn’t seen it for nearly 30 years.

Gaecklein, a 1987 graduate of Boothbay Region High School who now lives in Brunswick, said via an email that he was out with friends back in 1987 “being a dumb teenage kid riding down Oak Street, drinking beer ... I tossed an empty can out the passenger side window ... Off went the beer can, and the ring followed.”

“I thought it was gone forever,” said Gaecklein, who added that he did go back to look for the ring but to no avail.

Gaecklein, who never told his parents the true story of how he had lost the ring, said he was perusing a Facebook online yard sale page on Monday, April 24 when he came across a post from a man named Sean Mcdonough. Mcdonough had posted pictures of the class ring, which he had found behind Oak Street Provisions while out walking his dog.

“After looking closer at the pictures, I was amazed to think this could possibly be my ring,” Gaecklein said. “I instantly messaged him to find out more information. He said he just happened to see it lying there on the ground.”

After making arrangements to meet Mcdonough, Gaecklein now has his ring back, “two months before my 30th class reunion! Surprisingly, the ring is in immaculate condition. Unfortunately 30 years later, it doesn't quite fit, but I guess it didn't fit that well back then either if it slipped off that easily.”