70 years later, Class of 1954 still gathers

"Woo-hoo — we made it!"

That was the joyous conclusion of our eight members of the Immaculate Conception Class of 1954, meeting on May 27, 2024, to celebrate the 70th anniversary of our graduation on May 27, 1954. Compared to today's numbers, our class was tiny: just 35.

We want to thank The Gazette, Features Editor Janet Rorholm, and correspondent Katie Giorgio for the generous and colorful coverage given our event and published on June 1. A highlight for us was the promo on Page 1A of our two co-valedictorians, Carol Nilles and Bob Engler, who married at age 80 — after two religious careers on different continents!

We don't know how many classes of 70 years' duration are still cohesive enough to want to get together, but we eight still convene throughout the year to revisit our teen years and the nuns and priests who taught us in times that were so much simpler.

Although death and distance have taken their toll, attending this singular event were grads Bob Engler, Bob DeMuth, Don (Fitz) Fitzpatrick, Carol Hofferd Torgler, Sal Marshall Henry, John Meis, Carol Nilles, and moi — Shirley Blood Ruedy! Only John Meis hailed from out-of-state — Lisle, Ill. The rest of us still live in Cedar Rapids. Spouses Lola Fitzpatrick, Chuck Oehler and George Ruedy were there to marvel at their mates' longevity.

IC is no longer there, but lives on as long as the hearts of the Class of 1954 beat!

Shirley Blood Ruedy

Cedar Rapids