Lucy DeMuro said that there was always something special about her high school graduating class, the Weehawken High School class of 1947.
"We were always just a good group of people who enjoyed good, clean fun," said DeMuro, a lifelong Weehawken resident who has been married for 50 years to her husband, John. "We had a very unique class. Our teachers even told us that back then. They told us that we had something special. We just loved being with each other."
That feeling remains 54 years after high school graduation. Thirty-five members and spouses of the class of 1947 enjoyed a reunion of sorts two weeks ago, when they collectively traveled via bus to the Yankee Doodle Lodge in Mount Snow, Vermont.
The Class of ’47 has traveled before to vacation spots, but never with such a solid group of people.
Joe Flynn, a member of the Class of ’47, was one of the key organizers of the trip.
"The Yankee Doodle Lodge is no stranger to Weehawken," Flynn said. "Many Weehawken residents, including former deputy mayor Jim Reilly, used to go up there every year. We wanted to have a trip to enjoy the fall foliage and to do some sightseeing. I immediately thought of this lodge. So we made the arrangements, chartered a bus and off we went for a week."
When the group arrived at the lodge, they were greeted with a huge surprise.
"The host was wearing a Weehawken hat and t-shirt," Flynn said. "And they had hats and t-shirts for all of us. There were Weehawken banners all over the place as well. It really made us feel at home."
Flynn said that Weehawken Principal Dr. Peter Olivieri and athletic director Richard Terpak had sent the hats, T-shirts and other Weehawken items to the lodge for the reunion.
"It certainly brought back a lot of happy memories for all of us," Flynn said.
The owners of the lodge also arranged for several sightseeing trips in the area, including a trip to the Yankee Candle Factory, the Vermont Country Store and a visit to "Heldene," the summer home of Todd Lincoln, the son of President Abraham Lincoln. They also went on a boat ride and some even played golf, despite the chilly temperatures.
"We had complete run of the lodge," Flynn said. "They had entertainment for us every night. The weather was really perfect. In fact, everything was perfect."
DeMuro agreed.
"I’m really glad that Joe Flynn started it and got things going, because it really was a perfect trip," DeMuro said. "We all had a very enjoyable time. It wasn’t a luxurious place, but it was perfect. It was a lovely time."
DeMuro said that the group has already begun plans for their next event, which will be a Christmas luncheon.
"I think we’ll use any excuse just to get together," DeMuro said. "We’re all gung-ho. We’ll do anything together. We just don’t want to let go of it. And I think we all look pretty good and feel pretty good as well."
Not bad for a group that has stuck together for the last half century.