Grand Island High School Class of 1971

11/11/2023

I’m sorry to be reporting of yet another member of the GI Class of 1971’s passing. Jan Smudski who was living in California, recently passed. They held a service there for him this morning. Here’s a link to his notice on IsledeGrande…

Grand Island E-News: visit Isledegrande.com learn about our town & business news, events, meet your old friends and more! Grand Island, New York

02/25/2022

I hate this. I’m saddened to just learn of the passing of one our classmates. 😞
Jeannie Killan just past away. I don’t know any details. I saw it on a post from Teddy Argerous Filosofos.
Please chime in if you know more. 😞😞😞🙏🙏🙏

01/02/2022

Once again I’m sorry to have to report on the passing of one or our classmates. On New Year’s Eve, Gillman Clark passed away peacefully. Here’s a link to his obit in the Buffalo News. 😞🙏

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/buffalonews/name/gillman-clarke-obituary?id=32056095&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=obitsharebeta&fbclid=IwAR0NqEdtA1Ucf56pFAC2IEn3yV1EtNCf4FMtp_jV_yxvIv9urkWevDhG_gs

View Gillman P. CLARKE's obituary, send flowers and sign the guestbook.

07/04/2021

We had a great turnout yesterday for our tour of the high school and for our reunion at the Island Lanes. We had an area set aside for us next to the beer tent. I think Dale pulled some strings to get us such prime real estate😂. Our classmates were provided with the Lane’s award winning pizza and wings. There had to be over 500 of our closest friends there from all GI graduating classes. It was so nice to see so many of our classmates, some whom I haven’t seen since graduation. It was like a breath of fresh air to be in a crowd with everyone smiling and being able to do this without masks!!! Special thanks to the Mallwitz family for pulling this off after what we’ve all been through with this pandemic. Tomorrow is our family picnic at The Marina North shelter at Beaver Island. More pics coming.

06/28/2021

The Island VFW is serving burgers and hotdogs after the parade on Saturday, July 3. 😊

06/28/2021

See you all Friday!

05/29/2021

I’m putting together a memorial board for our departed classmates. I pray that no one can add someone to this list. 😞

Cheryl Phelps
Mike Endres
Edwina Fibich
Peggy Minton
Dennis Saroken
Mike Wohlfert
Bob Carter
Bruce Kaiser
Ralph Edwards
Tom Colley
Jim Shackleton
Joey Diangelo

05/28/2021

Check out the IsledeGrande Reunion Central page for the announcement for our upcoming 50th.

Grand Island E-News: visit Isledegrande.com learn about our town & business news, events, meet your old friends and more! Grand Island, New York

05/24/2021

There have been some updates to our upcoming 50th high school reunion plans. Final details have been made difficult due to the ongoing precautions made as a result of the Covid Virus. But the show must go on.

Dale Berger and I have put together the following to commentate the occasion:

On Friday, July 2, 2021 at 10AM, the Grand Island High School will be opening their doors for us for a tour down memory lane. We’ve also invited the Class of 1970 since their reunion last year was cancelled due to the Covid Virus. Please meet in the main entrance foyer. And then at 6pm, the Mallwitz’s of the Island Lanes are again hosting an all-Island Reunion party. This has become an annual event first started a number of years ago by the late Terry Swain from the Class of 1967. The class of ‘71 will have an area set aside for us in the parking lot. Meals can be ordered from the Lanes including their award winning chicken wings.

On Saturday July 3, the Town of Grand Island will be hosting their annual 4th of July Parade down the Boulevard. And afterwards, the Island VFW will be opening their doors for their annual after-parade get-together. Hamburgers and hotdogs will be available. There are numerous locations where you can view fireworks in the evening. Fantasy Island which has been putting on fantastic displays for years, has closed but a new owner has stepped forward. I haven’t heard any word about them putting a show on this year. But Gratwick Park in North Tonawanda and Niawanda Park in Tonawanda annually put on nice displays

And then on Sunday, July 4 starting at Noon, we have reserved the North Shelter at the Marina in Beaver Island for a family picnic. Invited also is the GI Class of 1970. There is a restaurant at the Casino. And there are plenty of grills for your use. We do have a permit for alcohol. The entrance gate will wave their $7.00 entrance fee when you tell them you are attending the reunion picnic at the Marina’s North Shelter.

Please spread the word to any classmates that you may know as not everyone is on Facebook. Looking forward to seeing everyone.

12/02/2020

I’m saddened to just learn of the passing of our Classmate Mike Endres who suffered a heart attack yesterday. Prayers to his wife Terry and family. 😞