Classmates reunite 67 years later

They hadn't seen each other since 1944, but it only took a few minutes for the memories to start rushing back.

For the first time in 67 years, five members of the Class of 1944 from Our Lady of Grace Catholic School reunited Friday at the Palm Court Restaurant in Arlington Heights, rekindling the friendships that blossomed more than a half-century ago in Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood.

As they huddled around their eighth-grade class photo — a sepia tone picture of 64 boys in suit jackets and 58 girls with curly locks, hair bows and dresses

— the stories started to flow. They remembered the nuns who were their teachers, walking home for lunch, and ice skating at Kosciuszko Park. There were smiles, laughs, and lots of whatever-happened-to-so-and-so questions.

“Sometimes I just wish we could go back. Those were beautiful years,” said Estelle Valenti, 81, of Palatine, who attended the reunion with her husband, Ken, 80, who also was in the class.

Also attending the reunion were Phyllis Whitlock of Lombard (with her husband Don, who was not an alumnus), Pauline Burns of Glenview and Sally Barlow of Elgin.

The classmates lost touch because they all went to different high schools. Now in their 80s, they seemed genuinely happy to be reconnected. A few had seen each other a few months earlier, but for some, this was the first time they'd met in 67 years.

Burns admits that she didn't immediately recognize everyone, but joked, “Hey, it's been a long time!”

The reunion was organized by Barlow, 82, who was curiously looking around Classmates.com a few months ago and came upon an email address for Ken Valenti. She emailed him and asked, “Are you Ken Valenti from Our Lady of Grace, who used to go out with a girl named Estelle?” He emailed back that he and Estelle had been married for 61 years.

That spurred Barlow to get a list of names from her graduating class and attempt to track everyone down. To help her effort, the school mailed out a letter, asking people from the Class of 1944 to contact her. That's how she found Whitlock and Burns. So far, though, these are the only people she's been able to find in the Chicago area. She said many of her classmates have passed away or moved out of state.

“I AM going to find more,” Barlow said, firmly. “I'm going to get as many people together as possible.”

The school secretary said this is the oldest graduating class to still have reunions. Anyone who knows someone from this class is encouraged to call the school office at (773) 384-2177.

Barlow and Estelle Valenti now talk on the phone every day and plan to start lunching monthly with their former classmates.

“It's so nice to hear all of the old stories,” Barlow said. “And it's so nice to have friends for 67 years. Some people don't even live for 67 years.”