The Talon — Riverdale Class of 1964

Author: admin

  • 62nd Reunion Weekend — save the date, September 26–27

    Mark your calendars, classmates. The reunion committee has been working since February, and we’re delighted to confirm that our 62nd reunion will take place the weekend of September 26th and 27th, 2026, with the main dinner Saturday evening in the Riverdale High gymnasium — yes, the very same gym.

    We’ve reserved a block of twenty-two rooms at the Riverdale Inn at the discounted rate of $128/night. The block is held under “Riverdale Class of 1964” through August 1st. Call the inn directly at (914) 555-0144 — please don’t book online, you’ll lose the rate.

    Friday evening is a casual mixer at Hammond’s Diner from 6pm. Saturday is the main event: cocktails at 5:30, dinner at 6:30, and a slideshow Carol has been quietly assembling from photos many of you have sent in. (If you have more, please send them to Carol by August 15th.)

    Sunday morning we’ll meet for brunch at Mary Beth Olsen’s home on Linden Avenue, weather permitting. The reunion committee — Patricia, Donald, Barbara, and Frank — thanks every one of you who has already RSVP’d. There are still 38 of us who haven’t responded; please do, even if the answer is no.

  • Remembering Coach Wilkins, who shaped so many of us

    Word reached us last week that Coach Edward Wilkins passed peacefully at his home in Asheville at 94. So many of our class were touched by him in ways we are only now beginning to articulate.

    Coach arrived at Riverdale in 1958, fresh from the Korean War, and stayed thirty-one years. He coached track and football, but more than that, he held a door open for every student who walked through it.

    A memorial service will be held at the Riverdale HS Athletic Field on Saturday, May 16th at 2:00 PM, followed by a reception in the gymnasium foyer. All are welcome.

  • Linda Brennan publishes “The Long Street Home”

    Linda’s memoir of growing up two doors down from the old A&P is now available from Riverbend Press. Several of us appear in it. Most of us come off pretty well.

    The book club will discuss The Long Street Home on June 11th at 7:00 PM at the Brennan residence. Linda will join us; bring questions.

  • Class fund reaches $14,500 for the 1964 Scholarship

    Thanks to thirty-seven of you who contributed this spring, the Class of ’64 Scholarship will support two graduating Riverdale seniors next June. Recipients announced in May.

    Contributions of any size are welcome year-round. Send checks to Frank DiMaggio, payable to “Riverdale Class of 1964 Scholarship Fund.”

  • Saturday brunch at Mary Beth’s continues into May

    Every other Saturday at 10am, my kitchen, bring something or don’t. Six of us last weekend, sometimes ten. Anyone in town is welcome — and that includes spouses, kids, and grandkids passing through.

    — Mary Beth

  • Veterans Day at the cenotaph: thirty-one of us still serving the memory

    A short report from the morning gathering at the Riverdale cenotaph, where Jim spoke briefly for the class of ’64 in remembrance of the eleven of our classmates who served. Eleanor laid the wreath; the high school band played taps; the morning held.