UND School of Law Class of 1966 :
Keeping a tradition of class reunions for 46 years
By Beth Moe , Director of Alumni and Public Relations , UND School of Law
Reunion : an act of reuniting : The state of being reunited : A reuniting of persons after separation . Merriam-Webster
Class reunions are an opportunity to reunite with a group of people with whom you share a common bond . The University of North Dakota ( UND ) School of Law Class of 1966 has enjoyed regular class reunions for the past 46 years . That ’ s a milestone within itself .
The first reunion was held in 1976 in Phoenix to mark 10 years since graduating from law school . Fred Gerszewski , a member of the Class of 1966 , has lovingly been nicknamed the “ Class Historian .” His records show , after that first reunion , the class reunited every five years up until 2001 – the 35th anniversary of its law school graduation . After that reunion , the classmates decided that five years was just too long between visits , so they switched to every two .
For the past 21 years , the class has been getting together on a biennial basis at destinations including Mesa , Ariz ., Coronado , Calif ., Clearwater Beach , Fla ., Medora , N . D ., and Coeur d ’ Alene , Idaho . Coordination of the reunions are informal , according to Gerszewski . “ There is only one rule and that is there are no rules ,” he added .
Those attending a reunion typically take time to meet on the Saturday of the reunion weekend to decide on the next reunion ’ s date and location . Someone then graciously volunteers to play host and does the work to make the reunion happen . Typical reunion activities include touring local museums and other attractions , going to the theatre , dining , and even dinner cruises . “ Golf was always a favorite activity ,” recalled Gerszewski . “ But the vagaries of age have eliminated that ,” he added with a chuckle .
Do you attend class reunions ? Some people never miss one , while others wouldn ’ t go even if they were paid to attend . Reunions are unlike most
Class of 1966 members ( left to right ) Fred Gerszewski , Tim Keating , Mike Ward , Gerald Galloway , John Sherman , and Gary Maddock gathered in Chandler , Ariz ., in April 2022 .
other events and therefore seem to either excite or terrify people . You may still have close friendships with people you went to school with , you may see others at annual events or follow them on social media . Maybe you have mutual friends that keep you in-the-know about what is happening in your classmates ’ personal and professional lives ? And then , it ’ s likely there are people from school you ’ ve lost touch with and haven ’ t seen in years or decades .
I regularly plan class reunions for UND School of Law and it always baffles me to see who chooses to attend and who doesn ’ t . Some people fly in to attend and others that live in town choose not to make the drive across town . It ’ s interesting which classes have remained close over the years and are eager to get together again and others that have gone their separate ways and seem uninterested . What I ’ ve learned is that class reunion participation – whether law school , high school , or college – is not so much about whether people have a desire to reminisce with their classmates , but whether a person or group from the class is dedicated to getting everyone together again .
Class members at a gathering held while still at UND School of Law in the spring of 1964 .
What keeps the “ Sixty-Sixers ,” as they like to refer to themselves , coming back to one another ? It all goes back to that one person or group dedicated to getting everyone together . For the Class of 1966 , it began with their Class President Joseph Mahowald . He started it all by coordinating and hosting that first reunion in Phoenix so long ago . He went on to plan the 1991 and 1996 reunions . “ He was instrumental in maintaining a current contact list ,” said Gerszewski .
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