Judge Memorial CHS hosts Class of '62 reunion

By Dan Cunningham

Judge Memorial CHS ’62

SALT LAKE CITY — Fifty years of passing time was swept away for a few days when the Judge Memorial Catholic High School Class of ’62 reunited for several social events.

Judge activity coordinator Ronda Landa would later observe the ’62 reunion seemed to be the best attended 50th reunion in recent years. About half the graduating class attended one or more official events, including the Friday reception, a Saturday luncheon at the Marriott University Park Hotel and a Sunday Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, in Salt Lake City, which was followed by one last social in the school courtyard.

"I am certainly glad I was there for this once-in-a-lifetime event," said Floyd Burns, who had been absent from previous reunions. "It took me 50 years to make it, but this one made it well worth the wait."

At the University Marriott Hotel luncheon on Saturday, attendees swapped memories and updates, while John Morrell and others entertained the crowd with memories of many pranks.

Former student body president Robert Mayo reminded his classmates they were the first class to graduate from the new building on the Judge Memorial campus and noted that, when the initial fundraising for the new building fell short, prominent banker Walter Cosgriff closed the gap by writing a check for $100,000. One of Cosgriff’s daughters, Patricia "Trix" Cosgriff, was a member of the Class of ’62. 

Informal activities included visits to family by alumni who now live out of town. Class valedictorian Kathy Polanshek had a party suite at the hotel where displays of past years were posted. While some classmates attended services in their local parish, about 30 attended a Mass and reception at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. Father J.J. Schwall was the celebrant and Mayo the lector.

The weekend was a wonderful time to reconnect, said Shirley Molitor Rugg, who now lives in Missouri. "It was just like yesterday, other than we look a little decrepit. It was an opportunity for me to come back to Salt Lake. Now that I am here, I would have regretted not coming."