The Marcellus High School class of 1981 traveled back to its old stomping grounds for a weekend of good company, food and drinks on Aug. 19 and 20 to celebrate its 30th anniversary. Laughs were plenty while reminiscing about the good-old-days stretched for miles.

The high school alumni started the adventure on Friday with an evening gathering at The Overlook Restaurant on Otisco Lake. From there, on Saturday, it was onto to the high school’s campus from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. where they took part in giving back to the school district, getting their hands dirty, weeding, mulching, cleaning, painting and landscaping various spots on campus.

School superintendent Dr. Tice also gave a tour to those present of the elementary, middle and high schools.

Two large Mustang murals are donned in the high school gymnasium, a work of art from classmates Dean Jeffereys and Tim Turner.

Memories, for the most part, are relived with the purest enjoyment; however, it was the tragic deaths of three former classmates, Phillip Koloski, Lisa Van Keuren and Suzy McGrath that shook the class to the core. It was a time, according to Tim Reagan, a 1981 graduate and middle school drama teacher in Washington, D.C., was difficult to deal with.  

“Back then, they didn’t have school councilors,” Reagan said. “It was very hard.”

Many Marcellus High School alumni were also in awe of the hard work, creativity and time that went into making the weekend special for the former classmates and friends.

The Marcellus Historical Society mimicked Marcellus High School’s yearbook, cutting and detailing each and every one of the classmates headshots and placed them neatly on two poster boards to be displayed prominently when they walked in.

“A huge thank you goes to the Marcellus Historical Society, Superintendent Dr. Tice, assistant superintendent for buildings and grounds Keith Watkins,” he said. “I was blown away.”