A first-of-its kind 20th-century all-Columbus diocesan high school reunion will take place this summer at the historic Valley Dale Ballroom.
All Catholic school alumni who graduated before 1977 are invited to reunite Friday, July 17 at Valley Dale, located on the northeast side of Columbus, 1590 Sunbury Road, the site of numerous Catholic high school dances, proms, senior nights and class reunions.
The all-Columbus reunion luncheon, which will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., will bring together graduates of 14 of the diocese’s high schools, nine of which have closed. Schools include St. Charles Preparatory, Bishop Watterson, Bishop Hartley, Bishop Ready and St. Francis DeSales and the former St. Mary of the Springs Academy, St. Joseph Academy, Aquinas College, St. Mary South, Our Lady of Victory, Sacred Heart, Rosary, Holy Family and Father Wehrle high schools.
Tickets are $40 per person and include lunch. Spouses and family members of Columbus high school graduates are invited to attend.
The event will include a souvenir program, memorabilia tables and a DJ, who will play songs reminiscent of the mid-20th century. A 50-50 raffle drawing and cash bar will also be available.
Valley Dale Ballroom is more than 100 years old. The space features an original crystal ball, chandeliers, art deco bar, stage and 2,600-square-foot dance floor.
“I look forward to seeing and talking to not only my old friends from high school but also to my grade school friends who went to one of the other schools,” said Lou Nobile, a 1957 graduate of Aquinas College High School, a diocesan school for boys that was open from 1905 to 1965.
Bishop Earl Fernandes released a statement last month on the all-Columbus diocesan high school gathering, welcoming the reunion.
“Alumni gatherings are always occasions to not only recall fond memories of our experiences and friends but also to give thanks to Almighty God for the many graces and blessings He has bestowed upon us in and through Catholic schools,” the bishop said.
“With all the technological advances in society, including the emergence of artificial intelligence, there is a risk that education grows cold and technical, far removed from the awe and wonder evoked by the loving and creative hand of God.”
Mid-20th-century high school graduates share several bonds: faith, early formation experiences and mid-century teenage life.
“Most of us attended Catholic grade schools in our neighborhoods, were ably taught by nuns and then had to make a high school decision,” Nobile recalled.
“In the ‘40s, ‘50s and early ‘60s, we had the choice of 10 Catholic high schools and many public schools. Most chose one of the 10; many picked the one a parent attended.”
Katy Ryan Paolini, a 1961 graduate of St. Mary of the Springs Academy, an all-girls high school in the diocese open from 1868 to 1966, will offer remarks at the reunion.
“I love it when people get together and have a good time and share stories,” said Paolini, who is on staff at Columbus Our Lady of Peace School. “It’s great fun to walk down memory lane.”
Her father, Jack Ryan, was a long-time Catholic school teacher in the diocese.
“He didn’t make enough money for us to attend the school, so I had to clean a classroom,” she recalled. “That was a great lesson. I’m glad that that happened because I learned the value of hard work.”
Individuals are invited to share their favorite school memories in a questionnaire:
Click here to download questionnaire.
To purchase a ticket, credit card payments are accepted at www.ValleyDaleBallroom.com. On the homepage, individuals should select “Calendar of Events” and scroll to “July 17.” The diocesan reunion will be listed as an event.
Checks can be made payable to “The All-Columbus Catholic High School Reunion Lunch” and mailed to St. Charles Preparatory School, attention: Louis J. Fabro, 2010 E. Broad St. Columbus, 43209. The RSVP form should be included with the check:
Click here to download RSVP form.
Questions can be directed to Fabro at 380-209-2233 or LFabro@SCprep.org.