A message from Class President Rick Stetzer

Hello Class of ’78!

I haven’t been back to a Class Reunion since 1988 and I feel like a loser Class President.

My apologies!

I was just looking at the 1978 LOG this weekend and I’m here to tell ya, a lot can change in 40 years…..

Like most of you, I am still a die-hard Steeler Fan. Last February I couldn’t bear the thought of another Patriots Super Bowl win. I actually rooted for the Eagles. I’ve NEVER pulled for Philly in my life!  When the “Philly Special”  turned into a touchdown, I was the happiest guy at the Super Bowl party in our neighborhood. Fly-Eagles-Fly!

Like some of you, I haven’t lived in PA for 35+ years …..but all of my family is part of Steeler Nation.

That’s right, both my daughters are proud owners of Polamalu and (“H-e-e-e-e-a-th”) Miller Jerseys that they still wear every Sunday in the fall. They both have found Steeler Watch Bars (Nashville TN and Greenville SC) and show up in Black and Gold with their Terrible Towels in hand ready for a win. Man, I love those girls.

Although I have lived in Atlanta for the past 30 years, I have visited The Burg often and made the usual stops to Mt. Washington, Mineo’s Pizza, Permani’s, Atrias and Mt. Lebo Park. Watching the old school being torn down and the new one rise from the rubble has been amazing. I’ve also been fortunate to be able to catch up with some ’78 Lebo Grads and those chance meetings have been some of my favorite memories. One summer while visiting D.R. Papalia, our kids hung out with Harvey Rogan’s and Alby Oxenreiter’s families at the Mt. Lebo pool. This was before Alby was famous. In 2016, I ran into Joe Lawrence and Alan Schiffauer at the Pitt/Penn State Game at Heinz Field and they kept me from getting mugged because I was the only guy wearing PSU gear in the entire section. Thank you Joe and Al. Tom Hunley and I connected for breakfast in Charlotte recently so that I could thank him for the great support he gave, like others from the Class of ’78, to the Papalia Charity Golf Tournament that Eric Schmude and I hosted each June in Bridgeville. All these connections over the years had one thing in common…talking (and laughing) about our time at Mt. Lebo.

So here we all are, about to have a significant anniversary party this coming September 22^nd and I’m sure there are many stories to tell since we all left the South Hills of The Burg. There is a dedicated group of our classmates who have been working many months to make the Class of ’78 Forty Year Reunion a great evening for all of us to enjoy.

So clear the calendar, book the travel plans, bring your pictures of your kids, pictures of your travels…pictures of your dog…. and anything else you want to share. There is room for 250 at SHCC so let’s fill the place!

It will be a good time to share some laughs about how we all survived the late 70’s and are still here to tell the tale.

See you in September.

#Lebo78/40YearsLater