Seventy-Three Years Of Memories

BOBBY ARDOIN

St. Landry Now.com Editor

There were initial conversations about their great grandchildren – which if the math is correct now number more than a cumulative 60 – according to the dialogue provided by the six, 90-year-old high school classmates who gathered Thursday afternoon.

Still ambulatory, they met for an Academy Of The Immaculate Conception senior class reunion 73 years after graduating in 1952 when the school was located inside a two-story wooden structure where the current Roy Motors vehicle dealership between Union and Main streets is now located.

“All of you are a blessed 90,” said ‘52 classmate Virval Fontenot Bradley. “You’all look so young.”

Their two-hour visit at Toby’s Downtown was more reminiscent of a meeting among old friends, as they quietly talked about seven decades of personal experiences as well as those with the Marianite Sisters who then controlled AIC decorum and curriculum.

The talk also trended towards lives with former spouses who for various reasons, did not attend.

However there were no complaints about their past or present, although one attendee suggested that maybe due to obvious circumstances, they should start meeting annually now.

One somber aspect pervaded over the event, as Bradley pointed out that a funeral service for 1952 AIC classmate, Dione Fontenot Brown, 90, was being observed n Florida, while the reunion was being held at the same time.

Bradley talked about her life as a St. Landry Parish teacher, wife of John Bradley and her career as a reading specialist and administrator.

Seated next to her was Jeanette Brinkman Landreneau, also a veteran school teacher, while nearby was Jeff David, Jr., whose strong KSLO radio and singing voice prevailed over the group as he provided sentimental and personal anecdotes from his married life and Naval broadcasting careers..

Across from David was Berchman Sylvester, a popular local appliance repairman and salesman, while next to Sylvester was John Sonnier, who recalled his time in the Army Airborne as well as some of the more hilarious classroom moments that he admitted even brought laughter from the nuns.

Willard Hargroder was the last to arrive, but he spent time in animated conversation with nearly everyone at the table.

David, selected by his classmates as Most Friendly, told the story of locating former AIC teacher Sister Mary Brendan years after graduation and visiting with her in a nursing home located several hours from Opelousas.

They departed as respected friends, David said, with a quick goodbye kiss, a final emotional moment sealed forever between teacher and student.

Bradley was voted the Most Dependable classmate, while the seniors chose Sonnier as the Best Dancer.

Dione Fontenot Brown, who married Herbert Brown about a year after graduation, was The Most Popular Girl from the 1952 class after being selected as the 1951 AIC Homecoming queen.

Jeanette Landreneau talked about her time as an AIC girls’ basketball player under Mrs. Earl Perry, who Landreneau said guided the Wildcats into the state playoffs every season.

Basketball, Landreneau recalled, was different during the 1950’s. It was a halftime girls game then, with separate courts used for offense and defense.

Referees’ rules were more draconian about fouling in her time on the court, said Landreneau, as the whistle blew for players touching anything but the basketball.

Despite the occasional harshness of Marianite rule, those who attended praised rather than criticized the nuns, whom they admitted had no problem distributing discipline.

Sonnier remembered one classroom incident when the boy in back of him began to doze during one class and Sister Stephen, who was in the classroom then, evidently smelled an opportunity to embarrass the young man.

Sister Stephen, Sonnier said, asked the boy a question about the lesson content and it was obvious the response of the young man was shaky at best..

“Are you sure?,” Sister Stephen asked.

“I believe I’m positive,” the student said, as the class exploded in laughter that quickly traveled down the hall.