Photo caption: Co-coordinators Jean (VanNeirop) Russell and Valerie (Frahm) Kranz share cheers at LHHS’s Class of 1985 Reunion at London Bridge Resort’s Convention Center. Photo courtesy of Valerie Frahm Kranz.
LAKE HAVASU CITY — The Lake Havasu High School class of 1985 reunited this past weekend for their 40th class reunion. Arranged by former Lake Havasu graduate Valerie Frahm Kranz, this year’s gathering was a two-day celebration beginning with a pre-meetup that took place at Martini Bay at 6pm for drinks and socializing. Former classmates then swung by their former academic stomping grounds to share cheers at the Mohave vs Lake Havasu boy varsity football game at 7pm.
The following day, the second half of the event was held on Saturday September 6th at 6 p.m. at the London Bridge Resort Convention Center. Guests enjoyed an evening of dinner, drinks, photo booths, dancing, and of course, live streaming of 1980s music hits. There was also a memory table that paid homage to the students who have passed away with photographs and flowers.
Originally from Needles, California, Kranz still has memories of her school years as a teenager to this day. For Kranz, it was the schoolteachers of her youth that made a lasting impact.
She will never forget the dedication of her civics instructor Dave Keaveney and how much his love of teaching resonated with his students. The instructor’s charisma was so profound with pupils that Kranz recalls herself along with peers’ ongoing pranks on the educator and how good natured Keaveney was about being on the receiving end of the jokes.
“I’ll never forget the time when we gathered all the American flags of the school and placed them in his classroom before he arrived,” Kranz remembered. She also recollects the respect of her biology instructor Mr. Kuch showed his students by referring to each and every one of them by their last names.
Former high school students of that year were eagerly anticipated last weekend’s activities and seeing the familiar faces of their formative years. One of those students is Troy Ferrie who moved to Lake Havasu in 1979 from Worcester, Massachusetts. Ferrie has fond memories of being Co-Captain of the football team, winning the Golden Shovel, making first place in all state, and visiting Phoenix for away wrestling games.
LHHS Class of 1985 enjoyed drinks at Martini Bay at the 30-year reunion in 2015. Photo courtesy of Valerie Frahm Kranz.
Top row: David Howard, Valerie Frahm, Adam Greene
Next row down: Barbara Stevenson, Todd Daines, Jay Fetterman, Brent Kutcher, John Von Kolen, Tricia O’Leary, Jackman Northrop, Jerry Rich
Bottom Row: Ami Hollis, Stephanie Blue, Diane Coughlin, Keith Fedewa
The last reunion Ferrie attended was in 2005 at The Nautical Beachfront Resort and he looked forward to revisiting his teenage glory days for yet another reunion . “My years in high school were the best years of my life. I’m glad to forever be a knight,” Ferrie said.
Ferrie saw longtime high school friend Jerry Rich. From San Diego, California, Rich also moved to Lake Havasu in 1979. The former high schooler excelled as an athlete by participating in various sports like basketball, track, and Senior Captain of the football team.
Rich shared that his most cherished recollections were earning a varsity letter his freshman year and making the varsity team as a sophomore. Common for many teenagers of Havasu during the 1980s was dirt bike riding.
Rich loved riding his dirt bike to school at a time when Lake Havasu did not have stop lights. This was Rich’s fourth reunion that he attended, however the one that sticks out to him the most was 1995’s celebration.
LHHS Class of 1985 dancing the night away at the London Bridge Resort Convention at the 10-year reunion in 1995. Photo courtesy of Valerie Frahm Kranz.
Top right: Tim France
Top left: Curt Ekmark & wife
Bottom: Tricia Young, Susanna Coen, Kevin Nanney, unknown, Jean VanNeirop
“That reunion was my favorite because a lot of people showed up and I liked that everyone’s lives were taking off with careers and starting families,” Rich recalled.
Members of this class had a chance to time travel for a notable experience once again.
Rich is proud to have grown up in Havasu during a time period that he described as “carefree and magical.”
“I have great memories of growing up in Havasu. The 80s were a great time and there hasn’t really been a decade like that since.” Rich said.
To learn more about upcoming activities and future reunions please visit Lake Havasu High School Class of 1985 at (10) Facebook.
