For some, 1953 feels like a distant memory, but for a group of Venice High School graduates, it seems like just yesterday.
The Venice School Class of ’53 gathered at a Huntington Beach Denny’s for a reunion on Wednesday, some attending in person, while others joined online.
At 90, Don Gibas is still the logistics guy, bringing together these 90-year-olds to reminisce more than 70 years later. Back in high school, Gibas was organized and disciplined, with a clear focus on securing a job, a goal he achieved early in life. Now, decades later, he continues to play an active role in these reunions, making sure everyone is there to share the experience.
Gibas proudly reflected on the number of alumni at the reunion. “In this room, we got seventeen,” he says.
Jenny Motta, another 1953 graduate, was an all-around student who also dreamed of a career in journalism, though that path shifted when she met her husband and had six children.
The year 1953 was a monumental one, with Queen Elizabeth crowned, the Korean War ending, and the first issue of Playboy hitting the newsstands. But what really stands out in this reunion is the longevity of these former classmates, a testament to medical advancements that have made such gatherings not only possible but more likely.
Motta says the secret to a long life is trying new things like shooting pool and making gift baskets. Gibas, on the other hand, continues his work as a businessman and believes in holistic medicine.
Both agreed that gatherings like this help immensely and although not everyone from Venice High School’s class of ’53 can attend reunions anymore, the ones who do enjoy every single moment.