It was 1975. President Richard Nixon had just resigned, and the “Fall of Saigon” marked the end of the Vietnam War. On Mercer Island, one of Mercer Island’s largest senior classes with 511 students was getting ready to graduate at the Seattle Center Arena.
The MIHS Class of 75 came together in August 2025 to celebrate their 50-year reunion. The week of activities started with a friendly golf gathering followed by a highly competitive pickleball tournament. On Friday, over sixty alums got a tour of the High School. Some lamented the loss of the iconic Mushroom which doubled as a cafeteria and performing arts center. And others asked, “where did the student lockers go”?
The alumni gathering on Friday night was hosted at the VFW Hall where long lost classmates reunited and mostly true memories of days gone by were recounted. Saturday night, the Gala Dinner was at the Mercer Island Community Center. A video montage created by grads Tony Crosetto and Todd Shaw capped the evening with photos and music from the 70’s. The memory table of grads that have passed away was moving and a table with MIHS memorabilia was a big hit. Renowned concert violinist, Robin Lortenz, Class of 75, did a reprise of “Tradition” from the Fiddler on the Roof which she starred in during her senior year at MIHS. Jeff Condiotty emceed a trivia quiz reminding everyone that, among other things, Dicks hamburgers were 19 cents in 1975.
Altogether, it was estimated that over 175 graduates enjoyed at least one of the reunion week events. Phone numbers and email addresses were shared and “lost classmates” are already following up on lost connections.