Rehoboth High alumni hold final homecoming
School colors of Seahawk black and white set the theme at a final homecoming for Rehoboth High alumni June 1.
Event organizers say more than 200 students from classes 1945-72 attended the reunion, representing about one-fifth of the school’s estimated 1,000 graduates throughout its 30 years. Some early classes numbered in the teens; other classes had about 40 graduating seniors.
Alumni enjoyed heavy hors d'oeuvres, dancing to the oldies, a photo booth, singing of the Rehoboth High School Fight Song and reminiscing with classmates many had not seen in decades. Most alumni dressed in school colors, black and white, or vintage letter jackets.
Betty Lou Palmer Melson and Dick Tikiob Sr. represented the oldest class in attendance, ‘45, and teacher Joyce McCoy represented faculty.
Jerry Rapkin, class of ‘47, and wife Janet Vansant Rapkin, class of ‘48, traveled from Annapolis, Md., for the reunion. Janet said her mother was school secretary and her father was superintendent of schools. “That’s only why I was nice to her,” Jerry laughed.
Janet said she and Jerry started dating after college. “He was at the Naval Academy and I was teaching in Seaford. We started dating. There weren’t many other people here!”
The idea for a homecoming arose when alumni learned the old school building would be demolished to make way for a new Rehoboth Elementary, set to open in September 2019. Plans call for basketball and pickleball courts, a pavilion, an arch with the school’s original name and datestone, benches and outdoor classroom seating on the old school’s footprint.
Final farewell
The Cape Henlopen School District is hosting a final open house and tour of the old Rehoboth High/current Rehoboth Elementary from 3 to 5 p.m., Saturday, June 8. Alumni, community members, parents, staff and students are welcome to tour the school and enjoy light refreshments. The school is located at 500 Stockley St., Rehoboth.
