From left, kneeling, Tim Arcuragi and Kim Sutter; standing, from left, Lisa Palmer, Beth Adkins, Susan Christian, Michael Brubaker and Bonnie Brubaker; plant a tree in remembrance of East Liverpool High School Class of 1982 members who have passed away. (Submitted photo)

EAST LIVERPOOL – The East Liverpool High School Class of 1982 recently celebrated their 40-year reunion, dedicating a tree to members who have passed away. Among the music, festivities, reuniting and reminiscing the class noticed the Memory Boards filled with pictures of classmates absent from the reunion; 31 classmates, gone too soon. The weekend was filled with laughter and tears as everyone shared memories of childhood friendships and school days gone by. Another three classmates from ELHS Class of 1982 have passed since that reunion.

This prompted Tim Arcuragi of the ELHS Class of 1982 Reunion Committee to contact the other members. They got together one Thursday evening and Arcuragi shared his idea of planting a tree. They talked and decided on an Eastern Redbud (very pretty pink heart shaped leaves). Arcuragi contacted Shawn Rybaczenko, park maintenance supervisor. Arcuragi donated the tree and Rybaczenko handled the planting. There is a plaque at the tree (also donated, anonymously) that states the tree is planted in loving memory of the classmates lost from the ELHS Class of 1982 (“Forever in Our Hearts Once a Potter, Always a Potter”).