‘I enjoy knowing what’s happened in their lives’

Although many classmates have moved or passed away and the group has changed, they still meet; their latest reunion was Sept. 9, and 65 people attended — 46 former Westwood students plus spouses.

“One day in the ’70s, I met a classmate, Carol Brandon Thompson, who’d gone from kindergarten through eighth grade with me, at the store. We started talking about our class and thought it would be a good idea to have a reunion,” said the 76-year-old Bryte, now a Tipp City resident.

“She had a Westwood yearbook, and we had two other classmates help. We found a number of classmates, but the girls were hard to find, since most had married names by then. Carol’s parents managed a park in Tipp City, and we had the first few reunions — every five years — there. Our first reunion, just for our class, was in 1980. Some of our teachers were still alive and attended, but that’s not true anymore.”

And, over the years, not only teachers but also classmates passed away, and the numbers decreased. “We started including anyone who graduated from Westwood in the ’50s, and, through word of mouth, our list grew, at one time to 115,” said Bryte.

“We’re all spread out. We have alumni come from California, Arizona, Michigan, but most still live in the Dayton area, in Springfield, Centerville and Kettering.

“In elementary school, we were together eight-or-nine years, but only four in high school. And, we all lived in the Westwood neighborhood, so knew each other pretty well. I enjoy knowing what’s happened in their lives, and we like reminiscing about our teachers and the trouble we got into.”

In 2000, Thompson died, and in 2005, the group began having reunions every two years. “As you get older, you don’t know if you’ll make it another five,” said Bryte, who organizes the reunions with classmate Bob Hunt, who lives in Huber Heights.

At reunions, Bryte takes those who are interested to visit the old neighborhood. “I take them in my van, and drive by their old homes – I grew up on Huron Ave., and the house still looks good. Once, when we were driving slowly looking at houses, a man came up and asked if we needed help.

“I explained what we were doing, and he asked where I’d lived. When I gave him my old address he said that he remembered our family, because my mom had brought them a plate of cookies when they moved in and welcomed them to the neighborhood,” Bryte said.

Bryte says the former classmates reminisce and often argue about stores, buildings and streets. “Memories fade over time,” he explains. Other than his house and the neighborhood homes, “Many buildings and everywhere I went to school or worked — Frigidaire, GM, Delco-Moraine — have been torn down.”

The Westwood Elementary School that Bryte and his classmates attended was located on Hoover Avenue. That building was closed in 1982 and the current Westwood PreK-6 school opened on Oakridge Ave. in 2008.

In addition to the reunions, Bryte gets together a grade-school lunch several times a year at the original Marion’s Pizza on North Dixie for local classmates. “Whoever can shows up,” he says.

At this year’s reunion, held at Sulphur Grove United Methodist Church in Huber Heights, “I think the oldest graduated from Westwood in ’51,” said Bryte, who added that one didn’t make it due to Hurricane Irma, which battered Florida.

“Everyone had a great time telling stories and looking at the big map of where they used to live,” Bryte said.

After he’s rested a bit, Bryte plans to poll attendees to see if they want the next one in one year instead of two, since “we’re all getting older.”

During each reunion, he can’t help but recall his former classmate, “the person that started this with me — Carol Brandon Thompson, a great lady.”

Any area Westwood graduate from the 1950s who isn't on his list can be included by calling him at 937-667-5929 or emailing Everbryte1@aol.com.