Santa Barbara High School hosts reunion for all graduates

Santa Barbara High first All Don reunion drew hundreds of graduates from different years.

The school that is a designated historic building celebrated it first graduating class was in 1875.

Sharon Henning-Keinath co-chaired the event.

“It is a reunion for all Dons we have a gentleman here who is 104.”

Esther Serna with the class of 48 said, “This is wonderful, I hadn’t been able to come before.”

Paul Lopez who left his Class of ’44 to go to war called the reunion, ” Terrific, great gathering here, a lot of friends, a lot of people I haven’t seen in years, it is amazing, we remembered each other.”

Paul’s daughter Paula is one of the faces on the Don’s Wall of Fame alongside Oscar winning director Taylor Hackford , designer Karen Kane , and many others.

Her children are Don’s too.

Norma Perez Marquez shared a table full of photographs from the class of ’68. She had a list of the classmates who have passed away and photos of friends and the football team.

The current Don’s football team won on Friday night even though their new football field is under construction. Students said it was 88-percent done.

The reunion serves as a fundraiser for the alumni association known for funding scholarships.

They raised money with a silent auction. The items included a homemade quilt made of Don’s t-shirts.

KEYT 2019