jews d
in
the
essay
A Celebration Of The Past:
A 50 Year Reunion Of Mumford’s Class Of 1967
(DPS FOUNDATION) MUMFORD HIGH SCHOOL IN 1967
O
Mumford High School’s 50th reunion will take place on Friday, Nov. 17, from
6 p.m. until midnight at Glen Oaks Country Club in Farmington Hills. There is
a reunion page on Facebook as well as information on www.Classmates.com.
A registration form can be downloaded from the Mumford 50th Reunion page.
For further information or questions, call Elissa Kline at (248) 851-2505.
map at last for something other than the auto-
n Nov. 17, 2017, the class of 1967’s 50-year
mobile industry. Little Stevie Wonder lived in the
Mumford High School reunion will be cel-
Mumford area. (Some famed alumni are jazz musi-
ebrated. I have been keeping abreast of the
cian Earl Klugh, Grammy-winning songwriter Allee
developments of this reunion and am struck by how
Willis, and film and the great TV producer
many people from that era have remained
Jerry Bruckheimer, whose credits include
friends for all this time and how many
the Pirates of the Caribbean film series and
people I no longer remember from those
Beverly Hills Cop. Also, alum Tebe Horne who
times. Although I may not remember all
was part of the first class of 1953, designed
the names and faces, I do remember that
the Mumford High T-shirt that Eddie Murphy
period fairly well.
wore in Beverly Hills Cop.)
I attended Mumford High School from
During the time between classes when stu-
the fall of 1964 through June 1967. At the
dents filled the halls, the stairwells with their
time I attended Mumford, the northwest
Barry Garelick
spacious tiled walls acting as echo cham-
Detroit area was a racial blend that did not
bers became showcases for aspiring future
exist when my brother attended Mumford
Motown stars to sing the hits of the times.
(class of 1962) nor when my sister was there
Amidst the melodious stairwells and crowd-
(class of 1958). Nor did it exist at the ele-
ed hallways was a school that had prided
mentary school that I came from (Schulze).
itself on strict academic standards, which were still
Strange as it may sound, Mumford marked the
in existence in 1967.
first time I was interacting with black people on a
For those who may remember, to get an A in class,
daily basis. Being brought up in the liberal milieu
your average had to be 95 percent or better on tests,
of many Jewish families in the northwest Detroit
quizzes and assignments. This didn’t leave much
area, I embraced the mixture at Mumford as did
room for exceptions. Grade point averages higher
many students. All this was occurring at a time
than 4.0 were not yet in existence. Getting a grade
when the legendary Motown artists rose to national
point of 3.7 or higher certainly increased one’s chanc-
acclaim, and Detroit seemed to me to be on the
continued on page 22
A WORD
ABOUT
Explore “Jewish” in our
award-winning Melton School.
Join Us for a FREE Sample Class!
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9
THURSDAY, AUGUST 10
THURSDAY, AUGUST 10
Adat Shalom Synagogue
Jewish Community Center
Temple Israel
1 – 2:15 pm
10 – 11:15 am
7 – 8:15 pm
New FALL CLASSES forming near you!
ENJOYABLE
WEDNESDAYS
THURSDAYS
Adat Shalom Synagogue Jewish Community Center
12:45 – 3 pm
9:30 – 11:45 am
THURSDAYS
Temple Israel
6:45 – 9 pm
WEDNESDAYS
PEP (Parent Education Program)
Temple Beth El
9:15 – 11:30 am
ÝIHGHGRQOLQH
jn
August 3 • 2017
21