100 Expected for 50th Reunion of Helix High School

Next month’s 50th anniversary meetup isn’t the first reunion that La Mesa native Joyce Sawyer-Heroux has put together for ’s class of 1961.

But one part of event planning never gets old—“searching for people, especially when we find them,” said Sawyer-Heroux, now an Orange County resident.

She recalls having fun as the school’s song leader and JV cheerleader, and it helps when people remember her: “A lot of people are so excited. They say: ‘Is it you? Is it really you?’ ”

She says this year’s reunion will have more women than men, as many of the guys have suffered heart problems and passed away. In a class of around 340 students, only 25 haven’t been found. But only 100 have said they’ll come—which Sawyer-Heroux attributes to the poor economy.

The three-day reunion begins Friday, June 3, with a tour of the school and a banquet the following evening at the San Diego Country Club. A picnic is planned Sunday for those who aren’t the dressing-up type.

“I’ve got one guy that won’t come to the banquet because he won’t take his jeans off,” Sawyer-Heroux said. “We all live in jeans now.”

If you’re a ’61 alum, call 714-671-2021 or write herouxdj@sbcglobal.net for more information.