The historic Manteca High / East Union Class of 1969 reunion will take place Saturday at Chez Shari in the Manteca Park Golf Course.

According to Mary Del Pino, who graduated from MHS back then, the luncheon event promises to be special given that her original class was split based on the new Manteca Unified boundaries in order to make room for the new campus, East Union High.

Prior to that, Manteca was a one high school town.

Nearly 100 former 1969 graduates of MHS and EU are expected to reunite for the first time in 56 years.

A committee made up members from both schools had been working and meeting for months to reunite, putting aside the many years of past rivalries, said Del Pino, who is also member of the Manteca Historical Society.

The luncheon is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The program will have George Azevedo of MHS and Ron Agostini service as emcees – they’ll bring up the many memories that have transpired over the years.

In addition, information on classmates will be shared and other fun activities are in plans, Del Pino noted.

She said not too long ago that students did not have a choice in the initial splitting of the class.

“Since we were all together as freshmen and sophomores, many of us established deep friendships, and were saddened that once the new high school was built, we would no longer be seeing each other on a daily basis,” said Del Pino.

She and others are looking forward to this historic reunion.