Nostalgia reigned supreme at the Mercer Island High School Class of 1972’s 50th year reunion last month.

For three days — Aug. 26-28 — about 80-85 members of that class descended upon the Roanoke Inn and the Mercer Island Community and Event Center to reminisce about old times over a drink and a meal, and they received a glimpse of the present Islander scene with a tour of the high school. A host of golfers started the reunion a day early by participating in the “Kiss the Rock” tournament at the West Seattle Golf Course.

“It almost kind of felt like, to me, like you’re having everybody over to your house for a party and you want them all to have fun. You want them all to be well-taken care of and just on a grander scale,” said Carl Vonder Haar, a ‘72-er and one of a dozen members on the reunion organizing committee.

Class member Debby (Harris) Morio said that after 50 or more years, the friendships still remain intact and there was no awkwardness at the reunion. People may look a bit different, but once you check a name tag, the memories come flooding back.

“It’s almost like you’re coming home again. It’s like you’re visiting with relatives. It’s just a fabulous time,” said Morio, who has known some of her classmates since they were 5 years old, and is also a member of the reunion committee.

When songs from that era beamed out of the sound system during the community center dinner and gathering, Morio said they took her back to the days of listening to KJR radio, and spinning albums by The Beatles and other artists.

“People would get new albums and everybody would gather around and sit around and play them,” said the current Port Townsend resident. “It’s kind of the soundtrack for our lives.”

Music was also huge for classmate and frequent concert-goer Mary (Fagerholm) Reece, who listed Donovan, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Joni Mitchell, The Rolling Stones and The Beatles as some of her favorites. On a recent day, she mentioned listening to a ’60s gold program on Sirius XM.

Riding horses was another key element of Reece’s childhood and she was a member of the Mercer Island Saddle Club. She discussed horses with some of her classmates at the reunion, and she hopes to return to riding in the near future.

Reece has kept in touch with some ‘72-ers on Facebook and she enjoyed connecting with them in person again. It’s been copious years since they all hung out together eating lunch and chatting away in their beloved “Mushroom” gathering space at the high school.

“People I hadn’t seen in years. Everyone was so glad to see each other and it was just a real happy get-together,” said Reece, who presently lives on Lopez Island, which is part of her family’s history timeline.

Vonder Haar said with a laugh that after walking into a room of unknown “old people” at the reunion, it just took a minute or two to decipher who was who and become reacquainted.

“It’s like all the years just kind of roll away. It’s like we forgive each other for aging,” he said with an added chuckle.

His family moved to the Island when his dad bought a printing shop there and they experienced a middle-America small-town-type atmosphere, recalled Vonder Haar, who worked in the printing industry for many years.

After taking Spanish in high school, Reece — also a member of the reunion committee — was driven to earn a degree in teaching English as a second language (ESL) from the University of Washington. She taught those classes, along with various subjects to students in grades K-3 in Seattle public schools for 35 years.

Life has come full circle for Morio, who was drawn to art in her younger days and has since returned to that activity through drawing, watercolor painting and woodcarving. Morio, whose dad was the first judge on Mercer Island, majored in psychology at UW and worked in the financial world.

Looking back to ‘72, Morio recalls some vital information her parents sent her way that is relevant for all time.

“My folks always told me that a well-rounded education is very important,” she said.