Seniors' prom almost paradise: Event at Warren high school brings generations together

Fred Loos, 70, of Saint Clair Shores, Mich., dances with Fitzgerald High School students at "A Hawaiian Paradise," a prom created for local senior citizens by high school seniors in Warren, Mich. —Photo by Amy Leang/Detroit Free Press

Barbara Agbay, 65, of Warren, Mich., shows off her prom dress. "I went to the Salvation Army and said, 'I'm looking for something retro. It was fun shopping for it and it was fun coming." —Photo by Amy Leang/Detroit Free Press

The cafeteria at Fitzgerald High School in Warren was decked out, and so were the guests. Some wore corsages. There was at least one bright-pink taffeta gown and a tux in the crowd.

Many in the crowd were nervous, trying to make conversation over dinner as the band played. They awkwardly posed for the keepsake pictures and finally danced the night away.

It was pretty much like any senior prom -- except more than half the crowd attending an event at the school on Ryan Road in Warren hadn't walked high school hallways in decades.

Fitzgerald held its Senior Citizen Prom earlier this month, the third time it has offered a cross-generational mixer that attracted a record crowd of more than 300 guests.

The event brought together guests in their 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s with those yet to say farewell to their teen years.

"High school seniors are required to complete 40 hours of community service to graduate, and this event helps meet that requirement, but it's more than that," said Rebecca Akins, a chemistry and biology teacher who is senior class adviser and organizer of the prom. "It's about meeting new people and letting the students do it in a place they're comfortable. It's about showing the community that we have talented, kindhearted graduates who are going out into the world. And, it's a way to say thank you to a group of people who support the school, who buy tickets to school events."

The party has "grown significantly," Akins said. This year's attendance was double last year's, she said.

The menu consisted of spaghetti and meatballs -- it took 112 pounds of pasta to feed everyone -- salad and dessert.

More than 170 senior citizens, most of them from Warren, Sterling Heights and Center Line, attended. About 115 Fitzgerald seniors accompanied them, some as escorts on group dates, some one-on-one. The students took care of their dates, fetching them drinks, dining with them and asking them to dance.

Some guests followed the theme -- the school cafeteria was decorated for a Hawaiian luau. Others went for more formal attire.

About 45 music and drama students performed before the party began. Each guest was given a free keepsake photograph by Aaron Fortin of Events to Remember photography in Sterling Heights.

Nearly 40 school staff members also got involved in the prom by cooking, cleaning and serving. "Every part of the school had a part in this," Akins said.

In a way, it was a blind date for both sets of seniors.

Akins does the introductions. "I kind of break the ice for them," she said.

Jerold Bock, Fitzgerald class of '53, shared an awkward but light moment with his date, Portia Knighten: "When we were in the theater sitting before dinner I said, 'Do you remember my name?' She said, 'No, do you remember mine?' I said, 'No.' So we wrote each other's names down on our programs so we wouldn't forget."

Bock had a picture in his pocket of his high school sweetheart-turned-wife, Martha (Seiber) Bock. She attended, as did his sister, Carol Standlick, class of '51.

"It's nice to be back," Martha Bock said.

Money raised by senior class

The school's senior class raised $2,000 to throw the party by having car washes, bake sales and other fund-raisers.

For Cheryl Hayes, a 17-year-old junior from Warren, the project started as a duty and ended up as a fun way to spend time.

"I volunteered to do it," she said. "I did it the last two years. ... The first year I kind of, like, didn't know if I wanted to do it. This year I knew I wanted to do it. It's actually fun.

"I saw the people I was with last year today. They remembered me, and I remembered them."

Seated next to her, having dinner, was her date, Paul Gagne, 77, of Warren.

"This young lady was available so I snatched her," he said. Cheryl giggled.

Across the room was a lively table with friends from retirement community Joe Coach Manor in Warren.

They arrived, to their surprise, in a limo provided by Aristocat Limousine and Luxury Car Service from Warren.

Even that was a source of fun.

"We were sliding off the seats every time he turned," said Betsy Grzelak, a senior prom first-timer.

Her friend, Eleanor Hamp, attended the last two years: "It's something different to do."

As desserts were being served, the women were moving in their seats to the beat of "Twist" by Chubby Checker.

An equally lively Bianca Webb, 17, of Warren was their escort. "Would you like to dance?" she asked them.

Grzelak laughed: "She wants to see if I can go out there and bust a move." And the 69-year-old moved out to the dance floor.

When she came back from dancing, Grzelak joked: "Where's the oxygen? The kids see what's going to happen to them. We were like them once," she said, laughing.

On a more serious note, after learning about potential student benefits behind the party, she said, "meeting new people, getting to know new people, throwing a party for a bunch of old people who can always use a party -- now that's a lesson you don't have to sit in class to learn."

Community service that's fun

Rod Carter, employment coordinator for Fitzgerald Public Schools, was smiling, watching people dance to "Play That Funky Music" by Wild Cherry.

For students, the experience is potentially good for college applications and job interviews, but more important, he said, "it's just a good time. The next day, they're talking about it."

Reggie Smith attended this year even though it wasn't necessary to complete his graduation requirement. He brought his aunt Geraldine Blackwell "because I thought she would have a good time."

As in past years, in the weeks following the prom, letters will likely arrive from guests, complimenting their dates, thanking them for a night out and a nice meal, Akins said.

"I have people call and say I'm so glad you're doing this again, I look forward to it all year," Akins said. "That makes it all worth it."

Contact KIM NORTH SHINE at kshine@freepress.com or 313-223-4557.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0048-24759220