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Retirees Return to Owens for 60th Anniversary Luncheon

Nearly 80 retirees from Owens Community College returned to the Toledo-area Campus Thursday, Sept. 25, for a luncheon as part of the school’s 60th anniversary celebration.

The event, themed “Timeless Impact,” welcomed former Owens faculty and staff for lunch in College Hall just outside of the library, a campus tour showcasing a new college timeline display, and remarks from Owens President Dr. Dione D. Somerville.

“This was the perfect time to reconnect with our retirees as we celebrate Owens’ 60th anniversary,” said Kelle Pack, vice president of institutional advancement and executive director of the Owens Community College Foundation. “These are the people who made Owens what it is. We invited them back to experience our new buildings, meet Dr. Somerville if they hadn’t yet, and take time to interact and socialize.”

For Cheryl Busdeker, a recent retiree who worked at Owens for 32 years as a teacher at the Findlay Early Learning Center, the invitation brought back memories — and a bit of surprise.

“I was confused at first because the library was in a different location the last time I was here,” Busdeker said, referring to the library’s former location across Oregon Rd.

Despite the changes, Busdeker said she felt a strong connection to the college and enjoyed the chance to catch up with familiar faces.

“Everything is different, so very different,” she said. “But everything looks beautiful.”

A group of retirees from the Buildings and Grounds department said the luncheon was a natural extension of their regular meetups, which happen every few months. Still, hearing directly from Somerville was meaningful for many, including Robert Gearhart.

“It’s good to see some good news and know we’re a part of it,” Gearhart said.

For Bill Melnyk, the event offered an opportunity to reconnect.

“I’ve seen people I haven’t seen since I retired 12 years ago,” he said.

Although the event formally ended after a group walk to view the timeline in College Hall, many attendees lingered long after, sharing stories and rekindling friendships.

Pack said the turnout was double what she expected, and the college plans to continue hosting similar gatherings.

“We’re happy people wanted to come back,” she said. “And we’re really happy they still want to be part of the Owens story.”

For more information on Owens’ 60^th Anniversary, please visit owens.edu/owens60.