We’ll do our best to honor lost classmates at the 50th reunion.  A video-and-music tribute is planned for all to see. All the verified names — sadly, more than 120 — will be displayed at a decorated table. And reminders will be posted about how to access this website’s extensive R.I.P. gallery. (Another exists on the reunion’s Facebook page.)

Ours was a huge high school class. With 860 students officially graduating in June 1969, it was the biggest at any high school in Cherry Hill, N.J., history. The Class of 1970 was the first to be split between East and West.

But even before graduation, we lost John McWeeney, who died in a winter car crash. Over the next half-century, many more died too soon.