Originally published at Orange County Catholic
IT WAS 1949 WHEN fourth-grader Pete Rabbitt switched to a new campus that was just opening: St. Joachim Catholic School in Costa Mesa. Now, 75 years later, Rabbitt returned to his alma mater to celebrate with his family and grandchildren: one a current Sea King, and one an alumnus and valedictorian to boot.
ST. JOACHIM CATHOLIC SCHOOL FOUNDING STUDENT PETE RABBITT, 83, WITH HIS DAUGHTER-IN-LAW SHELLEY RABBITT AND GRANDSON HUGH RABBITT, AT THE SCHOOL’S FIRST ALUMNI HOMECOMING AND PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT. PHOTOS BY YUAN WANG/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
“It was a great experience,” Rabbitt, 83, said, adding that it has been fun having his grandchildren attend his alma mater. “The good news is they got a great education.”
The Rabbitt family was among about 240 current students, alumni, friends and family who came out on a Saturday night for the school’s first Alumni Homecoming Pickleball Event and Mass. The event on Sept. 28 featured five pickleball courts, a bake sale, a bounce house obstacle course and TK Burger truck.
The homecoming was a chance for alumni throughout the years to return to campus, celebrate the gift of a Catholic education, and raise money for the school’s endowment, said Principal Kelly Botto.
