Benicia, CA • October 2025. Hogan Class of 1985 — 40th Reunion at Rellik Tavern. Hogan High School, Class of 1985, Vallejo, Spartan Pride, 40th Reunion, Blue and White, Rellik Tavern Benicia.

The Echoes of '85: Hogan Class of 1985 — A Night to Remember at Rellik Tavern

Hogan High School Class of 1985 Celebrates 40th Reunion at Rellik Tavern in Benicia, California

Hogan High School Class of 1985 — 40th Reunion at Rellik Tavern, Benicia, California. Blue & White Spartan Pride, forty years strong.

There is a specific kind of magic that happens when you cross the Carquinez Bridge and see the rolling hills of Vallejo rising up to meet you. For the Class of 1985, that drive carries the weight of forty years — four decades of life, laughter, loss, and legacy. We aren't just a group of people who shared a zip code; we are Spartans. And as we gathered for our 40th Reunion, that Spartan pride wasn't just a slogan on a gymnasium wall — it was the very air we breathed.

The night was reaching that golden hour — somewhere between 11 PM and midnight — where the formalities of the evening had melted away into pure, unadulterated joy. We were tucked away in our reserved room at Rellik Tavern, right behind the band stage. The music from the front of the house provided a muffled, rhythmic heartbeat to our conversations, but the real soundtrack of the night was the sound of our own laughter.

If you look at the photo above, you'll see more than just faces. You see the resilience of a generation. You see the smiles of people who knew each other before the internet, before cell phones, and before the world became as complicated as it is today. We were the kids of the mid-80s — the ones who grew up on the Blue Rock Springs hills and spent our Friday nights under the lights of Corbus Field.

From the Tundra to the Tropics: The Spartan Reach

One of the most beautiful things about our 40th was seeing just how far the Spartan spirit has traveled. We always knew our class was destined for great things, but seeing the lengths some of our classmates went to just to share a drink and a story was truly humbling.

Take Christine Christensen, for example. When we talk about going the distance, Christine redefined the term. She traveled all the way from Anchorage, Alaska — from the land of the midnight sun back to the Bay Area waterfront. Seeing her in that room, glowing with the same spirit she had in the halls of Hogan High School, was a reminder that no matter how far we roam, the gravity of our shared history always pulls us back home.

And then there was Glenn Victa, who traded the tropical breezes of Hawaii for a night with his fellow Spartans. Between Alaska and Hawaii, we practically had the entire Pacific Rim covered! It says something profound about the Class of '85 that four decades later, a flight across an ocean or a continent is a small price to pay to see an old friend.

We also had the absolute pleasure of welcoming Martin Nunez to his very first reunion. Martin, if you're reading this — we hope you felt the love. There is often a bit of nerves associated with coming to a reunion for the first time after so many years, but the moment you walked into that room at Rellik, you weren't a stranger — you were home. That's the Spartan way. It doesn't matter if you've been to every single gathering or if this was your debut; the door is always open.

The Gift of Presence

In a world that is increasingly digital, there is no substitute for the gift of presence. We spend so much of our lives looking at screens, liking photos, and scrolling through feeds. But standing in that dimly lit room at Rellik, feeling the pat on the back, the long-overdue hugs, and seeing the light in someone's eyes as they recount a story from Mr. Silva's class — that is something a smartphone can never replicate.

To everyone who attended: Thank you. Thank you for the stories told and the ones we finally felt comfortable enough to recollect. We talked about the old hangouts, the teachers who pushed us, the heartbreaks that seemed so world-ending at seventeen, and the triumphs that have defined our adulthood. We remembered the classmates we've lost along the way, holding their memories in the quiet spaces between our toasts. Your presence was the greatest gift you could give to your fellow Spartans.

Beyond the Scroll: Why We're Rallying Here on the Blog

As we move forward, we've noticed a shift in how we stay connected. Some of us are Facebook veterans, others have migrated to the visual world of Instagram, and some of you — bless your hearts — never bothered with social media at all. You stayed off the grid, preferring the real world to the virtual one.

That's exactly why we are driving our efforts here at hogan1985.blogspot.com. Social media algorithms change. Platforms rise and fall. But this blog is ours. It's a dedicated space where every Spartan has access, regardless of whether you have an account or a follow button. We want this to be the digital hearth where we all gather to keep the fire of our 1985 legacy burning — built to last far beyond any trending hashtag.

We are transitioning the conversation out here to ensure that no one is left behind. Whether you're checking in from Vallejo, Anchorage, Honolulu, or anywhere in between — this is your home. You can also join the ongoing conversation in our official Class of '85 Facebook Group and follow us on Instagram at @hoganspartans1985.

Let's Keep the Conversation Rolling

The night at Rellik Tavern shouldn't be the end of the conversation — it should be the spark that keeps it going. We have so many more stories to tell, so many more photos to share, and so many more years of friendship ahead of us.

We want to hear from you! What was your favorite moment from the 40th Reunion? What is a memory of Hogan High School that still makes you smile forty years later? If you couldn't make it this time, what message do you have for the class?

Please leave a comment below. Don't worry about being fancy or profound — just speak from the heart. Let's show the world that the Class of 1985 isn't just a group of alumni; we are a community that stands the test of time.

To those who were there, thank you for making it a night for the history books. To those who were there in spirit, we felt you with us. And to every single one of you — keep that Blue and White pride shining bright.

Once a Spartan, Always a Spartan.

— J.F.Perseveranda
Founder & Editor, Hogan High School Class of 1985
hogan1985.blogspot.com

Editor's Note: Keep checking back for more photo galleries and deep dives into our class history. If you have photos from the reunion you'd like to share, please reach out via the Class Facebook Group. This blog is a living document of our journey together.