How much do you really remember when you think back to your grade school years? Can you recall the names of your teachers? What about your classmates? For Nashville native Rob Cheek, not only does he remember these details, but he also maintains regular contact with people from his first-grade class at Parmer School — which operated in Nashville’s Belle Meade neighborhood until 1982.
Rob attended Parmer School from 1947 to 1955, which means his graduating class celebrated its 67-year reunion this year. To commemorate the event, Rob tracked down over 20 of his fellow classmates to reconnect and reminisce about their time together. “I had attended some other reunions that had been put together by classmates, but they included mostly Nashville people,” says Rob of the inspiration behind this year’s event. “I wanted to stretch the reach out a little further, which I was able to do with some help. We [were able to pull in] people from as far as Mexico, New York City, Florida, and Louisiana.”
With assistance from fellow Parmer School classmates, Nashville locals, and event planner Anne Elizabeth McIntosh of Host & Toast Luxury Concierge, Rob was able to put on an event that provided plenty of laughter and memories. He admits the most challenging part of planning the event was tracking down classmates, as many of them have moved away and women often change their last names after getting married. He adds that the process was extremely valuable, and it’s something he encourages others to do. “It’s a very worthwhile exercise. I’ve talked to other people, and they have no interest in doing this with their class … grammar school to them is just part of their history or upbringing, but there’s quite a bit of connectivity in a Southern town like Nashville,” he explains.
The two-day event kicked off at Belle Meade’s Parmer Park, which still houses the stone and brick archway that was part of the school’s original structure. Alumni were invited to gather in the park and enjoy photo ops before heading to a classmate’s house for dinner. “It was a great time, and the amazing thing was how easily I was able to interact with old classmates who I hadn’t seen for maybe 65 years,” says Rob. “It was easy to pick up where we left off and tell old stories.”
On the second day of the event, Parmer School alumni embarked on a bus tour to see just how much Nashville has changed since they graduated. Local historian David Ewing provided commentary, and the bus explored neighborhoods like East Nashville, The Gulch, and Lower Broadway. “Nashville is such a dynamic place, and I thought it was important that everybody — including the locals — visit and see what’s happening,” explains Rob. After the tour, alumni headed to an open-air barbecue at Percy Warner Park’s golf shelter, where they looked over more photos and read heartfelt letters from alumni who couldn’t attend the event.
Throughout the two days, classmates also learned about one another’s lives after Parmer School. Through these conversations, Rob says they discovered that at least four classmates had become published authors. In fact, Sam Pickering, an author and a Parmer School alum known for inspiring the film Dead Poets Society, wrote a letter to his classmates that was read aloud. “I’ll be reticent to say I think we had a remarkable class as far as what people have gone on and done later in life,” says Rob. “We’ve got notable professors, business people, authors, and just really interesting people who have accomplished great things … I really do think our class was special.”
According to Rob, rekindled friendships and newly established ones truly made the reunion special. “There was one guy I hadn’t seen since we walked out of that school in 1955,” he explains. “He lives in Chattanooga and just went through surgery, so I’ve been checking on him … and we’ve had lunch together a couple of times. We plan to see each other more, and next week, we’re going to see a friend in North Carolina … who we wouldn’t have known about had we not met [at the reunion].”
When reflecting on his time at Parmer School, Rob admits he didn’t necessarily see the school as anything extraordinary while he was there. However, after reconnecting with classmates and sharing stories for two days, perhaps it was more special than he initially thought. “I would put Parmer School up against anybody’s private school today,” Rob says, chuckling. “The teachers were conscientious, they cared about the children, and it was a great experience for everybody who went there. I haven’t met anyone who has spoken harshly about Parmer School.”
Overall, Rob describes the experience as inspiring and fulfilling and hopes other people take a page out of his book. “The takeaway from this is that it was a very rewarding experience, and I’m thankful I’ve been reconnected with old classmates,” he says. “I’ve learned we still have a lot in common, and they’re [people] worth knowing.”
All photography by Victoria Pewitt.
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