Gilbert Tobon has plenty of experience planning social gatherings.
He supervised a Young Life high school group for 25 years that had weekly get-togethers. He also organized the 30th reunion for his John Burroughs Class of 1979.
And this Saturday marks the sixth year he has pulled together the annual Burbank High School/John Burroughs High School Alumni Reunion at the Castaway. The event is from 6 p.m. to midnight.
Experience has taught him that people in Burbank just love to get together. He’s also learned that breaking the ice can be difficult so he coordinated a series of “mini reunions” before the main event of his 30th reunion.
“We hit the ground running for our 30th reunion and the account by the hotel and Dj was that it was the best reunion they had ever seen,” he said.
For the better part of 25 years Tobon supervised a Young Life high school youth club. They would have weekly parties.
“We would make each week as memorable as possible for the kids,” he said. “Many times we had well over 100 kids crowding into a living room and they would have the best time of their lives. So for me doing a once-a-year event is a breeze compared to doing it weekly for decades!”
Tobon gets help from the Burbank-Burroughs Alumni Assn., and his friend, Dennis Sterling, who has provided lots of input and has been there from the start.
Tickets are $25 for food, dancing to a live band and socializing. For reservations, email or text Tobon at giltobon@sbcglobal.net or (661) 713-7721. Guests can pay at the door by cash, check or credit card or email Tobon for the PayPal link.
