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Monday Update

A weekly newsletter dedicated to those who

remember & celebrate Vallejo as it once was.

Vallejo St. Vincent Hogan St. Patrick/St. Vincent

Apaches Hilltoppers Spartans Bruins

February 8, 2016

The Monday Update is published weekly, on the John Bunter Memorial Computer

by Harry Diavatis, who is solely responsible for its content. Please send correspondence, photographs and archival information to

harrydiavatis@aol.com The Monday Update is posted every Monday on www.VHS62.com

To receive a free subscription and have the Update sent directly to your email address, Copy and Paste this Constant Contact link to sign in

http://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/d.jsp?llr=sgdgubfabandp=oiandm=1104935062738andsit=488a8u8fbandf=86b2e114-7c49-4af9-8033-a44a643b7ea5

Hello Classmates, Schoolmates and Friends:

In this edition: Linda Boatwright-Morgan ’63, Julie Bowen-Stratton ’61, Dick Christensen ’65, Dave

Clement SV60, Ron Collins ’50, Lynn Combs HH68, Gary Cullen SV69, Geraldine (Gerrie) Eichler-

Handschumacher SV59,Linda Etheridge Rich ’62, Al Farr ’61, Gert Gaillard-Strong ’40, Jerry Hallett ’53,

Heidi Hoffman-G, Frank Joy ’67, Pamela King-Viestenz ’59, Duane Larson HH68, Karen Lloyd-Hughes

’61, Ellen Locke-Crumb ‘55, Patricia Lofas-Rentschler SV69, Roberta McCapes-Cotter ’68, Mike Millikin

’60, Maureen “Mo” Mulroy-Kocourek '64, Al Neblett ’56, Larry Petrie ’60, Gloria Pontarolo-Taft '66, Ron

HH = Hogan HS SV = St. Vincent’s HS SP = St. Patrick’s HS FF = Former Faculty G = Guest VJC = Vallejo JC SCC = Solano Community College

Year Only (ie: ’60) = Vallejo High School

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Porcella SV62, Larry ‘60 & Molly Post-Petrie ‘61, Cynthia Redmond-Sproule SV65, Mary Ellen Ryan

SV64, Suzie Schmutz ‘59, Larry Servante SV61, Charlie Spooner ’60, Joanne Stanley-Taylor HH65, and

Chris Warnshuis SV68.

Index

This ‘n’ That ............................................................................................................... 2 The Mailbag .............................................................................................................. 9 Apache Review of Arts by John Parks ‘62 ................................................................. 20 On the Sidelines ........................................................................................................ 23 A Cup of Joe by Joe Illing ’61 .................................................................................... 29 The Occasional Spoonful by Charlie Spooner ’60 ..................................................... 34 Paperback Writer ....................................................................................................... 36 A Stroll Down History Lane ........................................................................................ 40 This Week’s Newbies ................................................................................................ 41 In Memoriam ............................................................................................................. 42 The Last Word ........................................................................................................... 44 MU Calendar of Upcoming Events ............................................................................ 48 Public Service Announcements (PSA) ...................................................................... 49 Addendums ............................................................................................................... 53 The Fine Print ............................................................................................................ 58

This ‘n’ That

Call Him C. J. “Superbowl” Anderson

A few months ago, C. J. Anderson, bought

his grandmother, who raised him, a new car

with a promise that once he signed a big

contract he’d buy her a new house and

move her out of the Crest. Granny… it’s

time to start packing.

For the whole Super Bowl 50 story go to the On the Sidelines section of

this Monday Update.

Happy Valentine’s Day Don’t forget your Sweetie on

Sunday, Feb. 14 (or you’ll regret it, big time.)

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. . .

Grease is the Word…

I must say that while I thoroughly enjoyed the

live TV production of the musical Grease, it

didn’t really measure up to the 1978 film

starring Olivia Newton-John, John Travolta and

Stockard Channing.

In the live production,

Julianne Howe certainly

had the good looks to carry the role of the “goody

two shoes” Sandy, but 32 year old Aaron Tveit as

Danny, looked every bit his age and was just

“okay.” Vanessa Hudgens as Rizzo, while no

Stockard Channing, was probably the best of the

principal performers.

I liked the concept of live theatre on television and also the fact that

they introduced a fun show to an entire new generation. Performing

theatre live on TV, especially a huge production like this, poses a very

large risk and, aside from a couple of

minor glitches, they pulled it off.

I thought the special effects used to

pull off the drag race were quite effect-

tive while the Hand Jive dance in the

gym was great fun, and the finale (We’ll

Always Be Together) was also excellent.

. . .

What a Surprise! (Not…)

As predicted, the Vallejo City Unified School District Board of Educa-

tion appointed Hazel Wilson to fill the seat recently vacated by

Raymond Mommsen. And just when we thought we were finished with

Vallejo Connection

The Hand Jive number was

based on Willie and the Hand

Jive written by Vallejo born

Johnny Otis, who is actually

Greek. His real name is John

Veliotes.

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her. Actually I feel sorry for School Board members Ruscal Cayang-

yang and Burky Worel who will be finding themselves constantly losing

issues by a 3 to 2 vote. C’mon Vallejo, start thinking about who you’re

going to support in the next election this fall to get the Board back on

on track.

. . .

Crab Feed

VHS ’62 Classmates Steve

Bleamel, Crag Parker, Guy

Kilburn and Chuck Waters

’70 and I met up at the

Greek Community Center

for their annual Crab Feed

last Saturday.

Steve, Crag and Guy wait expectantly for their din-din.

Don Wagner was supposed to join us but

had to bow out at the last minute with

some health issues.

The food was more than ample and it was

Chuck & HD very good: Greek salad, pasta, cheesy

garlic bread and lots of fresh crab…

We also ran into Dennis Yen

’63 who is standing next to his

daughter Jennifer Yen ‘94 and

his cousin Greg Lee. It’s

always good to see Dennis‘

smiling face.

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. . .

Blame Dave Clement SV60

. . .

…And the Beat Goes On

Marvin E. Locke, a 1953 graduate of Vallejo High

School and former Tehama County Superintendent of

Schools and Past President of the Tehama Concert

Series, died on June 21, 2014 at his home in Red Bluff,

Calif. Because of his love for, and commitment to,

music, he was recently honored with a concert in his

memory.

From: Ellen Locke-Crumb ‘55

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My brother Marvin’s Vallejo music opportunities were a couple of years of piano lessons from Miss Jones on York Street, across from Greyhound, later some piano lessons from George Herbert who played the organ at First Presbyterian Church for decades, and also Civic Music Concerts in the Vallejo Junior High auditorium. He loved organ music, did take some lessons in college, and heard hours of it on recordings. From a kit, he built a harpsichord during the Sierra College years which didn't stay in tune very well, but it was played a time or two, at least, in concerts by someone or other. When he taught at Sierra Jr. College, he was in charge of arranging music programs and speakers. After he moved to Red Bluff, he became involved in Civic Music and its successor organization. Eventually the Red Bluff group went to Arts Northwest auditions every fall to hire their own performers. The program has continued well enough that a group organized to buy the old, mostly unused State Theater and a good piano for concerts and events in downtown Red Bluff.

FIRST MARVIN LOCKE MEMORIAL CONCERT

Daily News Red Bluff January 23, 2016

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. . .

From: Gary Cullen SV69 Harry ~ Here it is. After two and half years of research. Tell your readers that there will be a book signing at the Vallejo/Naval Museum on Saturday, April 16 along with a exhibit of 211th artifacts.

May the legacy of the 211th live on.

"The Boys From Boston" Author ~ Gary Cullen

Now available on Amazon.com $14.95

To read more on this subject please go to the PSA

section of this Monday Update.

. . .

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The Living Tree Memorial We finally got around to installing the most recent order of engraved bricks to the Living Tree Memorial Park loca-ted at Vallejo High School. Chuck Waters ’70, as usual, did his fine job of installation, this time assisted by his granddaughter Becca.

Some of the recently installed pavers were dedicated to: Virl Swan, Joe

Grove, Dave Thomas, Dave Beronio, Don Siegel, Tony Tasca, Jane Ford, Dick Biama, Wes Mathews and John Katz. Our allotted space is starting to fill up but we still have room for at least a hundred more. Eventually we’ll begin soliciting for more participation but it’ll be a while and the cost will be going up from $50 per brick to as much as $75.

You’ll never guess who stopped by to pay a visit while we were working on the park… give up? Newly appointed School Board member Hazel Wilson and hubby Mike. Actually we had a lovely conversa-tion and as I told Hazel, if it weren’t for her politics we could probably be friends. But… there’s no getting around those politics. LOL.

. . .

. . .

If it is not Valentine’s day and you see a man in a flower shop, you

can probably start up a conversation by asking, 'What did you do?'

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The Mail Bag From: Suzie Schmutz ‘59 Harry, of course I loved seeing the photos of your cat Cali opening the door on your home - fun to see this and know that your two cats are well. However, I never knew you had two dogs ! I've never seen any photos of your dogs so let us learn more !! Yes, let's do VHS Alumni Day somewhere near Vallejo. It

would be wonderful seeing everyone, no matter where it is located. Also, more on Carol Bettencourt (VHS Class of 1960): She was moved to a care home this last weekend. I'm waiting to learn more on where it is located and to get her phone number there.

Suzie, there are two reasons why you don’t see me writing too much

about my dogs: 1) they’re both black lab mix and don’t photograph very

well and 2) they don’t do much of anything that’s worth reporting on…

they eat, they poop and when Sally is gone they lay down at the front

door and pine away until she returns. They were rescue dogs that we

brought home from Tooele, Utah in

September of 2006. Shadow, the

female is about 11 years old and

Snappy (lab/border collie mix) is

about 10. They are the last dogs

we’ll ever own. I’m too old to be

constantly cleaning up after them.

. . .

From: Pamela King-Viestenz ‘59 Never tired of hearing about your cats, I love the critters. I am a cat lover and have a beautiful tuxedo cat.

Well then, c’mon Pam, send in a picture or two.

. . .

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From: Linda Etheridge Rich ‘62

Wow, Harry, thanks to you and Sharon Kent Harris for plugging my book! It’s greatly appreciated, and I’m glad there are a few folks out there who are still discovering it. Somewhere in your office—which, as you say, hides things but never loses them—you might find the signed copy of Tunnel Vision I sent you at the time of publication five years ago, complete with sticky note attached to the last page so you wouldn’t miss the acknowledgments. You were kind enough at the time to read it and review it in the Update. Lots of water has flowed over the dam since then, though, so I’m not surprised you don’t remember. What’s been going on with us? Pretty much the same old, same old…except that my husband, Lyndon, and I are preparing to celebrate our fiftieth wedding anniversary on Feb. 12. We eloped to Reno while he was on leave from the Navy and I was home in Vallejo over semester break from Sonoma State. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision, because we’d been planning to wait until after I graduated in June, but it seemed like a good idea at the time. And it turned out to be a great idea! We’ve been truly blessed. One final note: you like to refer to me as “the class baby” because I graduated from VHS at the age of 16 years, 4 months. Well, Harry, on Feb. 14—two days after that big wedding anniversary—I will celebrate a big birthday when I turn 70. My apologies if that makes you feel old. Hell, it makes me feel old! But so far, so good.

Hey c’mon, Linda… lets be fair. Did I call you “the class baby” or “a

classy babe.” In either case, “baby or babe”, you will soon be in rarified

atmosphere… the Seventies Club. Welcome, you poor ageing “senior”.

LOL. A BIG CONGRATULATIONS to you and Lyndon… 50 years… WOW!

Regarding your book “Tunnel Vision…” Why, of course I remember

reading it… but. Linda, I’m like a priest at confession… in one ear and

out the other. Either that or I’m old and forgetful. Your choice.

. . .

. . .

Girl: "I can't be your valentine for medical reasons."

Boy: "Really?"

Girl: "Yeah, you make me sick!"

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From: Larry Servante SV61 Class President Harry: The St. Vincent’s Class of ’61 has finalized our plans for our 55 Year Reunion. It’ll be held on Sept 10th at the home of Elise Widenmann-Currey, Napa. The plans call for a catered all day picnic. Those wishing for more information may call me at 707 888-0788. Thanks, Harry, for highlighting this event.

Anything for the Hilltoppers, Larry.

. . . From: Lynn Combs HH68 Thanks for the plug! I was surprised at the request for an interview by the Times Herald, but it turned out to be a fun chat with Rachel. She was an expert in editing down and yet keeping the article true to what we discussed. We had a nice long talk covering many topics. Love the Monday Update!

Yes, Rachel is a very thorough reporter and, maybe the best that the TH

has to offer.

. . . From: Geraldine (Gerrie) Eichler-Handschumacher SV59 I enjoyed your newsletter. I learned about it from Judy Nunn. I was a classmate of Jim O Brien. I live in Bakersfield now and was delighted to find a source of information about all the high schools in your newsletter. I want to thank you for a job well done.

Your welcome, Gerrie… Bakersfield, eh? What did you do to deserve

that punishment? LOL.

. . .

Do skunks celebrate Valentine's Day?

Sure, they're very scent-imental!

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From: Mary Ellen Ryan SV64 I am enjoying the Monday Update. I had heard about it for several years, but it was my cousin Bob LaBelle SV62, that connected my sister and me. Thanks for keeping the old time spirit alive!

That’s ‘cause I’m an “old time” kind of gu, Mary Ellen.

. . .

From: Patricia Lofas-Rentschler SV69 I was introduced to the MU by Kay Ashlock-Lewis. I love the MU as it tells me much I didn't know about Vallejo and brings back memories about the things I had forgotten... Thank You!

. . . From: Cynthia Redmond-Sproule SV65 I just read Bob Conley's update on Susan and Greg Conley's horrific loss in the Valley Fire. Susan and Greg are two of my oldest and dearest friends. We were schoolmates at St Vincent's, friends, neighbors and business partners. When they moved to Middletown many years ago I was sad but I knew they were building their dream... and it was truly a bit of paradise! I had taken the photo of the house as I was leaving from a wonderful visit one day.

The aftermath photo was taken by an officer who was confirming that the house was gone. It so happens that it was taken from the same viewpoint as mine (note the fountain in the center). This was the main house but also destroyed were the guest/pool house ,barn and out buildings.

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I thought it might put names and faces on the total devastation that happened that weekend. I still can't believe it is gone and I have huge admiration for my friends Susan and Greg. Their positive attitude and courage is amazing. I can only imagine their heart-breaking loss and I know I would crumble. And now it's been 4 months of phone calls, appointments, lists, appraisers, waiting and waiting! Makes you wonder what insurance and its bureaucracy is all about. And from what I hear they are only one case of many, many cases up there. But still they say they are blessed, their family is safe and sound. Courage in the face of adversity!

Cindy, I had no idea of your friendship with Greg and Sue. His older

brother Bob was a very good friend of mine.

. . . From: Duane Larson HH68 I wanted to give you and your readers and update on our progress with the head-stones and the memorial stone. This morning we moved Homer and Chucks headstones out of our park and into our cemetery, in an area, we believe is correct as far as our information points.

I have been promised and reassured that the American War Mothers memory stone will be placed in a more prominent place in the park and a donor has come forward to donate a new memory tree to be planted behind the memory stone. I will try to give everyone a heads-up when we are going to plant the tree if anybody would like to come out and partake

of this event. I am deeply thankful to everyone who took the time to write a note to the GVRD and the Mayor and supported this endeavor, You should be very proud of what we accomplished in correcting this lapse in judgement of a long time ago.

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I am including pictures of the moving and placement of the stones and a picture of where the mother’s stone sat before being put in the back of the dump, This is just temporary. Again, Harry, I want to thank you and every one of your readers for their support. Best wishes always.

Great job, Duane… I admire your dedication.

. . .

From: Jerry Hallett ‘53 Harry, Maybe your following can help me return this ring I found in Vallejo’s Dan Foley Park. It's a University Of California Davis. One side has a BS on it the other side1981 with a horse on it. The name on the inside says YUNG UK LEE. It has a Red Stone in the center. I have tried many other ways without any luck… no help from the school. I'm thinking if you put in the newsletter someone might know the person. Thank you for any help you can give me. I am not looking for a reward… just want to return the ring..

Jerry, I contacted the UC Davis Alumni Center last week but they have

yet to get back to me.

. . . From: Charlie Spooner ‘60 My short story, "Beach Boy Blues," has been accepted by Lost Coast Review and will probably be in the Summer issue, though that is to be determined. Lost Coast Review is the publication that recently printed my story, "Moral Imperative." I guess they like me over there. Wahoo! Funny thing: "Beach Boy" was rejected by two other publications (who shall be nameless) on the same day it was accepted by Lost Coast. Brings to mind the old saying: "If you throw enough 'stuff' at the wall, some of it will stick."

Whoopee! Congrats yet again, Mr. Spooner. When the film rights are

picked up can you put in a good word for me to be cast as the “aging

Kahuna?” I’m sure that Jerry Cook ’58 will be auditioning for the part

but remember who gave you your first big start. LOL.

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. . .

From: Al Neblett ‘56 if anyone down there would like to move to a beautiful spot up in El Dorado on 15 acres with one of the best views around call me. It is going on the market in a few weeks. Here’s a photo from my back deck. Sacramento is in the center to the right of the little tree in the center of the picture of this evening sunset.

Simply spectacular,

Al. Are you and

Betty moving?

. . . From: Al Farr ‘61 I’ve got a second surgery coming up on the 12th of February. Cancer removal, and of course I'm praying they "get it all", a universal prayer for any and all who are afflicted with this terrible disease. If they do not I would then hope what remains can be successfully dealt with down the road. I'll be at Harborview Hospital here in Seattle. The doctor tells me to count on 5 days, and 10 days to two weeks of recuperation at home. Nothing would please me more than to scream "I beat it!!" from the highest roof top, followed by taking my wife Sharon out for dinner, consuming a double shot of Crown Royal, followed by a juicy rib eye steak dinner, followed by a shot of Grand Marnier in a warmed snifter and a good night's rest, lol. The MU is always a welcome Sunday night ritual.

Al, we wish you the best of luck with your surgery and our thoughts and

prayers are with you. I look forward to seeing you again at your Class

of ’61 Fifty Five Year Reunion this fall.

. . .

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From: Roberta McCapes-Cotter ‘68 I was hoping you could let everyone on the Monday Update know that they can purchase Camp Fire Candy. 2016 Camp Fire Candy Sale --- Mints – Almond Roca - Clusters Yes, you can buy Camp Fire candy again this year. You can also purchase Almond Roca and Clusters! (** there is a limited amount of clusters available, so if you are going to want a case of those, let me know so I can reserve for you) This is again on a pre-order/pre-pay basis, so if you want to order any of the Camp Fire candies, simply complete the attached order form and mail it with your check to:

Camp Fire office 401 Amador Street Vallejo, CA 94590

Please mail by by February 29, 2016. Once the candy comes in you will be notified so we can arrange for pick up. If need to have your candy mailed/shipped, there will be an additional charge for the shipping. Questions? Call Roberta 707-448-2252.

The order form can be found in the PSA section of this MU.

. . .

From: Karen Lloyd-Hughes ‘61 On Tuesday this week I saw you near the Jack in the Box by the Tennessee St. exit in Vallejo. I live in Redding and had been down to San Jose and was heading back home. Thought I would go by the house I grew up in Vallejo. Pulled off the freeway at the Tennessee Street exit. Then saw I the Jack in the Box restaurant and quickly stopped to get a bite. I saw you were heading across the parking lot. What were the odds of seeing anyone I knew, but I look at the Monday Update almost every week and see your picture there. You would not know me but if I had talked to you it would have given you the opportunity to match the face to one of the many names. I do appreciate all that you do with the Monday Update.

Karen, I wish you would have said “hello.” I was on the way to my

dentist. The MU has given me so much notoriety that I can hardly go

anywhere in the area without someone saying “You don’t know me but I

read the MU.” I truly enjoy meeting all of my readers and it gives me

the opportunity to thank them personally. Maybe I’ll see you at your

class reunion this fall. Make sure you say “hi.”

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. . .

From: Maureen “Mo” Mulroy-Kocourek '64 I wanted to weigh in on the Alumni Day plans. One of the things that appealed to me about the on campus Alumni Day event was the introduction to the students. I loved hearing about their plans and achievements. The VHS Zombots presentation prompted me to nominate them as recipients for our annual rowing event raising funds for local groups. For me, it balances out the negative stuff you read and hear about young people today. Having said that, I would attend an off campus event, since there doesn't appear to be any effort to keep it at the school. Thanks for asking and see you wherever the gathering of the Apache tribe occurs. P.S. Our Class of '64 is planning a February luncheon get together for Monday, February 15th. I'll let you know the location, once we decide.

. . .

From: Ron Porcella SV62 Question: any chance of developing a search feature for the MU . I think there are probably many readers who would be delighted to contribute $$$ (count me in), in order to pay for the procurement of a contract to develop such a feature. There's a wealth of Vallejo history in the MU--- direct from the minds of those who lived it! But the only way to effectively access it is to be able to search on "Jane Doe", "VJC", "Chabot", "Federal Terrace", etc, etc. In any case, keep up the great work! Best regards,

Thanks, Ron. I’m not really sure about how to go about creating or

securing a “search feature.” Do you mean having someone physically

go through all ten years of MUs in order to index everything? That

would be a daunting task. Get me a little more info regarding how to go

about this and an estimated cost.

Ron Replies…

Harry-- I should have told you up front that I am NOT an IT person! But I know that many websites and online newsletters have a "search" box at the top of each page, which includes a "GO" button. When you type in a word or phrase it will produce a list-- like in

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Google-- of links to the locations that contain the word or phrase. I was wondering whether one of the many companies that build web sites, manage databases, etc might be able to add a search box to the current MU that would link with the 450+ MU's you have archived, which I assume would be copied to their search engine computers. As with Goggle, one could type the word, for example, "Carmela" in the search box, click "GO", and the search engine would check all 450+ MU's and produce links to every location in every MU that contains the word "Carmela". I mean, how cool would that be? As I said earlier, you have a gold mine of Vallejo history-- directly from the mouths of those who lived it-- that is tied up in those 450+ Monday Updates, with no easy way to access it. You also have many loyal readers that, I suspect, would be willing to contribute to any effort that would make this information more readily available. Perhaps your IT guru Bill Strong has some ideas about whether this kind of search feature is realistic for the MU-- or even doable-- given its current format. I have no clue...

I called Bill Strong and discussed it with him. He seemed a little

dubious but said he would look into it.

And just for the record there have been 540 Monday Updates published

since I began using the title “Monday Update” with the June 6, 2005

issue. Prior to that I had sent out 7 small newsletters, primarily, for the

VHS Class of ’62. On the vhs62.com website you can find MUs from as

far back as 3007 only.

In addition we’ve published three cookbooks: Garden Cookbook in July

14, 2008; the Holiday Cookbook in November 22, 2009; and the Lasagna

Cookbook on September 16, 2014. All three cookbooks can be found on

the vhs62.com site by looking under the “Harry’s Archives” link (scroll

to the bottom of the page). And of course, we’ve also published

numerous special editions which, sadly, contained Obits.

. . . From: Larry ‘60 & Molly Post-Petrie ‘61 Harry, just wanted to let you know how much we appreciate your dedication and hard work putting together the Monday Update. We know you put in many, many hours so we can get our "Monday Update" fix.

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We just had a nice time at your son Jason's "The Loft" a couple of weeks ago. We also wanted to let your readers know if they would like a nice glass of wine to visit "The Loft Wine Bar" in downtown Benicia. Thanks again, Harry,

. . .

From: Julie Bowen-Stratton ‘61 Harry, here's the picture of Shirley & Sandy that Shirley mentioned— Sandi Bernardi ’61 and Shirley Harris-Radder ’61 at Jim O’Brien’s Memorial .

. . . -

From: Linda Boatwright-Morgan ‘63 We were scheduled for jury trial on this Tues. and the SOB plead guilty on Friday with 8 years state prison time. Don't know how long he will actually serve. (Hope someone finds a new girlfriend.) He's done quite a few other crimes and deserves all he gets. Glad it is over and even though I will never be 100%, I'm doing well and I'm alive. My heartfelt thanks for all your concerns, cards, calls, visits and being there when I needed you through this difficult time.

For those of you who may not know, Linda, got seriously injured when

she was mugged in front of her house.

. . .

What did the boy octopus say to the girl octopus?

Can I hold your hand, hand, hand, hand, hand, hand, hand, hand,?

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The Apache Review of Arts …“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” By John Parks

NORTH BAY FOG ----

ART BEAT

This time of year can be difficult for many. I miss the sun on those foggy, gray days. So when my friend Ina said, “Will you join me in the 365 grateful project?” I responded wholeheartedly “yes!” This project relates to my creative powers. The young woman who started it in 2008 was having a rough year. So she began writing things down in a journal every day. She did not write down just anything, she captured those little moments in a day that we may miss. Through her journal writing, she realized how important it is to take notice because in a flash that special time can be lost forever. There are many “Grateful” challenges and “Kindness” projects you can try, but what has drawn me to this specific project is the creative piece. I am finally getting to use my Polaroid

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camera and my disposable ones as well. Beginning now, each day I will take a photo of something I am grateful for. The project creator says that once you begin this you will, “See and celebrate the good in your life.” Will you join me in capturing those moments? Let us begin to look at the world with a whole new set of eyes. When you take time to stop, notice and record your experience in gratitude, it can open your eyes! …Julie Ellis

THE FORCE AWAKENS ---- I finally got around to seeing this latest version of Star Wars. What can I say? “It can go back to sleep, or at least hit the snooze button. Interesting to watch, but not very meaningful.”

A ROCKER WITH FOOTSTOOL THAT ALSO ROCKS! ---- Rock on!

WILLOUGHBY ---- is my youngest granddaughter. Since her name is unusual it jumped out at me the other day when I was surfing the web. I happened on the Willoughby Point lighthouse on Kangaroo Island in Australia. Here's a nice photo of it

Then I learned about Willoughby Spit (a sandy point) and Bay in the city of Norfolk, VA (where her parents used to live), Willoughby Point in the city of Hampton, VA, and the city of Willoughby, Ohio.

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TWO WEEKS AGO ---- was the birthday Scotland's national poet, Robert Burns. Many places celebrate it with a haggis dinner and people reading his poems. (Have any of you ever attended one of these gatherings?) Here's his best known poem:

A Red, Red Rose

O my Luve's like a red, red rose That's newly sprung in June; O my Luve's like the melodie That's sweetly play'd in tune. As fair art thou, my bonnie lass, So deep in luve am I: And I will luve thee still, my dear, Till a' the seas gang dry: Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear, And the rocks melt wi' the sun: I will luve thee still, my dear, While the sands o' life shall run. And fare thee well, my only Luve And fare thee well, a while! And I will come again, my Luve, Tho' it were ten thousand mile.

YOU HAVE A CHOICE. ---- Several years ago I saw Jerry Butler and his little band, that included his sister, perform at DC's cool, and smoke free club, Blues Alley. They were excellent. Here are two of his hit songs. You choose the one you like best as the song of the week. Only the Strong Survive https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPkd9ZQOtbI For Your Precious Love https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFYqz1yv0WM

Coolin' it, but not sitting this one out,

John jvp444@yahoo.com

. . .

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On the Sidelines Professional athletes with Vallejo ties…

C.J. and the Bronco’s Win Super Bowl 50

C.J. Anderson, a Bethel High

School graduate, did himself,

and all of Vallejo, proud with his perform-

ance in yesterday’s Super Bowl.

The Denver Bronco’s started out like

gangbusters moving out to a 10-0 lead in the

first quarter over the Carolina Panthers.

The Panthers finally scored in the second

quarter but the Bronco’s went into halftime

up 13-7. C.J. Anderson had a very good first half carrying the ball 8

times for 58 yards with a long of 34 and catching 3 pass for 8 yards.

The Bronco’s defense was exception and with 4:51 remaining in the

game and the Broncos up 16-10, the Panthers had one last chance for a

comeback victory when Cam Newton took over the ball on his own 20

yard line but fumbled on the four and the Broncos recovered. With 3:08

to go in the game C.J. took it in for six from 2 yards out. The Bronco’s

went for 2 which made the final score 24-10 for the big upset by the

Carolina Panthers.

C.J.’s final stats: 23 carries for 90 yards and a touchdown to go along

with 4 receptions for 10 yards. An excellent game for the hometown

kid who will be inducted into the Vallejo Sports Hall of Fame on March

5.

. . .

24

For Bethel High grad C.J. Anderson,

grandma knew best

Barbara Gaddies poses with for a portrait

with a picture of her grandson C.J.

Anderson in her Vallejo home on Friday.

Gaddies is the grandmother of Denver

Broncos’ running back Anderson.

By Daniel Brown, Bay Area News Group

A few miles from the Six Flags amusement park, a handful of quick turns off Highway 37, there’s a street far from the glamour of Super Bowl week. An angry voice echoes into the street. A few glazed-looking faces wander the sidewalks. The smell of marijuana is strong. It is 11 a.m. But halfway down the block, at a neatly kept one-story house the color of butterscotch, a woman answers the door in a Denver Broncos jersey and a smile as wide as the end zone. This is C.J. Anderson’s first lead blocker, the woman who paved the way for his run to daylight. Barbara Gaddies, 72, is Anderson’s grandmother. She helped raise him in this house and helped steer him out of the dangerous Country Club Crest neighborhood. “My grandmother is a strong woman,” Anderson said this week. Anderson kept on running. To Cal … to the Pro Bowl … and to Super Bowl 50 this Sunday against the Carolina Panthers at Levi’s Stadium. “And he’s my baby,” Gaddies said. “I admire anyone who has a goal and reaches that goal regardless of the bumps and hurdles. But for him it’s, like, unbelievable.”

25

Gaddies recounted Anderson’s upbringing from her living room, where pictures of the running back adorn the walls. In the driveway outside, there’s a maroon 2015 Honda CR-V EX with a Broncos decal in the rear window — a gift from her grandson. (That moment, and Gaddies’ explosion of tears, is captured for posterity on YouTube). This is the house where the alarm clock used to sound at 3:45 a.m. Gaddies would dutifully rise and take Anderson to the bus station so he could catch BART to Laney College. Weightlifting sessions started at 6:30 a.m. “And he was never late,” Laney College head coach John Beam recalled. This is the house where Anderson, as a 10-year-old boy, once stumbled across a white rock in a plastic bag. Baffled by the substance, he brought it straight to his grandmother. It wasn’t until he was older that Anderson looked back and realized he’d been holding rock cocaine that belonged to his uncle. Grandma never told him. “He just said, ‘Here, I found this,’ ” Gaddies recalled. “I said, ‘OK, thanks.’ He gave it to me and I flushed it down the toilet.” No big lecture? No words of warning? “We forget: Young kids, they hear. They see. They understand,” she said. “Sometimes, you don’t have to explain anything to them. “And as you’ve seen, they’re still selling drugs out here. But they don’t mess with me. I’ve been in this house for 50 years. I went out there and laid down my rules and they respect me enough to follow them.” Gaddies, a Detroit native, is not someone to be messed with. She spent 27 years working for the former Pacific Bell in San Francisco and took early retirement when Cortelle Javon Anderson was born. While her grandson grew up to be a Super Bowler, she herself was a super bowler — posting a 182 average and competing in tournaments around the country. “I won quite a few,” she said. Neva Craig, C.J.’s mom, also lived in this house, and raised her three boys here before finding a place of her own. Craig worked for 17 years at Burger King, mostly as a manager, before getting a job in an elementary school lunch room. She lives about 10 minutes away, and they remain a tight-knit family. Anderson, who turns 25 next Wednesday, needed guidance as a kid but not much discipline. Gaddies said the kid’s biggest youthful transgression was a mouth that ran

26

faster than his legs. “From the fifth grade to the sixth grade, he never stopped talking,” she said with a laugh. But even then, Anderson was on a mission: He was going to play professional football, and he wasn’t afraid to say so. For almost everybody else, including NFL scouts, his career was a surprise. Though Anderson was a sensational player at Jesse Bethel High School, he was lightly recruited because of his grades. He wound up at Laney, a junior college, where he finally figured out that the classroom mattered, too. (Anderson eventually graduated from Cal with a degree in interdisciplinary studies.) “Educationally, that was his turning point,” Gaddies said of Laney. “He realized, ‘I need to get this education before I can go into sports or get into college.’ ” On the field, though, Anderson was always a force. During his sophomore year at Laney, he rushed for 1,644 yards and impressed Beam with his football IQ. “The one thing that people don’t understand is how smart he is,” Beam said. “He understands the game, so he’s with the right quarterback, Peyton Manning. He gets that. He’ll never mess up a protection. He might get beat, but he’ll be in the right place.” Anderson led Cal in rushing his senior season while splitting time with Isi Sofele. But the NFL ignored him in the 2013 draft. So he signed with Denver as a free agent and waited for his chance. In his first season with the Broncos, he had just five carries. There wasn’t much happening in 2014, either, until injuries took down Montee Ball (groin) and Ronnie Hillman (foot). That opened the door for his breakthrough in a game just 25 miles from his childhood home. Against the Raiders at the O. Co Coliseum, the running back caught a short pass from Manning and … “Nov. 9, 2014,” Gaddies said, cutting off the question. “I can tell you because I was at the concession stand buying something. “I was standing there and I saw him running and I started yelling, ‘Go, C.J.! Go, C.J.!’ I bumped into some man who had beer in his hand because I was so excited. “As old as I am, I tried to run down those stairs so he could see me jumping and hollering.”

27

While grandma was muscling her way down the stairs, Anderson was cruising to the end zone for a 51-yard touchdown. He finished with 90 yards rushing and 73 yards receiving that day and soon followed up with big games against the Miami Dolphins (167 rushing yards) and Kansas City Chiefs (168). At the end of that season, he became just the fifth undrafted running back in league history to make the Pro Bowl and the only one to do so in his first season as a starter. Anderson had a mixed season in 2015, but his 75 rushing yards helped knock off the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game. A few days later, he came home to find a stack of congratulatory letters on his porch from Willow Creek Elementary kindergarten students. To thank them properly, Anderson showed up at class a few days later and entertained the kids with story time. Grandma saw the video of that visit on the Internet. “It made me cry — not that it takes much to make me cry,” Gaddies said. Suddenly, she forgave that fifth-grader in her house for always chattering away. “It turned out to be a good thing because now, when I see his interviews and I watch him, I think, ‘That was my little 10-year-old? Look at him. He’s just fabulous,” Gaddies said. “Just to watch him with those little kindergartners and tell his stories? I don’t know if everybody can do that.” Anderson chatted just fine at NFL opening night, too, on Monday in San Jose. He invited Beam, his old Laney coach, to come along and stand next to him as a way of sharing their journey. His nod to Vallejo roots, of course, also includes making sure grandma is in the stands at Levi’s Stadium. This time, there will be no wake-up call required. “For her to get up to take me to the bus station so I could go lift?” Anderson said. “That was for a dream that we were chasing. And it’s the reason we’re here right now.”

Here’s another heart warming story about C.J. and his grandmother…

To view it click on the link.

http://kdvr.com/2016/02/02/video-the-super-bowl-is-a-homecoming-for-c-j-anderson-meet-his-hero/

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Super Bowl is homecoming for C.J. Anderson

VALEJO, Calif. -- FOX31 Denver had the great honor to meet Broncos running back C.J. Anderson's hero. You will enjoy meeting her, too. He says his grandmother, ...

View on kdvr.com Preview by Yahoo

RETURNED IRS TAX FORM

The IRS has returned the Tax Return to a man in Wisconsin

after he apparently answered one of the questions

incorrectly.

In response to the question, "Do you have anyone dependent

on you?" the man wrote: "9.5 million illegal immigrants, 1.1

million crackheads, 3.4 million unemployable scroungers,

80,000 criminals in over 85 prisons plus 650 idiots in

Washington .

The IRS stated that the answer he gave was unacceptable!

The man responded back, "Who did I leave out?" Contributed by Frank Joy ‘67

. . .

29

Start your Monday with

A

By Joe Illing ‘61

How I Won The Cold War, Part 13 … A “BLACK BOTTOM” CHRISTMAS

After a full day of drinking, guests tended to get a wild

e all looked forward to our annual Thanksgiving celebration when we’d host a hoard of our German friends, who always seemed to look forward to it as well … and who wouldn’t?

A fully hosted bar would welcome them with a bottomless barrel of great German beer, and a fully stocked cellar of the best German wines (Koblenz lies at the heart of Ger- many’s wine region), not to mention Champagne and a wide variety of Weinbrand, Schnapps’, whiskeys, gins and vodkas! The feast itself featured mouth-watering appetizers; plump turkeys stuffed with delect-able dressings seasoned with sage and secret Hungarian spices; creamy mashed potatoes; golden brown gravy; and a sweet potato casserole topped with lightly carmel-ized mini-marshmellows that crunched and melted in your mouth. The fresh-out-of-the-oven pumpkin pies piled high with whipped cream looked like a stretch of the snowy Barvarian Alps! The executive chef who orchestrated this remarkable production was none other than our inimitable Sergeant Kovacs, an impulsive fellow who in 1956 had joined fellow idealistic Hungarians in an ill-fated attempt to overthrow their Soviet overlords by force of arms.

W

30

Kovacs and his fellow revolutionaries gave it everything they had It didn’t work. The Russian tanks overthrew them, and Kovacs had to get out of Hungary in a great big hurry … so he grabbed a sub-machine gun and like an Olympic high hurdles sprinter jumped the concertina wire at the border firing bullets in every direction. Kovacs loved food, and food loved him. He had a way with it. His concoctions were legendary, and packed with so much great

tasting cholesterol that you’d want to gobble a bubbling vat of it even if it did mean your personal expiration date would be bumped up by twenty years or more! But then, Kovacs loved fat. He’d been weaned on it during World War II when he and his family ate lard to survive. In fact, one of the more disturbing sights in the kitchen was a Kovacs’ late night snack. He’d spread a thick layer of pure lard on a slice of white bread and eat it, without spice or adulteration of any sort, as if it were candy! Granted, it was a little thing, and made me gag, literally! But it was kind of a snapshot too, that showed just one of war’s album of horrors. I’d try to imagine what the world must have looked like to those kids caught in that universe of privation, fear and tragedy … when starvation and death were their play-mates. The thought, provoked by that “snapshot” of Kovacs feasting on his pure lard sandwich, made me shiver with fright … and give eternal thanks for my California upbringing. However, to be fair, I can’t remember ever eating anything that tasted better than chunks of bread dipped in Kovacs’ spiced-to- perfection turkey drippings … that is, hot, liquid fat!

The holidays weighed heavily on Rudy

Maybe there’s something to be said for lard after all? In spite of all the fun and feasting, our Thanksgiving galas signaled the beginning of Rudy’s long, slow glide path into a profound holiday funk.

31

Rudy loved Christmas, so much so he celebrated two of them (due to his Orthodox faith) … but he hated being so far from home. You could see a change come over him at the Thanksgiving festivities. You could see a sadness in his eyes and in his posture. His enthusiasm dialed down from its normal high to a dismal low the closer we got to the twenty-fifth. I did my very best to help him cope with it. I’d sing Carols with him at the top of our lungs on our way home after a raucous night of drinking at The Black Bottom (I still feel for those unfortunate Germans in the path of our rude, audio extremes). I’d steal Christmas trees for our room (also on our way home from The Bottom), which he’d decorate with astonishing finesse and good taste. I must admit it was always a little incongruous to see Rudy, a big, muscular steelworker wrapping gifts, stringing Christmas lights and the like, throughout our room. But we all understood, and everybody loved the guy.

Don’t try this at home! Still, Rudy’s holiday funk couldn’t be broken. For example, when he won the “fart fire” contest a few days before Christmas, on both style points and duration, his triumph proved almost meaningless to him! (The contest involved lying on your back, knees up around you ears and farting while holding a Zippo lighter a few inches away from your …

well you get the picture, one that can be quite dangerous I’m told.) There was no consoling Rudy during the week prior to Christmas Eve. The only com-panionable thing to do that we could think of was to help him drown his sorrows in booze … not that the copious quantities of liquor worked, but they did serve to tempo-rarily distract him! That’s when the cure, the inoculation for his blues, miraculously appeared! And from the unlikeliest of sources … The Black Bottom! Francine invited me, her official little brother, to share Christmas Eve with her, Dele, Danielle and the kids! “Wow! Of course! What an honor! I’d love it! Can I bring Rudy?” I replied, both excited and inspired. “Ja! Sure! Vy not?” she responded, after just the briefest of pauses, “that’d be great!”

32

Francine and Dele lived in a large apartment in a prosperous area of town. When Rudy and I arrived, we sat with Francine, Danielle and their kids in a large antecham- chamber waiting for Dele to arrive from his TV show. The room accommodated all of us comfortably, and featured a couple of ten foot high, beautifully carved pocket doors that opened into the parlor itself.

Kids loved December 6, when Father Christmas

delivered his gifts!

We drank Champagne while the kids played with the toys Father Christmas had brought them on December 6th, Saint Nicholas’ feast day when Weihnachtsmann comes bearing gifts.

I could see my pal Rudy start to perk-up a bit, but could also sense his disappointment in the scarcity of Christmas ornamentation in the room. Although a large swag hung sur- rounding the impressive pocket doors, not much else in the room signified Christmas.

When Dele finally arrived, the girls quickly disappeared while we visited, drank more Champagne, and watched the increasingly restless kids play. After a fair stretch of time, Francine and Danielle returned and Dele strapped on his guitar.

The entire Milky Way nested on that tree! He started to sing O Tannenbaum in his sonorous baritone as the ladies bent to the task of sliding open the massive pocket doors, revealing one of the most stunning, spectacular, bewitching sights I’d ever beheld … a breathtaking, colossal, magnificent Christmas tree ablaze with dozens and dozens of real candles that sparkled in the darkened room as if the entire Milky Way had somehow migrated

there!

We processed into the room singing, although wobbled would more accurately des-cribed Rudy’s progress. His knees buckled at the sight of the glittering, perfectly pruned, twelve foot plus high masterwork of nature. He could barely walk! I stood next to him in order to break his fall when his legs finally failed him, but somehow he managed to stay vertical.

Dele and the gang sang a couple of more carols (we tried our best to sing along, but ended up humming most of the time) and then he turned to me and Rudy saying,

33

“Here’s a special song for our American friends” and broke into Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas.”

Rudy’s tears defied belief!

You couldn’t help but be touched. Dele played and sang beautifully. Tears streamed down my cheeks, and though I couldn’t stop them completely, I did my best to keep an eye on Rudy. I’ve never seen anybody on stage or screen, in life or legend shed more tears than Rudy! I couldn’t believe such vast reservoirs could exist in anybody’s tear ducts, but they did, and he continued to produce a veritable deluge as he kept on crying and sobbing and gasping for air.

They were tears of purification really, for all of Rudy’s despondency, all of his melancholy drained with every tear he shed … and soon, voilà, the old Rudy emerged, filled with a joie de vivre that made him a so much fun and such a downright pleasure to be around!

It was spectacular! Never have I experienced such a surprising and gratifying Christmas Eve! Never have I seen such a magnificent Christmas tree! And rarely have I ever had a feast such as that which followed! I was deeply touched, and will remember that night for as long as memory lasts.

And Rudy? Well, as he put it, it was simply the best Christmas Eve ever!

Coming next! How I Won The Cold War, Part 14 … THE DAY IT RAINED SHOVELS

. . .

A man was looking for a place to sit in a crowded university library. He

asked a girl: "Do you mind if I sit beside you?"

The girl replied, in a loud voice: "NO, I DON'T WANT TO SPEND THE

NIGHT WITH YOU!"

All the people in the library started staring at the man, who was deeply

embarrassed, and moved to another table.

After a couple of minutes, the girl walked quietly to the man's table and

said with a laugh, "I study psychology, and I know what a man is

thinking; I bet you felt embarrassed, right?"

34

The man responded in a loud voice: "$250 FOR ONE NIGHT? .I`M NOT

PAYING THAT MUCH!"

All the people in the library looked at the girl in shock. The man

whispered to her: "I study law, and I know how to screw people." Contributed by Larry Petrie ‘60

. . .

The

Occasional

Spoonful

Eagles in Flight

By Charlie Spooner ‘60

I was watching the Iowa Caucuses on CNN, live play-by-play coverage of our democracy in action, but I had to take a break. I mean, how much Donald, Ted, Marco, Hillary, and Bernie can one person stand?

Fortunately, Saturday night before the caucuses, CNN ran a two-part documentary titled “The History of the Eagles.” Now, I have to admit that my exposure to the Eagles is somewhat limited. My daughter, Rachel, was an entertainment reporter at the CBS TV affiliate in Palm Springs in 2007 when the Eagles came through on tour. She interviewed band member Joe Walsh, known for his guitar work and vocals. Joe was gracious and responsive, and the interview aired several times during the Eagles stay in the desert.

And that, rock ‘n roll fans, is all I knew about the Eagles. My preferred musical genre is Jazz, and even though I may recognize a song on the radio every now and then, if you said it was by the Eagles, it would be news to me.

The CNN documentary opened my eyes. The list of hits recorded by the band is truly amazing. Most of them were written by Glen Frey and Don Henley, though there were other collaborators through the years. The following is a partial list: “Witchy Woman,” “Peaceful Easy Feeling,” “Desperado,” “Already Gone,” “Best Of My Love,” “One Of These Nights,” “Take It To The Limit,” “Hotel California,” “I Can’t Tell You Why.”

35

There is one song I left out: “Take It Easy.” It was a song conceived by Jackson Browne, but he was stuck. The lyric that he had went like this:

Well, I’m standin’ on the corner in Winslow, Arizona

And such a fine sight to see…

Glen Frey asked if he could finish the lyric. After some back and forth, Jackson Browne agreed. The finish went like this:

It's a girl, my Lord, in a flatbed Ford slowin' down to take a look at me

Come on, baby, don't say maybe I gotta know if your sweet love is

gonna save me We may lose and we may win though

we will never be here again so open up, I'm climbin' in,

so take it easy

Oh my. There are other verses, but that’s the one that resonates. You can analyze that lyric six ways from Sunday. It perfectly encapsulates the early 70s, the period in which it was written. I challenge all MU readers to present a verse from any song, in any genre, from any time period, that can match the brilliance of “Take it Easy.” It is a classic. It just might be one of a kind.

Hmmm… well, Chuck, it might not be as blatant as Rod Stewarts

Tonight’s the Night where he extolls his “virgin child”

C'mon angel my hearts on fire

Don't deny your man's desire

You'd be a fool to stop this tide

Spread your wings and let me come inside

. . .

36

Okay, Readers, send in that little short story, essay, poem, remembrance or

whatever, you always thought deserved to be published and we’ll use it in

Paperback Writer..

“Dear Sir or Madam, will you read my book?

It took me years to write, will you take a look?”

Paperback Writer

Reflections of a Boomer by Chris Warnshuis SV68

CHAPTER 1 Allow me to take a moment or so of your time, although actually it is not necessarily yours, the time, I mean, nor is it mine to take, as it belongs to the context of the times you have lived and are now living and have yet to live. You see, I’m not talking about now time, taking your time now, but rather past time, time gone by, and I’m hoping we can then come to a better understanding of now time and time about to be now. Also, I want you to take a moment of my time, a very lively time during the sixties which bridged my adolescence and adulthood. And perhaps the reflections of my moment in that time will conjure up reflections on top of, or under, your own bridge. Then together, let’s see if we can find some common ground of communication or, at the very least, make some sense of the days going by. It is the past part of my time that will set the foundation for what I hope will be a lasting relationship by making both of us think more. The part that is past but not mine, that might very well be yours or somebody else’s you know, is neither here nor there or, rather, was neither here nor there. What is here and there is the past that moved about me and my part in all of it and, more importantly, what it might mean to you and what I mean to you because of it. Therefore, I would like you to get to know me and maybe why my mind works the way it does and, by doing that, I’m hoping we can both get to know more about how we think and why we think that way. Will it do either of us any good? Most likely not, but it might be fun and if you’re still reading this, you probably don’t have much else to do anyway. Hey, do you ever get really mad at someone when they’re driving in slow motion in front of you and you’re in a hurry and they don’t have a clue and you’re cussing and as soon as you can, you pass them with a mean frown and it’s somebody you know? All of a sudden your expression changes and you’re glad you didn’t flip them off or scream something through the window. When you know someone, you tend to hide a lot of your

37

anger and frustration over things they do that are stupid. Most of us hide a lot all the time; of course, that’s the civilized thing to do, the golden rule. It’s a good thing, don’t get me wrong, but in a relationship like ours (I hope you don’t mind my assumption that we already have one), don’t worry about being civilized when you think I’m doing something stupid. I’ll understand. Let me tell you how I see things. I generally have good instincts as to a person’s meanness or kindness. Oh sure, I can be fooled sometimes. A good psychopath knows how to set you up, but it doesn’t take too long to spot one because he is never truly interested in anyone but himself. On the other hand, phony posing is always immediately obvious to me; I can see right through fakers from the start and I react accordingly, whether they are faking meanness or kindness. At any rate, I like to discern one’s true nature before I begin to relate to that person. Then I often find it’s easier to simply become a mirror to their personality, a reflection of their inner self. By now, you might think my nature to be that of a chameleon, somewhat of a poser myself, contrary to my quest for our mutual understanding of each other and maybe even the universe. You might think I am simply telling you what you want to hear to make sense of what I want you to hear. That’s where you’d be mistaken, however, because the shades of my personality, the reflections of my behavior, you see, are really me even though they reflect the shared gene pool of our ancestry. I’m not sure if I can explain it any simpler or if I simply can’t explain it, this response that reflects its own image. You may ask, “What does all this have to do with a look back from a boomer? And one of seventy million, at that!” I think you missed the key word of the title, which I believe to be Reflections. Those of you paying attention will remember my earlier assertions about how certain personalities (mine) reflect the nature of the personality that confronts them. So don’t think that I might be consistent with all of you and don’t think all baby boomers are cut from the same tie-dyed cloth. Boomers come in all the sizes and shapes of politico-socio-ethno-econo, peacenick-redneck-greenbelt-farmbelt-blackbelt, and orthodox-radical points of view that one can render. They are often all pigeon-holed as having been part of the long-haired, war- and establishment-opposed, dope- and sex-addicted, commune-living zombies that inherited the earth for a short period of time. Not so, no, not the case. I was there, I watched it, I lived through it. To further complicate things, some have changed every few years and are either back to their start or further from it or somewhere in the false security of the middle. A lot of this had to do with having children, raising them, and having to let them go; and/or having parents, caring for them, and having to let them go. Think about it. Also, think about that key word reflections. That is the brass ring I am reaching for, the first prize, the dance at the end of the touchdown.

38

I’m hoping to get to know you a little better by unveiling the layers of my own personality. I should start by mentioning that words may not necessarily be the vehicle of choice in that endeavor of mine getting to know you, that is. Oh, I know that words are all we have at this point, but I ask that you only use them to form the outline of any emotional, right brain response. Oftentimes it is words that get in the way of truly understanding one another, and I would prefer that you didn’t attach too much importance to the literal translation that your left brain will no doubt supply, but rather I urge you to seek the source of shared cosmic energy or collective unconscious that connects us all. So you see, I will use words, but mostly to get you to react to them, and by your reaction, I’ll probably know what you’re thinking, and that’s how I’ll get to know you. Have you ever thought about things like kerosene and turpentine and linseed oil and all those cleaning, refinishing, polishing marvels that are usually found in warehouses and basements and back porches? They, the chemicals, can be helpful and make things look better and they smell good in a funny way and everyone who uses them appreciates their benefits. But they are also extremely dangerous and can explode and start big fires and be used for arson and torture and all sorts of bad things. On top of that, they can poison someone’s lungs or other organs over long periods of smelling the tempting smells or absorbing the toxics through the largest of all organs, the skin. Years of that can cause the immune system to crumble and hostile cells to begin eroding the fabric of what was once a personality. Be careful how you use those chemicals and, no matter how good they smell, try not to breathe the fumes. The same could be said about words. They can be helpful and make you look better and make others think you are smart or right. That can be useful. But they can also be harmful without you realizing it until too many years have passed. By then, it’s too late to do anything about it. Use words carefully and cautiously, particularly when breathing them in. I’ll be back next week and hope that neither of us has died.

. . .

The Anchor of Youth In the scope of what happens everyday happiness is usual and seen in activities all around We remember the events in youth compared with more mundane repetitive life of today That youth

39

as an anchor point in memory sets the standard for expectations for how we view much of the world Every generation would say the same But it is real we did have fun and frivolity in youth coming together year after year until it was finally over Suddenly we were all gone Now we are reunited to live again together, from where we left pulling on that anchor put down so long ago … Ron Collins ‘60

Below is a poem written March 15, 2015 that can describe my wife Gina in mystic form. It is about the role of women who come to this earth from heaven with wings tucked aside to participate in daily life, but to get here they fly through a million suns and into the night of earth, to mate and sow seeds, and advance life as we know.

Wings From Heaven

Timeless lady of a million suns brilliant sunsets

flying through the night until daybreak

Wings tucked aside walking through life

in daily deeds among tasks of sowing seeds

Family of fortune children of time

given to last with life on earth Stillness borne of contemplation

now lifting her beautiful head

Away is she a heavenly part

40

this ethereal flight to skies left once flown sharing where she lived readying a home anew

Silent wings lift her once more

to fly through a million suns and brilliant sunsets

Awaiting daybreak

the dawn gently presents her glide she touches again this earth

her wings tucked aside

…Ron Collins ‘60

. . .

A Stroll Down History Lane…

A place to share your memories…

before they disappear forever.

From: Gert Gaillard-Strong ‘40 This is regarding your aerial view of the Vallejo High School in 1930. I attended school there from 1937 to 1940. The building in the back was the gym. It didn’t have a name. It was just called the gym, as I recall. It was used by both boys and girls. The cafeteria was in the basement of the main building. The little building next to the gym was the shop building. Boys learned to do industrial things there. The building across the street was the Roosevelt Grammar School. I went there in fifth and sixth grades. The lot on the corner was our playing field. I remember playing hockey and baseball there. Sometime before 1940 another gym was built over on Amador Street. It was called the Girls Gym. We had dances there. Also before 1940 a Science building and a Library were built on the playing field area. I don’t remember when the redwood trees were planted.

. . .

41

This week’s Newbies From: Dick Christensen ‘65 Harry, will you please add my mother, Shirley Burns, to your MU subscriber list. She reads the MU cover to cover on her I-pad every week. She is in San Jose now with my sister Hannah.

Thanks again for the great service. I have been in Vallejo working on mom’s house since December 2 with frequent trips to San Jose to visit mom and Hannah. Hopefully we can put her house on the market this month.

PS: Jimmy Obrian really appreciated your coverage about his dad and passed it on to his mother..

From: Gloria Pontarolo-Taft '66 Please add my friend, Carolyn Platsky-Reno-Lambert '56 to the list of Monday Update subscribers. She also wanted you to ask your readers if there are any plans being made for her class' (VHS 1956) 60 year reunion that should be this year.

Gloria, I’ve heard nothing regarding a reunion for VHS ’56.

From: Heidi Hoffman-G Dear Harry, please put Richard Hoffman and me on your mailing list Also please add Judy Carophers Thank you. Looking forward to reading the newsletter. From: Joanne Stanley-Taylor HH65 Please add my dear friend Pat Kennedy-Cooper HH65 to your list for the Monday Updates. Thanks!

Welcome, all, to the Monday Update

. . .

42

In Memoriam

43

In lieu of flowers, a foundation will be established. Please contact the family about contributions in memory of Dennis at: InMemoryOfDennisYep@gmail. com.

A Memorial Service followed by a Celebration of Life reception was held on Saturday, February 6 in Sacramento. Dennis was a member of the Vallejo High School Class of

’66.

. . . -

From: Mike Millikin ‘60 I wanted to inform all of the MU readers of the passing of my brother, Steve Millikin, VHS ’58 on January 31, 2016 in Chula Vista, CA. Upon graduation from Vallejo High in 1958, he went to the University of Oregon where he graduated with a degree in Journalism. He entered the U.S. Navy after graduation and became a helicopter pilot. His career lasted 26 years, retiring at the rank of Captain and earning the Silver Star for the rescue of a downed Navy pilot from the port of Haiphong. After retirement he became the editor of the Tailhook Magazine. He lived with his wife Maren in Chula Vista and was the father of Erin, Jack and Matthew. A memorial service is being planned.

Mike, our condolences to you and the entire Millikin family. When the

obituary becomes available we’ll run it.

. . .

Evelyn Mae Holsten Oct. 24, 1923 - Dec. 26, 2015

Evelyn M. Holsten, 92, passed away peacefully on Dec. 26, 2015 in Vallejo after a brief illness. She was preceded in death by her father, Felix Gonsalves; mother, Mabel Gonsalves Jack; brother, Dallas Gonsalves and her husband, Elmo Holsten. Evelyn was born in Red Bluff in 1923 and graduated from Mercy High School in Red Bluff in 1940. After completing high school, Evelyn

44

moved to Vallejo, and worked at Ed Pierce Electric Company and Mare Island Naval Shipyard. Evelyn met her husband to be, Elmo, in 1941 while he was a mail carrier. Elmo enlisted in the Navy, and served with the 2nd Marine Division. Evelyn and Elmo were married in 1944 at St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church in Vallejo. They were blessed with four children, Susan, Martin, Angela and Matthew; four grandchildren, Rick Branch III, Kathleen Branch, Dolen (deceased 2013), Thomas Branch, and Elizabeth Hassel; two great grandchildren, and two great great grandchildren. Evelyn was a member of St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church for 71 years. She was a devoted, loving wife and mother. Evelyn had a rich sense of humor. She was patient, generous and kind. Evelyn loved to garden, especially tomato plants. She also enjoyed dancing, music, movies and excursions with Elmo to San Francisco on the ferry. Evelyn will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. The Holsten family would like to thank Kaiser Hospital, Sutter Hospice, Alma Bella Guba and staff of Alma Bella Manor for caring for Evelyn with much kindness and compassion during her last days. Private services were held at All Souls Cemetery in Vallejo, Jan. 6, under the direction and care of Colonial Chapels Mortuary. Donations in loving memory of Evelyn may be sent to St. Vincent De Paul, 400 Florida St., Vallejo 94590, and would be greatly appreciated.

Elmo and Evelyn Holsten were nice people, indeed, and we send our

condolences to the family on their loss.

The Last Word…

A Word (or two) to the Wise…

Okay fellas… I’m going to do you a favor. In a few days we will

“celebrate” one of your ladies favorite holidays… Valentine’s Day. No

matter how many times they might tell you not to worry about it and

you don’t need to get them anything… don’t be a chump. If you ignore

the day you’ll pay for it... in spades.

45

Here’s a suggestion for you; if you live in Vallejo, or nearby, don’t bother

with flowers and/or candy. Go visit Cindy Redmond-Sproule SV65 at

Zoe June’s Gift Shop and let her help you. She has saved my butt on

more than one occasion. Maybe I’ll run into you there. Zoe June’s is

located at 1426 Tennessee St. in Vallejo, just down the street from

Scotty’s Donuts.

. . .

I’m Half the Man I used to Be…

I’m celebrating an anniversary today. Ten years ago, on this date, I had

a life altering surgery called a “Duodenal Switch.” In simpler terms it

was a bariatric surgery to enable me to

lose weight. I’d say that if I hadn’t had

that procedure, I might not be writing

this today. Weight gain had been the

bane of my existence. When I was

younger and playing football I didn’t

have a weight issue… but then my

metabolism changed and I wasn’t as

active and I went up and up and up. I

would go on periodic diets and, trust

me, I tried everything: low calorie;

high protein; Atkins; vegetar-ian;

increased exercise (I got up to running

8 miles a day); even starvation (I once went five days without eating

and what I learned is that after a certain period of time you’re body

begins to shut down and you have no appetite… I actually had to force

myself to eat.) Yes, I lost weight with all of these diet programs, but

the moment I stopped doing whatever it was I was doing, the weight

came back with a vengeance. At one time I got up to 440 lbs and I

knew that 500 was just around the corner. I lay in bed one morning

telling myself that I had to go on another diet… but I just couldn’t do it.

I’d been down that road too many times. That’s when I decided that

I had no other option but to have the surgery performed. Since I’m

46

a member of Kaiser medical plan I could

have had what’s called the Roux-en-Y

gastric by-pass. HOWEVER… (there’s

always a “however” isn’t there?) I

learned that with the Rou-en-Y, the

stomach will eventually stretch and

there is a possibility of gaining much, if

not all, of your weight back.

So, I looked into a procedure

called the Duodenal Switch which

is a far more invasive surgery and

one not covered by Kaiser. It

cost me about $20,000 to have

this surgery performed, and I had

to go to Delano, near Bakersfield,

to have it done.

Here’s what I wrote in the MU of

February 20, 2006 almost two

weeks after surgery:

“I wonder, did I ever think that this surgery would be easy? I don’t want to play it down. IT WAS JUST AWFULL! On Thursday, the day after the surgery I was really second guessing myself. At this point I would find it difficult to ever recommend that anyone have this elective procedure. I suppose, and hope, that that viewpoint will change as I get better. It’s hard to believe that I would voluntarily subject myself to this pain and discomfort…”

Well, I did recover and, yes, my viewpoint has changed. It’s probably

one of the best things I’ve ever done. To be sure, there are a couple of

down sides but basically it’s saved my life. Since having the surgery

I’m able to eat whatever I want, when I want, and I don’t gain weight.

Since I love to eat, that has definitely worked in my favor. I can’t eat as

much at one sitting as I used to, but I tend to eat several meals and

The Duodenal Switch

This procedure involves removing approx-imately 70% of the stomach and then re-routing a lengthy portion of the small intestine, creating two separate pathways and one common channel. The shorter of the two pathways, the digestive loop, takes food from the stomach to the common channel. The much longer pathway, carries bile from the liver to the common channel.

The objective is to reduce the amount of time the body has to capture calories from food in the small intestine and to limit the absorption of fat. As a result, following surgery, these patients only absorb approximately 20% of the fat they intake.

Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

A small part of the stomach is used to

create a new stomach pouch, roughly

the size of an egg. The smaller

stomach is connected directly to the

middle portion of the small intestine,

bypassing the rest of the stomach and

the upper portion of the small

intestine.

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snacks a day. The day of my surgery I weighted 425… today I’m down

to 210 which is what I weighed in high school.

Plus there was another bonus to having the surgery… I am no longer

diabetic. That’s right, this surgery eliminates diabetes.

I don’t want any of you readers, particularly those who are overweight,

to think that I’m advocating this, or any other bariatric procedure. That

would have to be a personal choice. I also don’t think that this surgery

should be performed on anyone past 65 years of age, but if you’re in

your 50s or early 60s, considerably overweight, and at your wits end,

you might consider it. I’m glad I did.

2005 Ten years and 215 lbs. later

. . .

Fowl Play

I might have mentioned this in the past but one of our dogs has an

insatiable appetite due to some drugs he is taking to combat Lupus. As

a result he considers any food he can reach on the countertops as fair

game. Often we’ll come downstairs in the morning to find rem-nants of

his pilfered meal in the living room. Therefore, it came as no big

48

surprise last Wednesday when I came down to find a big mess on the

living room carpet. Initially, I really couldn’t tell what he got into. It

covered a rather large swatch. I thought perhaps it was a loaf of bread

that had been torn apart or even his dry dog food, which made no sense

to me at all. I figured I would leave it to show Sally when she came

down but I didn’t want her to think that I was too lazy to clean it up so I

brought out the vacuum cleaner and set it up near the mess. And

that’s when I realized what it was… it wasn’t food. Well, not in the

conventional sense, that is. It was what remained of a bird that one of

my little kitties caught and dragged inside. It was all down and

feathers that I was looking at. I knew that somewhere there were the

remains of a bird, and sure enough, I followed the trail of feathers and

my lynx “Trouble” was throwing something up in the air repeatedly. Of

course it was the dead bird. Trust me, if Sally had come across that

scene she would have freaked out, so I picked up the bird (gingerly in a

paper towel) and disposed of it and then I vacuumed up the consid-

erable mess. When she came downstairs I told her “You owe me big

time.” And then explained why. LOL.

… thanks for starting your Monday with me… hd

. . .

If your class is having an event within the next year let us know and we’ll keep it posted on the Calendar.

MU Calendar of Upcoming Events

Date Event Place Time VHS Class of ‘64

Febr. 15, 2016 Get Together Luncheon TBA TBA

St. Vincent’s Class of ’64 April 1, 2016 70th Birthday Party Vallejo Naval/Historical Museum 11:30 A.M. Sept. 2016 The 2nd Annua l MURP TBA Noon

St. Vincent’s Class of ’61 Fifty Five Year Reunion Sept. 10, 2016 Reunion Picnic Elise Widenmann-Currey Home Napa TBA

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Combined Hogan ’66 & St. Vincent’s ‘66 Fifty Year Reunion Sept. 23, 2016 Friday Night Cocktail Mixer Zio Fraido’s- Vallejo TBA Sept. 24, 2016 Reunion Dinner Vallejo Naval Museum TBA

VHS ‘61 Fifty-five Year Reunion Oct. 1, 2016 Reunion Dinner Double Tree by Hilton American Canyon TBA

. . .

Public Service Announcement

May the legacy of the 211th live on.

"The Boys From Boston" Author ~ Gary Cullen

Now available on Amazon.com $14.95

Vallejo Times Herald Editor Wyman Riley reported in his October, 1962 Sunday Notebook column that “there was probably no community in the United States so affected by troops stationed within its city.” He was referring to the deployment of the 211th to the city of Vallejo during World War II.

The famed 211th Coast Artillery Anti-Aircraft Regiment better known as 'The Boys from Boston', arrived into the city of Vallejo a few days after the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. Its job: to protect Mare Island Naval Shipyard and the city of Vallejo from any further Japanese attacks. They set up their anti-aircraft cannons on every hill, and 50 caliber machine guns on city rooftops, and then waited for what fortunately never came. In the meantime, their good looks, army green uniforms, east coast charm, and Bostonian accents, captured the hearts of the Vallejo community. The 'Boys From Boston' is a compilation of stories that tell of that time, when 1800 soldiers came to the Vallejo community, and how they were welcomed with open arms at the onset of the war. After the war, many of the Boys would eventually return to Vallejo to marry, to raise families, and to start new civilian careers. The author, a native Vallejoan, and son of one of those "Boys" hopes to share their story in his new book citing testimony from many Vallejoans who witnessed first hand the life in Vallejo during that time.

50

A passage from the book reads: "Virtually all of Vallejo life was dictated by the declaration of war on that infamous day in December. That dictated life style lasted until peace was declared four years later.

With a quiet calm and a bit of cold anger, the community would quickly start to measure its needs to prepare for the war. Vallejo was different than other cities in the country at the time, with regards to preparing for war. Vallejo not only experienced an incredible population growth with the onset of World War II, primarily due to the influx of defense workers, but also experienced first-hand, the immediate deployment of military defenses within its boundaries. The war movement was everywhere. The Boys set up their anti-aircraft guns throughout the city, along with the spotlights, barrage balloons and sound detectors."

Local applause for 'The Boys From Boston'...

"The Second World War transformed the city of Vallejo like no other event in it history. Thousands of men and women, both military and civilian, flocked to Vallejo to aid in the war effort, but none made a greater impact than the "Boys from Boston." Gary Cullen's thorough and well-researched history of the 211th Anti-Aircraft Coast Artillery tells the story of the important contributions made by these "boys." While they helped defend our nation, the men of the 211th also made a long-lasting impact on the community as a whole." James Kern Executive Director The Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum “Gary Cullen has done a lot of good things with his new book, "The Boys from Boston." He has related the fascinating World War II story of some 1,800 men in the 211th Anti-aircraft Artillery Unit from Boston, Massachusetts, who at the last minute got orders to guard Vallejo rather than board transport ships bound for combat zones in the Pacific Theater. Gary has described how the "Boys from Boston" were welcomed with open arms by Vallejoans and how, after the war, about 300 of the men in their unit decided to stay in California or, after going home to the East Coast for awhile, returned to the West Coast. Many of the men in the unit came straight back to Vallejo. They married, raised families and contributed in many significant ways to the town. Thanks, Gary, for telling this story of such a positive development that emerged from the chaos of war. Had the

51

trains transporting the "Boys" not been delayed by railroad track damage in a remote area of Arizona, they might have made it to those military transport ships and never seen the town that became their new home.” Brendan Riley Vallejo Heritage Society

There will be a book signing at the Vallejo/Naval Museum

Saturday, April 16 along with a exhibit of 211th artifacts.

52

CAMP FIRE GOLDEN EMPIRE CAMP FIRE CANDY ORDER FORM

2016 Please place your order by February 29, 2015 by completing the order form below and mail with your check to 401 Amador Street, Vallejo, CA 94590. Once the candy arrives, you will be notified and we can make arrangements for pickup. If you are going to want your candy mailed/shipped there will be an additional charge to cover the cost of shipping. This year you can purchase Camp Fire Mints, Almond Roca and Cluster. They are $75 per case of 15 boxes. We are currently only selling them by the case. Name: __________________________________________________ Address: ________________________________________________ City: _____________________________ State: ________________ Zip: ______________ Email address: ____________________________________________________ Phone #: _________________________________________________

Type # of cases cost per case sub total Mints __________ X $75.00 = __________ Almond Roca __________ X $75.00 = __________ Clusters __________ X $75.00 = __________ Total __________ I am enclosing a check for _______________________________ =========================================================================

OFFICE USE ONLY

Date order and check received: _______________________ Date order picked up: ____________________________ Picked up by: ____________________________ Picked up from: ______________________

. . .

53

ADDENDUM ONE: Reunion and Event Announcements (Send us your upcoming events and/or reunions and we’ll post them here every week until your event.)

St. Vincent’s Class of ‘64 !!! You knew it was eventually going to happen. You could not wait for it !

So, here it is.

What: Your 70th Birthday Party

Where: Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum, (old Vallejo City Hall) 734 Marin St., Vallejo

When: Friday, April 1, 2016 , 11;30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Includes lunch from City Lights Restaurant on Tennessee St., owned by SV69 grads you may know

Why: Because it’s your 70th birthday, and you need a reason to party

What you need to bring: Your partner, a friend or a designated driver?

Oh, and one more thing: a story (or two) to share with your classmates about an April Fools joke or stunt you actually saw or experienced (no urban legends). Cost: A donation of $20 will help defray expenses

Food. Music. Vallejo memorabilia. Your friends. And, I guarantee, there

will be surprises, including a celebrity guest appearance, you will

talk about for years! And, that is no April Fools joke.

Additionally, as an option, here is a chance to go back in time! How

would you like to take an "Honored Guest" tour of SPSV High

School? You will be introduced at a school wide rally, and visit

classrooms to recall and reminisce the excitement and fears of

high school, and to have something to share with classmates at the

Birthday party.

When: tentatively scheduled for Monday, March 21, 2016,

54

8:30 a.m. RSVP to Sam separately.

RSVP on this Evite. by March 1 (Do it now!) http://evite.me/4RTR4YKJnN

Send money to:

Sam Hutkins

2026 Mezes Ave. Belmont, CA 94002

. . . ADDENDUM TWO: Missing Classmates

(Reunion committees: Send me your list if you want it posted here.)

Vallejo High School Class of 1966 Missing List

Please Send Information to Diane Prall Bird dbird@digitalpath.net

Allen, Bonnie

Griffis, Sandy

Paul, Ronald

Allen, Susan

Griffith, Robert

Pavlin, Rachel

Aquino, Amadeo

Groo, Boni

Payne, David

Arnold, Richard

Guitierrez, Judy

Peters, Jeffrey

Asnicar (Nardone), Cheryl

Gunderson, Kris

Pfister, Cecila

Atemon, Linda

Hahn, Mary

Phenix, Olivia

August, Dale

Haley, Bartley

Phillips, Maryanne

August, Perda

Hallin, Mike

Pierce, Kathy

Bagano, Frances

Hancock, Jerry

Pinkston, Chris

Baker, Chareesa

Hardegen, Joy

Pitman, Linda

Balanza, Percy

Harding, Paula

Prater, Alan

Ball, David

Harris, Steve

Price, Marie

Baskerville, Donald

Hart, Sankey

Priest, Kathy

Bayquen, Pam

Hays, Shirley

Puckett, Dennis

Bean, Sharon

Hee, Edwina

Purdy, Kathleen

Beckstead, Jim

Hefner, Francis

Putnam, Lynda

Beloate, Dave

Hicks, Shirley

Quinn, Juanita

Blanza, Percy

Hinkel, Bill

Rayford, William

Blockman, Ray

Hockett, Isaac

Raymond, Burnadette

Bradley, Bradley

Hogan, Ernestine

Rider, Steve

Bradley, Steven

Holllyfield, Jean

Riera, Valerie

Questions or doubts? Contact any committee members. Tony Pearsall tpearsall285@gmail.com 707-853-0092 Bernadette Reardon Wilson wilsonrealestate@aol.com 707-252-7157 Sam Hutkins. Sam.hutkins@gmail.com. Cell 650-504-7169

55

Brandstater, Tamera

Hope, Karen

Riley, Michael

Brazil, Jeri

Hopper, Linda

Ringor, Linda

Broadus, Rudy

Howard, Jean

Roberts, Richard

Brooks, Loyce

Howard, Linda

Robertson, Evelyn

Brown, Betty

Ingelesias, John

Rogers, Anna

Brown, Danny

Inman, Myrna

Rogers, Dave

Brown, Ella

Isaac, Douglas

Rosal, Giovanni

Brown, Sandra

Jackson (Williams), Patricia

Rose, Linda

Bryant, George

Jensen, Jeff

Ruble, Dennis

Burke, Susan

Johnson, Lynda

Sanchez, Stella

Byrd, Martha

Johnson, Melba

Schoenaur, Keith

Caballero, Ruth

Johnson, Cornell

Sharp, Lewis

Calilan, Gilbert

Johnson, Louis

Shearer, Ellen

Calloway, Connie

Jones. Freda

Shearer, Jana

Carillo, David

Jones. John

Simmons, James

Carman, Donald

Jones. Larry

Slater, Joann

Carroll, Jacqueline

Jones. Mike

Smith, Dennis

Carroll, Ronald

Jones. Eugene

Smith, Ken

Cavalli, Mike

Jones. James

Smith, Pauline

Cayabyab, Vicente

Kaiser, Greg

Smith, Sandon

Casey, Christine

Karacha, Ken

Smith, Sue

Chambers, Pamela

Keller, Chris

Smith, Douglas

Chang, Ester

Kelley, Jacqueline

Smith (Gooden), Linda

Christian, Gail

Kimball, Kathy

Snodgrass, William

Clark, Jim

Kitchens, Mike

Solomon, LaVern

Cloud, Charles

Kitterman, Cassie

Somera, Maria

Colar, Carl

Kunz, Marty

Spain, Richard

Coleman, Amy

LaFlesh, Phil

Sparks, Shannon

Colipapa, Jerry

Lane, Claude

Splitt, Kenan

Cook, Bill

Lara, Connie

Stathoff, Albert

Cooley, Linda

Lett, Juanita

Stewart, Earline

Craft, Willie Dean

Lewis, Rebecca

Strickland, Herbert

Crandall, Peggy

Lhlman, Frederick

Tabbs, Evelyn

Cruz, Ernesto

Lloyd, Susan

Tablit, Frankin

Cureton, Ben

Lofton, Ella

Talbert, Sherron

Cusseaux, Carlos

Lopez, Rose

Teves, Barbara

Davis, Joni

Lundy, Michael

Tewalt, Ann

Davis, Judy

Lyons, Esterina

Thamy, Erlinda

Dedmon (Smith), Andrea

Macauliffe, Ronald

Thamy, Ernesto

Defina, Lucille

Mackbee, Jimmie

Thomas, Brenda

Deleon, Albert

Madkins, Alberta

Thomas (Jefferson), Bobbi Jean

DelMas, Richard

Malato, Larry

Thompson, Liv

Demayo, Senita

Martin, Bill

Tiffany, Stuart

56

DeStefano, Sue

Martinez, Margaret

Torio, Lydin

Dickson, Mary

Matthews, Gordon

Torres, Linda

Diggs, Donald

Mays, Allen

Trolinder, Margaret

Diggs, Phyllis

McCain, Walter

Vabri, Regina

DiMaggio, Antoinette

McClellan, Ann

Vann, Matthew

Durig, Nancy

McClure, Maynard

Voice, James

Dwiggins, James

McCurdy, Pamela

Waldroup, Linda

Easterling, Tom

McDonald, Betty

Wallace, Tim

Edmonson, Willie

McFarling, Sheila

Walton, Ruth

Elbeck, Albert

McGee, Marcia

Ware, James

Elkins (Cullison), Marcia

McKissack, Jerry

Wartburg, Daniel

Elliott, Robert

McKnight, Nora

Washington Jr., Earnest

Elliott, Vera

McMillan, Cherie

Watkins, Janis

Engesser, Marcus

Mann, Kenneth

Watts, Richard

Ervins (Lawson), Willie

Mead, Mike

Wegele, Dana

Evangelista, David

Merry, Dorothy

Wells, Lilly

Essex, Calvin

Mesick, Stuart

White, Diane

Farris, Judy

Miller, Curlie

White, John

Fernandes, Carol

Miller, Mike

White, Linda

Fields, William

Montgomery, Ruby

Whitney, Harry

Fleschute, Mary

Moore, Alvin

Wilhoit, Dennis

Franklin, Carl

Moore, Bobby

Williams, Esther

Fronseca, Augie

Movillon, Linda

Williams, Pearl

Fulton, Bennie

Muchmore, Lloyd

Willimans, Henry

Fusilero, Marlene

Nelson, Ed

Wilson, James

Galbraith, Nathaniel

Nelson, May

Wilson, Steve

Garcia, Virginia

Newman, Ivyl

Wilson, Gary

Garelick (Friedman), Francine

Novosel, Jeanne

Wright, Decola

Garzione, Rita

Noyer (Baumann), Charla

Yaugher, Karen

Germany, Carol

Oeser, Dave

Young, Dorothy

Giraldi, Carlos

Oubichon, Ronald

Young, Robert

Gomez, Paul

Owens, Bob

Wittman, Sharon

Gondola, Larry

Parham, Sue

Woodson, Lena

Gray, Suzanne

Parker, Winona

Woody, Letitia

Gray, Robert

Parnak, Karen

Wright, Lee

Green, Roger

Parson, Gale

Wright, Nancy

Green, Sandy

. . .

YEARBOOKS ON CD

Thanks to Bill Strong ‘62, many of the Yearbooks from Vallejo, Hogan, and St. Vincent’s are available on a CD. (Also quite a few of the Junior High Schools.) The MU will be happy to send you a personal copy, of your choice, on a CD for a free will donation. The

57

average donation has been $35. You may order up to five (5) yearbooks for the same donation. Send your check to: Harry Diavatis, 5087 Green Meadow Court, Fairfield, CA 94533

Year VHS HHS SVHS VJH HJH FJH Sol JH Springs JH

1929 1

36 1

37 1

38 1

39 1

40 1

41 1

42

43 1

44-47

48 1

49

50 1

51 1

52 1 1

53 1 1

1

54 1 1 1

1

55 1 1 1

1

56 1 1 1 1 1

57 1 1 1 1 1 1

58 1 1 1 1

59 1 1 1 1

60 1 1

1

61 1 1

62 1 1 1

63 1 1

1

64 1 1

1 1

65 1 1

1 1

66 1 1

1

67 1 1 1

1

68 1 1

69 1 1 1

70 1 1

71 1

72-74

75 1

76

77 1

1

78 1

1

79 1

1

80 1 1

81 1 1

82 1

1

83 1

1

84 1

1

85 1

86 1 1

58

87 1

88 1

Total 41 13 6 11 5 8 1 10

If you have one of the missing Yearbooks and will agree to have it scanned and returned to you, please contact Bill Strong directly. Bill is the one who has scanned and provided all of these Yearbooks and we are indebted to him. It would be nice to fill some of the “holes” especially St. Vincents. Bill’s email is: sos@wdstrong.net

. . .

THE FINE PRINT The Monday Update Publisher/Editor: Harry Diavatis Published: Weekly First Edition: Oct. 26, 2004 Circulation: 1,408 subscribed (est. readers 1500+) The Monday Update was originally intended to serve as a newsletter for members of the VHS Class of ’62. Over a period of time, members of companion classes (1960, ’61, ’63, and ’64) and from Hogan and St. Vincent’s, indicated an interest and began participating. Today the Monday Update has a wide and varied range of readership ranging from 1937 and into the new millenium. We also have several “guests” who have no direct affiliation with Vallejo, whatsoever, but are able to relate to the era.. Anyone who has an interest in, or is nostalgic for, our era is welcomed to participate. Back issues from as far back as 2007 are available on line at www.VHS62.com To subscribe to the MU go to www.VHS62.com and click on the Link- Sign Up for Our Email Newsletter.” There is no charge for accessing the Update… just the expectation that subscribers will periodically “contribute” something to the overall effort, such as a personal update, archival pictures, news, memories, anecdotes, true confessions etc… anything that may be somehow relevant or interesting to our readership as a whole. The Editor reserved the right to print, delete, or edit contributions at his discretion and is solely responsible for the content of the Update. If you send us an email and DO NOT want it published in the Update please be sure to state as much, and we will respect your wishes. The MU respects your privacy. Personal information, including email addressess and phone numbers, will not be given out without your permission. The Monday Update is not financed by, nor does it necessarily reflect the opinions of: Vallejo High School; the VHS Class of 1962; or the VHS ’62 Reunion Committee. (And it sure as hell doesn’t reflect the Vallejo School Board!)

. . . The Official VHS Class of ’62 Web Site http://www.classreport.org/usa/ca/vallejo/vhs/1962 Administrator: Bill Strong Asst. Admin: Harry Diavatis Class size: Located: 431 Missing: 195 Deceased: 144 Total on File: 770

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All members of the VHS Class of ’62 are listed on the site including Missing and Deceased classmates. Members of VHS ’62 are asked to log on to the site, register, fill out a profile and send in a current picture. Non class members may also participate and should log on as “guests.”

. . .