Fall, 2010 - Lincoln High School Alumni Association

Lincoln High School Alumni Association
Volume 14, No. 2
Two Graduates–Their Story
Fall, 2010
eet Olaf Holm (Oly) and Rick Montgomery (Monty) – two graduates from the Class of ’84 who worked together earlier this year helping desperate orphans in Afghanistan. Holm, a Lt Colonel
in the United States Air Force, invited Montgomery, an international aid worker, to visit
Afghanistan to assess the needs of Afghan orphans. This epic journey was brought to our
attention when the Oregonian’s Steve Duin dedicated a column to it.
We asked Oly and Monty to tell us exactly what happened to them after they left
Lincoln 26 years ago. Not surprisingly, they both mention their respect for the teachers
they had at Lincoln and their Cardinal experience.
Olaf Holm
Lincoln prepared me for life with challenging academics, athletics (wrestling,
football, swimming and track) and a sense to do good things in this world; but I would
have to say it was the diversity within Lincoln that set me up most for success in the real
world. We had kids from all walks of life and I really believe that Lincoln did a great
job of bringing everyone together. When I moved to Spokane four years ago, I looked
closely at the schools available and found one school that matched what I wanted for
my two boys. There is a high school located just about downtown, with middle to
upper middle class kids from the South Hill as well as kids from poorer urban areas. It
is known for not only preparing kids for college, but for life. Sound Familiar? Spokane’s
Lincoln equivalent is Lewis and Clark High, and my oldest is in his Sophomore year
at LC. My favorite teachers at Lincoln were: Mr. DeLacy, Ms Scholtz, Mr. Bailey and
Mr. Morten. Mr. DeLacy once called me his best “C” student; with high marks in attitude and motivation
and very low marks in performance. All of these fantastic teachers, amongst many, were instrumental in my
desire to understand the world around me. They all had great passion in what they taught, and as a result
I was thrilled with learning about history, civics and social studies. And Morty inspired in me a lifelong
passion of photography. Okay now for the last 26 years since 1984!
I went into the Army on July 5th, 1984 on a two year enlistment to get money for college, travel
Europe, gain a skill and grow up a bit. I did just that. After basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri
to become a Combat Engineer, I was moved to Darmstadt, Germany where I served the remainder of my
tour and travelled almost all of Europe by train. I got out of the Army in the summer of 86 and returned to
Portland where I got a construction job for the summer before college. I also joined the Oregon National
Guard in Ontario, Oregon where I learned how to be a field artilleryman. In Ontario I started college as
an Aviation Major at Treasure Valley Community College. While there I met my wife to be, the former Ms.
Johna Jean Bezates of Ontario. During my freshman year, I applied for and was awarded a full three year
Army ROTC scholarship. I could have gone anywhere in the nation that had ROTC, but I chose Western
Oregon State College for one main reason; Johna transferred to Willamette University in Salem. I married Johna in September 1989 and graduated Western Oregon State in 90 (Johna graduated
WU in 89) with a BA in International Studies. In June of 1990 I was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the
Army as a Medical Service Corps Officer and Johna and I moved to San Antonio, TX for the Officer Basic
Course at Ft Sam Houston. Following San Antonio in October of 90, we moved to Ft. Rucker, Alabama
where I started Helicopter Flight School to become a UH-60 Blackhawk MEDEVAC Pilot. After graduation
from flight school in the summer of 91, we moved to Seoul, Korea where I started flying MEDEVAC
missions around the DMZ. After just six months though, we made a temporary move to Ft Eustis, Virginia
where I attended the US Army Maintenance Test Pilot Course for four months. After that we moved back to
Seoul, then shortly thereafter we moved to Taegue, Korea where I worked as a MEDEVAC and Maintenance
Test Pilot. In 1993 we finished with Korea and moved back to Ft Rucker for Officers Advanced course; after that
in the summer of 94 we were off to Ansbach, Germany where I again operated as a Maintenance Test Pilot and
Continued on Page 3
The Bulletin Board
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The LHSAA Newslet
more members.
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e-mail [email protected]
Campus Clean-Up!
spr uce up the Lincoln HigVolunteer to help
pus. If you are interested h School camcontact Carolyn Jackson in helping, please
at 503-639-3401,
or e-mail [email protected]
clean-up dates are March . This year’s
12, 2011 and May
21, 2011 at 10:00 am.
On-line
Lincoln High School coln
Lin
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Do
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Stor
nion, a family
paraphernalia for your reuLincoln High
member, or for yourself? souvenirs can
School apparel, gifts, and e. You can get
now be purchased on-lin iting the alumni
to the online store by vis .org) and then
website (www.lincolnalum line Store link.
clicking on the Lincoln On
All proceeds go to LHS.
We Need Help With
Finding Obituaries.
If you know of
a Lincoln graduate who has
recently, please let us kno passed away
the name, date of death, w by sending us
to LHSAA – PO Box 80 and the obituary
97280. Or e-mail us at linc338 – Portland, OR.
com. Thank you for your olnalum@hotmail.
help.
Dues
Renew your LHSAALincoln Alumni
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you
On-line: Renew
or become
Association membership Just visit our
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a new member on-lin
m.org and
web-site at www.lincolnalu
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click on Pay Online
LHSAA Board Mem
If interested please conta bers Needed!
Board at 503-452-2225, ct the LHSAA
e-mail lincolnalum@
hotmail.com or write to Th
80338, Portland, OR. 97 e LHSAA, PO Box
280
Volunteer at Lincoln: ln High School
co
Volunteers are vital to Lin are interested in
you
If
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for a list of
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Ann Walker at lhspta.walke
5th Annual LHSAA
Luncheon will be held Membership
special time is planned to in May of 2011. A
with other LHSAA dues share memories
paying Members.
ojects and
All of the LHSAA pr es and Donations
events are funded by Dur Members.
only. A big thanks to all ou
Applications for the
LHSAA Hall
of Honors are being tak
Membership Luncheon. Tel ing for our 2011
Hot Line for rules and Po ephone LHSAA
licy forms.
503-452-2225.
Alumni Endowment Scholarships
From left, Jeri Zoubek, Louis Wheatley, Matthew Unrath, and Nancy Unrath
with Perpetual LHSAA Scholarship Plaques. Jeri is the mother of Louis, the
2010 Bertha Hunter Language Scholarship recipient. Nancy is the mother of
Matthew, Lincoln High School Alumni Association 2010 Award recipient.
Continued on Back Cover
Save These Dates!!
December 20 – December 31, 2010
– Winter Break
January 19, 2011 –LHS Choir Concert
at 7:00 pm.
January 20, 2011 –LHS Band Concert
at 7:00 pm.
February 26, 2011 –Lincoln Auction.
February 24, 25, 26 and March 3,
4 and 5, 2011 – LHS Drama Department presents “Trek Electric” at 7:30 pm.
March 12, 2011 – Campus Clean Up at
10:00 am.
March 21 – March 25, 2011 – Spring
Break
April 28, 29, 30 and May 5, 6 and 7,
2011 – LHS Drama Department presents
“The Importance of Being Earnest” at
7:30 pm.
May 21, 2011 – Campus Clean Up at
10:00 am.
May 26, 2011 –LHS Spring Band
Concert at 7:00 pm.
May 2011 –Don’t forget the LHSAA
luncheon will take place in May, more
details to folllow.
June 6, 2011 – Lincoln High School
Graduation at 8:00 pm.
June 14, 2011 – Last day of school. n
WHO’S ON FIRST?
Leslie McClung Costandi ’75
President, Newsletter
Alan Zell ’49
Director
Harris Matarazzo ’75
First Vice President, Historian
To contact the LHSAA Board
or any of its members:
Phone: 503-452-2225
E-mail:
[email protected]
Mail: PO Box 80338 Portland, OR 97280
Web site: www.lincolnalum.org
Marjorie Roland MacQueen ’52
Website, Database
Carolyn Studenicka Jackson ’55
Treasurer, Endowment Chair,
LHS Alumni Liaison, Membership,
Rose Garden
2
Two Graduates–Their Story
MEDEVAC pilot. In December of 95 I deployed
to Bosnia-Herzegovina for a one year deployment
flying Medevac in support of Operation JOINT
ENDEAVOR. I returned from my deployment to
Germany in October of 96 but in November of that
same year I transferred to the US Air Force to become
a HH-60 Pavehawk Rescue Pilot (see the movie
“The Perfect Storm”). Johna, Andrew (our little
boy born in Germany in Jan of 95) and I packed up
and moved to Las Vegas, NV to join the 66 Rescue
Squadron at Nellis Air Force, Base Nevada. After 3 years in Las Vegas and the
production of our second son Erik, we were
transferred to Keflavik, Naval Air Station, Iceland in
November of 99. After 2 and 1/2 years in beautiful
Iceland (probably my favorite assignment) flying
rescue helicopters, we moved back to the US; this
time to Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque.
While stationed at Kirtland as an HH-60 Pavehawk
Instructor Pilot, I learned never to trust a student
pilot with your life. Two years later we were on the
road again; Where? Well Germany of course! You
might notice that I have moved to Germany every
10 years. 84-86, 94-96, and now off to Ramstein
Air Base in 2004. In
Ramstein I was the
Chief HH-60 Pilot for
the United States Air
Forces Europe. My job
was to go up to Iceland
and fly with the unit up
there once a month to
conduct check rides and
inspections. Okay, now
for my final stop. After
Ramstein, we left for
my current location in
Fairchild Air Force Base,
Washington just outside
of Spokane. My first job here was as the Director of
Operations at the 22 Training Squadron. The 22nd
is the traditional Air Force Survival School which
teaches all Air Force Aircrew how to survive, evade,
resist (POW) and escape (SERE). After one year
there I became the commander of the 66 Training
Squadron; this unit teaches folks how to become
Survival Instructors, as well as Arctic Survival in
Alaska, Parachute Water Survival in Pensacola, Water
survival and Helicopter Dunker training at Fairchild.
After two years as the commander of the 66 training
squadron, I volunteered to deploy to Afghanistan
as an MI-17 Hip (Big ugly Russian helicopter)
Instructor Pilot for the Afghan National Army Air
Corps.
While in Afghanistan I invited my Lincoln
classmate Rick Montgomery over to work with me.
We filled up several helicopters to supply poor villages
and orphanages. Rick helped to reform a corrupt
orphanage in Kabul and even served as a medic in the
back of my MI-17 when our humanitarian mission
was diverted to rescue Afghan civilians who were
caught in a terrible avalanche.
Upon returning home, Rick continued
to send over teams of humanitarians from his
nonprofit and he also put me in touch with the noted
humanitarian and author of Three Cups of Tea, Greg
Mortenson. I had the honor of delivering supplies
to the villages that Greg is helping in Northern
Afghanistan.
I left Afghanistan and returned to Spokane
in July and currently I am the Deputy Commander
of the entire Air Force Survival School; who knows
where I will be next year. I look back and I can hardly
believe that it has been more than 26 years since my
grand days at Lincoln High. My humble advice to
all of you currently attending Lincoln is to slow down
and appreciate the wonderful scholastic and social
world you are experiencing and the friends and
teachers you are sharing it with. Lincoln is a great
place to begin your adventure in life, but it is just
the beginning. Make the best of every opportunity
and never let anyone tell you that you can’t do it
whatever it is. Be bold, be brave and never back
away from a challenge to make the world a better
place. Above all else be happy.
– Olaf Holm, Class of 84
From Rick Montgomery
Last February I found myself sitting in
the back of a Russian-made helicopter high above
Afghanistan’s forbidding Hindu Kush Mountain
range with a smile on my face. The pilot of the
helicopter, Lt. Colonel Olaf Holm, had invited
me to Afghanistan to assess the needs of desperate
children as a humanitarian advisor to the United
States Air Force. “We’re a long ways from Lincoln
High School,” said Holm with a wry smile as he
dropped the helicopter deep into a snow-clad
valley.
Prior to my first trip to Afghanistan I
had only seen Lt. Colonel “Oly” Holm a handful
of times in the 26 years since we shared adjacent
lockers at Lincoln. We have no shortage of mutual
friends but it’s not easy for two men to keep in
touch when they lead opposite lives.
My post-Lincoln life was much different
than Oly’s. Instead of becoming part of the
establishment, I did all I could to break away. It
wasn’t cynicism that caused the break – more like
a viral curiosity. Something unique had happened
to me at Lincoln (and to a lesser extent during my
four years at the monstrous U of W). My civics and
journalism teacher at Lincoln, the legendary Dave
Bailey, taught me how to read between the lines
and I listened to the enigmatic Will Pool challenge
Reagan’s “evil empire” notion simply by showing us
photos of his trips across Russia and the Ukraine. I
have no affection for the creepy old men who ruled
Russia in the 1980’s (nor the young mafia today)
but I have always respected the Russian people for
their uncanny ability to survive. These friends of
Will Pool certainly didn’t look evil.
Before leaving Lincoln, Pool convinced
me that Russian was a dead language and that
I should consider studying Japanese or Chinese
in college. Well, that must have been the most
influential advice of my life because I went on to
study both languages and, by 1990, I had visited all
of the Japanese islands and 23 provinces in thencommunist China.
Once I had learned a bit of Chinese, I
ended up taking a seriously crazy job in industrial
Guangdong where I witnessed the systematic
destruction of several entire eco-systems and the
inhumane manipulation of an endless supply
of cheap labor (I had no idea that the greatest
labor migration in the history of humanity was
happening in front of my eyes). Something had
to give and, as it turned out, it was me. I quit my
job and became a tour guide, magazine writer and
several other things that I hoped would not require
me to damage the planet or any of the organisms
on it.
I wasn’t aware of it then but my
Cardinal Spirit (positive mental attitude) was
guiding me. In the year 2002, I met Alessandra,
a beautiful and fun-loving Italian woman and we
somehow found a way to merge our divergent
worlds. The glue was our mutual passion for travel
and insatiable desire to learn new things. We now
take like-minded travelers all over the world on
special, off-the-path adventures. Our specialty is
food, wine and hiking trips in Central Italy where
we own an ancient palazzo but we also lead exotic
3
adventures across East
Africa, South America
and Southeast Asia (mgexpeditions.com).
In 2002 I
also met my mentor
in the world of charity
-- a powerful Tibetan
woman who has
adopted more than
250 needy Tibetans.
I immediately started
to help out as much
as I could. I created a
small but remarkably
effective children’s
charity in order to institutionalize my approach to
philanthropy: the direct support of hardworking local
humanitarians in places where children are suffering.
I now travel the world with an amazing
team of volunteers to help local humanitarians
improve the lives of children who live in places where
the exploitation is rampant. In Cambodia, we rescue
children from the horrid sex industry. In Africa, we
are teaching children about HIV and feeding those
who are infected so that they can take their daily
meds without getting sick.
I was reunited with Oly in 2004 at our
20th class reunion where we started to discuss the
plight of children who have been orphaned in
Afghanistan. Oly invited Global Roots over in 2009
and he offered one of his 26 helicopters earlier this
year to fly goods to desperate orphans and poor
communities in the country’s remote Badaskshan
province.
We are now working with an Afghan
humanitarian to keep desperate orphans from falling
into the hands of the Taliban. It should come as no
surprise that Greg Mortenson, the author of Three
Cups of Tea, is the one who introduced us to this
local hero. Please go to GlobalRoots.org to learn
more.
Oly wasn’t the only member of the class
of ‘84 to offer help. Rich Meyer, a Harvard-educated
public relations genius, told Steve Duin about our
work in Afghanistan and Duin’s column in the
Oregonian helped to put us on the map. Gary
Geist and Scottie McElroy have donated space for
our events and Sheila Ater- Capastany, yet another
classmate, is now a special advisor to Global Roots
when she is not directing an incredible NGO in
Seattle called “Open Arms Prenatal” or raising her
lovely children with her husband, Fred. Sheila was
adopted when she was little and Global Roots is
now making it possible for her to touch the lives of
children who have been orphaned all over the world.
I once wrote a Cardinal Times editorial
about Cardinal Spirit and I remember feeling
awkward about it on publication day. I criticized
myself for not using that space for something more
intellectual or hard-hitting. But now, nearly 27 years
later, I have come to understand that nothing is
more important than Cardinal Spirit – the youthful
manifestation of a positive mental attitude.
Cardinal Spirit is what drives Global
Roots. No corrupt tyrant, local thug or sleazy
government official can stop us from helping the
neediest children on the planet.
By the way, if you have any desire to revitalize your
Cardinal Spirit, please don’t hesitate to give me a
call (503 866 9525) or email me (rhmontgomery@
earthlink.net). I have learned that giving something
to a child who has nothing is a great way to keep your
Cardinal Spirit alive.
May peace be with you, –Rick Montgomery, Class of ‘84 n
Continued from Page 2
Alumni Endowment Scholarships
Chris Brown, Class of 1989, presents
Louis Wheately with the $10,000.00
Bertha Hunter Language Scholarship
Award.
Chris Brown, Class of 1989, Endowment
Committee Member presents Matthew
Unrath with the LHSAA 2010 Award for
$1,500.00
From the Past . . .
Alumni volunteer, Lydia Casey, Class of
1958, works in the LHSAA Memorial
Rose Garden on the LHS campus near
the Courtyard. (Notice the newly painted
portable Class rooms in the background.)
Jothika Cholan is
the first student to
receive the LHSAA
$100.00 cash award
that was added to
the Marie Allen 2010
certificate for service
to the Senior class.
Restless Times, Students Challenge Administrators:
Young people, the institutions in which we move—the law,
schools, government, churches, these are not perfect because man
is not—and never can be —perfect. There is much for us to
do in improving them, though the solutions will demand the
best each has to give. As you seek your pathway to success and
happiness, disregard those foolish prophets who renounce all
the institutions that man has in his troublous history created.
Disregard those who encourage you to shun the demands and
standards of parents and teachers just so you can feel independent and boldly daring. Ignore those who would have you take
grave risks with your physical and moral self. For “one after the
other,” those who tell you these things “shall be cast like foolish
prophets forth…and their mouths shall be stopped with dust.”
–Dr. Edwin Schneider – LHS Principal 1970
Quote: From the 1970 LHS Yearbook
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