Monday Update

Monday Update
A weekly newsletter dedicated to those who
remember & celebrate Vallejo as it once was.
Vallejo
Apaches
St. Vincent
Hilltoppers
Hogan
Spartans
St. Patrick/St. Vincent
Bruins
July 20, 2015
The Monday Update is published weekly, on the
John Bunter Memorial Computer
by Harry Diavatis, who is solely responsible for its content.
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Hello Classmates, Schoolmates and Friends:
In this edition: Carol Alarid-Weber ’56, Ssue Aldridge-Bennett ’64, Dennis Allen ’59, Ben Arellano ‘59 Linda
Augustin ’67, Tom Bickford-G, Julie Bowen-Stratton ’61, Juan Caducio ’62, Mike Campas ’56, Jerry Collins '58, Lynn
Combs HH68, Orilda D. Concepcion '58, Jerry Cook '58, Tom Damian ’59, Dan Danielson ’57, Gino Disgrazzi ’55,
Glenn Dyson ’66, Jim Easter ’59, Lafayette “Bud” Eaton ’61, Betty Ellyson-Charlton '58, Leslie Elston-LeMaster ’60,
Gayle Emerton-Rodriguez ’62, Linda Etheridge-Rich ’62, Barbara Giant-Fromm ’56, Joe Illing ’61, Karl Jacque ’60,
Bill Joy ’67, Mike Kollar SV59, Dalbert Sam Leach ’56, David Macdonald ’56, Jim Orr ’58, Carmela Piccolo-Coakley
‘58, Louis Popoloski ’60, Tom Price ’61, Nick Razes ’56, Nora Roberts-Boschee ’65, Ed Sowash ’55, Charlie
Spooner ’60, Marty Stiewig ’57, Linda Tholmer-Anderson ’62, Mardell Weyerts-Ramey '59, Dennis Yen ’63, and Doris
Gail Zachary-Waterman ’57.
HH = Hogan HS SV = St. Vincent’s HS SP = St. Patrick’s HS FF = Former Faculty
1 Solano Community College
G = Guest VJC = Vallejo JC SCC =
Year Only (ie: ’60) = Vallejo High School
Index
Featured Article: Music, Music, Music .........................................................................2
This ‘n’ That ............................................................................................................... 30
The Mailbag .............................................................................................................. 32
Apache Review of Arts by John Parks ‘62 ................................................................. 43
On the Sidelines ........................................................................................................ 45
Paperback Writer....................................................................................................... 46
A Stroll Down History Lane........................................................................................ 51
Postcard Pals ............................................................................................................ 51
This Weeks Newbies ................................................................................................. 56
In Memoriam ............................................................................................................. 57
The Last Word ........................................................................................................... 63
MU Calendar of Upcoming Events ............................................................................ 64
Public Service Announcements ................................................................................. 65
Addendums ............................................................................................................... 69
The Fine Print ............................................................................................................ 75
Apaches Forever T-Shirt Order Form ........................................................................ 78
“All We Need is Music, Music, Music…”
The Late 1950s: Early Rock ‘n’ Roll
The Rock ‘n’ Roll Era is generally dated from the March 25, 1955
premiere of The Blackboard Jungle. “Rock Around the Clock”, by Bill
Haley and His Comets, caused a national sensation when teenagers
started dancing in the aisles. When I was 10 years old, living in San
Antonio I spend all day at the movie theater watching Blackboard
Jungle, with Glenn Ford, Vic Morrow, and a young Sidney Poitier, over
and over again. I must have watched it 5 times and, boy, did I get in
trouble when I got home way after dark. Worth it, though.
It was just about this time that I really became interested in music. In
September of 1956 we were living in San Antonio, Texas when Elvis
Presley made his first appearance on the Ed Sullivan show. My parents
had recently bought our very first television and I was really looking
forward to seeing Elvis. Bad news… we had company that night and
my dad wouldn’t let me watch TV. I was disappointed and upset, and
left the house in tears, wandering around the back alleys in the
2
neighborhood. Quite a few homes were actually located on the alley
and, of course, most had no air conditioning so the doors were opened
and I could hear, and occasionally catch a glimpse of, Elvis on the
Sullivan show through the screen doors.
It wasn’t long after that when I caught the
condition all adolescents get called “high
testosterone.” The music of the time only
added to my pining for a girlfriend. One of my
favorite songs from that era was “16 Candles”
by the Crests (even though I was only 14)
“You're only sixteen
But you're my teenage queen
You're the prettiest, loveliest girl I've ever seen…”
When Elvis came on the scene, music once again changed direction as
rockabilly and rock ‘n’ roll took hold of the post war baby boomers.
Elvis, Gene Vincent, Jerry Lee Lewis etc., were heavily influenced by
those pioneers of early rock such as: Chuck Berry, Bo Diddly, Fats
Domino, and Little Richard. Let’s not forget the contributions women
made to early rock: Ruth Brown, LaVern Baker, Etta James, Big Mama
Thornton and Dinah Washington.
Volumes have been written about Elvis Presley the undisputed King of
Rock ‘n’ Roll. Just his discography would fill several pages. From 1954
through 1963, Elvis had 17 Number One songs and 29 in the Top Five of
Billboard. After the British Invasion in 1964 he only had 3 make the
Top Five on Billboard and no number
The hotel casino gave
Elvis $6,000 in free
ones. Don’t feel too sorry for him…he went on
gambling chips every
to Vegas and made millions before ODing in 1977. day - but he refused to
play, saying it was
against his Southern
Baptist beliefs
3
American Bandstand
In 1957, American Bandstand, hosted by Dick Clark, helped to
popularize the clean-cut, All-American brand of rock and roll. Teen idols:
Bobby Darin, Ricky Nelson, Frankie
At the Payola hearings, conducted
by the House Committee on LegisAvalon, Paul Anka, Neil Sedaka, Frankie
lative Oversight Clark would testiLymon, Debby Reynolds, Little Anthony,
fy to holding an ownership stake in
Bobby Rydell, and Connie Francis, were
a total of 33 different record labels,
distributors and manufac-turers
topping the charts along with Buddy
that all profited handsomely from
Holly, Richie Valens, and the soulful
the rise of Clark-anointed stars like
Danny and the Juniors and Frankie
voices of Jackie Wilson, and Johnny
Avalon.
Mathis. Gene Vincent’s “Be Bop a-Lula”
was a big rock-a-billy hit in 1956 as was
Johnny Mathis had one of the
smoothest, most incredible
Jerry Lee Lewis’ “Great Balls o’ Fire” in
singing voices ever. There was
’57.
nothing better than putting on a
stack of Mathis LPs, turning the
lights out and snuggling for hours
at a time with your favorite girl to
tunes such as: Wonderful!
Wonderful!; It's Not for Me to Say;
Chances Are; The Twelfth of
Never; A Certain Smile; Small
World; Misty; Gina; and What Will
My Mary Say.
Mathis has sold over 350 million
records worldwide. This makes
Mathis the third biggest selling
artist of the 20th century.
Some of the popular vocal groups of that
era were: the Five Satins; Flamingos;
Coasters; Dion and the Belmonts; and the
Del Vikings. The Shirelles, an all girl
group, were in a class of their own from
1960-63 with some great hits: Will You
Love Me Tomorrow (#1); Dedicated To
The One I Love; Mama Said; Soldier Boy
(#1); and Foolish Little Girl.
The Platters, however, were also in a class of
their own with a string of classics: The Great
Pretender (#1); Smoke Gets In Your Eyes (#1);
I’m Sorry; Harbor Lights; My Prayer (#1); This
Magic Moment; and Twilight Time (#1). Lead
singer, Tony William’s distinct beautiful tenor
voice made the Platters. Their peak years
were from 1955-60. That’s my favorite all time
singing group.
4
The Rise of the Folk Singers…
In the tradition of the Weavers, Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie a
variety of folk singers took their rightful place in music and in the ‘60s
played an important role in transforming our culture and helping to
transform the public consciousness on issues such as race, poverty
and war. Peter, Paul and Mary, Bob Dylan, Simon and Garfunkel, Joan
Baez, Judy Collins, The Kingston Trio, James Taylor… the list goes on
and on. When I was at Vallejo JC a few of us would get together every
Friday for a Hootenanny at someone’s home and drink beer and sing
folk songs. It was great fun
The Singing “Bobbys”…
Bobby
Bobby
Bobby
Bobby
Rydell (Wild One, Forget Him)
Darin (Dream Lover, Mack the Knife)
Vinton (Roses Are Red, My Love; Rain Rain Go Away)
Vee (Take Good Care of My Baby #1; Run to Him)
Singers Who Couldn’t Sing…
And then of course there were popular singers who couldn’t actually
sing. Take for example Annette Funicello who rose to fame as a
Mouseketeer on the Mickey Mouse Club. She was uncomfortable being
thought of as a singer, but it was her good looks and personality that
carried her through a very short lived music career with hits such as
"O Dio Mio," "Tall Paul," "Pineapple Princess," and “First Name Initial.”
We weren’t the only ones who had adolescent crushes on Annette.
Paul Anka wrote "Puppy Love", which was inspired by his hopeless
romantic crush on Annette. The highest she ever charted was in 1958
with Tall Paul which made it to Number 7 on Billboard.
Fabian Forte was a “manufactured” idol because of his good looks
even though he couldn’t really sing and, in fact, was uncomfortable
with it. During the payola scandal of the 1960s, Forte testified before
Congress that his recordings had been doctored electronically to
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"significantly improve his voice. His biggest “hit” was Tiger which rose
to Number 3 on Billboard.
Nepotism or Talent…
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet made the Nelsons' younger
son, Ricky, into a music teen idol. Ozzie realized the impact his
musically gifted son could bring to the series, and went on to write
storylines featuring Rick singing. Ricky (as he was known in those
days) first sang on the April 10, 1957 episode, when he was 16,
performing a version of Fats Domino's hit, "I'm Walkin’. "
Gary Lewis and the Playboys recorded the song “This Diamond Ring” in
a session financed by Jerry Lewis' wife Patti. The producer, however,
wanted to maximize the chances for a hit, so he insisted on using
experienced session musicians for the overdubs and, according to
Lewis, the Playboys were not allowed to play their instruments except
on the backing tracks.
As “This Diamond Ring" shot up the charts (eventually hitting the
coveted #1 spot), the next step became the hype. Daddy, Jerry Lewis,
pulled a few strings and got the boys booked on The Ed Sullivan Show,
then the most popular variety show in America.
Host Ed Sullivan had a firm policy that all singers or groups must
actually sing their songs live during their appearances. When Gary and
the boys appeared, it was the first time in the history of the Sullivan
show that an act was allowed to lip-sync.
Dino, Desi & Billy were a singing group from 1964-69. The group was
Dean "Dino" Martin (son of Dean Martin), Desi Arnaz, Jr. (son Desi
Arnaz and Lucille Ball), and their friend Billy Hinsche. A music critic
described the band as a group that "never had an ounce of credibility".
Hmmm… who needs “cred” when your “born into the business”.
6
Why So Sad?...
Connie Francis enjoyed great success, but to me she always sounded
sad: Don’t Break the Heart That Loves You; Everybody’s Somebody’s
Fool; My Happiness; Where the Boys Are; and Who’s Sorry Now, are a
few examples. She always had that little “cry” in her voice.
The Early 1960s:
In the early part of the decade the girl groups really came into
popularity. Groups such as the Shirelles, Ronnettes, Dixie Cups,
Angels and that “monster” group, the Supremes with Diana Ross came
into their own in 1964. Over the next several years the Supremes had
12 Number 1 hits. (More about them next week.)
Beginning in 1961, the Beach Boys
and “surf rock” reigned supreme and
even though Rock ‘n’ Roll made an
abrupt change of direction, the
Beach Boys continued to produce hit
after hit for many years to come. Top
Beach Boys songs from 1961-63
were: Surfin' (1961); 409; Surfin' Safari (1962); Surfin' U.S.A.; Surfer
Girl; In My Room; Little Deuce Coupe; Catch A Wave; Be True To Your
School; and Shut Down (1963). The genius behind the group who
wrote most of the songs was Brian Wilson who also had severe
emotional issues.
The Jersey Boys…
Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons were huge in the early part of the
decade. In 1962 their first record “Sherry” was a Number 1 hit as
were “Big Girls Don’t Cry” and “Walk Like a Man”. Their success
continued for many years. They are one of the best-selling musical
groups of all time, having sold an estimated 100 million records
worldwide. The Broadway hit, Jersey Boys, chronicled their life and
7
music and created a resurgence of their music. Sally and I took our
granddaughter Nikki to see it in San Francisco a few years ago and it
was great fun.
One Hit Wonders…
A slew of records earned the distinction of “one hit wonder” as the
artist never again charted very high on Billboard. These songs, believe
it or not, actually were ranked Number One by Billboard: Teen Angel
(Mark Dinning); Alley Oop (The Hollywood Argyles); You Talk Too
Much (Joe Jones); Hey! Baby (Bruce Channel); Mother-In-Law (Ernie KDoe); Sukiyaki (Kyu Sakamoto); and Dominique (The Singing Nun). Also
highly rated and one of my favorite “Wonders” is Angel Baby (Rosie and
the Originals).
The Philadelphia Sound…
In the early years of rock ‘n’ roll, a number of South Philadelphia-born
popular vocalists made Philly and popular music virtually synon-ymous,
including Danny and the Juniors, Chubby Checker, Jimmy Darren, Mario
Lanza, Fabian Forte, Frankie Avalon, and Bobby Rydell. This led to the
popular rock and roll dance show American Bandstand, originating
from Philadelphia with the perpetual “teenager” Dick Clark (19292012).
Doo-wop…
Doo-wop is a genre of music that was developed in African-American communities in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Baltimore,
Newark, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Detroit, Washington, D.C. and Los
Angeles in the 1940s, achieving mainstream popularity in the 1950s
and early 1960s. Built upon vocal harmony, doo-wop was one of the
most mainstream, pop-oriented R&B styles of the time.
Doo-wop features vocal group harmony, nonsense syllables, a simple
beat, sometimes little or no instrumentation, and simple music and
8
lyrics. From the outset, singers gathered on street corners, and in
subways, generally in groups of three to six. They sang a cappella
arrangements. Prime examples of the style are: "Why Do Fools Fall in
Love?" (Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers); Book of Love" (The
Monotones); "I Wonder Why" (Dion and the Belmonts); “There's a Moon
Out Tonight" (The Capris); "Come Go With Me" (Del-Vikings); and “Little
Darlin'" (The Diamonds).
The peak of doo-wop might
have been in 1961, with The
Marcels’ "Blue Moon".
The Dances…
Bom ba ba bom ba bom ba bom bom
Bom ba ba bom ba bom ba bom bom
Blue moon, moon, moon, moon, moon
Di, Di, Di, Di, Di, moon, moon, moon,
blue moon Di, Di, Di, Di, Di
1950s R&B dance hits began with Chubby Checker's "The Twist".
followed by a series of other dance-themed novelty songs like "The
Wah Watusi" (The Orlons), "Mashed
When I was in junior high, the thing
Potato Time" (Dee Dee Sharp) and "The
that could get you kicked out of a
Bristol Stomp" (The Dovells). Other
dance real quick was to do the
dances that enjoyed short life spans
“Dirty Bop.” Teens would thrust
were, the Locomotion, the Stroll,
their hips forward provocatively
while scooting on their heels and
Chalypso (American Bandstand's name
crouching down. Today kids have
for teen cha-cha), Madison (a line
taken it several steps further and
dance), Hully-Gully, the Limbo Rock, the
call it “twerking.”
Twist, Hand Jive, The Pony, the Jerk, the
Monkey, and the Swim. Am I leaving any out? When the hippie
movement took over in the late ‘60s, it killed the fad.
I always enjoyed singing…
but alas I wasn’t very good.
I could have been a rock star…
but alas I wasn’t very good.
I could have been a great recording artist…
but alas etc. etc.
9
When I was about 13, I auditioned for a TV show in San Antonio that
featured young talent. I sang “Memories are Made of this,” a Capella
and it was simply awful. I had to put my dreams of stardom on the
back burner… way back.
The Top Songs of Early Rock ‘n’ Roll…
1956
1. Heartbreak Hotel (Elvis Presley)
2. Don’t Be Cruel (Elvis Presley)
3. Lisbon Antigua (Nelson Riddle)
4. My Prayer (Platters)
5. The Wayward Wind (Gogi Grant)
6. The Poor People of Paris (Les Baxter)
7. Whatever Will Be Will Be (Doris Day)
8. Hound Doug (Elvis Presley)
9. Memories Are Made of This (Dean Martin)
10. Rock and Roll Waltz (Kay Starr)
1960
1. Theme from A Summer Place (Percy Faith)
2. He’ll Have to Go (Jim Reeves)
3. Cathy’s Clown (Everly Brothers)
4. Running Bear (Johnny Preston)
5. Teen Angel (Mark Dinning)
6. I’m Sorry (Brenda Lee)
7. It’s Now or Never (Elvis Presley)
8. Handy Man (Jimmy Jones)
9. Stuck On You (Elvis Presley)
10. The Twist (Chubby Checker)
1957
1. All Shook Up (Elvis Presley)
2. Love Letters in the Sand (Pat Boone)
3. Little Darlin’ (Diamonds)
4. Young Love (Tab Hunter)
5. So Rare (Jimmy Dorsey)
6. Don’t Forbid Me (Pat Boone)
7. Singing the Blues (Guy Mitchell)
8. Young Love (Sonny James)
9. Too Much (Elvis Presley)
10. Round and Round (Perry Como)
1961
1. Tossin’ and Turnin’ (Bobby Lewis)
2. I Fall to Pieces (Patsy Cline)
3. Michael (Highwaymen)
4. Cryin’ (Roy Orbison)
5. Runaway (Del Shannon)
6. My True Story (Jive Five)
7. Pony Time (Chubby Checker)
8. Wheels (String-a-longs)
9. Raindrops (Dee Clark)
10. Wooden Heart (Joe Dowell)
1958
1. Volare (Domenico Modugno)
2. All I Have to do is Dream/Claudette (Everly Bros)
3. Don’t/I Beg of You (Elvis Presley)
4. Witch Doctor (David Seville)
5. Patricia (Perez Prado)
6. Sail Along Silvery Moon/Raunchy (Billy Vaughn)
7. Catch a Falling Star/Magic Moments (Perry Como)
8. Tequila (Champs)
9. It’s All in the Game (Tommy Edwards)
10. Return to Me (Dean Martin)
1962
1, Stranger on the Shore (Mr. Acker Bilk)
2. I Can’t Stop Loving You (Ray Charles)
3. Mashed Potato Time (Dee Dee Sharp)
4. Roses are Red My Love (Bobby Vinton)
5. The Stripper (David Rose)
1963
6. Johnny Angel (Shelley Fabares)
1.
Shack (Jimmy
Gilmer
7. Sugar
The Locomotion
(Little
Eva) & Fireballs)
2.
(Beach Boys)
8. Surfin’
Let MeU.S.A.
In (Sensations)
3.
The
End
of
the
World
(Skeeter Davis)
9. The Twist (Chubby
Checker)
4.
of the
Rain (Cascades)
10.Rhythm
Soldier Boy
(Shirelles)
5. He’s So Fine (Chiffons)
6. Blue Velvet (Bobby Vinton)
7. Hey Paula (Paul and Paula)
8. Fingertips II (Little Stevie Wonder)
9. Washington Square (Village Stompers)
10. It’s All Right (Impressions)
10
1959
1. The Battle of New Orleans (Johnny Horton)
2. Mack the Knife (Bobby Dari n)
3. Personality (Lloyd Price)
4. Venus (Frankie Avalon)
5. Lonely Boy (Paul Anka)
6. Dream Lover (Bobby Darin)
7. The Three Bells (Browns)
8. Come Softly to Me (Fleetwoods)
9. Kansas City (Wilbert Harrison)
10. Mr. Blue (Fleetwoods)
Look how eclectic our taste was during this era. Our tastes ranged
from exquisite ballads such as My Prayer to instrumentals such as
Stranger on the Shore and to novelty songs such as Witch Doctor and
Elvis’ Hound Dog. We even made The Singing Nun a Number One artist
with Dominique. Go figure. Must have been all of those Catholics
paying penance, eh Carmela?
And how about those Death Songs?...
Teen Angel #1
Tell Laura I Love Her
Patches
Dead Man’s Curve
Last Kiss
Leader of the Pack #1
Laurie (Strange Things Happen)
Mark Dinning – 1959
Ray Peterson - 1960
Dickey Lee - 1962
Jan & Dean - 1964
J. Frank Wilson & Cavaliers - 1964
Shangri-Las – 1964
Dickey Lee - 1965
The Day the Music Died Following a show in Clear Lake, Iowa, and
to avoid the long bus journey to Moorhead, Minnesota, Buddy Holly
chartered a plane for himself, Wayon Jennings and Tommy Allsup.
Jennings gave up his seat to J. P. Richardson (the Big Bopper), who
was suffering from influenza and complaining that the bus was
uncomfortable for a man of his size. Allsup lost a fateful coin toss with
Ritchie Valens for a seat on the plane that crashed, killing Valens,
11
Holly, Richardson and the pilot on February 3, 1959. That day was
further memorialized by singer/songerwriter Don McLean with his epic
American Pie in 1971.
The pilot took off in inclement
weather, even though he was not
certified to fly by instruments only.
In the early morning hours of
February 3, Holly, Valens,
Richardson and pilot Peterson were
killed when the plane crashed
shortly after take-off
Another Saturday Night and I Ain’t Got Nobody…
When I was at Vallejo High (1959-62) we had dances in the Girl’s Gym
every Saturday night. I think it cost a quarter to get in. The money
would go towards buying new 45 records every week to keep up with
the top songs. Those dances were really fun. I think they were over at
11 p.m. and then we’d walk, or drive if we had wheels, down to Foster’s
to hang out for a while. Those were fun, carefree days. I wonder when
they stopped having the dances?
End of an Era…
In 1964 the British Invasion was going full tilt and 5 out of the top 20
were Beatles songs (I Want to Hold Your Hand, She Loves You, A Hard
Day’s Night, Love Me Do, and Please, Please Me) while there was only 1
Beach Boys song (I Get Around) and only two from Elvis (neither in the
top 10).
Next Week: The British Invasion
...
We appreciate those of you who took time to tell us about the music of
your era and what sort of an impact it had upon you. Here are this
week’s responses to our Music, Music, Music feature…
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From: Gayle Emerton-Rodriguez ‘62
My musical exposure was a real mix. My mom liked country and my dad listened to
classical. My older brother, Ross, listened to some of the popular stuff. We watched the
Hit Parade, and later American Bandstand. I learned to love all of it. I taught all my
younger siblings to dance to the latest tunes. I didn't think I liked jazz but I just finished
watching an HBO series called "Treme". The Jazz, blues, creole, Cajun and zydeco
were fabulous. Who knew!! So music is one of my greatest loves. When I'm
listening to my IPod I can clean the house, wash the clothes, weed the garden,
cook the meal and never notice the passing time or how tired I am.
From: Carol Alarid-Weber ‘56
I truly loved and enjoyed our music from the ‘50s It was music not cussing and dirty
singing, maybe it shows my age but I loved it
From: Dan Danielson ‘57
Sorry, Harry. I'm afraid that I would lose most of my friends it I said what I really thought
about rock & roll.
I never cared much for Elvis, although he did sing some songs that I kinda liked. Same
goes for Bobby Darin, until much later in life when I really got to hear some of his other
recordings (other than Splish, Splash...I Was Taking a Bath). Interestingly, my parents
had gone up to Tahoe and seen Darin a couple of times at Harrah's and said that he
really put on a great show. I didn't know what to think of them...they must have flipped
their lids.
More of a Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Fats Waller, Coleman Hawkins, Django Reinhardt,
Stephan Grappelli, Arthur Lyman fan. Even Lawrence Welk! Give me some cool jazz or
big band swing any day.
Still feel the same way.
From: Nick Razes ‘56
Harry, I was in my dad's 1939 Cadillac LaSalle coupe. (1954/55) 16 years old, and I just
got my driver’s license. We were parked at the Vallejo plunge parking lot during lunch.
My friend (Sherman Lee) leaned in and told me to turn on a R&B station KWBR. I never
heard of it. I put it on, and there was a gospel song on. I didn't like it. But Sherman said
wait till the next song. That's when I first heard a R&B song. Joe Turners "Shake, Rattle
13
and Roll." It blew me away. (boogie woogie) piano sound. next was " Sh-boom” by the
Chords, and I was hooked. I still love R&B and Motown.
I use to go to all the concerts at the Dream Bowl in Napa, and the Vets concerts by the
city park. Little Richard in his hey day. full band, bad ass horn section. I just loved the
music. Still do. I also remember the first time I heard R&B at the movies. It was Bill
Haley’s " Rock Around the Clock" in Blackboard Jungle. Great memory's, I wish I could
go back in time.
Check out my flat top and cool curl in front. I also sported
"wedges" shoes. black soles were "IN". cool peg
pants.(29 waist). I was really dark then, because I lived
at the Vallejo Plunge. if you look at the holes by the front
window. someone stole my Appeltons.
1939 LaSalle
I had to ask Nick what were Appletons…
Appleton spotlights were the coolest thing to have in the
50's. When you drove through "Eat & Run" almost every
car had dual Appelton spotlights.
From: Jim Easter ‘59
I can remember the grownups not liking the music. I thought they just are old fashioned
and don't recognize good music. Now when I hear this rap or hip hop stuff, I know that
stuff is awful. Now I'm the grown up but I know good music when I hear it and rap isn't
it.
From: Jerry Collins '58
I remember when Elvis sang "Heartbreak Hotel" in 1956. The first time I heard it, I could
hardly understand the words to the song. He sang the lyrics in such a jerky manner
14
along with echo feedback that you had to listen carefully to know the song's message.
Bill Haley and the Comets were big as well with their, "Rock Around The Clock"
song. My friend, Jerry Rankin and I entered a talent contest at Franklin Jr. High School
in 1956 and won first prize for playing that song with bugles. The prize was $5.00
each. We went to Junior High school dances and loved dancing to "Earth Angel," "In
The Still Of The Night," "Love Is Strange," and "The Great Pretender." We always
disliked, "Good Night Sweet Heart" because it usually meant the end of the dance.
Dancing back then was partner dance and, "Jitterbug." Naturally, as young teenagers,
we enjoyed holding our dance partners close as it gave us a good reason to hug
someone we either had a crush on or we didn't know very well. For males, it also told us
who were and were not wearing, "falsies." This era preceded, "The Twist" which, in my
opinion, was the start of non-partner dancing.
Music of the ‘50s was not the hard bumping wild guitars that we began to experience in
the ‘60s and ‘70s. The piercing high notes of the guitars caused me to switch to the
sounds of Country. Lyrics were interesting and usually told stories of life both good and
bad. It also brought about different types of dancing such as line dances and the
Country two step.
So, as time passes, musical preferences change. We've transitioned from Rock & Roll
to Hard Rock to Hip Hop and to some appreciation for classical music. The music of
Star Wars is a good example of the use of classical music for movies.
From: Ben(ny) Arellano ‘59
Go Apaches
For me, my awareness of what we knew as Rock and Roll began at Franklin Jr. High. I
was there from 1954 thru 1957. Probably my earliest awareness of a Rock ’n Roll song
was Bill Haley and the Comets Rock around the Clock and Skake, Rattle And
Roll; Elvis, That’s All right, Blue Moon of Kentucky; Moonglows, Secret Love; Ray
Charles, Come Back, It Should’ve Been Me, and of course I’ve Got A Woman;
Royals/Midnighters Work With Me Annie; Penguins, Earth Angel; Moonglows,
Sincerely. Another song that I still find myself whistling from time to time, not necessarily
Rock and Roll, was Perez Prado’s Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White (Cerezo
Rosa), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggSDeyPu_e4
Another fond memory is remembering things like doing the ‘Chicken’ in the Franklin
Cafeteria on a Friday dance night, the ‘Stroll’—and of course the teacher15
chaperones policing us to make sure there was “daylight” space between dancers.
Fun memories. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!
from: Tom Damian ‘59
Boise, Idaho
I always liked the big band sound, but rock ‘n’ roll is a big welcome. and change in
rhythm is always good music… music and dancing go well in this era.
From: Mardell Weyerts-Ramey '59
One of my fond memories of rock 'n' roll was the day a group of us went to Lake
Berryessa and remembered the Beatles were going to appear on the Ed Sullivan
show. We then made a bee line for Vallejo to watch it.
From: Betty Ellyson-Charlton '58
Franklin Jr. High held Friday night dances in the cafeteria/gym (can't remember
which!). I remember a dance called the "BOP". My favorite music then was Elvis
Presley's. My girlfriend had every record he made and we spent a lot of time in her
room listening to Elvis. My second favorite was Nat King Cole and then Johnny
Mathis. I liked the "slow" dances better than the fast. Nothing like being in a guys arms
for a romantic slow ballad! In those days Franklin Jr High was 7th through 10th and
Vallejo High was 11th through 12th. I remember going to only one dance at Vallejo High
as my boyfriend joined the Air Force so I lost my dance partner!
Soldier boy
Oh my little soldier boy
I'll be true to you…
From: Carmela Piccolo-Coakley ‘58
We're headed up to Tahoe for the week, but I'll blow the cobwebs out of this brain of
mine and find some memories. I was all about music for as far back as I can remember! I got knocked around a lot by my papa trying to get me to shut up and sit down!!
Most of the time I could outrun him though!
Being the baby in the family. I can remember my older sisters listening to Your Hit
Parade on the radio. It was the mid '40s to ‘50s. The earlier years, it was war time and
we owned the "Trailer Court" across Hwy 40 (a two lane Hwy at the time). The Sailor
barracks were across the Hwy where Kentwig is now. The sailors use to catch the bus
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in front of our house/office. My sisters would turn the radio up to full blast and sit me in
the window to sing while they hid below. I don't remember a whole lot of the songs, but
one of the verses was, "Bell bottom trousers coats of navy blue. I love a sailor and he
loves me too". Then there was, "Chicery chick, chala chala, check a la romey, in a
bananaka, bolika wolika, can't you see, chicery chick is me"! Then there was, "Pickle in
the middle and the mustard on top"! hahaha. I could go on and on. But I only remember
a little bit of a lot. So I'll move on. But first I'd like to say. "Not one of those dang sailors
ever even gave me a penny for my serenade!" (Hmmm… Carm, you’re luck a
sailor didn’t give you “something else.” LOL.)
I think I was about 12 years old when I got my first 45 for Christmas. I don't remember
the song that was on it because my brother told me that these records don't break. I
was so excited, I kept throwing it on the floor. Well, it broke! I was devastated! My
mom said I wasn't getting another one! Of course, I did.
One exciting day for me, was when I got out of class to go see "Rock Around The
Clock".
During my early Rock ‘n’ Roll days, I got a car! I was 16! It was one of those "upside
down bathtubs". A 1950 brown Nash. I hated it! But it had a radio, that's all I cared
about! A couple of the early songs that were quite shocking and taken off the air, were
"Annie Had A Baby, Can't Work No More"! And
For its time, the lyrical phrase “You
"Dance with me Henry". Why that was taken off, I
got to roll with me, Henry” was
have no idea.
considered risqué just as the very
School was part of my life, but riding around singing
with the radio at full blast was the better part, for
sure. By the time I was 17, I had a green ‘51 Chevy
that I thought was quite cool. "Come On Baby Let
The Good Times Roll" was popular. And I really
liked "Sh-Boom, Sh-Boom". I loved the Platters,
like "Twilight Time" and those slow love songs.
I wasn't allowed to go to concerts, so I made sure I
was able to go to the Friday night dances. I feel so
sad when I think how the younger people have
never really felt those romantic, jittery, exciting
emotions we felt when we danced to those great
songs that actually told a story. I even liked those
terrible songs about their loves dying, getting hit by
a train, or a car! "The Lord took her away from me",
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label “rock and roll” was understood to have a sexual
connotation. The line comes from
an Etta James record originally
called “Roll With Me Henry” and
later renamed “The Wallflower.”
Already a smash hit on the
Billboard Rhythm and Blues
chart, it went on to become a pop
hit in the spring of 1955, but not for
Etta James. Re-recorded with
“toned-down” lyrics by the white
pop singer Georgia Gibbs, “Dance
With Me Henry (Wallflower)”
entered the pop charts on March
26, 1955, setting off a dubious
trend known as “whitewashing.”
By the way It was written by Hank
Ballard, Etta James, and Vallejo’s
own Johnny Otis,
etc. I can't think of the names of those songs right now, because I can't get "Blueberry
Hill" out of my head! Oh, that reminds me of another song. " I Can't Get You Outta My
Head".
OMG, I have to stop, Harry! I AM "Rock ‘n’ Roll"! I have to get up and dance if a Rock
‘n’ Roll song comes up on TV!! Those were wonderful years. And as long as Rock ‘n’
Roll is alive, I'll be happy!
Carm, "Bell Bottom Trousers Coat of Navy Blue " was recorded by Guy
Lombardo in 1945; “Chickery Chick” by Sammy Kaye was a Number
One hit in 1945; Pickle in the Middle” was the A side of the first
Mercury recording of Frankie Laine. Artie Auerbach was the comic who
sang Pickle in the Middle, which was written by writers of Jack
Benny's radio program. It was a novelty song and Frankie Laine voiced
the Barker and sang the B side which was “I May Be Wrong.”
From: Barbara Giant-Fromm ‘56
Here is a picture for your Rock &
Roll article! We were the Vallejo
High School Pom Pom Girls and
did a great routine to Rock Around
The Clock by Bill Haley and the
Comets. This picture was taken at
the Tamalpais game at Corbus
Field on October 28, 1955
1st row - Peggy Larsen, Emily
Abouaf, Gloria Womack
2nd row - Peggy Knighton, Liz
Stephens, Barbara Giant, Shirley
Galope
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From: Orilda D. Concepcion '58
HI Harry, first of all, congratulations on the birth of your grandson! Aren't grandchildren
just such blessings? We have 14 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren, and we
thank God for them every day! They truly are our blessings.
Secondly, we arrived here from Guam in 1953 as Navy dependents. My dad was
stationed at Mare Island as Navy Chief; I was the oldest of 11 children, and adjusting to
a new life in a new place was quite a challenge... at first. I went to Vallejo Junior High
for one year, then to Hogan Junior High then on to VHS where I graduated in 1958. My
father was a musician (he played piano, trumpet, saxophone and clarinet), but
unfortunately, I did not inherit any of his musical talents. Some of my siblings did.
Rock ‘n’ Roll music was not just wonderful to listen to, but it helped alleviate my
homesickness. Listening to it (the same songs you listed on the MU), singing along with
it and dancing to it was enjoyable beyond words! As I adjusted to life in the good ole
USA, rock ‘n’ roll became even more enjoyable and entertaining... even my mom would
sit and listen to the programs on TV with us. I loved (still do) all the songs you listed,
and still remember most of the words. In fact, I still have some CDs from the '50s that
we listen to in our garage or when we go on long drives. We still dance the cha-cha and
jitterbug, too.
Thank you so much for all that you do to keep us informed (AND ENTERTAINED!). I
know I appreciate all that you do.
From: Jerry Cook '58
Thanks for the inquiry and discussion about our music experiences, Harry, some fun for
all of us.
In the ‘40s, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Doris Day, Dean Martin, Jack Benny and a few
others were popular. The cowboy singers were another group, Roy Rogers and Dale
Evans were well known, and other cowboys in film were popular. Big bands were still
seen in film. Pop music was the next group, including Motown.
As for my own experience, I was listening to R&B out of Oakland by 1948, age 8 for
me. Dixie Peach Pomade was one of the ads, and for some of us with "flat tops", along
with black folks, we used it. R&B was a lot of good music that seemed wonder-fully free
to me. I really liked it.
In contrast, my foundation was classic. I studied and played violin, in that time, under
the First Concert Master for the Vallejo Symphony Orchestra, Julius Salner, originally
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from Vienna, with his 300 year old violin. My family went to all the concerts at the old
Vallejo Jr High theatre, with yearly member tickets. Lots of inspiration and clapping!
Julius Salner's passion was amazing, very inspiring, however, I wanted more freedom
than old set piece music, and later in college I got into playing string bass and
Progressive Jazz, at mostly college hangouts such as Janko's Jazz House, Pizza
Parlours, and black clubs where I would often be the only white… they called me a grey,
accepting me as a part of it.
We had some fabulous creative sessions. My bass heroes were Leroy Vinegar, and
Paul Chambers. I revered my experiences with black people, they were so much freer
and creative in approach. I often worked with George Wettach on drums, and Ron
Humphrey on alto and tenor sax, fellow students. Once we did a gig with Fats Domino's
piano player, John Littlejohn, outside San Luis Obispo, a black club in the countryside. I
also had a Japanese roommate, Harry Matsuda. I hated racism then, and still do.
There's a lot to learn about life without borders, about spirit rather than package.
In the black clubs, BB King was king, with all Wurlitzer selections there were often by
him alone.
Bill Haley with Rock Around the Clock was a game changer, as was Little Richard. Fats
Domino was big… On Blueberry Hill. Elvis Presley was a big new thing, and that was
followed by the Beatles. Michael Jackson was just getting started with his family, on Ed
Sullivan Show. There were many others of course, and what was popular changed by
the week… the top 40 list.
As with my class of '58, I went to the dances at the old VHS Women's gym. I don't listen
to pop "high school sound" anymore. Even then, any tune was only popular for a limited
time.
Later, the huge Woodstock event was another game changer, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan,
Ravi Shankar, Jefferson Airplane, the Fish and Janis Joplin, etc.
I am now very involved with the electronic trance dancing scene, doing art decor, but the
music is by younger folks, which takes a lot of tech know how, especially now with
newer digital equipment taking over, like Led lighting. Classic, R&B, & Prog Jazz are
roots to the newer electronic music. As with mantras, trancing music has some rhythm
repeat, but with that, a lot of other rifts move in and out, and the beat also keeps shifting
along, much the same as prog Jazz.
Our old music experiences are foundations to the present music. I still listen to classic
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and some jazz, but mostly for me now its world music, reggae, and electronic music. I
use the music when painting, and go with what’s the speed I want to work at, with some
dancing in it. I have heaps of reggae I recorded from KPFA, 94.1 Berkeley, (DJ Spliff
Stankin, or the Humble Lion, Doug Went, and others) and I have more from San
Francisco University, in the early 90's there too, so I still have music connects to
Oakland/Berkeley, started in about 1948.
I paint with this music most evenings, getting to sleep late, burning the midnight oil, and
not sleeping until 2 or 3 a.m. I have gone clear to dawn when totally into it, but hey,
there's surf the next day! A bit of sleep helps, haha.
I am very grateful for my music history, which makes my understanding and enjoyment
of it now so much better. Thank you, the San Fran Bay area!
From: Jim Orr ‘58
For the most part, the music of today is meaningless gibberish...especially what young
people listen to. Pull up to a stop sign; a guy or girl pulls up next to you, windows down,
rap music or heavy metal blaring so loud their car is shaking. I motion to them and ask, “
Hey, can you turn it up a bit......I can’t hear it ! “ Of course we did the same thing back in
the late 50’s. Drove around with the music blaring, windows down, our heads just high
enough to barely see over the lower frame of the windows. But hey, that was cool right ?
At least the music had meaning then....you could understand it. Never anything like it
since. Young folks today don’t know what they missed.
When I wanted a special 45, I would go all the way down to the end of lower Georgia
street. There was a small record shop by the pier run by a couple of guys... had all the
latest rhythm and blues and rock and roll records. One time I picked up one by, I believe,
Frankie Lyman... ” Why do fools fall in love.” Ran home to spin it. A older friend of my
dad’s happened to be there. While it was playing I said to him, “ Man, is that sound cool
or what !“ He looked at me and thought I was crazy !! No different today I guess.
At times a bunch of us guys and girls would get together, drive out to the outskirts of
Chabot, park, then turn our car radios up to listen to the latest tunes... dancing in the
vacant streets. One or two rods always needed a jump after their batteries went dead.
Last note here. I belonged to what then was probably the most popular car club in
Vallejo... the Slicks. We organized a dance to be held at the Casa De Vallejo Hotel.
Rock and Roll band and all the trimmings... sold tickets to the event. Everybody couldn’t
wait for that gig. It happened and was going great. Then, some motorcycle gang showed
up... uninvited of course. The usual fight took place, then shots rang out.
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Someone shot a gun into the ceiling. Vallejo police showed up... straightened everything out… then back to the music and dancing ! Lots more stories like this left in my
mind. To be continued.
Cool times !
From: Marty Stiewig ’57 Apache
I really don’t know how to answer your query regarding my memories of the beginnings
of rock 'n' roll. I’ll start off this missive by explaining that although I was of the generation that witnessed the beginnings of R&R, I was actually a decade or so behind what
my contemporaries were listening to.
My mother had an extensive collection of records – (78 rpm’s of course) and it included
albums from all of the big bands. The bands that I can pull off of the top of my head
include: Count Basie, Bob Crosby, both of the Dorsey’s, Benny Goodman, Duke
Ellington, Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw, Woody Herman, Jack Teagarden, Harry James,
Gene Krupa, and Lionel Hampton. Her absolute favorite was Glenn Miller. (I can
remember when 33 1/3 records hit the market my older brother gave her a thick boxed
collector’s album that contained all of the recordings that Miller ever made. She cried.)
There were various vocalists, such as Russ Columbo, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra,
Helen O'Connell, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Dick Haymes, Helen Forrest, Doris Day,
and Peggy Lee included as well. Oh, and let’s not forget The Mills Brothers and The Ink
Spots. There were even older records that were only recorded on one side. I remember
that a couple of them were by Enrico Caruso, but I can’t recall the others. Maybe Al
Jolson was one of them because I remember telling Mom that I didn’t think he was so
great. She responded that he was better in person, and that his attraction didn’t translate
as well on records.
In our living room there was a “bookcase” that my dad built on one wall that stretched
from ceiling to floor and was about 6’ wide. The shelves were tall enough to allow for 78
rpm albums and there must have been 4 or 5 shelves of nothing but record albums. So
you see, Harry, the music I was exposed to from as far back as I can remember was
Swing Era music. My 3 brothers and I were allowed to play the records when we
reached the age when we could be trusted not to break anything. Our record player was
a combination radio/record player, and you could stack 12 records on the drop down
spindle. But, after about 8 of them had hit the turntable, sometimes there was a little
slippage between the disks which threw off the speed. As soon as that happened we
would remove the records from the stack on the turntable.
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Because of the war effort there were not a lot of records produced in the first half of the
40’s. People of later generations don’t understand how difficult it was to obtain certain
goods. The important stuff was rationed, the frivolous items just were not produced in
great quantity. Although most of the bands and singers were still popular, it was primarily
because of radio that they were being heard. With the economic boom after the war,
things changed as the country got back to normal. Because records were being
produced in greater numbers, and people could afford to buy records, even more
singers were being “discovered” as they broke into the business. There were the “new
guys” such as Frankie Laine, Vic Damone, Perry Como, etc. that were at the top of the
charts. As the decade turned from the ‘40s to the ‘50s even more vocalists were
beginning to emerge as headline singers and not just fronts for bands. In the “olden”
days a song would be introduced as whatever band it was “with” whatever singer it was.
Starting in the ‘50s that trend reversed. The singers were the stars and the bands were
only mentioned as an afterthought. The “Big Band Era” gave way to the vocalist.
My family would always listen to “The Hit Parade” to see what was at the top from week
to week. It seemed that every week a new singer would be discovered and take the
country by storm with a new hit record. Teresa Brewer, The Ames Brothers, Rosemary
Clooney, Tony Bennett, and others that seemed to be new to me, but had been around
for years and hidden in the obscurity in the background as a band singer - Jo Stafford
comes to mind as one of those.
Along about 1954 my mother enrolled me in Lodena Edgcumbe’s “School of the Dance”
to learn ballroom dancing. After that, I was fortunate to be one of the few kids at school
dances that could actually lead a girl around the dance floor without tripping all over
myself or her. (Thanks. mom.) In 1955 a strange hit, “Rock Around the Clock” was at the
top of the charts and I can remember my grandfather, a pretty good self-taught piano
player and composer, saying that music like that would never last. The next year some
guy by the name of Presley recorded a song called "Heartbreak Hotel" which was
quickly followed up by several more hits that year. Personally, I didn’t like R&R. I didn’t
like music that had to drive the beat into my head. I could pick out the subtle beat of
music and know what dance was required, but NOBODY knew how to Rock ‘n’ Roll –
yet! Those who tried it looked a little strange doing it, and it was more of a solo act rather
than a couples thing. I thought the guys that tried it looked pretty stupid, and I can’t recall
any of the girls giving it a try – at least not in public. Most of the examples we had were
from a television show out of San Francisco called "Dotty Hansen's Hi-Time," a local
version of the popular national program "American Bandstand." Dotty’s show aired from
1953-55. (I met her once in the late 50’s when she lived in Napa. I was delivering
something to her from my mom, but I didn’t know exactly who I was going to meet until
this really pretty blond lady opened the door.) Anyway, most of the kids learned to dance
to R&R music by imitation of sources on TV.
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Fortunately for me there was still lots of music to my liking. A clean-cut guy by the name
of Pat Boone came onto the scene, and I was more of a Boone fan rather than an Elvis
fan. However, the music gods were against me and R&R caught on. Rickey Nelson did
an Elvis impersonation on the Ozzie & Harriet show and soon moved into the music
scene with R&R as well as pop music.
I guess I’ve always been about a decade and a half, maybe two, behind the popular
music of the day. In fact, several years after the Beatles broke up I began to realize that
some of their stuff was pretty good. My kids were exposed to whatever music I was
listening to, but like most normal kids they glommed onto whatever their friends were
thrilled by. (My GOD! What is this KISS stuff they are buying?) About the only music I
never listened to much was Country music. However, most of my 4 children seem to like
it. (I’m having their DNA checked.)
One last story, just to show that my preference isn’t in the country, and then I’ll quit.
Somewhere around 2003 or so Mary and I were on a trip and the only TV stations that
were carried by the motel we were staying were not of my interest at all. After flipping
through the 4 or 5 choices, I settled on something called Nashville Star. It was similar to
the current American Idol show, but strictly country music. After I watched it I got a little
interested in the premise, and when we got home I continued to watch it. One week we
were going to Oregon for a visit and I remembered that I had not set the recorder to tape
the show. So I called my son Scott in Sacramento and asked if he would copy it for me,
and that I would pick up the VHS tape when we came back. There was a long pause,
and then Scott asked, “OK, buddy, who are you, and what have you done with my dad?”
So… to answer your query, Harry, those were my feelings about Rock. I didn’t
particularly care for it, but I learned to like some of it. Ditto country music for that matter.
From: David Macdonald ‘56
Many of us who were in high school in the late '50s will remember when Jerry Lee Lewis
hit the charts in 1957-58 with "Whole Lot of Shakin' Going On" and "Great Balls of Fire."
He faded away for a while after marrying his very young cousin. But when he played the
piano, he slammed the keys with both hands, occasionally running his fingers down the
entire length of the keyboard, then played with only a couple of fingers as he almost
whispered, "Easy now...." only to come back to full power on the keys.
Now, 55-years later, this kid walked into a hardware and sat down at an old piano,
showing that he has Jerry Lee in his blood
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https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10202576675049432
Readers: This is AWESOME. If you do nothing else today you must
watch this video of a 17 year old kid named Jacob Tolliver. I swear he
is Jerry Lee Lewis reincarnated. Apparently he auditioned for
American Idol in January for the upcoming season and he’s also in a
Las Vegas musical called Million Dollar Quartet about a night in 1956
when Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins
came together. David thanks for bringing it to our attention.
From: Dennis Allen ‘59
I enjoyed most of the rock and roll transition. Liked many of the songs that had a nice
tune, or I could tap my foot to. Didn't listen to much before then. Then in high school,
the choices got into rhythm and blues, and some country music. Then off to CMA
and the spectrum got broader, since we had a mix of guys from all over the state. We
picked up some music in our training cruise travels. Most memorable were Fats Domino
when we visited New Orleans (still living and performing), and then to Tahiti where we
learned a whole new beat. Some nice music down there. If you go to Hawaii, go to the
Polynesian Cultural Center and check out the Tahitian Hula... In Tahiti the music had a
good beat. So during that era there was Sam Cook, Jimmy Reed, then after graduation
I started listening to country (liked Conway Twitty, Johnny Cash). Then also mixed in
the Kingston Trio, and later saw them at Tahoe. We have been to New Orleans in the
last 4 years, and the Cultural Center in Hawaii in the last 5 years. So, music has
transitioned, and don't care much for rock. But easy listening is my way. Still have all
the records, but you can listen to any of them on line.
From: Doris Gail Zachary-Waterman ‘57
Hi Harry; Here are some of my memories of music while growing up in Vallejo. My
sisters, Pat, Roberta and I grew up with country music, always on the car radio or at
home, usually Hank Williams or Ernest Tubbs, my Dad's favorites. Later, I think my
sisters were more into rock and roll, but I remember at Hogan Jr. High when rock and
roll started being played in the cafeteria at lunch time and a few brave kids would get up
and dance. I think our 10th grade prom theme was Stairway to Heaven.
My sisters and I sang along to the radio, and I remember Pat and me singing Gonna Get
Along Without You Now, by Patience and Prudence while doing dishes. When Roberta
was 5 or 6 years old, she sang My Chocolate Ice Cream Cone on the stage at the
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Vallejo Community Center Talent Show. I think it was written by Gene Autry. Just a
few years ago, when visiting our folks at Merrill Gardens, Roberta would sing that song
when Bobby Simmons came to entertain the seniors there.
At Vallejo JC, 1958, I was in a social dance class that played recorded big band music,
lots of fun, and I remember that Dean Donaldson and Claude Harris were really good
dancers and also good friends. While dating my husband-to-be Roger, we would
practice dancing before we went to the dances, mostly swing or jitterbug. We once
went with another couple, Marlene and Frank Castillo, to SF to dance to Les Brown
and His Band of Renown.
One of our favorite singers then was Johnny Mathis, also The Four Freshmen, Louie
Prima and Keely Smith, The Mary Kaye Trio ( who we saw in Vegas and once at a bar
somewhere near downtown Vallejo ). We have also enjoyed country singers, George
Strait, Willy and Waylon, Merle Haggard, Jerry Reed, Glen Campbell, Alan Jackson,
and country swing group Asleep at the Wheel. And can't forget Sons of the Pioneers!
We have gone to a few shows over the years, Willy Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Merle
Haggard, Kay Starr (Tahoe in the 60s), Huey Lewis, Tower of Power, and Billy Joel. I
wish we had seen James Taylor, a longtime favorite.
At Eddie Martinez's memorial at Merrill Gardens, just a few short years ago, Roberta and
I sang This Land is Your Land. I later regretted that we didn't sing "Sweet Violets",
which I think Eddie would have liked. Look it up if you haven't heard it.
Thanks, Harry, it was fun digging up old memories!
From: Mike Kollar SV59
Hi Harry: The music in the mid-50s was the greatest. I remembered going to the
dances at St. Vincent's Memorial Center on Friday nights and Father Feehen was our
chaperon. Those were the days when most of your classmates would show up. You
would know the words to every song at that time. Some of the songs were: In the still of
the night, At the Hop, You beat me to the Punch, Diana, Dream Lover, Peggy Sue, the
Twist. And Elvis Presley songs, Also we would go to Vallejo High for some of their
dances. Afterwards, we’d go to the local Pizza Parlor.
From: Ed Sowash ‘55
Harry, I was at Vallejo High School from 1953 - 1955. I did not take to rock 'n’ roll at
first. I loved the Big Band music and would go everywhere to hear it. I loved to dance -26
we would go to Rio Nido, Marin Town & Country Club, under the stars, Holbergs, the
Dream Bowl, Casa de Vallejo and anywhere there was a dance.
Some of the big bands that I saw in person were Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, Harry
James, Lionel Hampton, to name a few. But it wasn't long before I was listening to rock
‘n’ roll, but it took some time. I listen to all types of music - love it all except rap. But the
Big Band is still my favorite.
From: Bob Paedon ‘61
Thanks for the walk down memory lane of music. Also, thanks to Al Farr for the kind
words about my trumpet playing back in the olden days. My trumpet playing idol at the
time was Harry James. I thought I’d grow up to play just like him. Obviously that didn’t
work out; the height of my career was playing in the dance band at Hogan Junior High.
In the pre-Rock and Roll years, two of my personal favorite singers were Vaughn
Monroe and Nat King Cole. For my money, they had the smoothest, richest baritone
voices of the era. Johnny Cash gets most of the ink for his version of (Ghost) Riders In
The Sky, but Monroe’s version is my favorite. Mona Lisa and countless other hits by Nat
King Cole filled the airways in the early fifties. Even at that tender young age I could tell
that he had a special ability for setting a romantic mood.
From: Sandy Cimino-Cruz ‘59
Hi Harry !!! What a walk down memory lane--- i remember a radio station in Vallejo that
had a program called Teen Time Tunes... Bobby Bowles was the DJj...we could call in
requests for songs and dedicate them to our friends… that was the early '50's... my
girlfriend Ruth Leavitt and I called all the time !!! I never missed a dance at Franklin Jr.
High or Vallejo High… we always had a lot of fun… our music was the best.
By the way, how is your vision now?? Hopefully better..i was an optician for 36 years so
I've seen just about everything--usually the surgery is very successful.
Thanks for connecting us with our classmates, it's so nice to hear about everyone...
Sandy, I wish I could tell you that my vision has improved but I don’t
believe I’m any better off now than before I had cataract surgery.
Things are still blurry, even with the pair of prescription glasses I had
to buy. I don’t want to deter anyone who is planning on having the
27
surgery… that’s just my story and not necessarily indicative of the
results for other.
From: Les Bates ‘58
Music did not make me go bananas back in the fifties. . I liked all genres, including the
Big Bands. Some of those songs made the Top 40 Charts as well as Country and
Western, Rock and Roll, etc., etc. If I liked a song, I listened to it; the genre did not
matter.
Back to the Big Back Era, their musicians seemed more finished and knowledgeable
and they had fewer songs that were not worth listening to. On the top 40 charts back in
1957 was So Rare by the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra and J.D.s Boogie Woogie was
another great number I used to listen to. Tommy Dorsey also came out with a "Boogie
Woogie" number. Probably my favorite of all time was "Sing Sing Sing" by Benny
Goodman. The Gene Krupa drum solo was fantastic. The entire orchestra was made
up of most of the "Who's Who" of the Big Band Era. Sing Sing Sing was written by Louis
Prima. Look him up if you don't know who he is. Rock and Roll and other genre's were
okay, but you had to be a little more selective; a lot of junk and one-hit wonders came
out. I hope somebody makes a little sense out of this.
You’ve made perfectly good sense.
From: Sue Aldridge-Bennett '64
Okay HD, you've got me! How did you know that one of my favorite songs from the ‘60s
is "Runaround Sue"? I now tell my friends that this is my theme song, and they just
laugh at me... why? Seriously, I am totally into reading your article about the popular
songs from different eras.
No matter the genre, I believe music brings people together in many ways and for
different reasons. For me, just listening to doo wop music evokes the feeling of being at
a school dance or a secret crush on a former schoolmate. Motown is sexy, musical
scores are happy/sad, and country tells a story (not always about the cheating and
drinking), classical is sophisticated and sometimes moody, and big band makes you just
want to dance. The Beatles music pretty much runs the gamut of most music
genres. Let's not forget salsa and beautiful electric guitar sounds.
Surely some of the other MU contributors can express their musical thoughts better than
I, but I just wanted to show my appreciation for your great music article. You are
28
appreciated more than you know!
SueZQ, I think you expressed your “musical thoughts” just fine.
From: Lafayette “Bud” Eaton ‘61
Rock and roll started to get popular shortly before I became a teenager. I heard some,
but mostly outside my house, because we rarely had a radio on, and I don’t think my
parents had heard much, if any. The day I first really listened to rock and roll stands out
in my mind, because it was the day I talked my parents into listening to some.
This was a day in the spring of 1958, so I was 14 at the time. I had gone with my family
on a day trip to the Sierra Nevada foothills to look for “California diamonds”; my
rockhound mother had a hot tip. The trip was a success, so my parents were in a good
mood. We stopped at a roadside restaurant to have lunch or something, and I was
immediately fascinated, as only an 14-year old can be, by a game they had in the
restaurant. It must have been one of the first “electronic” games—called Shoot the Bear.
A mechanical bear ran slowly around an oval track (after you fed the machine with a
dime!), visible about half the time. The bear had a glass circle about the size of a nickel
on its side, and the idea was to aim a rifle (from maybe 5 feet away) and shoot some
kind of electrical impulse at the bear. If you hit the right spot the bear would give a loud
mechanical growl and stand up on its back feet, revealing a second glass circle on its
belly, which was also a target. If you didn’t hit that in a second or two, the bear
completed a semi-circle and started around the track the other way, revealing a third
glass circle on its other side. I think you got a certain number of shots for your dime,
scoring points for your hits.
Since parents were happy, it was easy to talk them into letting me try the game. I got the
hang of it pretty quickly, and rang up a reasonable score on my last try. So now I was
really happy, too. Back in the car, my mother decided to turn on the radio---and I got the
bright idea. “Why don’t we try listening to rock and roll?” There were a few seconds of
silence, since it was something we had never done, but then my father said something
like “Why not, let’s see what it is all about”. So my mother moved the dial (explain that to
the younger generation, if they read this) until she found a station that sounded like rock
and roll.
I couldn’t have asked for better luck. Within a half an hour, we had listened to “The Witch
Doctor”, “Lollipop”, “The Purple People Eater”, “Blueberry Hill” and I think “Dream Lover”.
There were more, but those are the ones that stuck in my mind. I remember my mouth
dropping open when I heard my father say “Well I don’t know why there is such a fuss
over rock and roll, this is pretty good stuff”. I guess I was lucky none of Little Richard’s
songs were played in that half hour!
29
Great story, Bud… you’re folks were “hip” and you didn’t even know it.
...
This ‘n’ that:
Who’s Up for a Picnic…
It’s been suggested that we have a picnic at Blue Rock Springs and
invite all of the MU readers. Maybe we could do this during a week-day
in mid to late September when the weather is pretty much guaranteed
to be nice. Out of our estimated 1500 readers, about 400 live within
easy driving distance of the park. People with classic/ vintage cars
could drive them there and display them. What do you guys think of
the idea? If it’s to happen I would need to have input from you, our
readers.
...
It’s been quite a few years since I’ve had to deal with an adolescent
boy and I’d forgotten certain… uh, how shall I put it? “Certainties…”
30
Yeah, that’s it. Once of those certainties is they won’t pick up after
themselves unless they’re told to… repeatedly. And what happens,
after a while, is you get tired of telling them so you say “what the hell”
and pick up after them. LOL. It just seems easier to not deal with the
issue. And, of course, our grandson will only be here for a few more
days, so let his parents deal with him. I’m pretty certain he’ll grow out
of it… I did. Of course it took years of my wifey’s bitching to change
me, but… change me she did.
...
We spent the better part of the day, yesterday, visiting with my two
nieces and one of my nephews, in Sacramento. It was scorching hot in
Sacto but they have a swimming pool so the kids all got to play and
cool off while the adults mostly stayed inside with the air conditioning.
Spiro got to meet a few of his cousins for the first time and we’ve
always enjoyed our nieces and nephews… good kids.
Steven had a blast… he seemed
to “blossom.” I’ve never seen
him dive before. It was not
only a fun day, but
“groundbreaking” for Steven.
31
Here’s a few of the veggies I
picked to take to Sacramento.
My cukes are amazing… one
day nothing… next day a
dozen… go figure. Right now
the only tomatoes I have are
from a couple of cherry plants
and a couple of Patio tomato
plants. My heirlooms haven’t
kicked in yet. Shouldn’t be much longer, however.
...
Only 15 Apaches Forever shirts remain:
Mens: 1-large; 4-XL; 1-4XL
Womens: 5-L; 4-2XL
Before you send in your order, please email me to confirm
that I still have the size you want. [email protected]
You can find the order form on the last page of this MU.
...
The Mail Bag
From: Dennis Yen ‘63
Hi Harry,
Thanks to Theresa Karr for resurrecting that old photo. In all
fairness to the Key Club, I have a hazy recall that the pic was
taken on a Circle K (Vallejo Jr. College...) outing at a
convention in San Diego circa1965. If I close my eyes it gets
a little foggy, but "Tijuana" and a girl..."Lucy?" seems to
emerge. After that I got nothin'.
32
Hmmm… well, Dennis, as long as it was just “Lucy” and not “Lucy and
the mule.” And, also, you’re damn lucky “you got nothin’ from Tijuana
Lucy...” LOL.
...
From: Linda Tholmer-Anderson ‘62
Hello Harry,
Love your idea of the “musical” MU. It is very enjoyable.
Now for the study of ethnic skin and aging. You are right, Carmela looks fabulous and
thank you for the compliment. I got a double dose of those genes because my mother
was Italian/French and my dad’s mom’s side of the family was from the Caribbean.
Ha! Thank you Norm (Anderson ’62). The weather has changed and it is at least 10 –
15 degrees hotter in Fairfield. But you still have a great garden, Harry.
Sorry about your grapes. Can’t you put up bird netting? The friggin squirrels keep
eating my strawberries. Hate those furry tailed rats.
From: Lynn Combs HH68
Use a fish net or other open weave fabric to hide the grapes from the birds. That’s what
they do in the vineyards.
The problem, girls, is that my grape arbor is 10 feet off of the ground
and about 20 feet across. Getting up there to stretch out the net
would be problematical, at best. I think what I did last year worked
okay… I covered each grape cluster with a paper bag and cinched it
with a fastener. I just got too lazy to do that this year. Live and learn…
...
From: Glenn Dyson ‘66
Harry, Can you put me in touch with Linda Rich? I'd like to see if she can help me find a
transport group here in the Dallas, TX area.
From: Linda Etheridge-Rich ‘62
By all means, please give Glenn my email address. As a starting point, if he’s on
Facebook he should look up Smola’s Rescue Railroad. It’s run by Kathy Smola, who’s
33
based in Ohio, but her transports frequently originate in Texas. For example, there’s one
being set up right now going from Lewisville, TX, to Plainfield, IL, this coming weekend.
I’m not driving for that one, which is already filled, but I’ve driven for her in the past and
she’s top-notch.
I’ll be glad to help Glenn any way I can, and I look forward to hearing from him.
Glenn Responds…
Thanks for the info Linda, and thanks to you, Harry, for sending my request to Linda!
The group of Facebook is closed, but I did request to be a member. I will follow-up with
the info contained in your email. I, like you, am looking for possible transports out of the
North Dallas, TX area. I'll keep you posted.
...
From: Leslie Elston-LeMaster ‘60
Kudos to Linda Etheridge-Rich ‘62 and your animal rescue transport driving. You are
doing such a wonderful thing for homeless animals. I donate $$ to help take care of
them, but the time you give to relocate and re-home them is a blessing
...
From: Julie Bowen-Stratton ‘61
Hi Harry (& John),
Paradox Tuesday - The Barber Paradox - YouTube
...some of the ingenious and amusing comments that follow are as intriguing than the
paradox itself...
Julie, you’re giving me a headache.
...
James Bickford, 17 year old son of Tom Bickford of Napa, is an
outstanding race car driver following in the footsteps of his cousin,
famed NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon. According to James’ website: “He
is following a plan of working his way through the ranks all the way to
NASCAR’s highest level.”
From: Tom Bickford-G
James sure likes Stateline Speedway. James arrived on Thursday so we could spend
some time with his Godfather Bill Haase and his family. They treated us like Kings with
34
great barbeques every night and golf on Friday at Manito CC.
Saturday morning looked like it was going to be a rainy day but it cleared up in time for
practice. James ended the final practice at the top of the chart with a 13.848. He backed
it up qualifying on the pole with a 13.835 giving James his first K&N Pro Series pole
award. It was also the first time since 2010 when Jason Bowles and Patrick Long from
the Sunrise Ford Racing Team had both cars on the front row. James took advantage of
having the pole by setting the pace of the race and leading 151 of the 157 laps. There
were several challenge’s made throughout the race on restarts but James prevailed and
went on to grab his second win at Stateline. The win was just what we needed and put
us right back in the mix for the points. James went into Stateline 8 th in points trailing by
42. At the end of the night he is now 6 th in points trailing by 28 with 6 races left. Next
race is Iowa July 31 st.
Here are a few stats on this up and comer…
James Bickford (No. 6 Sunrise Ford/Interstate Plastics/Eibach/Lucas Oil Ford)
• Is ranked eighth in the championship standings after tallying two top fives and four
top 10s.
• Won his first and only K&N Pro Series West race at Stateline last season in just his
seventh series start.
• Was the 2014 Sunoco Rookie of the Year in the K&N Pro Series West.
• Is a member of the 2015-16 NASCAR Next class.
...
From: Mike Campas ‘56
I was saddened to read of Coach Coke Morrison’s passing. As I read the article, it
rekindled many fond memories of the years I played for him in American Legion and
especially my 1953-54 Franklin Jr. High sports year. Coke Morrison and Eldon Bennet
were our 10th grade football coaches and they led us to a 10-0 championship record.
I was prompted to retrieve my sports scrapbook from a back shelf in the closet. In
reading the articles about the games that year, I read names of the players, some I had
not thought of in years. Our team consisted of:
Ends:
Benny Carmichael and Les Lundblad
Tackles:
Dick Anderson and Buzz Winn
Guards:
Ray Thornell and Billy Wright
Center:
Hubert Mann
Halfbacks: Jim Himes and John Cato
Fullback: Stan Glass
35
QB:
Mike Campas
The big game against Hogan Jr. High was played before 2000 fans at Corbus Field.
Their coaches were Mal Simpson and Fran Marra. Norm Bass was their QB, and Joel
Crouch their running back. The game ended with a Stan Glass scamper of 25 yards for
a touchdown resulting in a 14-9 victory for Franklin, thus ending Hogan’s 17-game
winning streak. (Mike according to your Franklin yearbook the game was
much closer than that and FJHS won 20-19.)
Coach Morrison was as elated about the victory as we were. Coach also led the 10 th
grade baseball team to a tie with Hogan for the league title that year.
Coach played a part in the lives of many Vallejo athletes. I know there are others who
also have great memories of their sports experiences because of Coke Morrison.
Mike, thanks for sharing your memories
of a great guy.
36
...
From: Nora Roberts-Boschee ‘65
After a very expensive and extensive search we ended up in “colorful Colorado.” We
now have 2 and a half acres and a beautiful view. Rod also has a “John Deere.” (What
is it about men and tractors?)
We are excited about my upcoming 50 Year Reunion. We continue to enjoy your
Update. Many thanks for all you do.
...
From: Charlie Spooner ‘60
Harry, congratulations on the birth of your grandson Vasili. I
finally got to read the July 6 MU and enjoyed the pictures.
Eleven grandkids! Good for you, HD.
I promised pictures of our new granddaughter, Emily Rose,
and here she is with her big sister, Samantha, who promises
to be a major help in the hugs and kisses department.
Chuck, what a darling picture.
...
From: Bill Joy ‘67
For all you Golfers out there here is a chance to win a new Cadillac and help the Mare
Island Museum.
This fund raising event will be held September 18 at the Mare Island
Golf Course. Interested golfers will find more info and a registration
form in the PSA section of this MU.
...
From: Carmela Piccolo-Coakley ‘58
Oh my, Mr. Diavatis, I do declare! You make us blush! Linda
Tholmer-Anderson '62 and I just don't know what to say. We
just never looked at ourselves at being anything other than
the age we are. Although I must say, Linda is a most
attractive lady, and very young looking I might add. Linda
and I do attend social events together from time to time, and
37
she definitely will make your head turn when she walks by. Here’s a photo someone
took of us last year. If I'm not mistaken, it was at the Chamber's Wine Pairing Dinner at
Zio Fraedo's.
A veritable bevy of beauties. But what’s with the holding hands bit?
Can you imagine what people would say if I had a picture taken of Mel
Brooks and I holding hands?
...
I guess Carmela has more to say… when does she not?
From: Carmela
By the way, El Greco, I need to clarify something....AGAIN! I doubt very much
if the Greeks were responsible for Calabria. The Calabrese were responsible for
Calabria! I think the Greeks got run out by the Calabrese. So they swam over
to Sicily, and built a Greek Theater to entertain the Sicilians. As time passed, the
Greeks wouldn't pay the share of the gross income, sort of like "income tax" to the first
"La Famiglia" formed in Sicily. So the Calabrese "kicked" them out of Sicily as well!!
That is actually what you're seeing when you look at the map.
You know, the Calabrese and the Sicilians are very close people. My mother was
Sicilian and married a Calabrese. Neither of them ever mentioned that the Greeks once
inhabited either place! Probably a humiliation.
The Calabrian Greco dialect was obviously slightly left over after they fled Calabria.
I just realized that the reason northern Italians roll their eyes whenever I speak to them,
it's because they must recognize the Greek in the wording. Whenever I'm in northern
Italy someone ALWAYS says, "Calabrese?" with a turned up nose! it's the Greek still
lingering in some of the wording! Oh My Gawd! Now I know! This actually happened to
me right in Reggio, Calabria when I was there with my daughter and grandkids last
month.
Listen to this... I was ordering Gelato at a shop downtown one evening. Of course I was
speaking Italian, I thought. I asked for a ricotta gelato, two limone and a cafe latte.
The guy behind the counter who doesn't speak English asked me to repeat the order.
When I did, he got so excited. He called the other guy over and told him I was speaking
the old dialect! He wanted to know what part of Calabria I was from. When I told him I
was from right here in Reggio, he wanted me to repeat the order again because no one
speaks like that anymore!!! He was laughing!!! The Greek must have slipped into the
sentence. No wonder the Calabrese "kicked" them out of Calabria!
38
Sigh… Okay, let’s go through this again… the Greeks gave the world
many gifts including the alphabet, geometry, algebra, philosophy,
architecture, fine arts (sculpture, theatre, poetry etc.), the Olympics,
Democracy… understand? The Romans only had one gift: War, they
were good soldiers who knew how to rape, plunder and loot.
Greek slaves were highly valued as they were often well-educated.
Greek slaves were used by the rich as teachers, doctors and librarians.
They also acted as private artists and musicians.
Taken from Spartacus Educational web site.
When they conquered the Greeks (oh how I hate saying that) and
enslaved them, they didn’t make the Greeks do the work of menials
like mowing lawns, housekeeping and changing diapers. No, the
Greeks were used to instruct and teach the future Eye-talians in all of
the areas that the Greek excelled… got that, Carm? I suggest you go
have your DNA checked… we might be closer than you think. HA!
Wouldn’t that be a hoot!? Probably would account for your Helen of
Troy looks. Ya think?
...
From: Tom Price ‘61
Dear Friends,
It’s about time I got off my duff and sent a report. With six weeks after bladder cancer
surgery behind me, I am doing very well. Just two weeks afterwards, my friend Tom
Hawthorn, drove all the way down here from Roseville to spend the week with me, great
to have his company, lots of laughs, and some comedy movies too. The next week, my
son, Kevin, flew here from Monterey for that week and at that point I was up to walking
1.5 miles a day down along Aliso Creek here in Laguna Woods. Now am at 2.5 miles a
day, usually three times a week.
Warning, the following may be too graphic for some, but it’s an education. Losing the
bladder is a reality for a lot of people, young as well as old [I am ceaselessly surprised
at how young many are whose bladders are removed, and often for reasons other than
cancer]. Getting used to wearing the ostomy bag is OK. But it’s the every-three-day
installation procedure that presents personal challenge. To date I am not yet up to
39
installing it successfully all by myself. Last Saturday I tried solo and the next day the
ostomy pouch began to pry off, Chari to the replacement rescue. It’s the getting it to
stick to the abdomen properly that is tricky, especially with various previous surgical
scars disrupting a smooth skin surface. Thanks to the loving care of my wife, Charlene,
we get it done, then good for three to four days. Now at some point I need to do this
independently so I can be get on the road resuming my Silverado Boy Scout research
trips - have about two more years of interviews and Scout leader interviews to
complete, meanwhile, down here seven months already, I have written some five
hundred pages in the three Silverado Area Council histories.
Incidentally, another surprise in this bladder business, Medicare pays 100% for all
approved supplies, and they are they’re not cheap, running about $300.00 per month,
ever thankful are we. Any advantages one might ask? A couple. For one, hooked up to
a “nightbag” at bedtime, I can sleep straight through the night, seven or eight hours solid
as a rock, no getting up to drain the radiator. Another, no pain nor urgency so prevalent
in the past, nice. So goes it, adjustment in life for life.
You’re a trooper, Tom. No pun intended. LOL.
...
From: Carol Egidio-Murray ‘63
I'm getting so excited about my tomatoes! They are
looking good. Thanks again for the plants.
Nice job, Carol. I
deem you worthy
of receiving my
plants. Well
done, good and
noble gardener.
LOL.
...
From: Barbara Lowe-Louie ‘64
First of all congrats on your beautiful baby grandchild Vasili. You are going to enjoy
him indeed. I also will be a new grandparent come January of 2016.
We met briefly at our 50 Year Reunion picnic at Blue Rock Springs in August of 2014,
40
when I saw you and asked how to pronounce your last name. You told me something
like, “just the way it’s spelled” and proceeded to do so, remember?
Well… I emailed Pam Branch-Pratt last night after seeing DonnaYep-Gleaves ’61 pic in
the group photo of the schoolmates now residing in the Coeur d’ Alene area in Idaho.
I wanted to re-connect with Donna, as our family and hers were long time Vallejo
Chinese Community Center members and family friends and as Pam did not know the
Yep’s she told me to email you and that I could get an address or email from you re
Donna. I’d like to contact her either by email or snail mail to say hello. I was pleased
when I first saw her name on your MU. If you can provide me with a contact address or
number, I’d appreciate it a whole lot.
And, Harry as they all say, thanks for everything you do! Your are very much
appreciated and my friend and former neighbor , Phil Kukuruza SV63 and brother Sam,
have the highest regards for you. We were neighbors with Bob’s Tow Service on Solano
Avenue for my first thirteen years and my brother, John Lowe, Jr. and I played football
with Phil when we were kids. Now we are in touch again and we enjoy being in contact.
Thanks, Harry.
Hmmm… well, Barbara, yes, my name, which is often abused phonetically, is pronounced Dee Ah VAH Tis… lovely isn’t it? LOL. I’ve sent
your request to Donna and I’m sure she’ll be back to you. It’s our
policy to never release our readers contact info without checking with
them first. And now, about my ol’ pal Phil Kukuruza and his little
brother Sammy. They are great people and I love them dearly even
though I see them infrequently. I also remember their dad, Bob, who
was a very nice, gentle, soft spoken man. When I was in JC I had a
camping class with their mom, Mary… she was a hoot.
...
From: Loueen Messing-Schreiner '55
Harry, Thank you again for all your doing for Class of '55 on the Monday Update.
Would you and Sally like to come to our reunion? If so, let me know and I'll send you an
invitation! Thanks again.
That’s a very sweet offer, Loueen, but I have enough trouble getting
Sally to go to my class reunion events. She’s not a local girl, but from
41
Utah, so she doesn’t get all those “warm and fuzzies” we get when we
talk about our past days at VHS. LOL.
...
From: Jerry Cook ‘58
I am glad the School Board cannot take out history away from us, but its so sad to think
it’s RIP for Apaches, especially into the future. As we well know, the Board needs better
people on it, so let’s hope tha,t at least,happens. Who knows, good new people might
reconsider the long history of the school again, and allow it to extend into the future.
Thank you for all your hard work on this, and for putting up with all the headaches.
Contributed by Gino Disgrazzi ‘55
42
The Apache Review of Arts
.... ”Bon Voyage!”
By John Parks
A SEARCH ---- for images of the VHS “Red Hawk” mascot logo
did not produce one. But it DID produce this! Go figure.
VALLEJO'S SOAP BOX
DERBY IN 1951 ---- Were
you there? When did it
move to Marin Street?
MARINE TRAFFIC ON THE STRAIT ---- Crockett was so close to Vallejo, yet there
seemed so few contacts with the people there. (Another mystery for the Busytown
Detectives!) Was any reader part of a social network over there? The only Vallejoan I
know who wound up living there was Sue Foley Wheeler. Where is she now? Her
brother, Mike, lives here in Northern Virginia.
43
APPROPRIATELY, THE SONG OF THE
WEEK ---- is Come Sail Away, by STYX.
Hear it again now, as they “set a new
course”, right here!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sm
-Vh3j8sys
BAKERY AND GRILL?? ---- Whatever. It's a Bolivian
restaurant in western Fairfax. Note the “Saltenas” sign
in the window. That's what I had for lunch there. This
food is a meat and pastry fold-over similar to, but
smaller than, a Cornish pasty. Nice place!
Nearby is an independent, old-fashioned ice cream
parlor called Sugar Mama's where I later treated little
Bea and Poppy, my
young granddaughters.
Their butter-brickle was
good, but the tiny chunks
of candy were barely
detectible. When it
comes to ice creams,
however, I've never met
one I didn't like.
44
when Whitman wrote, “I sing the body electric”
I know what he
meant
I know what he
wanted:
to be completely alive every moment
in spite of the inevitable.
we can’t cheat death but we can make it
work so hard
that when it does take
us
it will have known a victory just as
perfect as
ours.
“a song with no end” by Charles Bukowski
Cheery chimes, happy tunes!
John
[email protected]
A guy inserted an ad in the classified: "Wife wanted".
Next day he received a hundred letters.
They all said the same thing: "You can have mine."
On the Sidelines
Professional athletes with Vallejo ties…
Jeff Gordon began 23rd at the Energy 301 at Loudon, NH and
Ended in the Top 10 wit a ninth place finish. He continues to
hold the 10th place position in the Race to the Chase.
CC Sabathia (4-8, ERA 5.47) had a very good outing against the
Seattle Mariners yesterday and was up to the challenge of pitching head
to head with Felix Hernandez who is enjoying a banner year and looking
45
for his league leading 12th win. All the pundits said he was going to kick Sabathia’s butt.
They both only pitched 6 innings and here is the “tale of the tape.”
IP
H
ER BB K
Sabathia
6.0 6
1
1
7
Hernandez
6.0 5
1
3
5
CC only threw 87 pitches versus Hernandez’ 97
I’d say CC had a better outing. Maybe thinks are looking up for the Big Lefty from
Vallejo.
Old people poke me at weddings and tell me "your next"
So I started doing the same thing to them at funerals.
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
How To Get A Great Job You Really Don’t Want, Part 2
BIG BUSINESS AND BIGGER BUSINESS
By Joe Illing ‘61
I
had some time to kill so I decided to check out Vallejo’s Larwin Plaza Shopping Mall
when it debuted in the early 1960s. It featured sparkling new shops populated by some
of that era’s top retailers, including Sears, Singer, Long’s Drugs and S.S. Kresge.
Vallejo’s Larwin Plaza,
home of retailing’s future!
As I strolled through our town’s new future of
retailing, a sign in the window of Kresge’s
46
caught my eye. It read, “WANT TO TRAVEL? Ask about our Management Trainee
Program.”
“Want to travel? WANT TO TRAVEL? HELL YES I WANT TO TRAVEL!” I thought as I ran
through the doors of the venerable old dime store’s new outlet to find out more about
the trainee program (the five and dime variety stores, like Kresge’s and Woolworth’s
have morphed into today’s inflation adjusted dollar stores).
I was footloose and fancy free at the time. I’d dropped out of UC Berkeley (later to return
and complete my studies there, but that’s another story) which had felt like a colossal
waste of time for someone who lacked career ambitions.
This vocational motivational deficit, however, couldn’t be attributed to a lack of effort on
my part … I’d given it an honest go.
In fact, when that most troubling of teenage thoughts … “What am I
going to do with the rest of my life?” … disturbed my carefree
consciousness, I studied a telephone directory’s Yellow Pages,
from A through Z, in order to comprehensively survey the different
employment opportunities out there.
Who will I be?
Unfortunately my painstaking research yielded less than satisfactory
results, for by the time I reached zoologist, I’d come the unavoidable
conclusion that there was nothing out there for me.
No profession, trade, craft or mission even remotely piqued my
interest. So I resigned myself to go with what truly interested me …
I’d be a poet! And that sure didn’t require a college degree!
So I dropped out of Cal to get rich instead of smart … and started selling Kirby vacuum
cleaners door to door. While this didn’t quite yield a cornucopia of riches, it did teach me
some invaluable lessons.
I found that I had what it takes to sell things … such as a lack of trepidation when
approaching strangers with outrageous proposals; asking the right questions at the right
time in order to understand what makes a prospect tick; a fearlessness when asking a
stranger early and often to buy something that previously hadn’t occurred to them that
they needed; an understanding that “no” simply meant I’d not explained the “opportunity”
to them adequately; an appreciation that “no” isn’t a personal rejection but a statistical
47
necessity; and an irrepressible pleasure when, in the heat of “battle” I would extemporaneously craft a “pitch” that produced a homerun.
I also discovered that through selling I could enjoy a deluxe lifestyle with a minimum of
effort. In a few short months I’d acquired my own apartmentas well as an Austin Healy
100-6 “English” sports car (which represented an exciting and beautiful
chapter in the history of automotive engineering and art). After a few more months I
found that I could support both of these, along with
dating, carousing and a variety of self-destructive
activities by working two or fewer weeks a month!
My Austin Healy 100-6 …
what a great ride!
“To hell with getting rich,” I thought, “I’ll just get
laid!” … which became my motto! But after a year
and a half of a downhill slide toward depravity and debauchery, I started to feel
something was missing. And upon seeing that sign in Kresge’s window I realized what
that something was … travel!
Once inside the variety store, as fate would have it, I saw a familiar face … a friend of my
older sister, Martha. I’d only met the fellow a few times, but he had an official air about
him. It turned-out that he was well into his tenure as a management trainee there!
S.S. Kresge and Company couldn’t have had a more enthusiastic employee than this
guy. He told me about the myriad of opportunities the company offered, how they’d been
steadily and aggressively expanding for over half a century, how they’d just launched a
new division called K-mart and how they were going to bust the billion dollar sales
barrier for the first time in 1963!
I could hear opportunity knocking!
Wow! After hearing all this, I was sold! It sounded
like Kresge’s five and dime stores represented a fantastic
future for their employees as well as an absolute
blessing for the entire nation!
Martha’s friend introduced me to the store manager who
escorted me back to his office. I sat with a panoramic view of the entire store while he
gave me the once-over.
48
“What brings you to Kresge’s?” he asked me.
“What brings me to Kresge’s?” I repeated. “Well for one thing, I want to be on-board
when you chalk-up your first billion dollars in sales this year! I want to get in on the
ground floor with your K-mart retail revolution! I want to travel! I want to be part the best
retail operation in the America!”
His eyes looked like
a couple of Moon Pies
I could have gone on, but by that time the fellow’s eyes were the size
of Moon Pies so I figured I’d probably said enough.
After the manager gathered my personal information, I walked out of his
establishment viewing the place in an altogether different, much more
positive light than I had only a brief time before. Could this be my future?
I heard nothing from Kresge’s for over a couple of months following that interview, and,
preoccupied with my personal pursuit of happiness, I forgot about it entirely.
Later a Kirby colleague whose car had broken down, asked me for a ride to Oakland.
He’d heard that the phone company (there was but one at the time, PT&T, a subsidiary of
corporate behemoth AT&T) was hiring after a years-long hiatus. He confessed right then
and there that his grand ambition in life was to get a job with Ma Bell (aka AT&T). He
offered to pay for gas (the magic words), so we hopped in the Healy and headed to
Oakland.
When we entered PT&T’s personnel office, a secretary greeted us, handed us
employment applications and directed us to a waiting room jammed with similar jobseekers. It looked like it’d be a long wait.
Since I had an application … “What the hell!” I filled it out and waited … and waited …
and waited. With nothing better to do, I started reading various PT&T company
magazines scattered about the room.
A monopoly and an economic colossus
By the time my name was called, I’d read just about every one of
them, all of which extolled the vision and virtue of PT&T’s various
California ventures and gave tribute to the loyalty and creativity
49
of its tens of thousands of employees (at the time AT&T employed a million people
nationwide and raked-in annual revenues in excess of $300,000,000,000.00 in today’s
dollars).
“What brings you to PT&T?” an older gentleman in a rumpled suit asked me politely, but
authoritatively.
“What brings me to PT&T?” I reiterated. “Well it’s part of the largest corporation in the
world! Talk about opportunity! Just next year AT&T is spending over $25,000,000 on
improvements in California alone! I couldn’t imagine a company with a better future!
That’s why I came to PT&T! And that’s why I want to be part of it!”
The PT&T guy looked just
like the Kresge exec’s twin!
That brought this fellow bolt upright, straight out of his all-day-longinterviewing-boring-young-men-who-all-said-the-same-thing stupor! He
started writing without further ado, and within minutes had scheduled
me for a physical exam the following week, after which, providing I
passed the exam, I’d be called for another interview with PT&T’s
regional operations director in Marin County.
As I left his office he reminded me in a fatherly fashion that as the physical was first thing
in the morning, I should do my best not to sleep in. I grinned sheepishly knowing I hadn’t
pulled the wool over this gentleman’s eyes completely!
The drive back to Vallejo wasn’t great. My friend and I didn’t talk much. He sat hunched
over, glumly contemplating a bleak future after realizing he’d not spend it with Ma Bell,
while I, on the other hand, kept asking myself, “What the hell have you gotten yourself
into this time? What in the hell have you done now?”
-------------Coming next! How To Get A Great Job You Really Don’t Want, Part 3 … MAKING
THE LEAP FROM TELEPHONE POLES TO FREEDOM! You won’t want to miss it!
Maude: “My husband and I are no longer together.”
Mary:
“Why?
Maude: “Well, could you live with a person who smokes
weed, drinks, has no job, and always cusses?”
Mary:
“No, of course I couldn’t.”
Maude: "Well he couldn't either!"
50
A Stroll Down History Lane…
A place to share your memories…
before they disappear forever.
From: Nick Razes ‘56
I love the "old" pinups…
Well, it might not be Normal Rockwell, but it is a touch of “Americana,”
usually relegated to auto repair shops.
...
Postcard
Pals
From: Louis Popoloski ‘60
My wife hits me with lets go on a trip to somewhere. I tell her, pick a place local and I will
drive her. She picks Little Compton, a little piece of Rhode Island on the coast. I
51
sometimes think, only half of Rhode Island’s population has heard of this place and only
half of them have been there, probably less, too far to drive, LOL! A beautiful area
seemingly untouched by modern times. Beautiful green fields of corn and vegetables.
Neatly stacked stone walls and old and beautiful farm homes all with well trimmed lawns.
On the way we both are hit with hunger pains, it’s lunch time! I tell my wife, while driving
through Tiverton, RI. on Nannaguaket Pond, (a salt pond), there is a clam shack, and
having never eaten there, let’s try it. She agrees. It was 11:30 and the lunch crowd has
not arrived yet. With only two couples standing near the counter area, I look at them and
they motioned me to the counter, and said they are looking over the menu. No one inside
was at the counter and I told them I am getting fried clams, and I hope that they are not
from Chesapeake Bay, as they don’t taste as well as clams from New England.
Then I hear, “Can I help you?” I said to this very young girl, “are your clams from New
England or Chesapeake Bay?”… she didn’t know, but turned around headed for the
kitchens area. She comes back followed by a man from the kitchen and says they are
Ipswich clams. “ARE YOU SURE?” Yes, says the man they are in fact Ipswich clams! I
turn to the couples and say, “Do you know what they just did?” They all shake their heads
“no.” I said to them, “They just set the hook! Ipswich clams are the very best you can eat
in New England or anywhere!”
The counter staff tells me that they have a single serving size and a single huge serving.
Without a flinch, I order a single huge serving. I turn to the people, who are from upper
state New York and touching various spots along the way to Cape Cod, and say, “Finger
food, both wife and I with our two dogs don’t mind eating out of the same plate, and I
laugh. These clams were the best ever! We all sat outside under a roof overlooking the
salt pond. Dogs sat nice and quietly waiting for a French fry or clam… good dogs.
Another table near us had a pit bull looking dog, and when it saw our two dogs, it started
barking and would not stop. We kept getting the dirty looks, as it was our fault that their
dogs misbehaves. We finished our great lunch and headed south once more.
In Little Compton, which has the statue of Rhode Island’s state bird, the Rhode Island
Red chicken! Also the oldest country store in operation in the US of A (I think we have
two more country stores that claim the same thing) we stop at the Sakonnet Vineyards.
While I stay with the two dogs, wife goes inside and comes back with a bottle of wine
and some eats. I move the Jeep to a new location, nearby, and all four of us park
ourselves on a large beautiful green grassy area, and on a picnic table under some
shade trees and relax, while my wife gets the dogs to catch wine cookies in the air…
(such good dogs), as I enjoy the beautiful sights and smells of the area!
After a couple cups of wine, we head back home, but still in Little Compton we stop at
Gray’s Ice Cream, one of the ten best in Rhode Island, they make their own. I read
52
somewhere that New Englanders eat more ice cream per capita than any other state in
the USA. Sitting in the Jeep, under a shade of a large tree, its a very hot and humid day,
when a large van pulls in, side door opens and out comes what looks like twenty very
young children all whom are visually impaired. All with their white and red tipped canes.
All were very happy, jumping around, laughing, they head for the counter, following their
leader, by the sound of his voice, as no one was touching each other for guidance. When
they all had their ice cream cones and were sitting on the benches or standing under the
shading trees, smiling and chitchatting to one another, I forgot that they couldn’t see!
They were very pleasant to watch. We headed home to North Scituate. No dinner tonight!
I will remember those young children for a long time to come.
From: Karl Jacque ‘60
In Response to Louie’s email
Good Morning Louis,
Your stories take us away to the most wonderful places and activities. We picture ourselves sitting there with you and your wife. We can visualize your two dogs because you
have sent their pictures to us recently. We can almost smell the clams and French Fries.
Now we want to find if Ipswich clams are available here in Santa Rosa. Hooray! They
are. But they are also the most expensive.
We have friends that are losing their vision and we take them to their appointments.
Three of them had the surgery for macular degeneration and sometimes must keep their
heads down for a long time. I set up a color Sony Watchman TV with a 3 inch diagonal
screen and a Hitachi 7 inch color set for them to be able to keep entertained. Some of
The new surgeries have kept this recovery time down. Working with these friends has
made us appreciate our sight more than ever.
We have so many ice cream places in Northern CA. We have a place in San Francisco
that has Lavender/Honey. Now Salted Caramel is a big hit. Sebastopol, CA has a
couple of great places.
We also make salt water taffy runs at our coast. Charles M. Schulz liked Vanilla and my
favorite is Cinnamon. Keeping the taffy cool when it's 100 degrees at our hockey
tournament in Santa Rosa has been a challenge. I still make taffy runs for Mrs. Schulz
and her staff at our museum. Also Dungeness Crab runs.
Keep in touch. Friday we have a chance at a bronze medal here
at Snoopy's Home Ice. We missed a chance at a silver medal
by one goal. The main thing is we are having fun.
Good luck, Karl.
53
...
From: Juan (Da Juan Mon) Caducio ‘62
Greetings Classmates from " Weh Bak Den." Hows it goin in da Frozen Tundra of da
North???? Arrived in SD three weeks ago.
Flew up to Benicia on da Third for
our Annual Family Reunion put on
by Cousin Francine Cordero VH.
Was a smaller event dis year. Only
200 plus of da Clan. of Fun, Food
and Dancing. Only thing living in
Belize is missing my family and
friends up here.
Left Placencia afta our Lobster Fest. Y'all like Lobster? @ our Festival der are a million
waysit its prepared. Brrrrrrrr Humbug!!!! Same weda as Belize just 30 degrees colder.
Oh yeah!!!!!!! Before I forget I waahn 2 b da first to wish Uno Al a Meri Krimos. You think
it might be to early. We are half weh der and as U all no @ r age time is passn at triple
speed. Right???
Sorry Harry and all you English Majors. I still find it easier
to write in Creole, Text , and broken Inglish and spell
check doesn't exist wit me. So hope all is well wit
everyone. Love C N all ur post on the MU. Still doing a
fantastic job Harry and muchas gracias .
My latest selfie shows I luk just about da same just 50
plus older and 50 plus plus pounds heavier but what the
hell I am now 35 U.S. old (Numbers r doubled in Belize and 35 US sure sounds betta den
saying 70 right????? Got more aches and pains but lik mi Doctor says its beats da
alternative so I still kickn but got pain wen doin dat. Hey!!!!
as my selfie shows I still have
most of my Teeth and my gr8 smile.
Let's C. Still livin da Belizean Lifestyle ( doin
nada and lovn it )
my son Alex ,Moni ( daughta n law.
54
Grandbabies Carmen Elise 5 and Elias 9
came down to my little corner of the world
Two weeks of Snorkling , Fishing , Tubing , Zip lining
( Told da Grand Kids dat Grandpa could swing threw the
jungle on vines. Almost the same), Jaquar Reserve,
Baboon Reserve where I took my selfie , Mayan Ruins,
and just chilln on my Caye.
By da weh Caye is still 4 sale if anyone wants
to live da Island Life.
Spend a lot of time on Gombompa my Boat.
Maybe I told U folks my other nick name givin to
me n da Village 14 years ago from da locals was
Gombompa????? deh call mi dat cause deh
seh my Gums are always Bumping. Mi talking to
much? Not da Juan mon. Well my Classmates
wish der was a wey to be able to see all you folks
while up in Sam ( What Belizeans call da U.S., ya
know like Uncle Sam ). Love you all.
Heading bak to S.D. n a few weeks for
the remainder of my stay. Tell you folks
its a bitch gettn old. Have to get bak to
So Cal 4 my bursitis shots in my hips,
shots in my knees, dis Docta dat Docta
and a general tune up which is needed
each year. Oh yeah!!!! One gud benefit
in reaching r age. One can get
wheelchair assistance wen flying. My
friends who I flew up with missed their
55
connecting flight going through those horrendous Customs lines. With assistance you
get fast fast fast through Customs and Ur connecting flights. Wit these humongous
Airports ur connecting flight might be 100 miles away or a little less. Wish der was a
Class Reuion for 62 comin up. Would love to C U all.
That's right !!! got invited to attend HH Class of 65
reunion comin up in Sept. Gonna visit with our
classmate Richard DiMaggio in So Cal and driving bak
up with Jimmy Boyd HH65 ( Jimmy and his wife
Teresa have a resort in Puerto Morelas Mex and have
been down to visit me a few times. Isn't it funny. da
kids of 65 which we called dem then caught up wit us
in age. Well folks Gombompa has to rest his gums.
Hey Harry only c around 40 spell check msgs. Best to
all of my Classmates of 62 and all the readers of da
MU. Al a wi da uno ( All of us are one?) da Juan mon
Juan Mon… what a life.
...
This week’s Newbies
From: Linda Augustin ‘67
Good morning, Harry !!
I have been touching base with an old classmate that I went to school
with. We both graduated from VSH in '67 and she would like to be
added to the newsletter. Her name is Linda Snyder-Carr.
I must admit, social media does have it's advantages! I had not touched base with Linda
since graduation!! So much catching up to do after 48 years ! Thanks so much !
From: Ralph Valderrama ‘68
Harry here is my new e-mail address [email protected]. Please add me to your
weekly newsletter. Thank you
This week the Monday Update also welcomes Eric Shields SP78 (His
grandmother graduated from VHS in 1926.) and Dr. Rick Mathews
HH73. I had a nice conversation with Rick on the phone. The former
56
great Hogan High athletes has been in Dental practice for 30 years in
Sacramento. His dad, the well-known and esteemed Wes Mathews is
doing well and spends much of his time in Clear Lake.
...
In Memoriam
Richard Byruel Karr ‘51
July 15, 1933 - July 8, 2015
When he was a young boy during WWII, Richard Karr would often lay
in the fields surrounding his Lewis Avenue home and watch P-51
Mustangs dogfight in the Vallejo skies. He knew every inch of these
planes, from the Packard/Rolls-Royce Merlin engines to the six .50
caliber M2 Browning machine guns that graced their wings. There was
no doubt about it: Richard loved to. fly
Richard was born in Vallejo, on July 15, 1933. His parents, Clifford and
Edith, were living in Albion at the time, and his father was working at
the Albion Lumber Company's sawmill. Early in Richard's life, the family relocated for
work, first to the Mojave Desert and then to Cambria, before finally settling back in what
was then an unincorporated part of rural Vallejo.
As a young boy, he was known to be perennially curious, and it was this inherent
curiosity that was at the heart of many of Richard's diverse interests. He was fascinated
by automobiles, electronics, radios, and machinery of all kinds, however, he was drawn
most of all to the post-war airstrips that dotted the landscape of the North Bay in the
1940s. Richard had a real passion for flying machines of all types. His teen years were
spent learning about and working on these machines, and eventually flying them.
As a high school student, Richard took advanced aeronautics classes at Vallejo Junior
College and joined the youth Civil Air Patrol. The classes excited him, and presented
Richard with new opportunities to satisfy his passion for flight. During that period he
rebuilt a Porterfield plane that had been given to the school by Sky Harbor, a now
forgotten Vallejo airstrip of the time.
At 18, Richard was drafted by the U.S. Army and assigned to the 24th Infantry Division
57
during the final days of the Korean conflict. Serving a two-year tour of duty, Richard rose
to the rank of Sergeant, and his interest in aviation and electronics helped him build a
two-way radio system that improved air-to-ground communications for Army
reconnaissance planes. His time in Korea included postings at the "Punch Bowl" in
Korea's Haean-myon valley, a stint in Pusan, and fondly recalled "R&R" in post-war
Japan. Years later, the Korean government would bestow upon Richard the Ambassador
for Peace Medal in recognition of his service, and it was this time in Korea that would
profoundly shape his life and influence his future career.
In 1955, Richard returned to Vallejo, working for a time on the construction of Highway 80
around Truckee. He took classes at Vallejo Junior College where he received an A.A.,
and it was there that he met his future wife, Madonna. During this period he enjoyed life
with his many friends - the "Market Town Gang" - who would remain by his side for life,
and in June of 1963, Richard and Madonna were married in a small ceremony at
Community Presbyterian Church in Vallejo, with the Market Town Gang in full
attendance.
For much of his professional life, Richard worked in Shop 51, the electrical shop at Mare
Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo. For over 30 years, Richard, along with many friends and
colleagues there, worked with quiet determination to construct or overhaul many notable
attack submarines of the U.S. fleet - including the USS Halibut, USS Seawolf, and USS
Parche. Their collective efforts added an intelligence gathering capability to the U.S.
submarine fleet unmatched by the Soviet Union, and a survivable second-strike capability
essential to U.S. deterrence. The efforts of Richard and his colleagues helped make
these vessels the best in their class and in the world, and by doing so they helped win
the Cold War.
In 1989, Richard retired from Mare Island, and returned to his family and to his passion:
flying. He obtained his long-lapsed pilot license and began regular flights around the
western half of the United States. Richard returned also to his great interest in the
mechanics of flight - meeting with pilots at Napa airfield, working on planes, flying with his
younger brother, Jerry, and helping rebuild an old friend's classic Navion.
Tragically, in 2014, Richard lost his beloved brother, Jerry, to cancer, and weeks later
was himself diagnosed with the disease. The struggle was a difficult one, and on the
morning of July 8, his wife and son by his side, Richard Byruel Karr, 81, beloved father,
friend, and husband, passed away at his Vallejo home.
Preceded in death by his parents, brother, Jerry and sister, Evalyn Peck. Richard is
survived by his wife, Madonna; son, John; sister-in-law, Theresa Karr; brother-in-law,
Glen Peck; nephews and nieces, Clifford Karr, Kevin Karr, Katie Gerhard, Nancy Stobel,
Clifford Peck, and David Peck.
58
A celebration of Richard's life will be held at 12 p.m., Saturday, July 25, at the Mare
Island Naval Shipyard Museum in Vallejo. In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Mare Island
Historic Park Foundation can be made to help preserve the history of Mare Island.
As a child, Richard would often dream of flying. Now his creative and adventurous spirit
moves in every direction, soaring high above us, unencumbered by the bonds of earth.
Thank you, Dad, for a life well spent.
Our condolences to the Karr family for their loss.
...
It’s always sad to lose a loved one, but to lose a child is even worse.
Nancy, our thoughts are with you and the family.
Stephen R. “Caus” Causbrook SP85
July 10, 1967-July 9, 2015
Stephen R. "Caus" Causbrook, 47, passed away Thursday at
hishome in Vallejo
Caus was born to Charles and Nancy Causbrook on July 10, 1967.
He was a former resident of Green Valley and has lived in Vallejo
most of his life. He was a 1985 graduate of St. Patrick's High
School and received his Bachelor's Degree from Sacramento
State University. He worked for Napa County as a Juvenile Probation Officer for
several years.
Caus enjoyed life to the fullest. He was a former member of Green Valley Country
Club where he enjoyed spending time with his sons, especially on the golf course.
He was a talented cook, hosting numerous dinners for his family and friends. He
was also an avid Oakland Raider and Los Angeles Dodgers fan. One of his greatest
joys was becoming a grandpa just six months ago.
His father, Charles "Butch" Causbrook, preceded him in death. Survivors include
his sons, Chris and Nick; mother, Nancy; brother, Dennis (Juanita); and grandson
Charlie.
A funeral service was held on Saturday, July 18, at Twin Chapels Mortuary,
inVallejo. Innurnment was private.
59
...
A Remembrance by Dalbert Sam Leach ‘56… A friend
William Ray Stewart ‘55
March 28, 1937 - July 12, 2015
Bill and I became friends in the 1st grade at Carquinez Heights
Elementary School in 1943. Bill and I were both shy and didn't talk to
anyone. Then one day in class when we sang "My Bonnie Lies Over The
Ocean" we both began to giggle, because there was a very cute girl
named Bonnie who sat in front of us. At recess our first conversation was
about how cute Bonnie was. Both Bill and I were promoted to the 2nd
grade and that's when we met Chuck Bish and he became part of our
group. In January of '47 the three of us were in Mrs. Farmer's 4th grade class and that's
when Don Fell skipped 1/2 a grade and joined us to make it a foursome. From
Carquinez Heights Elementary to being BRAVES at Franklin Junior High and APACHES
at Vallejo High, Bill, Chuck, Don, and myself remained friends for over seventy years.
Seated: Sam Leach
Standing: Bill Stewart, Don
Fell, Joan Murray-Stewart and
Chuck Bish. Picture taken
around 2000.
At Franklin Jr. High Bill was one of our best athletes, he played fullback
on the football team, he ran the 100 & 200 yard dash, broad jump, and
anchored the 880 relay... he never lost. Due to a back injury in the 10th
grade, Bill's mother wouldn't let him play sports anymore.
My birthday is a week before Christmas. Beginning around 1947, and for
the next six years Bill would give me a pair of socks. One sock for my birthday and
another for Christmas. No longer do I get a sock for my birthday or Christmas. For the
last thirty years I have gotten a call from Bill and Joan, and they would sing "Happy
60
Birthday". That was a call I looked forward to. Oh, for those of you who graduated in the
early sixties and your mother took you to see Santa Claus at Levees, well, I hate to burst
your bubble but Santa was Bill's Grandpa.
In the spring of '52, Don and I got up the courage to ask a couple of good
looking girls out (our first dates). Don asked Nancy Osborn and I asked
her best friend Joan Murray (the future Mrs. Bill Stewart), we went to the
Rita Theater on Springs Road to see "King Kong". As I sat watching the
movie I looked past Joan and Nancy and noticed Don had put his arm
around Nancy's shoulder. Thinking I can do that. I moved to put my arm
around Joan's shoulders and I hit her in the side of the head with my
elbow. I watched the rest of the movie with my hands folded in my lap.
Five years later, March 10, 1957 Don was the best man at Bill and Joan's wedding. In
2012, Don and I were having lunch at Bill and Joan's, sitting around the dining room table
talking about old times and telling the story of our first dates. I learned for the first time
that Don's arm had actually gone to sleep and he was in terrible pain and unable to move
his arm.
Bill is gone, but the memories and laughs will always be there, like going to the liquor
store at Terry's on Magazine Street and looking through National Geographic ... (it's a
boy thing).
Bill was our Geronimo.
Sam, I’m touched by the sadness you are experiencing at the loss of a
dear friend and thank you for sending me this very moving poem written
by Bill’s daughter Sherie.
You cannot remember my face or my name
My brother and sister
Their fates are the same.
The beautiful lady you took for your bride
Who, for almost 60 years has stood by your side
You look at her face and begin to fear
Because you are not sure who she is and why she is here
Alzheimers’s, a terrible and wicked disease
Has brought an oak of a man down to his knees
Erased all his dreams and memories of life
Reduced it all to a black emptiness of night.
Gone are his thoughts of good times from the past.
61
Camping trips, birthdays, coaching games, fishing casts
Slowly, all the lights are being turned off
Leaving you in a dark and empty sarcophagus
Fearing the people you once loved and knew
Not recognizing anyone’s face living with you
Each day brings a new challenge to all those involved
Caregiver struggles as your skills slowly dissolve
Chipping away the foundation of a great man
Who raised a family through love and discipline
This man gave unselfishly of himself through his life
To community, to children, to friends, to his wife
The shell of the man still stands for all to see
His humor and love still pour forth easily
But I know my part in this changing family
I must become the keeper of the memory
Through my collections of bits from the past
I will preserve our legacy for generations to have
I will write down on paper all I can recall
So my father’s life will not be forgotten by all.
My brother and sister must also step up
And record the memories of us growing up
The laughter, the love, life blood of our family tree
Will continue to live through my siblings and me
I thank you, Dad, for all you have done
For all your hard work while raising your young
For all that you gave us and all you gave up
To make sure we had all the right stuff
We can do nothing to keep you from slipping away
We just stand by and watch as you fade like the day
But I promise to you that in our memories you will stay
The man that existed before Alzheimer’s took you away
...
George A. Mattioda ‘56
Sept. 25, 1937 - July 13, 2015
George A. Mattioda, known by family as Tony, was born on the family farm
in South Dakota.
His family moved to Vallejo during WWII, where he graduated from Vallejo
High School in 1956. George passed away, after a brief illness, at the age
62
of 77.
He is preceded in death by his wife of 34 years, Carolyn; brother, Morris of Roseville and
parents, Raymond and Velma of Vallejo. He is survived by his older brother, John
Mattioda (Darlene) of Vallejo; a younger brother, Renaldo (Mary) of Napa and a sister,
Lillian Thompson of Alexandria VA.
George was the father of four, Theresa Mattioda of Redding, Vincent Mattioda (Adrianna)
of Walnut Creek, Wayne Mattioda of Fairfield and Renee Mattioda of Napa; three
grandchildren and had a loyal companion, Sasha, his dog for 17 years.
George had many talents and interests, including duck hunting, abalone diving, fishing
and woodworking. George accomplished many things in his life. Right out of high school,
George went to work for the Forestry, and then worked driving trucks for the Teamsters
Union, eventually retiring at the age of 48 to pursue his dream of building his own home
in the mountains. George and his wife relocated to the Montgomery Creek area in 1983
where they built their own home, which would eventually perished along with approx.imately 300 others in the Fountain fire of 1992. In 1995, George rebuilt his home and
turned his burned forest property into a fruit orchard.
Graveside services will be held on Tuesday, July 21 at 11 a.m., at the Tulocay Cemetery
in Napa, 411 Coombsville Road. A reception for family and friends immediately follows.
...
The Last Word…
Last Wednesday I received my annual Care package from good buddy
and classmate Glenn Savoy ’62. For the past several years he makes
cherry jam and sends me a dozen jars. I’m telling you it’s absolutely
the best jam I’ve ever had. He even gave me a bonus jar this year of a
limited edition Ranier Cherry jam, which I’m enjoying spread on some
French bread and butter, with my coffee, right now. Thanks, Glenn.
The last time you ever gave me anything with the name “Ranier” it
came in a green can in a six pack.
...
The tile is in… the carpet is in… and now all that remains is for the
painter to finish his work and to put everything back. Sally, really likes
everything… Me? It looks the same to me… I just have to figure out
63
how to pay for it. By the way, friend and classmate Loretta SmithMcCracken ‘62 did a wonderful job serving as a consultant to Sally and
making this all happen. It took the burden off of me. Thank you,
Loretta (and hubby Jack, too).
...
Today we’re heading up to Calpine to use a cabin owned by my sisterin-law so we can do a little trout fishing in Salmon Lake. We’ve been
there in the past and have always done well, but off of a boat. This
time we don’t have a boat available, so we’ll fish off the shore. On
Tuesday, we’ll head home via Lake Tahoe so our grandson can check it
out. Should be a fun time (especially if we catch a few fish.)
… 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
August 8, 2015
Seventieth Birthday Party
Hogan/Vallejo Combined Class of ’63
Vallejo Yacht Club
VHS Class of ’65 Fifty Year Reunion
August 14, 2015 Warm up
Vallejo Yacht Club
Ausust 15, 2015 Dinner / Dance
Zio Fraedo’s-Vallejo
VHS Class of 1968 65the Birthday Party
Blue Rock Springs
Time
5:30 p.m.
7:00 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
August 15th
Picnic
Oct. 3, 2015
VHS Class of ’55 Sixty Year Reunion
Reunion Dinner
TBA
TBA
Oct. 10, 2015
VHS Class of ’60 Fifty-Five Year Reunion
Reunion Dinner
Moose Lodge-Vallejo
TBA
64
11 a.m.
Oct. 10, 2015
Oct. 11, 2015
St. Vincent’s Class of ’65 Fifty Year Reunion
Reunion Dinner
TBA
Brunch
Benicia TBA
...
Public Service Announcement
65
TBA
TBA
66
67
Mike Houston will be doing a bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles from
September 26 through October 3 to raise money for the fight against Arthritis. If you want
to support Mike’s endeavor, copy and paste this link to make a donation.
http://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1121403&supId
=398649231&extSiteType=1
Relay for Life
Tracy Royer, daughter of Brent and the late Roberta Johnson has entered to raise money
for the American Cancer Society in memory of her mom. They’ll be walking at St.
Patrick’s High School on August 1
To make a donation: Copy and paste this link into your web browser.
http://relay.acsevents.org/site/PageServer/?first_name_query=Tracy&pagename=re
lay_getinvolved_events&last_name_query=Royer&search_type=participant
When it opens you will see the name Tracy Royer and the word “donate” under her
name. Click on donate.
Do NOT click on Tracy Shroyer which is also listed on that page.
20th annual Swim A Mile for Women with Cancer
Suzy Schmutz ‘59 will once again swim this fundraiser, to be held October 3-4 at the Mills
College Pool. The purpose of the mile swim is to raise funds for the critical work of the
Women's Cancer Resource Center in Oakland, California.
Since 1986, WCRC has provided programs and a network of support and essential
resources for women with cancer and their families. Their programs include emergency
financial assistance, psychotherapy, in-home practical and emotional support,
cancer navigation, support groups, community health education and a wide range of
wellness classes. Their services are offered free of charge, thanks to the generosity of
donors like you!
Please make a tax deductible contribution to my swim Make your donation here:
http://www.wcrc.org/swim/profiles/swimmer/id/1740
68
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.)
Saturday, August 8, 2015
69
70
A Blast to the Past…
Vallejo High School
Class of 1955
60 Year Class Reunion!
-SAVE THE DATEOctober 3, 2015
Zio Fraedo’s Restaurant
23 Harbor Way – Vallejo
Premium Buffet. Wide selection of food…$45
Starts at 4:30 p.m. Buffet at 6:30 p.m.
This reunion is for VISITING and REMEMBERING old times!
Invitations will be mailed in August
Loueen Messing-Schreiner
642-2740
...
ADDENDUM TWO: Missing Classmates
(Reunion committees: Send me your list if you want it posted here.)
St. Vincent’s High School
Class of 1965
Missing List
Richard Ahern
Cardinelli Barber
Carl Bowlby
Dennis Faria
Gregory Hollister
Patricia Keating (Shaw)
Bernadette Marshall (Webber)
Donna Miller (Fisher)
71
John O'Donnell
Renee Ramos (Best)
Kathleen Wolden (Einboden)
Send any info about the missing classmates to [email protected].
VALLEJO HIGH SCHOOL
LOST "CLASS OF '55" CLASSMATES AS of Jan, 2015
Key: Last known married name in (parentheses)
Marcia June Anderson
Charlotte (Armstrong) Pringle
Francis Fox Atoigue
Lillie Mae Beauchamp (King)
Leland Katherine Berkeley (Lupton)
Norma Ann Blair (Danley)
Dorothy Lee Brown
Edwin Ray Budd
Betty Marlene Burns (Lee)
Juana Dee Burton
James Byram
Judith V. Cain
Dennis Harrison Carriker
Edward Millard Clark
Helen Louise Cole
Leroy Rene Coleman
Betty Lou Crawford (Decker)
Barbara Jean Dale
Peggy Davis (Smith)
Phillip L. Davis
Carolyn C. Day
Alan Keith Decker
Sam Anthony Dimaio
Henrietta Dixon
Garry Linden Ellyson
George Oliver Elder
Odessa Emery
James Evans
Marilyn Ann Fitzgerald
Bradley Linden Forrest
Sula Jane Graham (Renz)
Michael Andrew Gregor
Dawn Dolly Grinestaff
Rosemary Grossi (Conn)
Ruth C. Hanson
Elizabeth Ann Harms
Mary DeVoe Kirk (Parker)
Richard Albert Koch
Joyce Ann Krause (McCoy)
Marilyn Harbin Lott
Marlowe Martin
Doris Edith McClure
Arthur Lee McDaniel
Linda Sue McMillan
Richard Lee McNeely
Maxine Irene Miller (Hansen)
Merle Wayne Moody
Fait Frank Moore
Mary Lynn Moore
Judith Lenora Mouser
Harvey Russell Nelson
Barbara Elaine (Obenhaus) Stanfield
Janice Raye Page (Frazier)
Diana Mary Palmer (Hepner)
Mary Lou Parfet (Boyles)
Margee Paskel
Arlene Edna Passalacqua
Betty Gean Patterson
Dorrie Lynn Porter
Robert Pratt
David John Price
Leonila Jeanette Reyes
Gary M. Roberts
Dorothy Colleen Rutz (Anderson)
Patricia Ann Schnetzer
Rudolph F. School
Dale LeRoy Schwark
J.C. Shields
Dorcille Shockley
Marian Eloise Simmons
Rosalie Sowards (Arnold)
Billy Gene Stewart
72
Douglas Ashley Hartshorn
Janet Kay Hawkins
Daisy Bell Hendrix
Patty Jean Hicks
Clara Anne Hilburn (Lockwood)
Jody Hilton (Johnson)
Helen Derry Hoag
Richard Warren Holl
Donna Jean Hollibaugh
Carolyn Janice Hughes
Myrtle Gwendolyn Hunt
Judith Ann Huston (Johnson)
Nancy Lee Johnson
Tressie Virginia Johnson
Oretha Elizabeth Rogers Jolly (Woodley)
Wilson D. Jones
Joseph E. Karg
Marion Joyce Kemp
Sonja Elaine Stimac
Clinton Morris Strohmeyer
Lawrence Allen Sump
Robert John Szemanski
Murry Nelson Taylor
Robert Chester Thompson
Virginia Ann Thornton (Mazzoni)
Francis Jean Van Camp (Glascock)
Maurice Delbert Vermillion
Samuel J. Villa
Everett William Wallace
Janice Lynn Walton (Allen)
Sandra Lee Wayne (Cournoyer)
Isobel Webber
Gary Lee Weber
Joseph Carlton Welch
Shirley Jean Welling
LaRae Marie Woodard
If you have any info regarding these
classmates or their whereabouts,
please contact:
Carolyn (Fleming) Pauley
846 Beechwood
Vallejo, CA 94591-5617
Ph: (707) 642-2848
or
Loueen (Messing) Schreiner
557 Jennings Avenue
Vallejo, CA 94591
Ph: (707) 642-2740
Email: [email protected]
...
HOGAN HIGH CLASS OF 1965
MISSING CLASSMATES
Please contact Barry Fredenburg @ [email protected]
Ailes, Dennis
Alexander, Sharon
Alvarado, Michael
Amsbaugh, Dolly
Asbe, Howard
Avery, Barbara
Barber, Fred
Edmonds, Annabelle
Fawcett, William
Fears, Jeffrey
Guarin, Joseph
Harris, Norman
House, Duanna
Howe, Joan
Koontz, Linda
Lewis, Isac
Linville, Robert
Marquez, Sally
Martin, Doug
McMurphy, Donna
McBride, Dan
73
Roberts, Alice
Roberts, Ken
Rollins, Thomas
Salsedo, Pamela
Simon, Margaret
Southerland, Ronald
Tackmier, Lynn
Baumann, David
Becky, John
Borowski, Janet
Bradeen, Susan
Bradhurst, Shirley
Cambe, Benito
Diaz, Thomas
Edgar, Shirley
Jensen, John
Johnson, Jesse
Keith, Sandra
Kelly, James
Kelly, Judith
Kent, Helen
Kersting, Pamela
Kimzey, Linda
McNairy, Thomas
Mitchell, Robbie
Murchison, Jerry
Neal, Denise
Nichols, Sharon
Oliveira, John
Padilla, Priscilla
Pulliam, Harry
Reedy, Carolyn
Talley, Gwendolyn
Trefethen, Janice
Wartburg, Patricia
Weber, Donald
Wilson, David
Wilson, Ellen
Zumwalt, Joseph
...
Vallejo High School
Class of 1965
Missing
05-07-15
Charlotte Augsback
Charles Austin
Terry Auten
Cheryl Baker
Donna Bennett
Cheryl Berg
Roger Berry
Lynn Bird
William C. Blackwood
Margie Bowman
Claudette Bozeman
Vicki Bracy Smith
Karen Bragg Haden
Beverly J. Brinkman
Richard Brooks
Connie Brower
Roy Brown
Rachel Brown Johnson
Jimmy Brummell
Esther Caballero
Betty Campbell
Cheri Campbell McDonnell
Collin Carlson
Rodney Carlson
Diana Carmody Bennett
Henried Castro
Michael Castro
Sandra Cavalliere
Junior Clayton
Helen Cole
Richard Coyne
Robert Crawford
James M. Cross
Cheryl Davenport
James L. Davis
Larry Davis
David DeYoung
Jesus Pascual Dominguez
Elaine Douthitt
Joe Duenas
Georgia Easterling
Bob Farris
Rosario Figueroa
Salvador Figueroa
Sharon Flanagan Mundahl
Patricia Flores
Glennis Franklin
Alma Gadberry
William Gerdes
Alan Gill
James Gillies
Richard Gilmer
Michael Gopaul
Wade Guice
74
Timothy Guinan
Marilyn Handy Harris
Rea Harmston Wilson
Kathy Harrell Gunter
Richard Harris
Gail Harris Wilkerson
Fred Hayden
John Hutson
George (Johnson) Leatham
Janice Johnson
Barbara Jones
Trudy Jones
Mary Lou Kamminga
James H. Kellner
Carolyn King
Sandra King
Bert Knudson
Linda Koepke
Gayle Kramer Hixon
Norman D. Larsen
Ann Lee
Alberto Lopez Larralde
Linda Loveless Miles
Peggy Lundblad Watts
Linda Madden
Ildefonso Makinano
Douglas Martin
Craig Massie
Sue Max
Paul McCollum
Suzanne McFarland Raymos
Claudia McMullin
Tim McNamara
Earlene Meadows Stall
Pamela Metsker
Linda Metzler Stevens
Glen Middling
Don Miller
Diana Molina
Carol Monroe
James M. Monroe
Lorraine Muchmore
Juanita Muncy
Barbara Nickolas
Bonnie O'Brien Pyle
Barbara Olson
Michael Padilla
Bonnie Petersen
Ronald Phelps
Deborah Pollnow
Donna Price Langley
Bill Pritchard
Linda Purdy Knudson
Joe Quesada
Rose Quilente Burke
Patricia Quinn
Julius Reed
Lawrence Richard
David Rinehart
Cinita Roberts
Harold A. Robinson
Crosby Roper
Karla Roxberg Rafael
Ramon Sablan
Dale Sackett
Jerry Schmersahl
Barbara Shepherd
Doris Shepherd
Lynn Smith
Ronald Snodgrass
Robert L. Stanton
Virginia Strube
Audrey Talley
John Taylor
Louis Taylor
John Thomasson
Perry Tomboc
Naomi Triesman
Larry Ulrich
Carol Valance
Denise VanDolson French
David R. Vick
Terry Vincent Maxwell
Mary Vining
Louise Waderich
Kenneth M. Wagner
Beverly Walston
Frank Watkins
Robert Weir
David Welch
Melvin Wells
Robert Whitfield
Darrell Whitley
Leon Wiley
Bernice Williams
Eileen Williams
Shirley Wilson
Joyce Wood Bryant
Rodney Woodruff
Faye Young Soring
Ronald Young
Sydney Young Porter
Nancy Zimbelman
Alejandra Zubiria
...
THE FINE PRINT
The Monday Update
Publisher/Editor: Harry Diavatis
Published: Weekly
First Edition: Oct. 26, 2004
Circulation: 1,350 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.”
75
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:
433
Missing:
198
Deceased:
140
Total on File:
771
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.”
...
YEARBOOKS ON CD
Thanks to Bill Strong, 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 average donation has been $35. You may order
up to five (5) yearbooks for the same donation.
Year
1929
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44-47
48
49
50
51
52
53
VHS
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
HHS
SVHS
VJH
HJH
FJH
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
76
Sol JH
Springs JH
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72-74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
Total
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
41
1
1
13
6
11
5
8
Send your check to:
Harry Diavatis, 5087 Green Meadow Court, Fairfield, CA 94533
77
1
10
Apaches Forever
Commemorative Shirts
Order Form
(Limited Time Offer)
(Please print all information legibly.)
Name:__________________________________
The cost of each shirt is $20 which includes a
donation to The Last Apache Scholarship
Fund.
Street:__________________________________
City, State, Zip:___________________________
Email Address:___________________________
Phone Number:__________________________
Men’s Hanes Beefy T-Shirts: Please indicate the quantity of each shirt ordered
___Large
___XL
___2X
___3X
___ 4X
Total number of shirts _______ x $20 = $_______
Hanes Beefy-T
Women’s Hanes V-neck Shirts:
Please indicate the quantity of each shirt ordered
___Large
____XL
___2X
Total number of shirts ____ x $20 = $______
Additional donation to Scholarship Fund $_______
Hanes Women's
Nano-T® V-Neck
Total amount enclosed $_________
The shirts are white with 4-color art work. art work
depicting the great Apache warrior Cochise.
Make your check payable to: Harry Diavatis (in the memo line write “Apache Shirt.”
And mail to:
5087 Green Meadow Court
Fairfield, CA 94534
If you have questions, please email
or call : [email protected]
or (707) 333-5793
Return this form with your
check payable to
Harry Diavatis
78
Harry Diavatis
5087 Green Meadow Ct.
Fairfield, CA 94534