Summer 2009
Lowell Alumni Association
Page 19
K eeping In Touch… 1959
JAN. & JUNE
See the Reunion Calendar on page 2 for important class reunion news! ELLA TOM MIYAMOTO updates, “Twenty classmates have been planning our “fantabulous” 50-year reunion over the last year. We will return to the Old Lowell HS at Hayes & Masonic on Saturday, October 10, 2009, to celebrate our days at Lowell. What have you been doing? Write and tell us about yourself and your personal/career highlights. We will compile this into a book for a nominal fee (to cover expenses) to be available at the reunion. We want everyone in our class to participate. Please send your piece to Nancy McMillan Clothier at lowellreunion@gmail.com. Please include a photo. Check out our blog at lowell1959.blogspot.com. Hope to see you all at the reunion!” NICK & BENITA RUERO ST AMANT write, “We are so looking forward to the 50-year reunion. Nick says — Eating Club unite Bruce, Gary, Chuckie, Kevin, Len, and I.” IRENE POON ANDERSEN informs that her portrait “Mine” taken in 1996 is represented in the book Mine Okubo: Following Her Own Road, University of Washington Press, 2008. Her photograph “Memories of the Universal Café,” 1965 is included in Asian American Art: A History, 1850-1970, Stanford University Press, 2008, and in the Asian/American/Modern Art: Shifting Currents, 1850-1970 exhibition catalogue, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and UC Press, 2008; it was included as well as the exhibition of the same title at de Young Museum, October 25, 2008 to January 18, 2009.
1960
JAN. & JUNE
See the Reunion Calendar on page 2 for important class reunion news! THOMAS E. DURBIN is still teaching fall terms at CSU Stanislaus. He says, “Looking forward to our 50th! Any plans?” [Keep your eye on the LAA reunion calendar — Ed.]
1961
JAN. & JUNE
WILLIAM GRAFF says, “Just signing in — almost retired, worked 48 years at SF Giants games in sales. Grad USF 1966, US Army 1965–68, three children, seven grandchildren.” WESLEY TOM sends a special hi to Mark R., Henry D., Ken U., Dennis J., Dennis Y., Bill H., Ivan V., and Tony R.
1962
JAN. & JUNE
DAVID GUGGENHIME writes, “The Marin City Children’s Program for which I worked full-time for 12 years had its first three college graduates this past May. There are five more participants who will also graduate within the next two years or so. Given the budgetary situation in California, which is not just a short term problem, I would encourage LHS alumni to volunteer in their local schools.” OWEN RAVEN updates, “Retired Bank Examiner from Department of Financial Affairs of California; docent at California Academy of Science.” K ATHERINE LATHROP LITTMAN announces, “Still enjoying Sonoma County — working at Kaiser, playing music. Son Chris graduated from the University of British Columbia. I’m very proud of him.” MICHAEL BRUCE DEITCH says hi to the Class of June ’62, and he writes, “Well, I guess we are all about Medicare-eligible at this point. Time flies…would like to say a special hello to registry 136, Mrs. LoForti’s homeroom. Hope all is well. Wondering how my old friends John Plough, Robert ‘Bob’ Roddick, and Steve Aizenberg are doing. Drop me a note. Does anyone have information on Terrence Hook? We lost contact about 1966 when he was at Cal and I was at SF State. Would like to hear from old friends; contact me at deitchmichael@ hotmail.com”
KENNETH ATTERMAN greets, “Dear classmates/friends: Still 1) practicing law in San Rafael, 2) married, 3) playing golf, and 4) spending too much time online, but not necessarily in that order! I’d love to hear from any of you near or far at my ‘new’ e-mail address — attymarin@gmail.com. Hard to believe it’s 50 years since I started at Lowell as a sophomore. Keep in touch and happy new year!” SHIRLEY PAINTNER PERKINS retired in June, after 41 years of teaching in the San Francisco Unified School District.
1963
JAN. & JUNE
BRYAN KENNETH GIRARD details, “After majoring in music at SF State, I put the saxophone on the back burner for many years while pursuing a technology career that took me all over Europe and Asia. I returned to jazz full-time in 2001 and haven’t looked back since. Now living in Vallejo and San Francisco with the love of my life with whom I reconnected seven years ago, Rosemarie Estolas DeWeese Girard ’64. We ‘went steady’ at Lowell before going our separate ways for 37 years (so Rosie is my first and last girlfriend). I hated to miss the 45-year reunion but promise to see you at the 60th. I’m at bkgirard2001@yahoo.com” JANICE MACARTHY DRUIAN informs, “Five years into retirement I am living my dream with husband, Greg, in Central Oregon. I’m a full-time painter. Visit my web www.druianstudios.com. Life is good!”
doing community service on the Diablo Valley Chinese Cultural Association Board and other organizations like the Pacific Bus Museum. It is my 2009 wish for the economy to recover, especially in real estate. Traveling is my pastime.” When DONNE MILLS DAVIS witnessed the birth of her first grandchild six years ago, she went completely gaga. She knew she was not alone in her enthusiasm. So she founded the GaGa Sisterhood, a national organization for enthusiastic grandmas. Her organization offers bimonthly programs on activities to do with your grandchildren, such as traveling, visiting museums, storytelling, gardening, singing silly songs, reading, and sharing family memories. She also writes a monthly online newsletter. You can learn more about the organization by visiting www.gagasisterhood.com. GLORIA GONZALES GRACE brags “I have now enjoyed 1½ years of retirement as a clinical social worker. My husband and I have taken some fantastic trips; one of the most exciting was to New Zealand and Australia. I am enjoying my two grandchildren, who seem to love spending time with grandma and papa.”
1966
JAN. & JUNE
MURRAY F. MECHUM rejoices, “It was wonderful to see that Cathryn Brash is a member of the Lowell Alumni Association board of directors. She was my favorite Lowell teacher. My best to her!”
CARMEN AZZOPARDI GAGE comments, “Many thanks to Allan Gold and the ’63 Reunion Committee for another wonderful gathering. Looking forward to our 65th birthday celebration.”
JUDITH CLARKE informs, “Am enjoying retirement in SF and keeping busy as President of The Woods Homeowners Association and as docent at the new California Academy of Sciences. Still have time for travel and other fun things!”
1964
1967
JAN. & JUNE
See the Reunion Calendar on page 2 for important class reunion news! RONALD QUOK announces, “Retired from the teaching profession after 36 years; currently working ambitiously with the reunion committee planning our 45-year reunion. Keep Saturday, October 17, 2009, open. Hope to see everyone there!” LIZZIE BROWN-JEREMI states, “We are looking forward to seeing all of our classmates on October 17, 2009. If you are in contact with other of our classmates, have them contact Gwenlyn Giffing Gibson at gwenlyn-gibsonlowell64@comcast.net for the information and invitation.” MARC CHRISTENSEN updates, “Thank you to the editor for the kind words in the Fall ’08 newsletter. Yes, I retired from teaching five periods a day after 39 years in the SFUSD. I still continue to coach track and field for the district, as well as mentor teachers throughout the secondary division. I’m looking forward to seeing as many of our Fall ’63/Spring ’64 classmates as possible at our 45-year reunion on October 17, 2009.” He also pleads, “On a more serious note, the SFUSD is facing a major financial crisis. Now is the time for all Lowellites from every class to step up and donate an amount each person can afford to preserve the special programs at Lowell. Consider supporting critical staffing needs, the grants program, scholarships, the Annual Fund Campaign, the Lowell Sports Foundation, or any restricted gift funding of your choice. Your donation will go a long way in providing the finances needed to continue the current programs that previous generations of Lowellites have enjoyed.” [Many thanks, Marc, for your service to SF’s young people and your support for Lowell — Ed.] WILLIAM H. MENZIES announces, “Class of Spring as well as Fall 1964, please save October 17, 2009, as the date for the 45-year reunion. Please contact the Reunion Committee at the LAA website for information and updates as well as your own personal information.” ALEXANDER LEE LOCK sends, “I am looking forward to our class reunion on October 17. Although I retired to Reno last year, I am still working at US Airways in San Jose and
JAN. & JUNE
STUART QUAN states, “Sorry, I missed the reunion. I am currently commuting monthly between my University of Arizona (Tucson) and my Harvard (Boston) faculty responsibilities. Please stop by and visit if you are in either locale.” TERRY NATHAN notifies, “Loving significant other Rich Sirianni passed away 02/17/2009; starting to reconnect with old friends. E-mail terrylynne53@aol.com to touch base — would love to hear from you.” YVONNE M. WONG TONG says, “Thank you for the 40-year class reunion in September 2007. I enjoyed the time spent immensely. At the class reunion, I was so very glad to meet again friends from Lowell…still I miss others like Susan Lew, Su Fang, Edith Heitmann, Lilly Fah, Betty Eng, Sharon Chan, Susan Chin, Katherine Lee, Anna Lee, Beatrice Sinoncelli, Wanda Wilburn, neighbor Gregory Cheung, David Edwards, Nancy Lee, Phoebe Ko, May Chau, as well as Pam Wiley and others. You may find me at privilege1224@gmail.com” JEFFREY KEYAK greets, “Hi to all fellow ’67ers. Vicki and I celebrated our 26th wedding anniversary. Son Aaron is press secretary at National Jewish Democratic Council, son Joshua is a senior at Yeshiva University, and son Jonah is a sophomore at Jewish Community High School. I’m at Kaiser Permanente, where I manage the national sustainable energy and operations programs.”
1968
JAN. & JUNE
KITTY DESPOTAKIS sends “Cheers to 40 years! Missed the reunion but had to mention it was a great year. Justin, son of my brother Ken Despotakis ’68, was married in June to a wonderful girl named Clare at the Fairmont Hotel in SF. Our mother, Felice Hodshire Despotakis ’42, is doing fine living in the gold country near Lake Tahoe, and my husband Robert is making a living creating fine furniture in his workshop where we live near Placerville. Looking forward to another year of good health for all.” MARY GOUGHNOUR DOLL continues as a nurse (33 years) working at two local Sonoma County hospitals. Oldest son Evan (Stanford
’03) is on the iPhone team. Son Joey (Cal ’06) is working toward his Ph.D. in engineering at Stanford. Daughter Elle attends SSU School of Nursing. Son Lyell is a freshman at UC Davis, Mary’s alma mater. Daughter Robin is a junior in high school with college plans undecided. Mary says, “The joy of learning which I developed at Lowell has ‘infected’ my children.”
1969
JAN. & JUNE
See the Reunion Calendar on page 2 for important class reunion news! ALISON THOMPSON MCKEE details, “In 1969, I graduated from Lowell. In 1973, my husband and I moved to Minneapolis for what was supposed to be just enough time to get graduate work done. One thing led to another and we found ourselves in Madison, WI, where my husband found a postdoc and I began the serious endeavor of homeschooling/unschooling our two children. Since then I have managed to write Homeschooling Our Children, Unschooling Ourselves and From Homeschool to College and Work, two books based on our unschooling experiences, and do the necessary speaking and writing that come from those efforts. I also work full-time as an itinerant teacher of blind and visually impaired children in our local school district. My life has been full of exciting adventures, and I like to recall that many of them began at Lowell when I was doing volunteer work at the elementary school nearby. My love and fascination with helping children learn, in nonconventional ways, has never diminished since that time.” SORIN EREMIA suggests, “Looking forward to the 40-year reunion. It would be nice to combine some reunions with the year ahead and behind. We all had many friends or teammates a year ahead or behind us we would like to see again. After 40 years, I recently met Kenneth Carter from the swim team. It was great to talk of the old days!” BRUCE QUAN writes, “Greetings to all! I have been disabled/retired since 1999. I entertain myself by traveling the world, wondering why our elected officials are mentally challenged, and trying to make the life of my sponsored children (Christian Children’s Fund) a bit easier. If anyone working on the 2009 reunion needs help, feel free to contact me. I wish you all peace — and intelligence to our lawmakers.”
1970
JAN. & JUNE
See the Reunion Calendar on page 2 for important class reunion news! PETER VISALLI is in his 31st year of his San Francisco–based hardwood floor business. NANCY LIM-YEE hollers, “Greetings to the class of 1970! Hope this finds everyone well. I’ve been working for the city and county of San Francisco’s mental health division for the past 33 years; currently program director at Chinatown Child Development Center, a children’s mental health clinic. With my three children all grown up and out on their own, retirement is in my foreseeable future. Looking forward to our 40-year reunion.” ROBERT HAYMAN comments, “I’ve reached the point where kids on the street refer to me as ‘Sir’ (or ‘Old Timer’). I still drive cars that run on gasoline, haven’t learned to text-message, and don’t have a Facebook page (for which my own kids are eternally grateful) or an HDTV (for which they aren’t).”
1971
JAN. & JUNE
BRENDA KAHN e-mails, “After a series of magazine editorial jobs, I landed in my current long-time position as senior public information officer for the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (based in Oakland, and serving the nine Bay Area counties). I’m now trying my hand as a journalism instructor at City College of San Francisco. I live in Berkeley with my husband and four kids — including identical twin preteen girls, a son at UC Davis, and another son about to go to college.”