WE REMEMBER

We Remember these Spiritual Giants

This last year, we lost several incredible teachers who made a remarkable difference in the lives of so many Phoenix Christian students. Mr. Hovda, Mr. Kelly, Mr. Galindo and Mrs. Sasso each had a unique impact. During these difficult times of sickness and loss, our Phoenix Christian family turned to the Facebook alumni page to lift these loved ones up in prayer, share memories, and express gratitude. We’d like to share just a few of these special notes and thank the PC community for your gracious expressions of love. Even though we are spread throughout the world, we belong to ONE Kingdom, worshipping ONE God, united by a very special place called Phoenix Christian.

JOSHUA GALINDO

February 28, 1933 - January 14, 2021

20 years of service to Phoenix Christian

Renee’ Behrens ’77

I remember his big smile & sense of humor!

Melissa Raney ’92

I’m so sorry for your loss...Mr. Galindo was a great man and always greeted you with a smile. I think of him often as I drive down the street and accelerate through the curve, just like he taught me. One of my favorite memories of him is during one of our driving lessons when he was teaching me how to enter the freeway I looked over and he had fallen asleep, I wasn’t sure what to do so I just kept driving till he woke up. I figured I must be doing something right if he felt comfortable enough to fall asleep...lol. Praying for the Lord’s comfort during this difficult time.

Leslie Billings ’88

A gifted man who cared about making a difference to students, involved in international missions. Well done good and faithful servant. May God give those here on earth the heart and encouragement to carry on. Prayers for the family and all those who experience his God given teaching talent.

Christina Stark Hogg ’76

My sincere condolences on your loss. May God bring you all His comfort and strength. Mr. Galindo was an inspirational Spanish teacher and fine example of God’s love, joy and compassion. His laughter was contagious! We students were privileged to have him as a teacher. Would have never known that he was such an accomplished man. So glad to know that He is reveling in the presence of our Lord and Savior!

Val Garrison ’73

You know you have had an incredible teacher who invested in their students, when many, many years later you still think of them & some of the things they taught you. Mr. Galindo was one of those! I’m truly heartbroken for his family in losing him. Heaven is now made richer with his presence. May he be enjoying his great reward for a life well lived and joy in his Savior’s presence!!

Christina Stark Hogg ’76

Such a humble and beautiful life for The Lord!! Though I had you as a teacher, in my mid-teens, I so remember seeing such a difference in the quality of your character. You walked and talked as Christ did. Mr. Hovda made a huge impression on my young life. Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Enter into His Rest. Prayers for the comfort of your family.

Grace Karcher ’76

Really loved him. “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” He gave a lot of peace to all of us students. He always shined a light I’ve kept all these years.

Lois Leader ’72

He was so kind and gentle with the students! Decades later, we remember his influence. That’s a legacy!

Gloria Henry ’76

Mr. Hovda was my favorite PCHS teacher. Starting the school day in his Bible class was a true blessing. His love for the Lord and the Word will always be a sweet memory.

Mary Jane Barton Perrone ’63

“When we all get to heaven, What a day of rejoicing that will be!” Mr. Hovda lived it, he taught it, and we appreciated it. Sympathy and gratitude for Mrs. Hovda and the family.

Becky Smith Lastovica ’65

Besides having Mr. Hovda for Bible, he picked me up every day for school along with Paul Lindblad and Clyde Church. He was a patient man.

James Wickersham

Mr. Hovda was a kind and loving man. It was a joy to be a colleague of his. May the family take comfort in the beauty of his life and his love of the Lord.

Bill Holloway ’64

Of all the Godly men I have known in my life, Gene Hovda was the one I’ll always remember. He taught Bible in a way that made sense to a very immature young man. God Blessed me to know him.

Brian Hines ’80

He is enjoying what he has taught so many people about...HEAVEN and being in the presence of his Lord. I will never forget how he may have caught someone I know cheating on a Bible verse in class but never said anything to that person; just a look...heard this from a friend.

Nelda Joy Claywell Fincher ’65

I remember Mr. Hovda as being so kind, quiet and patient with us all, and his cute little smile! God bless your service Mr. Hovda! You made it to the kingdom.

Daryl Layne ’73

Mr. Honda taught me more than any other teacher in my life. Not in a book but in his actions. Love you.

EUGENE LEE HOVDA

July 5, 1926 - June 14, 2021

23 years of service to Phoenix Christian

Mr. Hovda’s Bible class

VICTOR KELLY

September 6, 1936 - February 3, 2021

27 years of service to Phoenix Christian

Photo: Josh Galindo

“To choose teaching as a profession in today’s cultural climate calls for far more courage, endurance and wellestablished skill sets that that which I faced over fifty years ago. But one thing remained constant: Teaching is a profession in which one must be right the first time. There is little opportunity to “reset”, and, in my case, sadly, there are some who, throughout the remainder of their lives, will still carry the bitter fruit of my thoughtless actions, stupid mistakes and wounding words. If I were to have the opportunity to start again at the beginning, I believe there are three things I should do differently. • I would encourage far more and correct far less • I would be far more concerned with what a student will become and much less concerned with the anomalies evident in that process of becoming. • I would be far more concerned that compassion and kindness would drive my actions far more than cultural mores, expediency and urgency. My encouragement to teachers? Balance that which is urgent against that which is important. Guard against transforming personal preference into Biblical principles. Drive firmness and discipline with kindness and compassion. Fiercely protect personal integrity. In future years, few students will remember how to diagram a sentence. They will always remember the teacher who treated them with kindness and respect.” – Victor Kelly

David May ’71

Mr. Kelly taught me more than just English. Before I became a Christian, he helped to show me that faith was more than just what you heard on Sundays. It represented how your life would be directed. This even applied to selling ads for the school yearbook. When I told him I had accepted the Lord, I will never forget that heartfelt smile on his face. Coming from Mr. Kelley, it said more than words ever could.

Elizabeth LaMertha ’91

My senior year (90-91) was extremely difficult because my father was deployed to Iraq in support of Desert Storm. He missed the majority of the year and my focus was not on school, not on being a senior, and not on a college future because I had no idea how long the war would last or what would happen to my dad. I also felt so alone as I was one of the only military kids on campus. Mr. Kelly blessed me with the greatest blessings of my senior year. A few weeks before graduation, I found out that my dad would make it home in time for graduation. I asked Mr. Kelly if my dad could do something, like pray at graduation because my dad had missed my entire senior year. (Mr. Kelly was our class sponsor that year.) He told me that unfortunately the ceremony was already planned. What I didn’t know is that he had contacted my mom earlier to find out when my dad was coming home and had arranged for my dad give the keynote address at baccalaureate. I had no idea that my dad would be speaking until I was walking down the aisle and saw him on the stage. I can’t thank Mr. Kelly enough for helping to include my dad in the graduation ceremonies. I have been an English teacher for 25 years. Mr. Kelly inspired my love for British literature and my desire to keep going to school and learning. (Mr. Kelly was always taking some class or other.) I praise God for allowing me to have Mr. Kelly as a teacher and an inspiration.

Laura Huizenga ’84

Praying for the family. He was one of my most influential teachers. Love to you all.

Beth Sasso Roth ’84

Praying for all of the Kelly family and extended family! What an amazing teacher he was! He was so passionate about his students learning! Many times in college I thanked the Lord for Mr. Kelly as I often found myself surrounded by kids struggling to write a research paper. Yet, Mr. Kelly saw to it that you knew how to do it and do it right! His teaching prepared me for college and helped me survive it as well! He was one of a kind!

Martin Jordan ’73

I can only echo what Lois Leader posted. Mr. Kelly was an exemplar, a role model for role models. With each passing year, I grew to appreciate what he did for us more and more. His love for the Lord, his family, and his country always put the challenges of life in the proper perspective. We shall see him again, and he would challenge us to be the “Mr. Kelly” in someone else’s life.

Shannon Parks ’89

I am just seeing this today! May I say, I am so very sorry for you and your loss! Your Mom, Mrs. Barbara Bales Sasso, was my Teacher at Phoenix Christian High. She was a wonderful teacher and always so vivacious and full of life and the love of God! I pray for you and your family to receive peace and comfort from the Holy Spirit as you grieve her loss! I rejoice with you all in knowing she is in the presence of Jesus!

Cameron Conder ’94

My condolences to the Barbara Bales Sasso family, the greatest memory I have of Mrs. Sasso is she always believed in me, she will always have a special place in my heart.

DeeDee Hart-Boyd ’92

I am so sorry! She was the best teacher I ever had. The biggest heart that everyone could see and she loved all her “kids”. She will be missed!!

Linda Worthington ’91

My tears are heavy hearing this, Mrs. Sasso has and always will be my favorite teacher. She taught me more than English, Debate & Drama; she taught me grace, compassion, courage and what it means to follow Christ, to serve & help others & always look to the positive side. She was the first teacher I had to see before school, and the last at the end of every school day. I have always used her as an example to my own kids, and will forever be grateful that I was able to tell her how much she means to me just a few months ago. She will forever be in my heart. I love you Mrs. Sasso!

Andrew Harshman ’92

Dyslexia has haunted me for much of my life. Reading and writing to me was more like running a marathon barefoot across Legos. Suffice it to say I was not a fan of all things English. Enter Mrs Sasso.

She put up with our antics for Sophomore year. Our group tested her patience on a regular basis and through her grueling perseverance, she taught me a love for the English language and drama. A guy like me getting into drama of all things? Sort of like a milk bucket under a bull. I had the privilege of being part of the first thespian group at PC. Her grace continued to sway me and I was determined to be in her classes for my Junior and Senior year as well.

BARBARA BALES SASSO

May 11, 1932 - November 4, 2020

5 years of service to Phoenix Christian