8 minute read
Alumnotes
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1960’s
donnA degen mcgourin ‘62 - “After living in Bend, Oregon for seventeen years, we moved to Broomfield, Colorado. We wanted to downsize and be closer to kids and grandkids. We sold our home in June, and while building a new home in a 55+ community, we lived with our daughter and her family. We’ve just moved in and are getting settled. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all the Pioneer family.”
normA Brown Blunt ‘65 worked in food service for the movie studios, catering for the cast of some big shows, such as “Little House on the Prairie.” From there she moved on to teach Food Service Management at Pasadena City College, then opened a restaurant and antique store in Silverlake called, “Café Norma.”
Intrigued by searching for antiques, Norma and her husband opened an antique shop with specialties in estate jewelry in the Melrose area. Later they expanded the business to Larchmont Village in the Pasadena antique center. It was a fullservice business offering art, sculptures, paintings, bronze, and many other types of items. “I’m finally retired but I’m busier now than ever,” said Norma. While the physical business has scaled down, she still runs an online version. “It feels like I’m working 24/7. But I like being busy,” she continued. “I like to talk with people, be engaged with life. It gives me purpose. All I can say is that it truly has been a fun life.”
(PHOTO #1) PAulA cosKo sP ‘65 celebrated her 50th anniversary as a Sister of Providence in July of this year in Burien, Washington. The theme, “Providence Alive in Us”, honored 15 Jubilarians for their faithful and loving service to the poor and
needy. ruth shoemAKer cunninghAm ‘65 and JAnis russo vAn Keuren ‘65 were among the many friends and family who joined in celebrating Paula’s service as a Sister of Providence. Among those who attended a reception for Paula were Sister Alexis Melancon, Sister Lucille Dean, and Marian Julum Weaver (formerly Sister Anne Therese).
Paula has been the Lord’s hands and feet as a teacher, first in a small village above the Arctic Circle in Alaska. There she first learned the joy and love of serving people of different cultures. From there she went to Nome, Alaska where she taught religious education to the Eskimos. When she returned to Seattle, she taught children living in the city’s Central District. She also served as a cook for a short-term mission in Haiti.
In 1991, Paula began teaching English as a Second Language to adults at North Seattle College. She has been in this mission field for the past 25 years. “It is truly a blessing to minister to immigrants and refugees, especially when they first arrive,” Paula said. “Most of my students have been in the United States for less than six months. Being with them is another Kingdom Experience.”
The Mass and reception for the Jubilarians was held at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Burien, Washington. The joy-filled ceremony rung with praises for God’s Providence in providing for the needy through the lives of these women.
(PHOTO #2) JAnis russo vAn Keuren ‘65 - “This Fall my husband, Tom, and I traveled to the Holy Land with a group of 21 people from our church to see first-hand the Biblical history of Israel and parts of
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Greece. Walking in the footsteps of Jesus was the spiritual highlight of our journey. We sailed on the Sea of Galilee, stood before an archaeological excavation of the synagogue in Capernaum where Jesus preached, overlooked the Mt. of Beatitudes, and walked the cobblestone streets of Jerusalem. So much to absorb, we are still mulling it over now that we are home. Definitely blessed to be part of this.”
(PHOTO #3) toni dirscherl werK
‘68 - “My first and only grandson, Wynn Kenneth, celebrated his first birthday last August. My husband of 36 years, Steve, and I moved to Southeastern Idaho this past summer to be closer to Wynn’s mom and dad (Callie and Patrick Werk) and we now are farmers (growing hay) and cattle ranchers. This is a piece of heaven and life is the best here! We survived 39 years in Las Vegas, and it was time to go. Grace and gratitude to you all!”
1970’s
(PHOTO #4) deBBi Bennett ‘71 - “I am still quite happily employed as a state licensed optician. I now create and edit online continuing education for other opticians to be able to renew their licenses. I have also updated study courses to help an optician pass the national tests and work one on one over the phone to assist in their study progress.
Working in a small office with a “boss” who is a true partner, I look forward to each day. While I sometimes miss the environment of being up front of a classroom, using my active teaching skills, I am rewarded when time after time I receive a sincere thank you from my clients when they pass the national tests. It is always a pleasant surprise when one of my former students recognizes me on the telephone, or recognizes my voice from the online courses that I have narrated.
Someone asked if I am preparing for retirement soon. I love my current position and I work three days a week, leaving the balance of the week free for my personal interests. It is the ideal situation, I am working and semi-retired at the same time. Here is a photo taken at my national convention, Vision Expo, which is held every year in the fall. I am pictured with Tanish, a student who has become a lifelong friend.”
gAil roBillArd ‘74 - “I participated in the 2016 PHS Career Day and had a great time. Go Pioneers! Spoke of 18 years as a real estate litigation attorney in my own practice and then 16 years as an elementary school teacher, in both public and private sectors.
Changing careers again! Now in the process of earning my California Teacher Librarian credential online through San Jose State University so I can be school librarian at my elementary school beginning in the 2017-2018 school year. Married to lawyer and classic car enthusiast Neil Katz since 1985 with two wonderful adult children, Mallory Katz and Gregory Katz.”
(PHOTO #5) tim shAnnon ‘77 - “I ran into some current PHS students and their mom at a Feeding the Homeless service opportunity at the St. Francis Center in Downtown LA. I am the coordinator of the program put on by the Order of Malta and was pleased to see some of the PHS family there. In the photo from left are Dacotah Fierro ’17, myself, Tiffany Fierro ’19, and their mother, Judy.
1980’s
(PHOTO #6) chArles sill ‘80 - “So many things to share, goodness where do I start? OK, I’ll spare you the ad nauseum details. Currently I live in Atlanta, GA and work as a freelance videographer and photographer. Along with that I have a full time gig as a traffic reporter with I Heart Media. My partner/husband and I are both artists at heart so getting creative is what we do. After our commitment ceremony in Lake Tahoe back in August of 2013 we started Bluberry Productions,LLC. We specialize in creating great images of mostly real estate and portraits for clients. It keeps us busy and we really enjoy it. Occasionally we create video too for those clients who need more for their marketing ideas. Also on the business side I am a voice actor. I have done many thousands of radio and tv ads for a varied client list from McDonald’s to Lotus Cars of Britain and Nissan just to name a few. Growing up in and near the entertainment/advertising businesses apparently taught me something.”
melissA crAndAll ‘88 has been appointed as Director of Operations for Cancer Care Network Foundation, a 501(c)(3)
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community benefit foundation co-founded
by PHS alumna christeil figueroA gotA ‘87.
2000’s
(PHOTO #7) christinA PiAzzA novAK
‘01 recently gave birth to her second son, Colin Edward Novak, on September 10, 2016. He joins his big brother, James Patrick Novak, who was born on October 14, 2014. Christina and her husband, Sean, both work at Walt Disney Studios and live in Reseda.
(PHOTO #8) mAJelAne BAutistA ‘06 -
”After meeting at Providence and dating for 11 years, Brian Dinh ‘06 and I became engaged on October 22nd and are thinking about setting a wedding date in the fall of 2017. Brian works as a firefighter for Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank and I am the Graduate Program Specialist at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks.”
2010’s
(PHOTO #9) emily henderson ‘11
became engaged to Eric Dirting and moved to Texas. She’s currently planning her wedding which will take place in Texas.
we love to heAr ABout All of the wonderful things our Alumni Are exPeriencing!
PleAse KeeP us uPdAted ABout your lives Post Phs. send uPdAtes And Photos to Allison hAstings Knowles ‘99 At Allison.Knowles@Providencehigh.org.
upcoming reunions
For information about upcoming reunions, or all things alumni-related, please contact Joannes Pamatmat ‘03, Alumni Relations Coordinator, at 818.846.8141 x14403 or Joannes.Pamatmat@providencehigh.org.
Reunions for the Classes of 1962 (55th), 1967 (50th), 2002 (15th) and 2007 (10th) are in the planning stages!
If you belong to any of the following graduating class years and are interested in planning your reunion, please contact Joannes Pamatmat ‘03 and she will help you get started!
