Carol (Humm) Scott (Berreyesa)

Hey Jeff.....

Sol Food!  That is our favorite restaurant in the world!  I heard a rumor they are coming to Sebastopol!  Do you know anything?

Yes, We fled Marin in 1981.  It was too rich for us.  ( My husband Jim was a cement finisher and I worked in childbirth.) The values were changing in the school and we wanted our children to know and feel all people.  We moved to Sebastopol to grow our own food, (actually out near Occidental) and found it was less diverse skin color wise than Marin.  However, there were plenty of hippies to soften the folks who had been here forever.

The school had 3 choices for our children.  The "ultra academic", the "regular" and the experimental "free" school (lots of art, music and field trips).  Our kids thrived.  High school was a different matter.  We had to become more creative.

In the meantime, the area has become more diverse.  Unfortunately, the big money has bought land and moved in.......we have three Rock Stars on our road and a generous smattering of CEOs.

We have lived here 32 years now and have managed to become part of a very diverse group of friends.  

Things change so slowly.  I feel we just need to keep working at it......

Hi Sandy,

You were demonstrating before I was....The first one I went to was 1967 at the Arm Induction Center in the east bay.  We were demonstrating against the war.  I had my 8 month old baby boy on my hip never imagining the police would attack us and introduce Mace.  I never took my kids to another demonstration.  It was very scary.  People lost their eye sight.  It was the beginning of my awareness of how conscious I needed to become.

Steve Bosshard

After reading this forum I want to thank you for convincing me Not to come to the reunion. I have so little in common with all you  politically correct posers that have done so much to ruin our country. No replies needed.  We agree to disagree.

Sandy McKean

Steve,

So much for diversity at the reunion .

P.S. BTW, I did very much enjoy your line: "....as I slowly fall apart."

Nancy Nelson (Altman)

Hey all......Please let's keep this forum light & fun.  We should all be thankful that we are still here and not on the Memory page.  Your committee is putting a lot of effort into making this event special.  Let's not spoil it.  Thanks!

Alan Joy

@Steve Bosshard,

I appreciated your comments about Mike Telegin (In Memory). I felt the same as you. It was terrifying to be at the plate when he was on the mound. Mike was a good guy. One of the things that I remember about him is that he laughed easily. It's always a pleasure to be around someone like that.

Perhaps we'll bump into one another some time, Steve. It would be nice to catch up. 

Best,

Alan

Carol (Humm) Scott (Berreyesa)

I guess we could all pretend that everything was wonderful in high school.  It would be very strange to agree to participate in that kind of social game.

The more I have written in this forum the more I feel like I might be able to attend the reunion.  Expressing one's self is healing and important.  If some don't agree with what others have to say, isn't that okay?  That is how life is....right?

 I had many friends in high school and I loved them.  It was not the students who were the problem.

I think this forum can include freedom of expression.  If some people are scared away from the reunion because they don't like what someone else says, then it is their choice.

 Frankly, what scares me about the reunion are the people who want everyone to agree with them.  That would be tedious.  I would enjoy authenticity.  But I am only one person.

The question is: Are Jeff and I in trouble?

Alan Joy

One of the people that I remember best was Milt Waters. He was a very funny and witty guy. Milt and I were always thinking  of new and creative ways to insult each other.. We would both comb the dictionary for colorful expletives and try them out on each other. He did more to develop my vocabulary in those years than all my English teachers combined, for which I owe him a debt of gratitude. Interesting what motivates people. . . I've lost touch with him but would enjoy seeing him again if anyone knows his whereabouts.

Carol (Humm) Scott (Berreyesa)

Oh Jeff, I have lots of those. lol.

Carol (Humm) Scott (Berreyesa)

Hi Steve,

I want to thank you for voicing your opinion.  I feel it is okay not to agree with eachother.  It makes life more interesting.  Our experiences are different....and therefore; our views. 

I encourage you to go to the reunion.  Who knows maybe it will be fun.  I am trying to encourage myself to go too.

If we both go I will be glad to meet you again.

Gary Ravani

Well, I know the first thing I planned to do at the Reunion was run around asking everyone’s political affiliation. I guess I need a new plan. Will have to resort to just finding out what everyone has been up to for the last 50 years. It does make me kind of nervous that I may be a “poser” though. That means others are "authentic.” Authentic what, I wonder?

I would doubt that Redwood was “gerrymandered” to be as white-bread as it was. As Marin’s, and Tam High District’s, population grew there was a north campus, Drake, and a south campus, Tam High. Redwood became the central campus. CA and US schools today, of course, are even more segregated, racially and economically, than during our school years. Which is sad.

My experience after high school was somewhat different than most who wrote here. For whatever reason the very idea of going to a four-year college never even occurred to me. It was just inevitable that I would go to College of Marin. It was lots of work at minimum wage, lots of cars, and lots of beer for two years. Little study.

Ready for some “change,” I enlisted in the Army and, times being what they were, ended up in Vietnam. I served in the Central Highlands (Pleiku to be exact) from January, 1968, to January, 1969. The (in)famous Tet Offensive began about ten days after I arrived “in country.” I got beat up a little, but came home in good shape.

I suppose I can say that the military and Vietnam seemed like the right thing for me to do at the time, as participating in protests seemed to be the right thing for a number of you to do. We were all in our youth, after all.

After the Army I spent another semester at COM, for kind of an academic tune-up, and then transferred to Sonoma State. I graduated and then completed the teaching credential program. I actually did my student teaching at Redwood and then substituted there for a year and a half. I worked with, and substituted for, many of the same teachers we had. Let’s just say some of them were “surprised" to see me return as a colleague and leave it at that.

I spent 35 years in the classroom with most of the time at the middle school level. I think my ambiguous attitude toward academics in my younger years gave me a little more insight into struggling students I encountered over the years as a teacher.

My last 19 years I was president of the teachers’ union in my district (Petaluma). I retired from the classroom in 2008, but continue as an officer with my state union, the CA Federation of Teachers. I was just reelected for two more years in that position and will complete my term about a month before I turn 70. Seems like a good time to hang up my guns.

I was married during the Vietnam period and had two great sons with whom I am very close. I remarried around 25 years ago to my wife, Paula, and we live in Santa Rosa. My grandson, who is hell on wheels, is about to turn three. I like to fish (when I have time) and my wife and I like to tour by motorcycle.

My, my, how time flies.

Looking forward to seeing everyone.

Sandy McKean

Cool Gary.  Great story (and writing).....and clearly you learned some wisdom along the way!

Carol (Humm) Scott (Berreyesa)

Hello Gary,

I appreciate your writing and your humor.  Life is facinating.  It is interesting to see how we all burst our of high school in to the world and have had so many different experiences.  Thank you for your prespective and your wisdom.

Jackie Ray McLeran (Timmer)

I only remember  how fast it all went. I loved being on Dance Party (Tom Tuttle remember going with me a number of times?) the choir, I remember Jim McClure he and I were friends since grammar school, so sorry he is no longer with us. My math teacher mr. Basich ( hope I spelled his name right) would turn in is grave if he knew I was an underwriter, and Operations manager of a large Home loan center in Walnut Creek. Had a great career. And am enjoying retirement with my husband and 3 Poodles. We have 4 children and 8 grandchildren, I am looking foreward to seeing everyone.

Gary Ravani

Thanks for the kind words, folks. The alternative description for a “dry sense of humor” is being a smart-ass. This is an “attribute” I’ve had since early elementary school days and has, over time, caused me some grief. Just ask my first wife how “dry” it is.

As for “wise,” I’d say the years have allowed me to hone and/or file the rough edges off of some of my more pronounced flaws, but flaws aplenty there are. Just ask my current wife (a saint by the way).

The “old wise man” gig is really one of the cues that brought about my retirement from the classroom. Not only did the kids all call me Mr. Ravani, but then the majority of newer teachers were calling me Mr. Ravani even though I kept insisting Mr. Ravani was my Dad. Finally the school Principal and Assistant-principal were calling me Mr. Ravani, though I called them by their first names. As I said, little “cues” that it was time to hand in the old grade book for good.

Sandy McKean

LOL............MISTER Ravani.

Alan Brainerd

It is interesting to read of  how many of our class found their way into careers in education.  Was this because of or due to our own experiences in school as kids?  Or perhaps a way to avoid the draft in the late 1960's. as was my case.  No offense at all to those who served in the military.  I respect what you did in those challenging times, and know a bit about it from having an older brother who served as an Army medical officer south of the DMZ, coming home a very changed man.  He died two years ago still bearing the invisible scars of his service in Viet Nam.

I had a recent experience that brought back some memories.  I have been involved with school accreditation for many years through WASC, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. I was invited to be on an accreditation team for Marin Primary and Middle School, an independent school housed in the old LCM School on Magnolia Ave. in Larkspur.  They are leasing the school site from the Larkspur-Corte Madera School District, and have been in the old and now renovated school building since the late seventies.  The district opted not to renovate the facilities, choosing instead to lease them to MP&MS, who are doing a pretty good job of providing an alternative to the offerings of the public schools.  Although I did not go to LCM, being a graduate of AE Kent School in Kentfield, I recall playing flag football on their field, which is still there, although now sharing space with the Little League baseball field.  I had not been back that way for many years, but found it remarkable how much and how little has changed.

Carole Ellen Reynolds (Borruso)

I have a confession to make.  At last there is a forum I can use to get rid of the guilt!!

Does anyone remember during government class in senior year having to go to the theater and watch a movie about venereal disease?  For me it was second period.

I met up with a friend who had already seen it.  She and I took the premovie test and got all the answers right.  "J" you know who you are!

The next day the government teacher announced that there were only two students in the whole class that knew all about venereal disease.

At last you know.  There was no one in our class who knew anything about venereal disease.

I have now purged my soul and can get on with my life.

Kathy Deedy (Hart)

Carole Ellen Reynolds (Borruso)

Thank you, Kathy.  I look forward to seeing you at the reunion.

Ada Wiklund (Holloway)

Hi Everyone,

I have so enjoyed your posts and memories.  Yes, I agree with statements to the effect that we all had different friends and different experiences in high school.  Linn and I, and my family, moved to Auburn before our senior year and I felt pulled from Redwood and friends and felt somewhat lost in Placer High.  Fractured, I may say.  Some years later I attended two reunions in the summer.  

After high school I attended Sierra College for a semester and then moved up with my aunt and uncle in Tacoma, and attended Pacific Lutheran University.  My major was survival, and what the heck do I do now.

I moved to Burlingame (lived with my older sister), got a job in San Francisco filing insurance policies, and eventually moved to the city.  I majored in shock, seeing nude sunbathers on the roof of my apartment, and realizing my new roommate was a lesbian.  Now, I don't have anything against gay people, but sheeze, I tell you, I majored in shock.

Although I suffered from brain atrophy at the insurance company, I did manage to go from file clerk, to rate clerk, to endorsement clerk, to assistant to the comptroller.  Atrophy presaged numbness, so I started to attend S.F. State Downtown extension during evening classes. (college #3)  The first night of the first class, some tall, blond guy came and sat next to  me, in the empty classroom, and that was how I met my husband.  He was a San Rafael guy, and no, he felt none of the stratification the girls felt more than the fellows in high school.

We moved to Long Beach, I worked as a tech in medical research, and I graduated with an AA from Long Beach City.  (4)  Took night classes at Long Beach State (5),  Moved to Annapolis, Md., took classes at U of Maryland, (6) and worked at another research lab.  Moved to Bloomingdale, Ill, thought about taking classes, and worked at Sun Graphic Systems as a marketing assistant.

Moved back to CALIFORNIA!!!!!!  TO FAIRFAX!!!!!  Worked as a teacher's aide, and went to !!!  Dominican College, (7) graduating in 1975 with an art major (with not a lot of talent...) and a 3 month babe in a basket.  Thank God he was born the first Sunday of Easter vacation.  (We called it Easter vacation then.)

 Moved to Arcadia, worked in another research lab, had another baby, achieved a MA from Cal State LA (8) in Gifted Education, LH credential, and Elem Ed credential.  And took art classes at Pasadena City College (9).  

Moved to Sonora, finished my MA thesis, on preschool gifted kids, went to Columbia College (11) for a few classes, and did my student teaching at Stanislaus State (12.)  I thought the total was 13, so I either had a senior moment and miscounted, or had a senior moment and can't remember nuthin'.  After I finished all that education, my first marriage ended, and I had a  short one after that, but I have been single since '91.  Wish I could say I had some juicy relationship since, but sadly cannot.  (But think of what I, all my own self, did to the college drop out rate,  Now that is some achievement!)

Bottom line, I taught for 26 years, really felt it was the career I was suited for, but I sure had loads of interesting experiences along the way.  I taught LH special ed, resource, and regular ed 3,4,5 th grades.  I started  tutoring in Fairfax and still am tutoring today.  I wish in some way I could say I stood up to protest, support, or change the injustice in this world, but I can say I know I changed children's lives as a teacher.  In some ways I envied those of you who had a career path chosen in high school and went to 4-5-6-7-8 years of college and stayed in one profession your whole career.  In high school I did not think I was smart enough to go to college, and frankly, I had no clue what to do after high school.  

Thank you, my high school friends, for being my friends, and not laughing too loud in Latin class when the teacher humiliated me to tears for not doing my homework (I have a depression in my brain in the foreign languages), didn't giggle too much at me for my obvious crush I had on the German teacher, who, bless him, just smiled at me when I was reading a cheat sheet on a test (hey, I do know at least 3 phrases in Spanish).  Thank you for giggling with me when the bio teacher took nips during the breaks, (or was that in Auburn?)  I probably won't be coming to the reunion, but my fond thoughts are with you.  (And if you remember seeing me at some other college, please write -  I want to know which one I missed .)  Ada

Jackie Ray McLeran (Timmer)

Ada, I enjoyed the update, sounds like you have had a great time so far, sorry you won't be able to come to the reunion.  Jackie

Nancy Nelson (Altman)

Hi everyone!

Redwood Tour!  Please read the attached email from Marilee Rogers:

Hi Nancy,

I just spoke with Dave Sondheim, Redwood's Principal as well as your classmate Karen Roby Barrett. After checking with Karen, Dave was agreeable to a tour on the afternoon of Friday, September 20 around 4pm, under the condition that Karen act as the chief guide. She knows the school well and may be able to get her colleague Sue Chelini to help. If I'm in town, I'll be there too. Dave would like to stop by and say a few words to every one.

I suggest you get people to sign up for the tour, meet at the flagpole (facing Mt. Tam) between 3:45 and 4 pm. School gets out at 3:10 so the parking lot and chaos of the end of the school day should be over.

We can probably get a stack of recent Bark's to give out to the alumni which would be nice. 

I hope this works out for everyone. Our tour (clas of '62) had about 20 people. One of the Science teachers, Skip Lovelady, was in his room and gave a very interesting update on the science program at Redwood. Can't hurt to ask him again!

Marilee

So....if you are interested, please sign up by emailing Linn Offenbach Maraccini: knlccini@astound.net

After the tour we will continue on to our respective "Grade School Reunions."  More on that later.

Nancy

Gordon Brown

I can’t remember everybody in Mr Ansley’s eighth grade class of 1959 at A.E. Kent but here goes---

Back Row—Bill Lancaster, Don Rogers, Brian Dailey

Second Row—Teacher not sure, not sure, not sure, not sure, not sure, Tom Tuttle, Jerry Norman, Gordon Brown

Third Row—Skip Shaw, Dave Lindsay, Steve Solinski, not sure, Jim Ahrens, Fritz Mayer, Gary Ravani, Roger Dowd, Teacher Clinton G. Ansley

Front Row—Christie Gilman, Lisa French, not sure, not sure, not sure, Judy Coy, not sure, not sure, Dawn Urbais

18 out of 29, I hope.  Who can fill in the gaps?  Corrections and additions welcome.

Gordon Brown

Bev Sadler (Prowell)

Hi, Gordon - I think I can add the ones in italics below (also, I am pretty sure the guy next to you is actually John Reznor).

2nd row:  Teacher is Miss Howie, Tom Gladney (?), Ed Bingham, Mike Lucas (?), not sure, Tom, John Reznor, you

Bottom row:  Christy, Lisa, Arlene Maffei, Ada Wiklund, Lynn Campbell, Judy, Nancy Egan, Betsy Winter (?), Dawn

Best to you and all classmates!

Bev

Kurt Wisecarver

The bottom row next to Dawn IS Besty Winter but prefers Elizabeth according to our 35 year renuion.