James Ahrens

I'm pretty sure that's Jim Mugford between Mike and Tom. I thought Sue Spiller was in our class?

Elizabeth "Betsy" Winter/Anderson (Anderson)

Pretty good memories everyone. Miss Howie married Mr. Hartley. We all thought that we had orchestrated the happy event. That is Jim Mugford between Mike and Tom. And Steve Ramos is between Jim Ahrens and Steve Solinsky. Considering the squint, I'm glad few remembered me. The California glare was hard to cope with before sun glasses became part of being fully clothed. And yes, thank you, I grew out of Betsy. 

Lisbeth French (Overholtzer)

I don't seem mto have that class picture, but I can imagine each of those smiling faces.  My last class picture from Kent School is Mr Richards 7th grade class.  I think I have all of them until then, from Kindergarten with Mrs Hamilton.

Elizabeth "Betsy" Winter/Anderson (Anderson)

Sue must have been absent that day. She doesn't appear in the other two classes either.

James Ahrens

Hi Elizabeth,

Ramos didn't ring a bell with me, but Steve Rivera does...any chance that might be him? 

Gary Ravani

When I first started teaching in the Petaluma School District, around 1977, I was looking around at the" first day" all district teachers' meeting and there was Clint Ansley my old 8th grade teacher. He was a 6th grade teacher at that time at McKinley School about one block from the jr. hi. where I taught. We were colleagues for several years until his retirement.

Some years later I was at a conference with several dozen other teachers and, while working in small groups, we were asked to name a teacher who had “made a difference” for us. I named, Clint Ansley, and told the story of how he had pulled me aside one day and talked to me about my behavior that was getting me sent to detention hall with great frequency. He told me I was a pretty smart kid but I was ruining my academic chances by being such a smart mouth (that “dry humor” thing again) to adults. He said it with great sincerity, and sure enough I settled down and had little disciplinary  trouble thereafter either at jr. hi. or high school levels.

Suddenly, I noticed a young teacher sitting across from me had tears running down her face. This was a surprise since I didn’t think it was that moving a story.

I asked her what was going on and she smiled and said, “Clinton Ansley is my Dad.”

Small world.

Elizabeth "Betsy" Winter/Anderson (Anderson)

This is the second time I answered Jim but it didn't take so it may show up somewhere else. You are so right. That is Steve Rivera, How could I forget? It was nigggling in my mind that Ramos wasn't right. He and I were left behind at Kent School on the day we were all going on a hay ride at the Meadow Club horse stable to celebrate our graduation. We walked most the way there but were too late for any celebrating. We had a nice walk though and I enjoyed his company.

Elizabeth "Betsy" Winter/Anderson (Anderson)

Mr. Ainsley wasn't greatly impressed by my mental prowess. I used to work hard on my book reports on full adult novels and never got more than a C. Sandra used to make her book reports up from the blurb on the book jackets of Readers Digest Abridged books and get B's.  I would struggle with my social studies reports too, careful not to plaigerize, and try to make the narrative flow sequentially and include the pertinent information. Result? C. Meanwhile Nancy lifted her reports unadulterated from the encyclopedia and never failed to get an A. I can't say these observations steered me in the right direction.

Jackie Ray McLeran (Timmer)

Nancy, Help, I uploaded 2 pictures that were supposed to be in Gallery, Classes. but they showed up on my profile. Can you transfer them.

Alan Brainerd

I was not in Mr. Ainsley's class, but recall having him for wood shop, an all-boys activity while the girls were presumably off doing something gender appropriate at the same time.  My vivid recollection was the " block" project, where we had to shape a piece of wood with hand tools and sandpaper until it met the precise dimension requirements that were impossibly precise.  As a kid with undiagnosed ADD (I think, in retrospect) this was a seemingly insurmountable challenge      designed to keep preadolescent boys from killing themselves or others with power tools. While my woodworking skills are now modestly developed, I cannot resist buying a power tool whenever possible.

Bev Sadler (Prowell)

"Elizabeth" it is from now on - thanks for the clarification.  I have always liked that name (and yes, it was definitely not the best picture of you!).

Gary - what terrific stories you have to tell!  Especially touching is the story of Mr. Ansley and his daughter, yet a bit strange to hear you refer to him as "Clint"  - I never even knew his first name!  Congratulations on your success as a teacher!

Ada Wiklund (Holloway)

Wow, I think you folks have much better memories than I do.  But then I moved to Kentfield in 4th grade, soon after my mom died of cancer and my dad had remarried to a woman with 4 children, so there were 7 of us kids, and my youngest brother was born in 1955, in Marin General.  In the aftermath of my mother's death I think I was lost, dazed, and confused.

I do remember being so happy at summer school because I could take art classes.  And one of my fond memories was going to Kent Corners and buying Bonomo's Turkish Taffy for 5 cents, playing tennis with my two brothers at College of Marin and buying books at the used book store.  I still buy used books, and reading is still one of my most time consuming hobbies.  I also make and teach dollhouse miniatures, and that has given me a nice group of friends in retirement.

I had great freedom of movement in Marin, and rode my bike to San Rafael, Laginitas, Sam Taylor Park, Belvedere, Tiberon, and Corte Madera, often with Jean Miles.  On Saturdays we could be gone till 5 p.m., and I never thought about being unsafe, wandering so far.

Until one day I walked to Lake Laginitas and encountered a man who was standing out in the brush.  (You guess what he was doing, dressed as he had been to a wedding earlier that day, with flowers in the car.)  He was waiting  in his car by the side of the road when I came down.  He tried to "pick me up" and kept trying to talk to me and get me into his car.  When I came to the first intersection, Peter Noyes drove by and offered me a ride home.  I think he lived off Laurel Grove, as I did. 

Of course, I could not say a word of that to Peter, who was my savior that day.  So thank you, Peter, for getting me out of the grip of rape and murder, on that sunny day.  You never knew how much I was grateful.

I thought the marriage of Miss Howie and Mr. Hartley was the most exciting thing.  I must have walked around in a romantic haze for weeks.  Months.  I still remember that.

And the murder of Lorna Lax, in the negative way.  My younger brother had to clean out her desk at school.  I still wonder what happened to the boy who killed her; does anyone know?  It rocked my view of the world.

Do you remember Cotillion.  I thought THAT was so romantic, even wearing gloves.  Thank you, boys, for showing up and dancing with me.   The Ballet Aquacade.  I don't think I swam in it, but my older sisters did.

Maybe I remember more than I think.  We moved the summer before my senior year.  I miss those times in Marin.

Ada Holloway (Wiklund)

Ada Wiklund (Holloway)

By the way, Gary, I was attracted to your humor and I still remember that about you!

Bev Sadler (Prowell)

Hi, Ada -

So good to hear from you - I remember riding to your house and around the Greenbrae/Kentfield area in 7th & 8th grade, but never had heard the story about the guy in the woods - yeow!  I'm sure Pete has saved many other lives in the meantime, and am very glad he helped you so that you could end up with such a varied and interesting life!

Here is a link to an article about Lorna Lax - I remember that well, it was so horribly shocking.  http://panderingtomyself.blogspot.com/2009/06/lorna-lax.html

Ric Fink

Christopher Coombs

Hey Rick , Thank you so much as there have been many rumors that she had passed away. I would love to correspond with Cindy. We have a lot of memories together. After all Cindy, Nancy Bagnall , Bob DeWolfe and I ran for cheer leader together in our senior year. We didn't make it ( what a loss to Redwood as we would have brought a little of Saturday Night Live into the picture)  Just kidding. I understand her situation as my sister in law had a stroke at 40 and was also paralysed all her life. After she got thru the enititial period she actually got stronger although not physically. You probably already know most of this but I would love to correspond with Cindy. Hope to see you at the Mill Valley Art show again. Tricia and I well be in Marin next weekend till after the 4th. If you are in town I would love to hook up.  Chris. PS. My Brother Dennis says to send you Love and Kisses......

Jackie Ray McLeran (Timmer)

Ada, Lorna Lax was killed in our back yard, in Kentfield we had our yard divided by the creek and owned the parcel across the creek. I remember my dad was the one that had to cut her down with my moms favorite  sewing scissors. The police took them for evidence and never gave them back. We used to see lights from our kitchen, and just thought it was kids wandering around. She was at my house the day before on her bike talking to me. That was so sad, the boy that did it I think was released when he turned 21, never heard from him again.

Nancy Nelson (Altman)

Hi All!

I received this email from a Bill Corday who wants to know if anyone remembers John Robert Grey III in our graduating class.  Please read the attached email from Bill.  He would appreiate hearing from anyone who knew him. 

Thanks,

Nancy

From:     Bill Cordray
Email:     bcor84@aol.com

We had a classmate at Olympus High Class of '63 with this same name. He probably moved from Salt Lake City to Cal. before graduation and became your classmate. We've searched for a long time with no success. We did find his father's obit (John Robert Grey II) in 2011, which mentioned that John III had also died. We know he married Maureen O'Connor in San Francisco in 1967, had a son named JHG IV, went to Stanford, got a Master's degree in business (I'll double check that), and worked as a disc jockey in Seattle, where he died sometime in the early 1970s. I also have his father's obit which mentions his death if you'd like to see that. Good luck on your 50th Reunion. I hope you might be able to let us know if our John Robert Grey III is the same person. Thanks, Bill Cordray

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Carole Ellen Reynolds (Borruso)

Hi, everyone.  I just wanted to let you all know that I have returned from vacation and your checks will finally be cashed.  If you haven't paid yet, try to get it in before September when the price goes up.

Thank you to all you generous people who have donated extra funds to the cause.

Willis Blackmore

    Hi, everyone!  I wish I could be at the reunion, but it is just not practical.  I would love to see everyone - those of you I knew well, and those whom I didn't know so well.

    I am a Social Worker/counselor at a non-profit organization in Taos, New Mexico.    Our mission: To inspire, train and empower all people to live lives of nonviolence.  I am proud to be a part of this organization.  My work is primarily with children aged from approximately 7 to 12.  I work primarily in the schools, and also in programs we have after school or during the summer.  We offer support, guidance and counseling for children and their families to help them learn how best to manage their emotions and needs in ways that are best for their development, learning responsibility and making decisions that are best for them, with confidence and without fear.  Our orgainzation has received national recognition, including recognition by the White House. 

    Why am I telling you this?  "Let me be perfectly clear!"  (Ha, ha!)  We are launching a "Crowdfunding" event via Facebook and other WEB-based avenues, set to launch tomorrow Septermber 16.  i know this is late notice -- I just figured out Facebook for the first time (it's been like the first time I went to McDonald's, because I was outvoted and captive in a car far from home....).  I would like to share information about our organization with you via Facebook -- which I could do via e-mail -- or you can look us up at https://www.nonviolenceworks.us.  Of course, I am trying to help with the fundraising event.  I have never worked with an organization in which I believed so strongly.

    In any event, I would like to be more in touch with friends past and present.  I have lost track of some, until it was too late.  Wishing you all well, and true happiness --- 

       Bill Blackmore        willis.blackmore.9@facebook.com     e-mail: heyforyou@yahoo.com

Bev Sadler (Prowell)

Here's a HUGE "Thank you!!!" to the Reunion Committee (Carole, Jackie, Lillian, Linn & Nancy) for all of the time and effort that obviously went into organizing and producing such a special event for the rest of us.  What a great job and wonderful gift of energies to those of us from the class of '63 who were able to attend.

Special kudos also to Nancy for the website creation and management - awesome work!

Alan Brainerd

Amen, Bev, well said!  That was FUN, and the organization and planning was exceptional!  My thanks to all of those who worked so hard so the rest of us could relax and have a great time.  I am already looking forward to the next one.  Will we make it to 60?  By the way, how about exchanging e-mail addresses?  Mine is alanbrainerd@gmail.com

Alan Brainerd

Gary Ravani

I, too, wanted to say thanks to the organizers of the event:  Nancy,  Carole, Jackie, Lilian, and Linn. Sandy McKean,also, for organizing the Kent School gathering on Friday.

Hopefully, we can keep in touch more frequently than once every decade.

Great to see everyone!

Gary Ravani

Dawn Urbais (Daro)

My thanks too to Nancy, Carole, Lillian, Linn and Jackie. A great event and wonderful planning.

Linn Wiklund

I was unable to attend the reunoin. But I was able to restablish a friendship with Fritz Mayer. It had been an awful long time scince we had communicated. He said the party went very well and he enjoyed himself very much. I went over the pictures that were posted on the web site and the ONLY one I recognized was Fritz. I hope I can attend the next one.

Linn Wiklund