Carolyn Crites (Baum)

I am very sorry to hear about Diana.  This is just so sad.  What a classy lady she was.  I had several classes with her in high school and always admired her, but didn't know her that well.  I got to know her through her interesting comments here in recent years.  I felt kind of like she was the Queen of the forum.  She will be very much missed.

Lettie Thommen (Camp)

Allison Oakes (Sabraw)

I always looked forward to reading  Diana's reply to all of our classmates that participaed in sharing their life.

She had such a vibrant energy, kindness and appreciation for ole CKM classmates. I loved reading her reply's and her current life style. .

Diane was a front runner in her writing and staying current in everyone's life that did share online. Truly a goodness that has reached all of us.  Yes, this is a shock to hear of her passig away. 

Life as one knows it has many varibles. A neighbor on my block just died. She received the cancer diagnoise in January......and did not tell anybody....until 2-weeks prior to her passing away.  

I ponder:  what is our approach to share information. - that we know has a time and date attached to the forthcoming last days of life?  I'm still in shock over my neighbor friend that just passed away. I ponder, the why and what kept her from sharing her state of her body demise.  . We were the same age. 

My prayers of special travels to Diana - 

Allison Oakes

Tim Kleeman

I'm so sorry to hear of Dianah's passing. My thoughts and prayers to her sister Debbie and the other family members. She will be missed.

Dennis Chan

Carol Gee (Siefkin)

Thank you Dennis for leting us all know about Diana.  I too loved reading her posts and living her life vicariously.  I have not seen her in years but thank goodness for this website (thanks David).  I got to know Diana in high school and then we lived together our freshman year at Santa Barbara along with Patty Dillon.   She pledged the same sorority that Patty and I did (Alpha Phi).  I didn't stay at UCSB due to my grades but both she and Patty did.  I then lost track of her until this website.  Yes she, like all of us, is much too young but we do need to remember she had a fulfilling life doing what pleased her most.  Cherish your memories as I will.  Carol

Pamela Hall

I posted about Diana Doupe's passing, but don't know what happened to it.  I wasn't close to her in highschool, but I remember her well.  I too was shocked to learn of her passing, as she seemed so vibrant and alive in her comments, as always.  So sad to lose her, but I'm sure she is enjoying feeling completely accepted and loved, as so many have reported after experiencing a "near death experience".  I wonder what took her.

And I too, much appreciate David Grandstaf's dedication to our comunity and his technical expertise. It is sweet to connect, and share our experiences from a time in, many ways much different from today. I think younger and middle-aged people of today are more likely to be angry, rude and inconsiderate.  Not that we were all angels, but there was a graciousness, an honor code that is now frayed, and people don't seem to realize how sensitive we all are to the energy fields we carry around us. We are all one, as over 750 scientists around the world have discovered.  This was reported in a book titled The Field by Lynne McTaggart and it was known in ancient wisdom, of many cultures.  Here's a link about the book: 

"The Field: The Quest for the Secret Force of the Universe ...

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/320132.The_Field

The field refers to the zero point field (ZPF), which is made up of the spaces between sub-atomic particles. At absolute zero, this field still emits energy. It is not a vacuum but a field that is constantl This is by far one of the most important books I have read, and I think anyone should read."

 

I totally agree this is one of the most important books I've read, and I wish most of us would read it.

 

What I enjoyed most in highschool was going to the Camelia City Ballet Company after class, and taking ballet and jazz dance classes and rehersing and performing. Barbara Briggs was a talented, and gracious teacher, choreographer and director. 

 

I enjoyed going to the tiny restaurant near Broadway and 24th?? It was called Trails. There was a covered wagon on top of the building.  My mom and I liked to get the tiny table for two in the back corner. We could watch the man working at the grill. and we would have a delicious dinner and apple pie a la mode!

I remember giving a speech in Dr. Simmons' class, which followed a rather racy one given by Vere Harlow.  I remember the beginning . . . "There once was a little girl who had a little curl, right in the middle of her forehead.  And when she was good, she was very, very good . . . and when she was bad . . . she was torrid!"  Mr.  Simmons stopped my speech at that point, and later I heard that it was The Topic around school that day.  I have no idea what the rest of my speech was.  But I get a kick and laugh whenever I think of this.

 

I have learned a technique used by alternative health care practitioners called the Morphogenic Field Technique. It is a way of communicating with the energy fields of patients, with kits filled with vials of highly purified water which are impregnated with the energy fields of various conditions found in our bodies, and also the energy fields of various supplements. With MFT, we can enter into an energy conversation, and discover what issues the patient's energy field considers most important, and what supplements are most helpful.  Believe it or not, for many of us in the healing professions, this makes a lot of sense! 

 

Other books I find to be important and fascinating are The Biology of Belief by Bruce Lipton, Ph.D. and The Secret Life of Plants by Tompkins and Bird.  Love and light to you all, dear classmates,   Pamela Disque Hall, D.C. 530-477-1829 - LL, 530-798-8006 - cell.  I live in Grass Valley, CA. with my dog, an Anatolian Shepherd.

 

I wonder whatever happened to Scott Rozar.  I remember him in 6th Grade.

 

Stephanie Gourse (Buch)

Thanks for recommending the books.  I am always looking for new (or old) books to read.  I would like to hear about Scott, too.  The last contact I had was around 1965!  

Jackson Lytal

Hi Stephi; like you I am an avid reader......When I can't find the latest Cussler, I go looking for something near to my heart, in this case I found this one fascinating........."The Elephant Whisperer"...and the sequel..."There's An Elephant In My Kitchen", equally so.   These books (KINDLE) grabbed me because several of my friends have safaried...(spelling) ?? Africa, both hunting and camera, and agreed that once you've been to Africa, you are changed forever. I have been pretty much all over the world...but not there yet.

Jack.

Margaret Rodda

What do you think about having people write about their favorite teachers at McClatchy?  We need to start discussing something other than who has passed away.  It's too sad.  Just a thought...

Bill Kelso

Margie

Great Idea. Your earlier recall of past experiences several months ago as well as your present suggestion that we now consider honoring our former teachers adds a lot to the website. Your ideas have made or will make the McClatchy website a much more interesting site to visit.

Dennis De Cuir

Hi Bill and Margie: Great idea Margie! We had some wonderfully talented, dedicated teachers.

Another thought that isn't up to the level of quality you've suggested, is to request posts of the best stuff written in your yearbook. I've quoted to several friends over the years what Margie wrote in mine, and it is priceless.

We had some of the finest teachers ever, unmatched until I went to City College, and enjoyed French with Virginia Sturdevant, and Poli Sci with Mr. Diestel. I sat in on Al Rodda's econ class but quickly realized I couldn't hack it and dropped out.

--Dennis

Jim Di Pinto

Hi Dennis haven't seen you for a long time have to get up to Lake Tahoe. Dave how are you and Bunny I need to talk to you still having trouble getting on our web Happy Birthday call me when you can. 

Stephanie Gourse (Buch)

The first name that came to mind was Mr. Wise, English teacher and yearbook advisor.  I still remember his telling us that when he was in the navy (after high school), he spent a lot of time reading books. This experience led him to college and teaching English.  I still remember things he taught me about layout and used the training during my 25 year career in HR (hi tech and biotech).  

I still remember Mr. Klein, geometry, asking me why I wasn't more like my sister in front of the class.  I was talkative and she was quiet and studious.  I was annoyed at the time and have laughed about it for years.  I still cannot sit still for very long!  ;>)

I loved Biology with Mr. Sanders and  Physiology with Mr. Murphy.  I still remember a lot of what I learned from them.  What I wish I had learned from them was about jobs in those disciplines other than teaching.  Being a talkative but not naughty kid, I have two fond and funny memories.  Donny Gomez and some other kids throwing the fish we were supposed to dissect out the room window into the fountain in the courtyard below.  I remember Mr. Murphy separating Cindy Koch, Jim Cargile and me in physiology because we were talking too much, thus interfering with his teaching.  Cindy and JIm are still my dear friends.  I introduced them to each other, they married eventually, have four kids and live in Maine.  Cindy was my first friend in first grade at Crocker.   

I loved how Mr. Fred. Hutchinson brought history to life instead of dates, wars and places.  I majored in history (Mills College) and continue to love it.  It led me to be open to cultures which are different from mine, to learn from them what is good.  It led me to teaching ESL for the last 20 years at Stanford's Bechtel International Center which has been an inspiiring and and fulfilling post retirement raison d'etre.  

I wish I had thanks them all for what they taught me and what they opened ('woke') to understand and experience.  

Regrets:  I wish I had studied high school physics.  I skipped it because my sister hated the class so much.  I wish our schooling knew how to lead children to career choices.  I wish our schooling had led us to a better understanding of our government and the role US citizens play in government so that 2020 had been a more rational year. 

Stay well.  Enjoy our new way of life.  I find it inspiring!!!!

Steffi

Steven Lindfeldt (MidTerm)

Best and favorite teacher? It begins and ends with "flat bat" Bill Hallauer.

Dennis De Cuir

Heh Jim, Great to see you online. We're in fine shape. Luckily. Went skiing today with my first and last wife Dianne. Come up to Tahoe before the valley people discover that it's still possible but maybe not legal for Californians. 

And Stephanie, what a wonderful post about our experience as high schoolers. Right on!

Recently I've been thinking it might be nice to find out how many of us are interested in meeting again in Sacramento for a nice dinner. Maybe in the summer.

--Dennis

Jackson Lytal

Mr Wise; and the SS Uniform ! It was always interesting !  What class mate created this "Poem"...in the spur of the moment, while we were studying Shakespeare?  Here's a flower, it's wilted...give it to Horatio.... he's jilted ? Can't remember his name but can picture him reciting it for the class ? 

Always enjoyed Mrs Riley, World Affairs ? She presided over my debate (Nixon versus Pat Brown) with Lorell Raglan. I was chewing gum ( a big no-no) Lorell was shaking her pencil at me when she was making a point ! The class called it a draw.(I called it "thank God it's over).

Coach Dison; Boxing; Jim Patterson and Larry Fernandes..the battle for the ages. 200 punches thrown ( but no phsical contact). Alan Friedlander running into the punch from nowhere ( you had to be there).

Stephanie Gourse (Buch)

Is Jack Lytal's 294th post the last post?  I have been notified of new posts recently and found nothing new a couple of times.  Yes, I am having a lot of trouble with my computer these days.  Step by step, it is being 'f'ixed'. Every upgrade does my computer in!!

Thanks.  Steffi 

Margaret Rodda

Well,  Bill and Dennis.... the response to our suggestions for Class memories has been underwhelming.

 Bill, please send me your address.  I'd like to send you a newspaper article about my dad.

 Dennis, I'd really like to know what I wrote in your yearbook.

 My email address is:  margaret_rodda@yahoo.com.

Thanks

Margaret Rodda

Steffi:

Wow!  You really broke a lot of barriers.  Good for you, girl!

James (Jim) Mills (MidTerm)

Steffi,

While reading your comments to Bill Kelso I thought about the XYZ and the integration issues.  Fortunately for me I was integrated by both almost everyday.  Why?  Sports.  Football and especially track and field transcended the seperation, experienced by a large number of students, when we stepped on the athletic fields.  I did not then nor do I now ever believe that I shunned or purposely ignored any student in the YZ group or the "minority" students.  If anything I was more apt to not have many friends in my X classificaton.  Since I had a brother who had cerebral palsy I was always sensitive to people with handicaps, learning disabilites, and "minorities."  Though I was an X I certainly did not think it meant some sort of higher social standing.

Finally I would say that I think it was a travesty that women were denied the opportunity to play sports in an inter-scholastic program during our days.  Thankfully Title IX, provided by the Nixon administration, changed that.  Though it was a slow process, today women can play any sport of their chosing.  Some men's sports have been eliminated to provide for the the women's programs to which I say good for the ladies. 

Overall I think your comments were absolutely fair as to what you and others experienced or may have experienced back in the 60's and 70's.  In some cases it goes on today but it is better comparatively I think.

Jim

Margaret Rodda

Dear Steffi

(I can't find your comments about the sexism and racism at Mc Clatchy but I remember them and want to respond)

The environment at MClatchy was just a reflection of the times.  My father, a bleeding heart liberal, told me to "become a teacher or a nurse; they make good wives."  When I told him I intended to go the law school, he said:  "Oh, Margie.  That's not a good career for a woman."  I spent over 200 days in trial during my career.  Neither he or my mother ever saw me in court.  Nor did they attend my California Supreme Court arguement which was held at McGeorge Law School to dedicate a new building.  They lived less than 2 miles away in Curtis Park. 

Maybe they saw it on T.V. that night.

I also retired early due to a sexually toxic environment.  A man I supervised thought he should have been appointed to my  position as statewide supervisor of the A.G's personal injury section.  He did everything he could to sabotage my efforts at management.

Thankfully our daughters have it better than we did.  They have no idea what we had to deal with.

As to racism, I think we are making some minimal progress.  Our children's generation is more inclusive than ours, as we are less prejudiced than our parents.  I don't think McClatchy was any more racist than the rest of the world.  It was the way things were.

James (Jim) Mills (MidTerm)

Margie,

Look for Steffi's comments in the memoriam for Rich Mayo.

Alan Holmstrom

I wanted to say a couple things about Rick Mayo, who changed his name to James Dalfin when he re-started his life in his forties.  He was my oldest friend (70 years) who I kept in touch with over our entire lives.  I was able to speak to him about 2 days before he passed.  Briefly, he had complications from gall stones that blocked his pancreatic duct, which caused the pancreatic enzymes to back up, causing pancreatitis and damaging other organs.  By the time he had symptoms (the day after Thanksgiving) it was too late to help him.  Fortunately his wife Karen was able to be with him. (He was living in Keizer, OR. near Salem)

We met in Kindergarten at Riverside Elementary, played a lot of baseball and football together, had sleep overs at each other's houses as kids, and in our teenage years I was privileged to go with his entire family on their houseboat when they would go down the Sacramento River to Steamboat Slough and hang out for a week or two in the summers.  James had an older sister Pamela (+4 yrs) and younger brother Ron (-2 yrs) who also went to McClatchy.  On one trip up the Delta the boat hit a sandbar and stopped dead in the water. Pamela, who was 19 at the time, came running out of her cabin in her underwear to see what happened.  I, an impressionable 15 year old, remember this as the best part of the trip.  One summer Pamela won the local beauty contest and was crowned "Miss Steamboat Slough."  As adults, James and I always talked to each other on our birthdays and visited each other whenever possible, so he knew my kids and wives, and I knew his.  He has a daughter Teri, who still lives in Sacramento, and several grandkids.  I remember James talking about Dave McDonald a lot.  I actually played basketball with James and Dave on a team that I think Dave was in charge of.  I also got to see Dave's Best of Broadway at James' urging.  We found out later in life that our spiritual paths were very similar as were our relationship issues so we always had a lot to talk about.  I loved hearing about his experiences and the amazing stories of his 3-4 visits to India to see Si Baba, an Indian Avatar, at his Ashram. 

James battled chronic fatigue most of his adult life but never let it get the best of him.  He was a runner, always exercised and took very good care of himself when he was working as a nurse or when he retired.  He was very kind, caring, generous, attentive and appreciative.  God speed James (Rick), my good friend.  I will miss you.

Jackson Lytal

Touching sentiment, Alan.

I read Stephi's comment about XYZ and McClatchy, especially her thoughts while mentioning the (Wilson's) I assume that she was talking about Greg Wilson. Greg and I were good friends, and began our friendship while at Ethyl Phillips. I had a chance to reconnect with Greg at our 50th reunion and it was great to see him. I only wish we had had more time. Hope, God willing, we'll connect again at the 55th. 

Racism; Saw it both worse case and best case as I served our country (Air Force) for 36 years, military and civilian. Did it change ?, somewhat. Over the years, I saw our kids (young military) working hand in hand, and when I retired in 2001, as the Deputy Base Civil Engineer, at McClellan AFB, I can truly say those kids were true professionals, devoted to each other, and our country. I'm proud of ALL of them. 

Life; (if you let it) can be a great teacher. Not all of us can do great things, but we all can do small things with great love.