Irma Vargas and the Reunion Committee members received the following email from John Phillips. He wanted us to share it with everyone in our class.
To all my old friends who may read this:
First, I appreciate your efforts over the years to hold these class reunions. Diane and I were fortunate enough to come to three of these events, and we greatly enjoyed them. Thank you for providing the opportunity for us to reunite with our high school friends.
Tragically, though, Diane past away September 29, 2015. This has been absolutely heartbreaking for me. We were together for a total of 41 years, and happily married for 37. Diane was a spectacular mother to our son Patrick, who is my law partner, and to our daughter Jessica, who is an attending physician in the Fresno Regional Medical Center Emergency Department. Throughout their childhood, and until Diane passed away, she worked at home as a piano and harp teacher, usually with 30 or so students a week, bringing music into the lives of hundreds of children over the years. Diane organized the first girls basketball league in the Conejo Valley (the Agoura Hills area), which continues each season with countless participants. She was known for her harp performances at public venues for charitable causes, churches, hospitals, and Christmas events everywhere. In the later stages of her wonderful life, Diane was enormously inspirational to others afflicted with cancer at the Wellness Center, as she fended off the inevitable for nearly nine years. She was loved tremendously by all of us. It was comforting that Diane received all the sacraments at Saint Johns Hospital prior to her passing.
I know others in our class of ‘72 have experienced their own tragic losses of loved ones. I pray for us all, and indeed faith has been one of the reasons I continue to survive. But I am still so overwhelmed, and only now beginning to recover. I hope you will understand that I couldn’t bear the thought of coming to the reunion without Diane.
Thank you all for your friendship throughout the years, even if we haven’t been in touch – you were always the ones we grew up with. I’m sure this reunion will be a fantastic evening. Celebrate Life!
I lost touch with John & Diane Phillips and then 15 years ago, I was visiting my sister in Oak Park, Calif. and my sister and Diane had become best budies as well as their children. I knew Diane was battling cancer because my sister also had cancer. Diane will be missed. She gave me a CD recording of her playing Christmas songs using a harp. Beautiful.
Diane was one of the kindest people in our high school class. My best wishes to John and their children. I was really shocked to hear of her passing. Too young to be taken away so soon.
Cathie Flanigan (-Kowalik)
Irma Vargas and the Reunion Committee members received the following email from John Phillips. He wanted us to share it with everyone in our class.
To all my old friends who may read this:
First, I appreciate your efforts over the years to hold these class reunions. Diane and I were fortunate enough to come to three of these events, and we greatly enjoyed them. Thank you for providing the opportunity for us to reunite with our high school friends.
Tragically, though, Diane past away September 29, 2015. This has been absolutely heartbreaking for me. We were together for a total of 41 years, and happily married for 37. Diane was a spectacular mother to our son Patrick, who is my law partner, and to our daughter Jessica, who is an attending physician in the Fresno Regional Medical Center Emergency Department. Throughout their childhood, and until Diane passed away, she worked at home as a piano and harp teacher, usually with 30 or so students a week, bringing music into the lives of hundreds of children over the years. Diane organized the first girls basketball league in the Conejo Valley (the Agoura Hills area), which continues each season with countless participants. She was known for her harp performances at public venues for charitable causes, churches, hospitals, and Christmas events everywhere. In the later stages of her wonderful life, Diane was enormously inspirational to others afflicted with cancer at the Wellness Center, as she fended off the inevitable for nearly nine years. She was loved tremendously by all of us. It was comforting that Diane received all the sacraments at Saint Johns Hospital prior to her passing.
I know others in our class of ‘72 have experienced their own tragic losses of loved ones. I pray for us all, and indeed faith has been one of the reasons I continue to survive. But I am still so overwhelmed, and only now beginning to recover. I hope you will understand that I couldn’t bear the thought of coming to the reunion without Diane.
Thank you all for your friendship throughout the years, even if we haven’t been in touch – you were always the ones we grew up with. I’m sure this reunion will be a fantastic evening. Celebrate Life!
John Phillips
Jonathan Klune
I lost touch with John & Diane Phillips and then 15 years ago, I was visiting my sister in Oak Park, Calif. and my sister and Diane had become best budies as well as their children. I knew Diane was battling cancer because my sister also had cancer. Diane will be missed. She gave me a CD recording of her playing Christmas songs using a harp. Beautiful.
Cathy Newell (Vogt)
Diane was one of the kindest people in our high school class. My best wishes to John and their children. I was really shocked to hear of her passing. Too young to be taken away so soon.
Cathy Newell Vogt