SEEKING INFORMATION ABOUT KENNETH HERRICK

Kenneth Herrick - photo from Notre Dame High School, Class of 1957 Yearbook - Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley

Nothing is known about the life and times of our classmate Kenneth Herrick other than the fact that he lives in Selma, Oregon.

A 1950s Review for ND Classmates

Shel Weisbach, the popular culture chair for The Museum of the San Fernando suggested that I send this website along to my NDHS classmates.

You (and/or your other half) may find this an enjoyable (and pleasant
escape from reality) . . ..
Happy Holidays,
Shel


http://oldfortyfives.com/TakeMeBackToTheFifties.htm

A MUSICAL NOTE FROM TONY FADALE

Brother Dunston as Handel Composing

Bill, Lynn and I went to a performance of Handel's Messiah last night and we were surprised to see Msgr. Brennan, Roger Brennan's brother and the priest that said our Mass before our reunion, as part of the choir. He is a great singer. Here is what the program said about him:

Msgr. Joe is a natural born singer...Msgr. is featured on a best selling CD entitled, "Rejoice in Hope"...
He sang a couple of solo parts for the performance and he was great! We saw him afterwards and said hi.
Tony Fadale

ON THE LOOKOUT FOR LEO G. WHITAKER

Leo G. Whitaker - Notre Dame High School Yearbook 1957 - Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley

Nearly half of our classmates who attended the 50th Reunion of the Class of 1957 asked me about Leo Whitaker. No one in our class understood, or had a greater interest in the media than Leo. Most of us believed that he would someday be a famous newspaper man.
J.F

A DECADE APART, TWO NDHS ALUMS WORK TO BUILD A BETTER SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

Councilman Dennis Zine and Gerald Fecht - Tarzana Community Center - December 9, 2007

A decade apart in their graduations from Notre Dame High School, in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles City Councilman and Gerald Fecht work continually to bring about positive change in the San Fernando Valley. Zine, a former Los Angeles Police Officer represents the West San Fernando Valley and Fecht serves as the president of fledgling Museum of the San Fernando Valley. This photograph was taken at the Tarzana Community Center, where Dennis Zine had just presented a commendation to Center volunteers for making a community based center a reality.

JIM CONWAY AT 50TH REUNION NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL

James Conway - Notre Dame High School - Class of 1957

This is a portrait of Jim Conway from the 50th reunion of the Class of 1957.
Notre Dame High School is located in Sherman Oaks, California

DR. JAMES H. HERNDON LOCATED BY JOHN HEAPHY

Dr. James H. Herdon - 2007
James H. Herndon - Notre Dame High School Class of 1957 - Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley
At the time of the 50th Reunion of Notre Dame High School's Class of 1957, nothing was known about the whereabourts of James Herndon. All that was known was that he was a physician. It was that lead and his middle initial, provided by an Arches yearbook, that allowed our classmate John Heaphy to Google James Herndon's location. Here's what was discovered.

James H. Herndon, M.D., M.B.A.
Date updated: July 02, 2007
Content provided by Revolution Health Group
James H. Herndon, M.D., M.B.A., is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and chairman emeritus of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Partners HealthCare (an integrated health system founded by Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital) in Boston, Mass.

In addition, he is the William H. and Joanna A. Harris Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Harvard Medical School. In 2003, Dr. Herndon became the President of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He has also served as President of the American Orthopaedic Association and the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and as Chairman of the Residency Review Committee for Orthopaedic Surgery.

Dr. Herndon graduated cum laude from Loyola University in Los Angeles and attended the University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine. He completed an internship and a year of training in general surgery at the University of Pennsylvania, and he followed with a residency in orthopedic surgery at the Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Residency Program in Boston and a fellowship in hand surgery at Roosevelt Hospital in New York City. After serving as Chief of Amputee Services at Valley Forge General Hospital in Phoenixville, Pa., during the Vietnam War, he was in private practice for 4 years in Michigan. He then spent 25 years working as Chairman of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Brown University in Rhode Island, the University of Pittsburgh and Harvard Medical School.

Throughout his career, Dr Herndon has won a variety of awards, including the Golden Apple Teaching Award from the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh and 2 Partners in Excellence Awards from Partners HealthCare. In addition, he’s delivered more than 30 keynote and presidential guest lectures at national and international meetings, has been awarded honorary membership in 7 international professional organizations (including the Royal College of Surgeons of England), and has received 3 honorary degrees. He has been listed in several editions of Who’s Who as well as has been listed as one of the “Best Doctors in America” since 2001.

Dr. Herndon is widely published in professional and peer–reviewed journals and is a frequent speaker in the United States and abroad. His areas of expertise include trauma and reconstruction of the upper extremity, arthritis, patient safety, medical errors and leadership issues in medicine today. He is currently Treasurer of the Board of Trustees of The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery.

Disclosures:

Grants/Research Support: ASSH/AFSH Grant #204672 “In Vivo Kinematics of the Forearm”
Consultant/Advisory Board: Medical Advisory Board, Musculoskeletal Research Group, Dartmouth; Consultant the Bard Group; Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Board of Trustees

All that I know of Jim Herndon is that he holds a doctorate. If you have any information about his location, or his history, please email gfecht@sbcglobal.net

ALAN J. ROTH NDHS CLASS OF 1957

Alan and Carol Roth - Notre Dame High School Reunion 2007
Alan J. Roth - Notre Dame High School 1957

When I get Alan's biography, I'll add it to this posting. JF

THE BAND MOTLEY CREW'S INSPIRATION

Brunch at the Sportsman's Lodge - Notre Dame High School Class of 1957 - Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley

left to right:
Richard Theising, Hugh Johnson, Richard Marrone, Bill Elias, Joe Wetter, Spencer (Pat) Johnson and Tony Fadale in the background.

BOB WUNSCH TAKES ON THE NDHS VARSITY - NO CONTEST!

Bob Wunsch 2007 - Shooting Baskets in VA Gym
Robert V. Wunsch - 1957 Notre Dame High School Yearbook - Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley


Last Wednesday I had the honor of watching our classmate, Bob Wunsch, play ball in the NDHS Alumni vs. Varsity basketball game (won by the Alums, I might add). Bob was the oldest guy on the court (maybe in the whole darn gym) by 20 years. The next oldest alum was class of '77 with a couple of guys from the late 80's with the majority being from the 90's and 2000's!

After a couple of times racing down the floor with these teens and twentysomethings Bob got smart and just "cherrypicked" by the Alums offensive basket!
Unfortunately that racing down the floor threw off his shooting touch and he went 0 for 2 from the field.

The really amazing part of all this is Bob had half his lung removed last year as a result of lung cancer. Frank Reichwein and I were there to make sure Bob didn't keel over on the court. We asked the equipment manager if he had oxygen and a defibrillator handy. For some strange reason he never answered us. I guess he thought the question was too macabre! In any case we were really proud Bob held up and the rest of the alums gave him a big hand.

Bob indicated he tried to get in touch with the guys from the '57 class who played basketball and no one wanted to join him! Go figure! My response to Bob was "I'm 68 years old, with high blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides and type 2 diabetes. I can think of less strenuous ways to kill myself." Actually drinking some of Bob Sousa's delicious Tehachapi wines would be less strenuous and immensely more pleasurable.

In any case I have to say loud and clear "Way to go Wunschman, you're the tops!"

Joe Wetter

JOHN HEAPHY THEN..... AND NOW

John Heaphy at the Class of 1957 Reunion
John Heaphy - Notre Dame High School - Class of 1957

All of John Heaphy's classmates rejoiced to see that 50 years had deminished none of the sparkle in his Irish eyes.

THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE HELPED WITH THE BLOG

Post card from the Gary Fredburg collection - The Museum of the San Fernando Valley

Hi Friends and Classmates,
Just a note to thank each and everyone of you who have helped with the Class of 1957 blog. You can still add things to the blog. And, it's not too late for your biographies. Hope everyone got home safe and had a good time. Warm regards, Jerry Fecht

DESMOND McGREEVY JOINED US AT THE 50TH REUNION

Desmond McGreevy Notre Dame High School Class of 1957

ADDRESSES FOR BROTHERS JOHN AND ROBERT

Brother John Doran, C.S.C.
Columba Hall
Congregation of Holy Cross
P.O. Box 776
Notre Dame, IN 46556-0776


Brother Robert Hampton, C.S.C
Avila Gardens
1171 Encanto Parkway
Duarte, CA 91010

BR. JOE PALAZOLLA

Student Photograph Taken This Week At Pepperdine University Malibu
Br. Joe Palazolla sent this photo to give our gang an idea of what impending doom looked like on the Pepperdine campus during this week's wildfires.

FECHT'S KITTY LITTER PROJECT

Jerry Fecht's Kitty Litter Project

These are the lids from kitty litter containers. Each has a picture of a sheep and a little relic of knotted string. (from Breton's game, the Exquistie Corpse - the birth of surrealism) Pictures of people I admire or sheep are pasted inside the lids. When things have dried, I snap in a window of clear plastic and viola.......... little portholes.

There are about 500 now.
I put them about a foot apart across the main walkway at Moorpark College. While students and others looked down at the images, I had a herd of sheep driven by. Viewers were photographed looking at the sheep, the sheep crap, or the little kitty litter windows. I replaced the chimes with Bach's "Feed My Sheep"

Art made from discarded materials pushes people's thinking. What do you think of this?
Jerry Fecht

Save your kitty litter lids for me.

MIKE WALLS STILL KNOCKEN THEM DEAD.

Mike Walls Attends 50th Reunion of the Class of 1957
MIKE WALLS NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1957

NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL - 50TH REUNION OF THE CLASS OF 1957

A MESSAGE FROM JIM LENTINI

Guys,
First chance I had to send you note. I’m home recupping from knee surgery this am. Looks like worked good for old guy. I’m bored so call or email when chance. Had to tell you guys did terrific job with Friday night and gathering Sat. It was best one ever, cause our own class team did it.
Great ice breaker Friday.
Look forward to next one, God willing.
Again, fantastic job. Please send me Rich Marrone’s email, DeCoster, and Gierock.
Ciao

ALOHA TO THE DUDLEYS FROM MIKE'S CLASS OF '57 CLASSMATES

Doris and Mike Dudley came to the Reunion Brunch at Sportsman's Lodge. Mike is very active in the Hawaii Knights of Columbus and has a great concern for the preservation of the natural beauty and ecoology of the Islands. His campaign for that State's governorship brought our classmate's commitment to responsible growth before the entire State. Jerry Fecht, for one, would like to see him be the Green Party condidate again.
Photo of Doris and Mike was taken by Bill Elias.

BRUNCH BUNCH BUDDIES NDHS REUNION 2007

Bill Elias shares this photo taken at the Sportsman's Lodge Reunion Bruch - Sunday Sept. 14th.

Left to right:
Rich Thesing, Hugh Johnson, Rich Marrone, Rill Elias, Joe Wetter, Spencer "Pat" Johnson and Tony Fadale in the background.

Rich Thesing came from the Bay area, Rich Marrone from Sweden, Spencer Johnson from Hawaii, and Tony Fadale (well, we"ll be nice and not mention where Tony is from.) The morning was just right, warm and sunny. koi fish pretending that they were the oldtime trout at the Lodge, service was good, the coffee was great! Bill wants folks to know that Jerry Fecht was wrong about the Sportsman's Lodge closing. It's the hotel next door that has been sold.

OUR CLASSMATE FRED BLAU, FRED THEN, FRED NOW

GOLDEN KNIGHTS AT ND HIGH SCHOOL GAME

Rooting for Notre Dame High School --- Again! Some after 50 long years/

One of the nicest things at the Reunion was the presentation Golden Knight Card to the Class of 1957. The card allows its owner free access to all home sports events at Notre Dame High School. Brother William Nick awarded the Golden Knight cards at the conclusion of the Alumni Dinner on Saturday evening.

A REUNION POEM BY DAN BAEDEKER

I do not write poetry, but this seemed the only way to pay tribute to you compatriots who shared and shaped our most formative years. May it be a contribution to your blog, which is an inspired medium for sharing the incredibly diverse paths our lives have taken.
- Dan Baedeker

TO THE NOTRE DAME CLASS OF 1957

From the tenth floor of a Marriott

Looking out over the San Fernando Valley

To the Mission where my grandparents are buried

Sunday morning cars speed over the 405

A flock of pigeons dizzily circles

Plumes of grey smoke from a fire nearby

Helicopters circle

The arches of Notre Dame still visible in the endless suburban sprawl

Like her namesake cathedral in Paris

A Fiftieth Reunion

Two score and ten years ago

Most of a lifetime

A reception in the Holy Cross Brother's residence

Where no more Brothers live

But our dear mentors John and Robert still living witnesses

A football game under the lights

Our football hero classmates now approaching 70

Gracefully mellowed and still heroic

Brother Eugenio's Band a wondrous array of energetic teens

A glorious clatter of drums and bleating saxaphones

Unfettered joie de vivre

These fifty years a blink in human history

But our blink

Deo gratias

THE BIG 50TH REUNION BEGINS

Remember how excited we all were to get our "Senior Jackets"? George Grabe still has his.

Class of '57 in the Alumni Section at Notre Dame High School Stadium

October 12, 2007 at 5:30 pm. An excellent reception was hosted by the Alumni Office of the High School. A list of all the attendees will soon be published here. From Sweden, Alaska, Hawii, Simi Valley and Africa they came. At 7 pm, the alumni join the 2007 NDHS student body for the big game between Notre Dame and Saint Frances High School.

WELCOME TO THE 50th REUNION OF NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL'S CLASS OF 1957

Here's the best high school fight song ...................... ever!
Who of us will ever forget the first time we heard the boys of Notre Dame High School sing this great song in the gymnasium before the "big game"..... any BIG GAME.

Notre Dame 
"Notre Dame Victory March" 

Rally sons of Notre Dame
Sing her glory and sound her fame 
Raise her Gold and Blue
And cheer with voices true: 
Rah, rah, for Notre Dame
We will fight in every game,
Strong of heart and true to her name
We will ne'er forget her 
And will cheer her ever 
Loyal to Notre Dame. 

Cheer, cheer for Old Notre Dame, 
Wake up the echoes cheering her name,
Send a volley cheer on high, 
Shake down the thunder from the sky! 
What though the odds be great or small, 
Old Notre Dame will win over all,
While her loyal sons are marching
Onward to victory! 


JERRY BUTTACCIO SALUTES NDHS CLASS OF 1957

Gerald Buttaccio - Notre Dame High School - Class of 1957

Jerry Buttaccio graduated from Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks in the spring of 1957. He enrolled in Los Angeles Pierce College, where he became the president of the newly formed Beta Chapter of Phi Delta Psi Fraternity. After his graduation from Pierce in 1959, Jerry attended the University of California Los Angeles, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics.
With his diploma in hand, Jerry Buttaccio entered the banking profession. It was to be a lifetime career. His first position was with Security Pacific Bank, where he worked in banking operations. He spent 15 years in operations.
As time passed, Jerry opted to work for Independent - Community type banks. And, he has been involved on this side of banking since. He is skilled in developing smaller banks.
In 2007, Jerry is the Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer of Desert Community Bank in the Las Vegas, Nevada.
Jerry and his wife Donna live in Henderson, Nevada. He has five sons and a daughter. Two of his sons live in Las Vegas. Each has a family of two children each. Jerry's other three sons, Mark, Aaron and Brian, and his daughter Becky live in the Southern California area. Donna has two daughter's, each living in the Southern California area.

BILL ELIAS WILL SEE YOU AT THE BIG 50th REUNION.

After leaving Notre Dame, Bill Elias joined the United States Air Force, serving four years as a statistical specialist with Headquarters Air Weather Service in Washington, D.C. He then went on to work in data processing and computer operations until he eventually got into motion picture editing which he enjoyed for 38 years (28 years at Paramount), until his retirement in 2006.
Bill remains a member of the board of directors of The Motion Picture Editors Guild, where he has served for 36 years.
Bill and his wife, Phyllis, have been together 23 years and collectively have four children and nine grandchildren, with one on the way. Bill and Phyllis live in Valencia and have a second home in Big Bear where they enjoy pontoon boating in the summer, and snow skiing in the winter (as long as the legs hold out).
The Elias' children live in Canyon Country, Lake Elsinore, Manhattan Beach, and San Dimas, California. They stay pretty busy with the grandkids, going to soccer, t-ball, dance recitals, school open houses, and track meets. The grandkids range from 21 years to 3 months.
Bill misses his work in motion picture editing but felt he had to retire at some point "because work was taking up too much of his time". Throughout the years Bill Elias has stayed in touch with many Notre Dame High School friends, including Tony Susca, Jack Robertson, Rick Desantis, Spencer Johnson, Tony Fadale, John DeCoster, Frank Salerno, Gary Gierock, Dan Zerfas, and Pat Curtis.

SCHEDULE FOR THE GREAT 50th REUNION OF THE NDHS CLASS OF 1957

REUNION AGENDA

FRIDAY EVENING OCTOBER 12, 2007

COCKTAIL PARTY 5:30 pm *
(Cocktails and Hors d'oeuvres)
Welcoming our Classmate from across the world and
across the United States.
Dress: very casual - your best Hawaiian shirts
Location: Brothers' House on campus
* Background music of the 50s courtesy of Joe Wetter

TRADITIONAL NDHS FOOTBALL GAME*
Reserved seating 50th Reunion section
Notre Dame takes on arch rival Saint Francis High School
Dress: bring something warm - it's California folks!
* all detentions must be completed before game admittance
Time: 7:00 pm. Location NDHS Stadium

Note on food: For those going to the game, the school has great food in the stadium snack bar. The Hanna family does a fabulous job with tri/tip, burgers, etc. Our class has a reserved seating area, so those who want to go out for a late meal can easily share locations etc.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON OCTOBER 13, 2007

SPECIAL TOUR OF THE NEW (and the OLD) NOTRE DAME HIGH*
Time 4:00 pm
Directing the Tour will be Brother William Nick CSC
* all detentions must be completed before tour

MEMORIAL MASS 5:00 pm
A time to reflect on our deceased classmates and friends.
Celebrant: Rev. Monsignor Joseph Brennan

KEEPSAKE CLASS REUNION PHOTOGRAPH
Time: 6:30 pm
Location: Just outside of the Activity Center in the Burns Building

VINTAGE AUTOMOBILES ON DISPLAY
Time: Between 6:00 pm and 7:00 pm
Location: Outside of the Activity Center

COCKTAIL HOUR*
Activity Center - Fritz Burns Center for Arts and Technology on campus - 2nd floor - elevators and stairs
* Sponsorship by Thunderbird and Ripple wines in progress)

50th REUNION CATERED DINNER*
Time: 7:00 pm
Location: Band Center (first floor directly below Activity Centerr)
Opening prayer: Brother William Nick CSC
Dress: Cocktail party casual
* Nota Bene (Brother Marco would be proud)
Walt Griffin will collect coins at the door for the Mission Club.

50th REUNION CELEBRATION PROGRAM
Time: 8:00 pm (circa - Brother Marco would be even more proud)
Master of Ceremonies: Jerry Fecht
Memories of Yesteryears ("what ... stays in Vegas!")
(an open microphone opportunity to share stories about classmates - living or dead)
Info about the NDHS Class of 1957 "blog" and continuing NDHS
1957 class in the Museum of San Fernando Valley archive.
Presentation of Notre Dame HS "Gold Cards" to Class of 1957
by Brother William Nick CSC

GOLF EVENT CANCELED or maybe it isn't?
Due to a lack of expressed interest there will be no golf event. This
relieves John DeCoster a lot, since he was worried about his game.
Note: "Although we didn't get enough interest in this to set up a special outing Joe Wetter says give him a call at 805-987-8236 or email him at thewetters@msn.com if you are still getting a couple of guys together to play. He and Jim Lentini may still be able to set something up for a small foursome or two Friday morning".

SUNDAY MORNING October 14, 2007

INFORMAL BRUNCH AT SPORTSMAN'S LODGE
Time: 10:00-ish No host brunch


BRING YOUR CAMERAS!
Plan on taking lots and lots of photographs (and, videos if you wish). The NDHS blog needs individual pictures of all of our classmates for our archives. Take pictures of the school, the vintage cars, places you lived in the Valley.
Send copies of your photographs by email or traditional snapshots. If you save your photos on a computer, please send them to Jerry Fecht at:
gfecht@sbcglobal.net
Use jpg or gif format

YOUR BLOG WILL CONTINUE!
We have taken on the heroic goal of documenting the lives and adventures all of our classmates, living or deceased. Pictures from our historic 50th Reunion will be posted to the blog.

SHARE YOUR NDHS AND SAN FERNANDO VALLEY MEMORABILIA
Our 50th Reunion is a great time for you to bring memorabilia that you would like to share with our High School and/or The Museum of the San Fernando Valley. Artifacts from other Valley schools are also desirable.

JOHN DeCOSTER SHARES HIS BIO FOR THE BIG 50th REUNION

After graduating from Notre Dame High School, John DeCoster attended classes at Los Angeles Pierce College. He later studied at California State University Northridge where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English.
In 2007 John and his wife Nancy have been married for 43 years. They share three sons. Their oldest Matt (42) lives in San Francisco with his partner, also named Matt. They have been together for 13 years. The DeCoster's son Adam and his wife Elaine live in Van Nuys, with John and Nancy's grandchildren Isabella and Luc. John says, "Adam is a hockey fan, and named his son after a hockey player. Where did I go wrong!"! The DeCoster's youngest David is 38 and lives in Redondo Beach, California.
John taught high school English for 42 years. In 2007, he is teaching one or two classes a semester at the College of the Canyons. Nancy and John lived in a mobile home in Santa Clarita. John calls the town, "God's waiting room."
In his leisure, John likes to golf, ride his bicycle, read, watch movies and television. He and Nancy enjoy going to plays and symphonies and going out to dinner. John likes to play low stakes "Texas hold 'em" in Gardena and often shares activities with other Notre Dame graduates. Between these activities he sneaks in his naps.
John relates that he has several "claims to fame". Among these are winning a $2 bet from O.J. Simpson while playing golf with Dan Zerfas at the Riviera Golf Club (Dan is a member). He plays golf with Hugh Johnson (NDHS 1958), "brother of our most famous alum". John appeared, for about a minute, on the television show Criminal Minds, "because I facially resembled a serial pervert."

ADRIAN ESNARD CHECKS IN BY TELEPHONE

Ernie Pursley as a youth at Notre Dame High School

Just got a call from Adrian Esnard. He promises to get Ernie Pursley in line for us.
Maybe we can get a bio and photo from each of them???
who knows


Jerry Fecht

CHARLES MARTINEZ SENDS GREETINGS FROM THE MARSHALL ISLANDS

Carlos Martinez -- Notre Dame High School -- Class of 1957

Bio info on Charles (Chuck) Martinez...aka Charles Pizarro Martinez, Brother Charles Joseph Martinez, CSC...Carlos Pizarro Martinez.

After graduation from Notre Dame High School, Chuck Martinez joined Holy Cross Brothers with nine of my classmates to form the infamous "big 10". He attended St Edwards University and later the University of Notre Dame where he was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Spanish .
He taught, as Brother Charles, at Saint Anthony's High School in Long Beach, Saint Francis High School in Mountain View, California where he also served as Assistant Principal and Director of studies under the tutelage of Brother Eagan Hunter, CSC of NDHS fame.
In 1967 Charles Martinez was dispensed from his vows as a religious Brother and began working as caseworker for Catholic Big Brothers of Los Angeles. In 1968, he married Barbara Blessington, at Holy Family Church in Long Beach, California.
The Martinez have a son Charles Pizarro V, who was born in 1970. He is currently working as a driver for the motion picture studios, working on the set of Desperate Housewives. Their son is unmarried and serves as a Sacristan at Saint Charles Borromeo in North Hollywood.
Our classmate Chuck Martinez has been actively employed in education or youth work more than 40 years in California, Hawaii and the Marshall Islands, and is in 2007 the Coordinator of the Marshall Island Prep Program at the Maui Job Corps where he has been employed nearly 15 years , 10 of them in the Marshall Islands.
Charles says, "Retirement remains elusive. Although I did begin collecting Social Security at age 66 while still in the Marshalls where I worked tax free and housing and an annual leave to Maui was paid, reality struck when I was transferred back to Maui 18 months ago. I did manage to buy a little condo in Hilo on Hawaii for my "old age" which my sister Cathy is kind enough to "caretake" for me.
Some day, some day...maybe in a year or so...meanwhile I really enjoy the work I do and have no immediate plans of putting myself "out to pasture".
"and that's the way it is."

CORRIGAN-VILLE IN THE SANTA SUZANNA PASS - 1957

Corriganville Movie Ranch -- Santa Suzanna Mountians -- 1957
Photo courtesy of Gary Fredburg, The Museum of the San Fernando Valley

In the year 1957, "Crash" Corrigan was busy building his movie ranch on the Simi Valley side of the Santa Suzanna Pass. This original Kodacolor print is now in the archieves of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley.
At the conclusion of our 50th reunion, I will add our big celebration's images and story to the archieves too.
If you have identified photographs, artifacts or documents that you would like to donate as part of Valley history, bring them along to the reunion. Copies are welcomed also.

See ya in October! Jerry Fecht

RESERVATIONS FOR THE REUNION ARE DUE!

Hi gang.

Just a reminder to get your reservations for the Reunion to Katie at NDHS.
Here's what she said in an email this morning.

Actually, the reservations have been coming in somewhat slowly – I’m kind of surprised. From past years’ experience, I’ve found that the 50-year guys get their rsvp’s in right away. So next week might be better to give us all of this week for more rsvp’s to come in. Am attaching the rsvp list so each of you can see where we’re at – and those of you on the committee who haven’t done so already…get your reservations in!!

ARE SPOUSES INVITED TO THE BIG 50TH REUNION?

Are spouses invited to the reunion.
Katie Feeney replies

Absolutely -- of course spouses are invited to everything!!

PETER IRSFELD WILL COME TO OUR REUNION FROM ALASKA. HOW ABOUT JOINING HIM?

Peter Irsfeld Notre Dame High School Class of 1957

ANYONE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT PHIL KRIDLER???

Peter Irsfeld sends this inquiry.

Does anyone know anything about Phil Kridler? He's
not on any of your lists that I've seen. We saw him
about 17 years ago but lost contact after that.

See you in a few weeks. P.

JOE WETTER SHARES HIS BIO AND WELCOME TO THE BIG NDHS CLASS OF '57 REUNION

After Notre Dame High School Graduation Joe Wetter, AKA: William J. Wetter and “Daddy Joe” Wetter, went on to attend Pierce, San Jose State and San Fernando Valley State Colleges with a modicum of success before Uncle Sam caught up with me. I beat the draft to enlist in Army Intelligence (an Oxy-Moron as we all should know) only days before I was to be drafted.

During my three years in the Army I was stationed in numerous Army locations within the Continental U.S. At one of these I met my future wife, who was then my commanding officer's civilian secretary at 5th Army HQ in Chicago. She’s put up with me for 44 years now. Her only shortcoming is her inability to recognize she has a substandard husband (thank God for that).

We have 3 great kids, Rob, Lisa and Lori and 8 wonderful grandkids. Really they are! I know. I know. Everybody says that. But in this case it’s the truth!!! We’ve traveled all over with them (Hawaii, Puerto Vallarta, Italy) and I can still say that!

When I got out of the Army I embarked on a 42 year career in Insurance Underwriting and Risk Management Consulting which I’m still doing. A glutton for punishment, you might say. But I love it. It’s allowed me to work in many neat places including the Bay Area, Seattle, Chicago, Minneapolis and Cleveland (OK so the last one is a stretch but we really liked it there too). And we’ve made a lot of friends in all those places and then some. I earned a number of Insurance Professional Designations (CPCU, CLU, ChFC, among others) which made up somewhat for my less than stellar collegiate academic record and have met and made many new friends through those professional organizations. In fact I’m still active in the CPCU Society and am a Western Regional Governor. I guess I just don’t know when to quit.

Arline and I moved back to Southern California in 2001 to be near our son and 3 of our grandchildren in beautiful Camarillo by the Sea (OK so it’s not by the sea but I can drive there!).

I went to San Fernando High School’s 50th Reunion a few months back and saw a lot of my old teammates from Little League and Junior League baseball and Junior Hi-Y sports teams. Boy did they look old. I’m glad I don’t! Wait a minute did I denote a snicker on your part. Of course I don’t look old - Isn’t self deception wonderful!!! I look forward to seeing all my old (and I use that term loosely) classmates at the 50th Reunion on October 13. I hope you all do too.

FRANK SALERNO JOINS OUR 50th NDHS REUNION CELEBRATION

FRANK SALERNO Notre Dame High School Class of 1957

After graduating from NDHS, I along with Dan Luecke and Gary Gierok went to the University of ND. My stay was very short. I didn't think it was necessary to attend classes. Football was great. Returning to the Valley I enrolled at Valley J.C. and went to work in the family business, Salerno Bros. Interiors. In 1959 I married my high school sweetheart, Jayne Horacek (St. Francis De Sales). In September we celebrated our 48th Anniversary. We have three great children, Theresa, Frank Jr and Michael. Between them we have 5 grandchildren, Tara, Kyllie, Michael Jr., Matthew and Christopher.
In 196l I joined the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, retiring in 1993 as a supervising detective Sgt. in the Homicide Bureau. where I worked the last 17 years on the job.
I was involved investigating hundreds of homicides along with officer involved shootings and other suspicious deaths. During my years in homicide I was the Sheriffs Depts. lead investigator in the Hillside Strangler and NightStalker Serial murder investigations.
I have lectured thruout the U.S. on the investigation of serial murders, homicides and officer involved shootings. During the last 10 years working homicide I was an instructor at San Jose State, California Dept. of Justice along with being an advisor to the California Peace Officers Standards and Training and the National Institute of Justice. Due to the exposure to serial murders have been featured in numerous TV documentaries.
Upon retiring from the Sheriffs Dept. established Salerno & Scully Investigations, Inc. with Jack Scully, our office is in Encino. We do both civil and criminal litigation as well as consult with large corporations re security issues.

Jayne and I are very much involved the grandkids watching soccer, baseball, basketball and swimming. We also enjoy taking them to our cabin in June Lake.

CHECK THIS LIST TO SEE YOUR BIO/PHOTO FILE STATUS FOR THE BIG REUNION

The following is Jerry's list of our guys and the status of their photos and bios.
If your name has nothing beside it, you have everything complete.
If you have an asterix you are deceased, and can ignore this list.
If you are not on this list, it is Tony Fadale's or someone else's fault - but contact me, and I'll make sure you are included.
thanks

Rev. Michael Adams
Anthony J. Alves need photo need bio
Kenneth A. Anderson need photo need bio
Tom Archer * deceased
Michael R. Arlotto need photo need bio need email
Daniel F. Baedeker
David Barling need photo need bio
George J. Barry need photo need bio
Charles M. Bauman need photo need bio
Fred C. Blau need photo need bio
Dennis R. Borowsky ********** need bio
Ross Brenner need photo need bio
Roger Brennen
James Bruder need photo need bio
Frank Bergemier need photo need bio
Gabe Bonnet
Gerald T. Buttaccio need photo need bio
Michael Capriola * deceased - need photo and bio
Raymond C. Christl need photo need bio
James Conway need portrait photo
Patrick Curtis
Richard Daly
John L. De Coster ********** need bio
Nicholas De Cristo need photo need bio
Ronald V. Delamare need photo need bio
Bernard H. Ditz need photo need bio
Norm Dolan need photo need bio
Robert Dominisse lost
James C. Douglass need photo need bio
Gary L. Dudley need photo need bio
Michael Dudley
Fred Dunn
Charles Eberley Lost
Edward C. Ecklund need photo
William Elias ******** need bio
James P. Elm need photo need bio
Samuel J. Engel need photo need bio
Adrian J. Esnard need photo need bio
Anthony V. Fadale
Richard F. Falck need photo need bio
Bert Falvo * deceased need photo and bio
Gerald Fecht
James Flynn * deceased need photo
Phillip F. Foerstel need photo need bio
Charles P. Gemora need photo need bio
Gary T. Gierok ****** ** need bio
George Grabe
Earl K. Graham need photo need bio
John Grant lost
William M. Gregory need photo need bio
Walt Griffin
James Grove
Robert K. Gunther need photo need bio
Tyrone C. Hair need photo need bio
David Hanna
William M. Hannah need photo need bio
John Heaphy need portrait photo
Joel F. Helms need photo need bio
Dr. James Herndon lost
Kenneth Herrick need photo and bio
Charles Hill
Robert L. Hungerford need photo need bio
Donald P. Iavello need photo need bio
John Inverso need photo and bio
Peter Irsfeld
Timothy J. Jackson need photo need bio
Spencer Johnson
Timothy H. Johnston need photo need bio
Barry "Chad" Jones need photo need bio
Robert S. Kahmann need photo need bio
John Kearns need photo need bio
Richard A. Klumpp need photo need bio
John E. Kuzma need photo need bio
Eugene Lamore
Robert Laney need photo need bio
Robert H. Laughlin need photo need bio
Edwin Learned lost
Harry Lex need photo need bio need email
Jim Lentini
Vito Liso need photo and bio
Greg Lodas wishes no contact
James P. Looney need photo need bio
Dan Leucke
Vincent Maciorski need photo need bio
Richard H. Marrone need photo need bio
Thomas G. Martin need photo need bio
Charles P. Martinez need photo
Paul Maxwell need photo need bio
Phil McArdel wishes no contact
Arthur McCulloch
Owen McGiveney need photo need bio
Desmond G. Mc Greevy need photo need bio
Charles T. Mc Murray need photo need bio
John M. Mc Nulty need photo need bio
Lawrence Meares need photo need bio
Robert Metzgar need photo need bio
Thomas H. Metzger need photo need bio
Brian Moore need photo need bio
Norm Moreau
David G. Morman need photo need bio
Steven B. Moss need photo need bio wrong email
Steven Moss need photo need bio
Richard Muller * deceased need photo need bio
Al E. Nagel need photo need bio
Philip J. Najar need photo need bio
Ernest Nelson need photo need bio
Victor W. Newell need photo need bio
Dennis M. O'Brien need photo need bio
Brian J. O'Connor need photo need bio
Dion J. O'Connor need photo need bio need email
James F. O'Hanlon need photo need bio need email
John A. Oberholzer need photo need bio need email
Richard Oliver
John G. Pavelka need photo need bio
John Pawlek need photo need bio need email
Ronald A. Perry need photo need bio
John H. Pinski need photo need bio
Michael D. Polizzi need photo need bio need email
Richard Powers need photo and bio
Ernest E. Pursley need photo need bio wrong email
Peter H. Pusateri need portrait photo
Michael P. Regan need photo need bio
Frank V. Reichwein need photo need bio need email
Eugene Reppe* deceased need photo need bio
Michael Riddosh
Edward Rio need photo need bio need email
Thomas R. Riordan need photo need bio
Jack B. Robertson need photo need bio need email
Tom Robison need photo and bio
Patrick Rossi need photo and bio
Allen J. Roth need photo need bio need email
Gregory Ruskin need photo need bio need email
Frank J. Salerno need photo need bio need email
David C. Sanderson need photo need bio need email
Michael W. Sarff need photo need bio
James F. Schmiederer need photo need bio
Edward A. Schneider need photo need bio
Roger P. Schwartz need photo need bio
Frank M. Servedio need photo need bio need email
Frank Sicillani lost - need photo need bio need email
Rocco D. Silvestri need photo need bio
Leroy J. Skaff need photo need bio
Patrick S Smith
Joseph P. Sowa need photo need bio
Thomas Spidel need photo need bio need email
Karl J. Stockl need photo need bio need email
Anthony D. Susca ********** need bio need email
Thomas Swain need photo need bio need email
Patrick F. Sweeney need photo need bio need email
Karl M. Tenk need photo need bio
Richard Thesing
John Thompson
Michael Tracy need photo need bio need email
Tom Tremmer * deceased need bio and photo
Robert G. Trinity need photo need bio need email
Charles Valla need photo need bio need email
A. G. Venting need photo need bio need email
Michael Walls need photo need bio need email
John Warren lost - need photo need bio need email
Norman E. West need photo
William Westmyer * deceased need photo
William J. Wetter
Leo G. Whitaker need photo need bio need emalil
Jay Whitney need portrait photo
Donald B. Williams need photo need bio need email
Joseph Wilson lost need photo need bio need email
Roy Winchell lost need photo need bio need email
Robert V. Wunsch need photo need bio
Dale Wyman * deceased - need photo and bio
Frank A. Yaeger need photo need bio
Gary R. Yeakel need photo need bio
James L. Yester need photo need bio
Daniel G. Zerfas

WALT GRIFFIN COMES INTO THE VALLEY FOR NDHS CLASS OF 1957 REUNION.

The year was 1957 and I had just graduated from Notre Dame High; I then went on to Valley College, where I played basketball for two years. In 1959 I entered the Holy Cross Brothers order; I initially worked in Chatsworth, later, Long Beach and finally New Orleans. I left the brothers in 1968 and got a teaching job at Berylwood Elementary School, in Simi Valley, CA. In 1970 I married a wonderful English lady named Janet; whose passion was gardening. In 1972 we moved to Oak Park and I started teaching at Brookside. In 1974 we adopted our first child, Elizabeth; and in 1978 we adopted our second daughter, Olivia.
I taught at Brookside from 1972-untill 1987; I then transferred to Oak Hills elementary and retired from public school teaching in 1999. In 2001 I started teaching at Our Lady of Peace Catholic School and taught there for five years. Along the way I volunteered to help startup St. Maximilian Church. I then volunteered and started a Model RR Club, served as president of Rancho Simi Foundation, served as a member of Our Lady of Peace Justice and Peace committee, took offensive stats for Oak Park football, and I also volunteered at Home Boy Industries getting jobs for ex-gang members.
Both daughters are now grown and living away from home. Elizabeth works and lives in the San Louis Obispo area. Olivia is married to her husband Scott and lives in the Thousand Oaks area. They have a son named Cory Robert Christopher Crowther. I now live in Simi Valley and still volunteer with several organizations!

MR. ROBERT DROLET SEEKS CONTACT WITH HIS FORMER NDHS STUDENTS

Hello Mr. Fecht,

I am a neighbor of Mr. Robert Drolet who taught at your school from
1955-1958. He does not use a computer, so I was looking up information for
him. He was reminescing about his days at your school, and I was
wondering if I could put him in touch with any people who might remember
him. I believe he said he taught history, physical education classes, and
speech. He is such a nice man, and at 85 years old, you wouldn't
believe he's anywhere near that age.

If you, or anyone on your blog list, remembers Mr. Drolet, I know he
would really enjoy hearing from you. You can email me at the email
address below and I will print out the messages for him.

Thank you.
Carolyn Savage
SavageLC@cox.net

TONY FADALE SENDS HIS BIO AND AN INVITIATION TO OUR 50TH REUNION

In the 50 years since graduation from Notre Dame High School, life has been very good to me. My four years at Notre Dame and my nine years as a Brother of Holy Cross provided me a moral compass and education that has served me well.

When I returned from New Orleans in 1966, which was my last assignment as a Brother, I met my beautiful bride, Lynn, and we have been married for over 40 years. We have two children, Lisa and David, and two grandchildren, with a third grandchild on the way. Lisa is a media-buyer for national television ads and David is a physical therapist. Our granddaughters, Haley and Skylar, are five and seven years old. We live in Redondo Beach, California, about a mile from our daughter and about 5 miles from our son. My wife Lynn still works (which makes me a kept man) as a court reporter in the Superior Court of Los Angeles. Her fame comes from having been the court reporter for the two Menendez trials, but her true talent lies in how she makes spaghetti and meatballs.

I taught and coached for 36 years in high school and left the classroom in 1997. I spent the next 6 years at the Museum of Tolerance, the Simon Wiesenthal Center, as a project manager in the education department.

Along the way I earned a Master’s Degree and a Doctorate in education. Right now I am happily retired, which gives me time to visit my grandchildren almost every day and do volunteer work for our parish, Notre Dame and for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

For fun I play golf with John DeCoster, Dan Zerfas, Hugh Johnson, ’58, and Brother William Nick, the president of Notre Dame. I am on the Board of Directors for Notre Dame with Dan Zerfas. Dan and I both laugh when we think about what Brother Eugenio must be thinking when he looks down and sees us among the people running Notre Dame.

I am looking forward to seeing everybody at the reunion and sharing memories about our high school days at Notre Dame.

5 LOST CLASSMATES OF NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL - 1957

Hi
Here are five of our classmates that are lost.
If you know their addresses, emails etc. please let us know how to contact them.

Robert Dominisse
Charles Eberley
John Grant
Dr. James Herndon
Edwin Learned

PHOTO GREETING FROM OUR CLASSMATE CHUCK HILL

St. Andrews was part of the overseas' adventure of Chuck Hill and his wife.

MEMORIES OF BROTHER JOHN DORAN'S SPEECH CLASS

From Pat Curtis

When I read about our Speech Club and Brother Doran, it triggered a LONG lost memory, and I wonder if you have any recollection of it.
As I recall, we were supposed to give a speech about California, and the winner would go on to a city contest sponsored and judged by, I believe, The Native Daughters of The Golden West, or, of California, or Pismo Beach, etc. etc. Anyway, I totally forgot that I had to give my speech. So, the night before, I sat down and wrote the history of Death Valley, which I totally made up. I do remember this, I said it was discovered by a Spanish Cavalry Officer, Juan Christ Ortega. I recall nothing else that I said. But, and here's the thing, I won, 1st for my class then, as I remember, for the school. I went on to the win somewhere else, and was in the semi-finals, where I lost, NOT on the content, but on my delivery!! And, I was being judged by women who were supposed to be experts on California History. Well, that's the way I remember it anyway. Does ANY of this ring a bell?

A NOTE FROM OUR CLASSMATE MIKE TENK

UPRIGHT AND TAKING NOURISHMENT

Still driving a 1950 ford with his wife Marilyn, "looking for a Bob's Big Boy to cruze." Life is good, Praise the Lord!

TOM TREMER CLASS OF 1957 IS REMEMBERED BY DAN ZERFAS

IN MEMORY OF TOM TREMER
by Dan Zerfas

Tom was my first friend at NDHS. His family moved to Northridge, California from Kansas when he was in grade school.
He was handsome and fun loving. Always had the big smile. All the girls loved him.
We had a window washing business and almost killed each other over smudges and streaks - then we moved on to auto wrecking - our own cars.

I was surprised when he went into the Brothers (Congregation of Holy Cross) . He kept his spiritual side well hidden. After three years Tom left the Brothers, and graduated from Cal State Los Angeles. Tom loved jazz. and brought Cal Tjader and others to perform at the university, He was always at Shelly Mann's Manhole on Thursday night. He was terrific on the bongos.

Tom's life changed when his brother in law set the world land speed record. He became very involved in developing the jet powered racer. They went to Australia to continue to increase the speed record. Tom got sidetracked and stayed there for 15 years. His personality fit in with the Aussies. He managed a timber company. When he came back to California he went into the camera truck and special effects business.

Tom Tremer died much too early; a heart attack at 56 - the same age his father died of a heart attack. He left two lovely daughters.
Tom was a great friend. When he is thought of everyone smiles: "Do you remember when Tremer...?"

JERRY FECHT WILL BE AT THE 1957 REUNION - WILL YOU?

Gerald Fecht

Notre Dame High School

Class of 1957











Jerry Fecht was born Mexico, Missouri, where it is said that the original Santa Fe Trail began. Fecht is Alsatian name pronounced with a Helvetian accent - hence "fate." His working class family moved often, living in Washington State, Iowa, Missouri, California and Nebraska. By the time he enrolled at Notre Dame High School, he had attended 11 schools.
A Christian Brother came to Jerry's 9th grade class in Omaha, Nebraska and convinced the boy that he could serve the Lord and live in the warm Napa Valley at the same time. The 13 year old got a job in Greek restaurant, earned money for a Grayhound ticket and traveled alone to California.

St. John's minor seminary on 3rd and Detroit in Hollywood was Jerry's new home. The school moved the following year inside the Mission San Fernando. As much as he loved living in the Fairfax district, Jerry hated the confinement of the mission. He wrote his parents in the Midwest that he would come home in the fall, but left the seminary in June.

A summer of sleeping on the beach, staying with friends, and exploring Los Angeles, came to an abrupt end when his parents discovered his whereabouts. The Fechts quit their jobs and came immediately to Van Nuys, where it took much cleverness to gain control over a boy who had been away for two years and free all summer in the city. Fall arrived, and with it enrollment at Notre Dame High School.

Jerry absolutely loved Notre Dame! He had the good fortune of joining the Speech Club and falling under the influence of Brother John Doran, who molded a marvelous bunch of kids into one of the most successful speech and debate teams in Southern California. Out of that speech class there also arose the wonderful zany and secret society of the Atonic League. (The Brothers never discovered how Das Liberator, the underground newsletter of the Atonic League was distributed. Perhaps they should have paid closer attention to the boys who carried the school's announcements to homerooms - all were sworn members of the League.) With Alex-aton von Nefer Kufu Bryant-heart (the reincarnation of Rob Roy), as our kilted leader, high school was one wild adventure after another. When someone, (I think it was Jay Whitney), got the idea of stacking the first meeting of every school club - League members became the presidents of everything and the student council was in Bert Falvo's words "forever in the hands of the people!"

Jerry gave little thought about college. In his family, it was considered an achievement to finish high school. His summer was spent working at Hughes Market and attending training schools in the Navy Reserve. September arrived and Notre Dame pals went off to colleges, joined the Brothers of Holy Cross or got married. On a lark, Jerry enrolled at Los Angeles Valley College.
Waiting to buy textbook, Jerry encountered Roy LoBianco (NDHS 1956). "LoBo" pointed out that none of his friend's classes were "transferable." "You had better come to our meeting Sunday night. We make sure our guys get the right advice", said Roy. Shortly after Jerry and Bill Westmyer pledged Phi Delta Psi Fraternity and were surrounded by ambition and determination. He became student body treasurer and fraternity president.

Jerry transferred to the University of Southern California, where he majored in history and government, became involved in the campaign of Adlai E. Stevenson, and was elected president of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. Involved with student politics, he worked for the election of John F. Kennedy.

Graduation brought the reality of student loans and Jerry returned to the grocery store. 1962, a time of self-pity and confusion, ended when he discovered that USC had just created an Education program for classroom interns and student teaching. Jerry embraced the $125 a month stipend, and returned to school.

In his first year of teaching at Patrick Henry Jr. High School in Granda Hills, Jerry taught the 7th, 8th, and 9th grades. The following year, he was hired by the Burbank Unified School District, where he taught the 10th, 11th and 12th grades. He coached Burbank High's speech club and student council, and of course, checked hall passes. To his everlasting fortune, Janne Shreves a young Pomona College teacher was hired at the same time. In 1967, the couple was married at St. Francis de Sales church in Studio City. That summer, the Burbank Human Relations Council and American Jewish Committee gave Jerry a fellowship at Loyola University.

Three years passed and Jerry was asked to start Burbank's "continuation school." It was to be a "catch all" for kids who could not fit into normal classroom situations. In the 1960s towns like Burbank had no "public" problems such as juvenile crime, addictions or kids who had been abused or neglected. Jerry had 40 students, many of who were wards of the court in a high school deemed unsafe during an earthquake. Jerry loved his "misfits", but six of his kids were dead by the end of the first year. He was honored as teacher of the year by the Chamber of Commerce.

A Master of Science degree in Education came as he finished an 8 year commitment to the Naval Air Reserve. He began doctoral studies at UCLA, accepted a teaching position at Moorpark College, and completed his Ph.D. at USC. Jerry was appointed Director of Student Services for the college, just as the Vietnam War era came full force. Two sons, Brendan Patrick and Damon Carlyle arrived. The war ended and Jerry returned to the classroom, won 6 Teacher of the Year awards and grew desperately broke.

Financial salvation came when Jerry was offered a consultant's position for West Valley marketing firm. The company specialized in youth and college marketing. He wrote A Complete Parents Guide to Soccer, edited Soccer Now magazine for AYSO, helped to develop the Ford-Pele Soccer Scholarship program, became an advisor to the NBA Players Association, developed the General Motors (College) Spirit Award, as well as programs for Saturn, 3-M, Reebok, and several US sports federations. He worked on the 1981 Bicentenial of Los Angeles and the 1984 Olympic Games.

He left the marketing company to form Anchor Education (the company and the foundation). Among his adventures was the creation of Space Place for JPL, Heroes of American Labor for Saturn and the UAW and two books for the City of Los Angeles (Discovering My L.A. and Artventures.)

Jerry is serious about art.
In 2004, he retired from Moorpark College and became president of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley. He is determined that the Valley should have a great museum of history and culture.

Jerry invites his classmates from the class of 1957 to join with him in building the museum community, an adventure of a lifetime.

JOHN THOMPSON COMES TO REUNION FROM BEIJING CHINA

John Thompson

Notre Dame High School
Class of 1957












After flunking out of Loyola University in 1958 and spending an aimless year at Los Angeles Pierce College, I opted for a change of pace and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps for four years, two of which were spent in Okinawa and other places in Asia. From the latter I developed an interest in Asian languages that led to a Bachelor of Arts in Chinese Language from San Francisco State College, a Master of Arts in East Asian Studies from Harvard University, and a 27-year career in the U.S. Foreign Service, mainly in the U.S. Information Agency (cultural exchanges, media relations, Fulbright scholars, overseas cultural centers and libraries, English teaching) and the Department of State, most of it spent in Taiwan and Beijing, with additional assignments in Indonesia and Sweden.
The high point of my Foreign Service career was working in Beijing in 1978-1981 during normalization of US-China relations: participating in negotiations on treaties and agreements; reporting on Democracy Wall; translating in meetings with Deng Xiaoping; sending off the first 50 Chinese scholars to the U.S.; receiving the first American students and scholars; and witnessing at first hand the ravages of the Cultural Revolution and implementation of China's new policy of reform and opening to the outside world.
After 1981, I worked in Washington at the Voice of America China Branch, then in the American Embassy in Sweden four years, back to Washington for five years, and finished up with four years in Taipei, working in the same building where I had started with U.S. Information Agency in 1970. I retired out of Taipei, and moved to Santa Rosa in Sonoma County for a year before taking a job in Chicago for three years as Managing Editor at ChinaOnline, a China business information firm that went up and down with the Internet boom and bust.
After that folded, my wife and I enjoyed life in Sonoma County, working on our small apple orchard next to the Russian River. A year later I moved back to China, this time to spend four years at Tsinghua University in Beijing as Executive Director of the Inter-University Program for Chinese Language, working for UC Berkeley, with 50 students (mostly U.S. graduate students and professionals) and 30 teachers. Returning to Beijing after 21 years, I felt like Rip van Winkle. It came as a complete shock to see a five-fold increase in population, and the remote farm villages that were way outside the city in 1981 suddenly metamorphosed into 20-storey building complexes. The change in both thinking among the Chinese people and availability of material things (no more ration tickets!), not to mention freedom of choice in housing, jobs, travel, spouse, etc. is just astounding.
In March of this year I started a new adventure, representing the City of Chicago in China. Our new operation is based in Shanghai, but I also travel to other parts of China to encourage and assist Chinese firms to invest in Chicago; help Chicago firms to do business with China, and promote tourism and study in Chicago. The year 2010 will see the World Exposition in Shanghai, and it also marks the 50th anniversary of my first trip to China, as a young Marine wading off a landing craft in south Taiwan. Time to return to our orchards.
I have been married for 34 years to a wonderful wife, Lea, whom I met in Indonesia in 1972, when I was building a cultural center there in Medan. One son is working in Beijing in an IT support company; our other son will finish his Master of Science in Ecology at UC Santa Barbara in December.

RICHARD THESING SENDS THE CLASS OF 1957 HIS BIOGRAPHY

Richard Thesing and his grandchildren
Notre Dame High School - Class of 1957

As some of you may remember, a few days after graduation while on what was planned to be a summer trip around the U.S. in a camper with classmates Jim Conway and Mike Capriola, I broke my neck in a diving accident and was paralyzed. I was very fortunate to have a miraculous recovery and, after three months in the hospital, was able to walk with a limp.
I had intended to enter the seminary with my best friend, Jim Conway, but the accident changed those plans. After a year of rehab and part-time classes at Los Angeles Valley College, I entered Loyola and graduated with a degree in Psychology. I immediately went to California State University Los Angeles (L.A. State), earned a Masters, and worked for North American Aviation on the Apollo project.
I then decided to switch careers and got a law degree from Stanford Law School in 1966. In retrospect, it was a great decision and I very much enjoyed law school and the practice of law. I joined a small law firm in San Francisco with five lawyers and I retired 30 years later as Managing Partner when the firm had 400 lawyers in 30 offices in 13 states.
Over the years, the effects of my diving accident made it progressively more difficult to walk and 10 years ago I had such difficulty walking that I now use a scooter. When my wife of 36 years died from cancer in 1999, I decided to retire from law practice and devote time to advocacy on behalf of the disabled.
In 2000, President Clinton appointed me to a four-year term to the U.S. Access Board. It is a small government agency that issues building guidelines for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Upon completion of my term, I joined the boards of several disability organizations.
I am an avid golfer but I need to use an accessible golf cart in order to play, one with hand controls and swivel seat that can go on tees and greens. I am trying to get all golf courses to provide at least one of these accessible golf carts and formed a non-profit, Mobility Golf, to try to accomplish that objective. Some of my activities are: a website that lists all the courses with accessible golf carts, www.mobilitygolf.com, and successfully getting Congress to pass a law requiring the Defense Department to makes its 150 golf courses on military bases accessible to disabled veterans.
I have recently formed another non-profit, www.jidu.us, with a friend of Iraqi descent, to provide wheelchairs to disabled Iraqis. When the security situation there improves, it is our intention to set up small factories in Iraq where disabled Iraqis will manufacture the wheelchairs.
In 2005, I married Francesca Farr who is retired after a career as a family therapist. She is from a political family, her father was a state Senator and her brother is in Congress. I very much enjoy politics and find that my new life, with a new wife, and my disability advocacy activities is interesting and exciting.

JOHN HEAPHY SHARES HIS BIOGRAPHY FROM NEARBY GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA

Revisit historic Brand Library in Glendale when you come to the big 50th Reunion

John Heaphy will give you directions to his hometown treasure houise.












In September of 1957, John Heaphy went back to Old College at the University of Notre Dame to study for the Congregation of Holy Cross priesthood. However, during that first semester, both his adviser and he came to the same conclusion that he would do much better in the secular world than in the religious one! So, John left Notre Dame and went to Chicago and enlisted for three years in the Marines. After basic and infantry training in San Diego, he was sent for 2 1/2 years to help guard our country from the shores of Oahu, Hawaii. It was much better duty than “the Shores of Tripoli.”

Finishing his active service, John returned to the San Fernando Valley and enrolled at California State University Northridge (CSUN). In 1965, he graduated with a degree in English. Over the next ten or so years, he attended night school at California State University Los Angeles and UCLA, pursuing courses in Accounting and Business until he graduated with an Master of Business Administration from Pepperdine University in 1976.

In March of 1968, John met his wife Eleanor and her two children, Kristen and Davin, and they were married in June. In 1971 his daughter, Paige was born, and, in 1975, his daughter Anne arrived. Kris, and her two children, Raymond & Amanda, live in Worland, Wyoming where she is a math teacher and homemaker. Davin, a UCLA & University of San Diego gradate, teaches History at Coronado High School in San Diego. He and his wife Jeanne are the parents of their grandchild, Jenna. Paige, a graduate of the University of California San Diego and University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, lives close to them in Glendale where she works on the Staff of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. She and her husband, Sean, are the parents of their other two grandchildren, Kate and Natalie. Anne, a UCLA grad also, is now a Principal in an investment firm in San Francisco and is completing her MBA with the University of California Berkeley. Last, but not least, Eleanor returned to school, earning her degree from California State University Los Angeles in 1983. She became a teacher in a middle school in East Los Angeles and still teaches there today.

Since 1966, John has worked for several major companies and the Los Angeles Olympic Committee in Accounting Administration. In 1985, he went to work for a commercial real estate development company in Burbank and stayed until 1998 when he changed to an affiliated construction company where he is presently employed. In 1997, after obtaining a California Adult Teaching Credential from UCLA, he taught English as a Second Language to night school students at Van Nuys Community Adult School. He finally found a use for his English degree after all.

Eleanor and John are still gainfully employed and they have always used the summers to travel the world. China, Europe, Central America, Mexico and the US have been their destinations over the years. Africa, Australia and Latin America are for the future.

PLAN ON EXPLORING THE VALLEY WHEN YOU COME TO THE BIG 5Oth REUNION OF THE CLASS OF 1957

Academy of Television Arts and Sciences
NoHo Arts District - Lankershim Boulevard

When you visit the San Fernando Valley during the great Reunion of the Notre Dame High School Class of 1957, plan to explore the place where you grew up. Somethings are very much the same, but others are very different. 1,800,000 people now live in the greater Valley. There are vast populations of Russians, Armenians and folks from India. Many Catholic priests here are from Vietnam or Central America. There are 72 different languages spoken by Los Angeles school children.
A really interesting and fun experience is to ride the new subway system. You can catch the Red Line at Lankershim Station, where the Television Academy resides, or from Campo de Caheunga where Lankershim meets Ventura Boulevard. (and, you qualify for senior citizen discounts!)
Don't forget to get your biographies and photographs in. There are only a couple of weeks left in Jerry's energy bank.
The Mexican hurricane brought temperatures of over a 110 degrees for most of last week. Tony Fadale promises that the weather will be much nicer for you during the great Reunion.

OUT OF ST. GEORGE, UTAH RIDES IN OUR CLASSMATE PAT CURTIS - CLASS OF 1957

Patrick Curtis



Notre Dame High School
Class of 1957













Patrick and Annabel Curtis at the unveiling of his Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars.

Patrick started his journey in the entertainment industry in 1939, when he portrayed, “Baby Beau Wilkes,” in the beloved, GONE WITH THE WIND. Then, while still in diapers, he played Nicky Charles, Nick and Nora Charles’ baby in ANOTHER THIN MAN. For the next twenty years, he could be seen in over seventy motion pictures and television shows. His less then stellar talent usually cast him as the fifth kid on the right. Sometime during those early, thrilling days of yesteryear, his alter ego became the more show biz creditable, “Patrick Curtis,” instead of good ol’ Pat Smith. The Nuns at St. Charles, and the Brothers of Notre Dame, wisely paid no attention. But, for the last 50 years or so, he’s been Curtis to one and all.

Thanks to producers, Joe Connelly and Bob Mosher, he was able to start his production career on LEAVE IT TO BEAVER. When not in the cutting room, or pulling cable, he could sometimes be seen playing one of Wally’s friends, occasionally graduating to the third kid on the left. He was a very busy guy, with work, college and being engaged to the beautiful Linda Evans at the time. They met on the set of the OZZIE & HARRIET, where he shrewdly made sure he was the ONLY kid next to the delightful blonde from Hollywood High.

One of Patrick’s last film roles was in CIMARRON, starring Glenn Ford and Maria Schell. He played an elevator boy, circa 1912. Obviously, his acting career was either on its way up, or down, almost certainly the latter. He started filming on a Friday, and because of a pending Screen Actors Guild strike scheduled for Sunday at midnight, he worked almost sixty straight, quadruple golden time hours. Being an astute business kid, his greatly inflated paycheck led him directly to Felix Chevrolet, and a red, 1959 fuel injected Corvette. This is the car that terrorized Bob’s Big Boy and won a St. Patrick’s Day sports car rally with Patrick driving, and Spencer (Pat) Johnson as navigator. Tired of constantly being followed home by the entire North Hollywood and or Burbank Police Departments, he cunningly painted the Vette a less obtrusive, Fawn Beige. It didn’t help a bit!

Several years later, while on a location scout in San Diego, he met a stunning, San Diego State dance major. “What do you want to do with your life?” he asked. “I believe I want to be a model,” she replied. (Now comes the worst pick-up line it the history of the world!) “You’ll never be a model, because you look like an Italian movie star,” he said, “but, I’m going to make movies, and I want you to be in them!” Incredibly, she believed every word, and together they set out to successfully conquer Hollywood. His good friend, Charlton Heston once said, “Patrick is such a perfectionist, he was married to Raquel Welch for 14 years, and he expected her to cook!”

Patrick’s career as a motion picture and Television writer, producer and director, spans over forty years and encompasses more than thirty five major motion picture and television programs, many with Raquel. He even directed John Wayne, which is a whole story in itself. His award winning western, THE AVENGING ANGEL, starring; Tom Berenger, Charlton Heston and James Coburn, can currently be seen on the TNT Network. Patrick recently finished a pet film project of his, MEANWHILE, BACK AT THE RANCH, starring every B-western hero of our youth. This film won the Cannes Film Festival award for best motion picture, historical feature. He is a voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences (The Oscars).

Try as he might to retire, he continues to write and produce THE GOLDEN BOOT AWARDS, saluting western movie heroes, heroines, directors and stunt people. This world renowned event, now in its 25th year, is held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, and has raised millions of dollars for the Motion Picture and Television Fund. Patrick is on the Fund’s Executive Committee.

One of Patrick’s proudest moments was receiving a Beautiful People of Los Angeles Award, from St. Joseph’s Hospital, in recognition of his outstanding work in the community. He produced and directed over a dozen Public Service Commercials, at no cost, for such Valley organizations as MADD, and Activities for Retarded Children. This prestigious honor was presented to him by his lifelong friend, Clayton Moore, The Lone Ranger. Oh, the next time you’re in Palm Springs, stop by and walk all over Patrick’s Star on Palm Canyon Drive’s, Walk of Stars. His star is in front of the Fudge Shop, of course!

A renowned public speaker, Patrick has traveled the world and sailed the seven seas, regaling audiences with his tales of the great and not so great characters he’s know, in his almost seventy years in Hollywood.

Patrick’s two children, Damon and Tahnee live in different parts of Europe, which gives him another great excuse to travel. He and his lovely wife of 19 years, Annabel, recently moved from the Palm Springs area, to St. George, Utah. Patrick is putting the finishing touches on his new book, “THE CROSSDRAW KID RIDES AGAIN,” a humorous look at growing up in Hollywood, during its Golden Age of the ‘40’s and ‘50’s.