Forget About A Steak & Chicken Banquet. Give Us A Bob's Big Boy Hamburger.

from AMothersPerspective.blogspot.com
by Charmaine Haley Coimbra, AHS-66

A wonderful group of 50-somethings have worked hard to make the upcoming Alemany Class of 1966 40-year reunion special. They have put up a blog site http://alemany66.blogspot.com/and a web site of photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/alemany66/page5/. The cyber reconnection has brought us all up to date to the loss of classmates, the triumphs of those still here, the families and the adventures.

When I reach my pinnacle of patience at work, I flip over to these pages for ever-changing entertainment. One theme runs through the photo page: Bob. Big Boy Bob! He's driving cars, he's eyeballing women, he's standing alone. Bob is baaaack.

What's my take? Forgeta'bout the steak and chicken banquet. Give us Bob's Big Boy double decker cheeseburger on a sesame bun, a side of onion rings and a chocolate shake. Whaddya think?

www.laokay.com/BobsBigBoy.htm

BRAD AND TINA KOPP CRUISING TO RUSSIA IN 2005

I saw Danny’s last email about the Alemany blog and he mentioned that a reunion book was being put together. I thought I would contribute. I was very happy to get in contact with Dan a few months ago and of course finding out about the reunion. I went to elementary school, Our Lady of Peace, with Dan, Marty Molidor, Paula Carabelli, Robert Cosgrove, etc. I live in Germany and initially I could not make the reunion, but things have changed where I am able to attend now.

I lost contact with everyone after my senior year because my parents had moved to Simi Valley and I went to Ventura JC for a year. If anyone remembers the big white house across the street from Alemany in the orange and lemon orchards, that is where we (the Kopp family) lived for my sophomore and junior years of HS. My father rented it from the San Fernando Mission and got a good deal on it because of being Catholic and having eight kids. Some of you might remember my twin sisters (Sheri and Sandi). They were a year behind us in school until 1965 when they started school in Simi.

I joined the Army in 1968, went through helicopter pilot training and direct to Vietnam. However, that is another story. I love to fly and stayed in the Army for 22 years when I retired and went to fly DC-10s for World Airways. Flying as a commercial pilot was everything I had achieved to be, but after the military I did not like the separation from my family. In 1990, after a year of being gone flying around the world, I took a job as a GS Civilian for the US Government in Germany. I am currently chief pilot for the US Army in Europe flying helicopters and their fixed wing aircraft over here.

After returning to Europe in the early nineties I received my Masters Degree in Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. A half a year later they asked if I would teach for them part time in Germany and of course I said yes and have been doing it ever since. I enjoy teaching a lot and beside the tax free money is nice. The teaching compliments my government job very well and I am happy to be doing it. There is no doubt in my mind that I have the best job in the world.

I have three grown daughters from a previous marriage and one granddaughter. They all live in Houston, Texas and I do see them quite a bit I usually make it back to the states 4 or 5 times a year for flight schools/training and vacation. My wife now, Tina, is a beautiful girl who I have been with the past twenty years.

Here I am in an English pub, on one of my recent trips.
(Ed Note: If you live in Germany, do you still have to go to Great Britain for a good pint of stout?)

This is Robert ‘Bob’ Cosgrove (on the right) and myself at our Alemany graduation. I have not talked to Bob for 40 years and just touched base with him a month ago. What a thrill. I am really looking forward to seeing him at the reunion.

Anyway, I hope to see you and a lot of our classmates at the reunion. For some reason, over the past few years, I have been reminiscing about the good old days more then ever. I also want to thank everyone on the Reunion committee for making this all possible. I know that a lot of time and money has gone into setting this all up and it is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely

Herr Bradford and Frau Tina Kopp
Weinheim Germany

JUANITA (PACHECO) ESCOBEDO

Juanita writes:

I married right out of high school and began my family immediately. I was married for 33 years and was blessed with five wonderful children: Timothy 39, married with two children; Loretta 37, married with three children; Jennifer 27, married with her baby (a pug); Matthew 25, in his last year of grad school majoring in psychology and Jeff 22, is graduating this fall with his Bachelors in History and going on for his teaching credential. To date I have five beautiful grandchildren, four boys and one girl ranging in ages from 17yrs. to 7 months.

YEP, "I'm still working". I work for L.A. County Dept. of Mental Health in the business office. When will I retire?..."WHAT'S THAT?!!" I'm still having empty nest syndrome!
In my spare time (and I have a lot of it) I enjoy reading, journaling, embroidering and spending time with my oldest daughter and family who live in Lancaster also.

My daughter-in-law (Timothy’s wife) is Dr. Jodie Escobedo – Her website is: http://www.doctors-on-demand-online.com/. Who knows someone living in or near Lancaster may be able to use her services.

The Reunion is almost here!

Sincerely, Juanita

Lancaster, CA

JAMES F. "JIM" LAHEY

(1948-1995)

A Tribute: Remembering Jim Lahey & Good Friends

As the years pass by we tend to get caught up in our jobs, families and new environments, whether it be moving to a new city or starting a new profession, and for some of us multiples of each. In all the hustle and bustle, we tend lose touch with some of our friends. It is tough trying to locate old classmates as they move from place to place. This happened to me as I tried to find one of my best boyhood friends, Jim Lahey. We were like brothers and shared so many wonderful times together as kids.

We met as classmates at St. Didacus, in Sylmar, and played little league and Babe Ruth together on the San Fernando Elks. I spent many hours at his home and with his family.

When I enlisted in the Navy, I lost all contact with Jim. I made a few futile attempts to locate him, but to no avail. I hoped that I would see him at our 30th reunion, but again, no luck. As we started to get the lists of classmates from Danny, I thought at last I’d be able to locate him. A few weeks ago I emailed Dan McMahon to see if Jim had responded to the invitation and he replied saying that Jim was listed on Alemany’s alumni roster as deceased. What a shock! It really hit me hard. I regret all the years that have come and gone and that I didn’t try harder to find him.

Fortunately Danny steered me to a web search engine and I was able to find Jim’s mother’s phone number and contacted her. She was so surprised and so grateful that I called. We spent most of the time reminiscing about Jimmy and the good times we shared at their home. I could tell she was so very proud of Jim, his dedication to his family and the good life he led. He was a great friend and she is a very special lady.

I learned that Jim passed away of a heart attack in the fall of 1995. He was a wonderful husband to Kathy and had 3 beautiful children, 2 sons Travis and Brett and a daughter, Tacey. He was involved in the Heating and Air Conditioning trade and owned his own company for many years.

Two of his many loves were surfing and his chopper motorcycle.

Another was the Ford Falcon he bought in his senior year and fixed it up to race at the drag strip where he won many trophies. I know I will learn more about Jim’s past as I talk with his friends and family and will treasure many more memories of him. It’s tough losing a good friend and not knowing it for so many years.

Even though I was too shy back then to get to know everyone in the class, the bond I feel is special. I look to this upcoming event as a chance to rekindle old friendships and re-establish contacts. Gosh, how will we ever have the time to share our stories with everyone the night of the reunion? This grand 40th reunion has helped bring us together through emails and the blog site has been tremendous and thoroughly enjoyable.

I hope we can keep it going and that it will encourage each of us to continue communicating, even after the reunion. It’s a blast seeing photos of some of the classmates and “happenings” at BAHS back in the 60’s.

See you all soon,

Ron West
Alpine, Utah

(Photos courtesy of Jim's Mom, Ellen Lahey with our heartfelt thanks for her sharing)