ROGER and JANE (LIND) GERAKIN

Building Homes and Images in Lake County

Thanks to Danny's personal letter it has been fun and so interesting to reconnect with high school classmates. Soon it will be face to face. I am looking forward to this reunion in the midst of many emotions.

Just a few lines about my life ... My husband, Roger Gerakin, and I have been married 32 years and live in Northern California just northeast of the Napa Valley. We have two children, Harp Ties (30) and Zeno (22). Harp and I both work at Best Image Marketing. She is the Product Manager for the Internet Division and I manage the Expertorial Dept.

Best Image Marketing began in 1983 with their Expertoria advertising service, building the professional images of leading real estate agents in newspapers nationwide. These services have now expanded to online newspapers and other community websites where a real estate agent can define themselves as the local "expert" of real estate in their market. Best Image released the first generation of the NUMBER1EXPERT online advertising service, designed exclusively for agents who outsell others. NUMBER1EXPERT went on to fuel record company growth that continues to this day. If you are interested you can see what we do at www.bestimage.com.

Zeno is in his last semester at UC Santa Cruz and also works for BIM part-time. Roger has invested in real estate for years, built and remodeled homes and created some beautiful woodworking. Right now Roger is building a house for Harp just down the road from us on a very steep slope that we call Mt. Kilimanjaro. Zeno helped with the framing this summer and Harp is planting deer-proof landscape. We love to travel and go to the tropics at least once a year spending much of our time hiking and bird-watching. Roger loves to sail, so some of our trips have been on a bare boat.Roger and I just spent the weekend on the coast in Elk for his birthday with Zeno and his girlfriend Aria who were also celebrating their third anniversary.

Harp made this hat out of ribbons and bows from my mother's presents for her 92nd birthday!

I wish everyone a safe trip and will see you soon in the Valley.

Jane (Lind) Gerakin
Middleton, CA

AILEEN BRUNO and DAUGHTER TYLER

"Perfect in Every Way"

I was an RN for a few years then got a Masters, which was relatively worthless, and then a Juris Doctor. My work as an attorney has been rather consuming. I have been in-house counsel doing litigation for Wellpoint for many years - Blue Cross of California is one of its subsidiaries.

I have been married for over thirty years and very busy like everyone else. My husband David Moll, MD, is an addictionologist and he still works (it is a rule) if I work he works. My daughter, Tyler is my only child, and of course perfect in every way. Now age 26, she is completing her masters in traditional Chinese medicine. She went to China on a fellowship after she finished her undergrad degree and taught English in a women's college. Ty was impressed with many things in China and came home after a year speaking Mandarin and changed her life course. This Master's (from Emperor's College in Santa Monica) takes 4 years with 4 quarters a yearit is more than another bloody undergraduate degree. Now she is checking out getting her doctorate focusing on infertility.

The one nice thing about her still being in school is that on Ty's breaks David, Ty and I have been able to take some nice vacations. (Most recently Prague and a Caribbean cruise). Ty helped me with the photo downloads, and I was worried that she may have gotten even for the photo I sent of her to her freshman dorm for identification - hair in rollers, greenmask, eating pizza and wearing leopard pajamas.

(Ed note: Ty was a dutiful daughter and sent this undoctored photo from the Caribbean vacation.)

I live in Camarillo, play golf at one of the local country clubs. My golf is nothing to discuss (it is somewhat schizophrenic: one never knows what type of golfer will appear). My handicap was in the low twenties the last time I looked, which was awhile ago.

I have two Chihuahuas which are highly entertaining.

Mary Seifert Dowling and I have kept up our friendship and she is fabulous. Wally Ernsdorf and I chat with each other a few times a year and his sense and style of humor has never abated. He never fails to make me laugh.

I have always been thankful that I went to Alemany. Life is good!

Aileen Bruno

Camarillo, CA

SENSATIONAL NEWS

In an email received this morning, Karen King shares this new information about a pending dediction for our dear departed classmate, Frank DelOlmo:

Dear Family/Friends/Colleagues:

It's official. Last night, the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education approved the name for the newly constructed school currently known as Belmont New Elementary #6.

It's now going to be called Frank del Olmo Elementary School. District officials have informed me that it marks the first time an LAUSD school has been named for an LA Times journalist.

You are invited to the Naming Ceremony, which will be held at the school, Wednesday, Nov. 1 at 10 a.m. at 100 N. New Hampshire Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90004.

Elected officials and the Mayor of Los Angeles have been invited to participate in the ceremony. LAUSD School Board Member Monica Garcia, in whose district the school is located, will serve as the emcee. The principal, Eugene Hernandez, will present a performance by the children of the school. And, acclaimed artist Richard Duardo, of Chicano Visions fame, has been commissioned to do a portrait of Frank that will hang at the school.

If you have further questions, contact:

Yonah Hong
LAUSD Community Outreach
1055 West 7th Street (9th Floor)
Los Angeles, CA 90017

(213) 893-6834(W)

(213) 276-2412(CP)

(213) 893-6827(F)

www.laschools.org www.lausd.net

Kathleen Gordon O'Riley

"If I Only Had Wings I Could Fly"

This picture was taken at our annual flight attendant retirement luncheon. I ended my 37 year, world wide adventure with American Airlines in March of this year. It was a wonderful journey and I would do it all again.

The first 10 years of flying was all fun, lived in NYC for a year, life in the fast lane, traveling all over on passes and discounts.

Then in 1978, I won some money on a game show Card Sharks, and decided it was time to buy a house. I found Camarillo one day, on a drive with a friend, it felt so right, I put my game show earnings down on my first house. My husband, to be, bought the house across the street. I married John at the San Fernando Mission in 1980, we have two sons, Patrick 23 and Michael 20. John was with LA City Fire so I flew on his days off and the boys got a fresh parent every couple of days. Our boys now live together in the Valley, Patrick has a degree in film and is researching and writing for a production company and Michael is at CSUN, a computer nerd with an Asian Studies minor, he hopes to go to school in Japan next year. John has also retired so we are redecorating our empty nest.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 and went through all of the treatments, John was my rock and I am a survivor. Now I am now growing my hair back (bald was not a good look for me) and sleeping in my own bed every night, ah yes, life is good.

I am bringing my mom, 'Mrs. G' our typing teacher, to the reunion. She is 87 and still going strong. She lives in Leisure Village, just a short drive from my house. She is looking forward to seeing all of her old (but not too old) students.

Kathleen (Gordon) O'Riley
Camarillo, CA

Four Years Worth Of Memories
by
Frank Del Olmo and Adrienne Poirier

Chances are that as many Alemany Seniors go through the motions of this Sunday's graduation exercises, some of the thoughts that cross their mind will concern the many memories of events and people that made the Monarchs' four years here so great.

Remember Freshman year: Initiation by our Senior "big sisters" ... lights on the football field ... Frosh football team league champs ... Saints Alive - The Cure of Ars with PAM MERTENS as the devil ... April Foot Clash Day ... Basketball team undefeated in league, and into CIF playoffs ... Jan Seider, our Homecoming queen ... Mr. Diaz's early morning Science seminar ... JAN ZEMBA, our Penny Princess candidate ... Stage Door" ... "Carousel" ... Fr. Dummer and the start of the Alemany band ... SB presidents Sharon Wheeler and Bob Kinnaman ... Cheerleaders: KATHY ALBUS, SANDY SAVKO, KRIS GILMORE, and PAT SELLERS ... Officers: PAULA CARABELLI, JAY PELZER, KATHY ALBUS, JOE DISPENZA, PAT MARYON, TOM LOPEZ, DAVE SURGES, and MARTY MOLIDOR ... Moderators: Sr. Fredrica and Fr. Cunningham.

Then Sophomore year: "Irving Shmock" to the girls for losing the chocolate drive ... KKK Juniors as Big Sisters ... Death of President Kennedy ... victory in the interclass volleyball games ... Jeanne Hitchner, Homecoming queen ... PAT SELLERS, Penny candidate ... "Night Must Fall" ... "Guys and Dolls" ... The Beach Boys vs. The Beatles ... Championship track teams ... Frankie and Johnnie" with LIZ COLLINS, BRENDA BIAFORA, PEGGY JONES, and SUELLEN KELLER ... Homeroom No. 39, the FIRST with $100.00 in Mission collections ... The Shamrock Shuffle with Kasey Kasem and Terry Stafford ... SB prez. Art Golden and Sue Surges ... Cheerleaders: MARGIE ESPINOSA, KATHY BELL, and SHARON ANCELL ... Officers: MARTY MOLIDOR, PAULA CARABELLI, DAVE SURGES, TERRI ICARDO, KATHY ALBUS, TOM LOPEZ, and FRANK DEPASQUALE ... Moderators: Sr. Carmen Mary and Fr. Tona.

Junior year: Upperclassmen ... Block schedules ... Sophs our little sisters ... Ptomane Cave ... The Caf Boycott ... ILAP ... Mary's Day at Immaculate Heart ... The Wall at Mt. Sinai Temple and the "beanies" ... Luana Kawahara, Homecoming queen ... "The Valiant" ... "Visit to a Small Planet" ... The Mustang drive ... The POWWOW's editorials ... another track championship ... retreats at Manresa and Valyermo ... KATHY DUNLAY, Penny Candidate ... "Flower Drum Song" and the wild cast parties ... Fun and frolic (and flying bricks) in the Physics lab ... T.P. ... Getting our Senior rings ... Who was in the WFC? ... Junior Exclusive amid the bamboo and water fountains in the gym ... The sunbather at UCLA ... SB presidents Kathy Bazar and Bill Pelzer ... Cheerleaders: DIANE MOTTOLA, RITA DESIATO, KRIS GILMORE. MARY SEIFERT, and DIANE MANNEMANN ... Officers: PENNY MERTENS, REX OLLIFF, JACCI MAHONEY, DAVE SURGES, CHRIS BELLE, MARK SMITH, and WALLY ERNSDORF ... Moderators: Sr. Anne Elizabeth and Fr. Christiansen.

Finally our Senior year: blessing of our rings ... Senior sweater day ... Homecoming queen CHRIS BELLE, princesses KATHY DUNLAY, PAM LONGWORTH, TERRI ICARDO, TERRY ARTEAGA, and JUDY HAWKES ... Football team to Las Vegas ... DON SOBERG, BILL MERRIKEN, and the KRLApes game ... "The Diary of Anne Frank" ... Fr. Rath and his English-Religion questionnaire ... Superfox ... Geopolitics class ... Dominick's after the games ... The parking lot ... Red-hot baseball team ... SB presidents MARTY MOLIDOR and PENNY MERTENS ... "Hamlet" ... "Yojimbo" ... Senior Prom in Beverly Hills ... Prom Court: HELENE CROSS, JEAN ROTH, JACCI MOHONEY, JANE LIND, and KRIS GILMORE ... "South Pacific" ... Pep rallies ... "Vinnie" SALHOFF, "Dizzy" COFFEY, and "Buddy" DEL OLMO calling all the action on KMPC ... The Wabash Cannonball ... Frosh little sisters ... ANNE GATTUSO's pills ... KAREN KING's fat lip ... Christmas at the Music Center ... SAT test ... Cruisin" after school ... illegal excursions to Bob's ... The "Rock" ... Brlllo sope pads ... SDD ... SDD No.2 ... Cheerleaders: DIANE MOTTOLA, MARIE DELONZO, KATHI GIBSON, and MONIQUE LUSSIER ... mascots JUDY HAWKES and MONICA DE LA SANTOS ... Officers: PAM MERTENS, DAVE SURGES, MAGGIE CALABA, DANNY McMAHON, JOANN GUZZARDI, BOB JOHNSON, TERRY BOWLES ... moderators: Sr. Augustine and Fr. Wagner.

(Ed Note: Thanks to Linda Haney Pearcy for providing her copy of our last PowWow edition. Original spelling from the article was left intact.)

A QUICK NOTE FROM THE CO-EDITOR

In the flurry of activity, before the BIG BASH on the 28th, new blogs have been added in the last few days. They include the Pam (Longworth) Pelton's, Pat (Maryon) Critchfield, Ellie McConnaughy, Bobby Guerrero and Ariana Ramirez, Karen King and the Monique (Lussier) Padberg's.

Don't forget to scroll down and see all the new blogs!!!!!!!!!

THE MONIQUE (LUSSIER) PADBERG FAMILY - 2006

The True Story of Why Monique is "All Tuckered Out"

Since I got a scolding from Bob Johnson about being on the reunion committee and not sending a bio, I will attempt to give a short run down of the last 40 yrs since we graduated.

My biggest regret was not finishing college. In 1969 I married Guy Proto and we lived in Washington DC for the majority of his time in the Air Force. In 1973 we moved back to California and a year later we had a son, Jason. In 1979 we were divorced and I moved to Thousand Oaks in 1980 where I have lived since then. I love this area and life here is wonderful.

I worked for a time in interior design but then had to find work that actually paid enough to live on. I went to work for a financial investment company where I met my husband Skip. We have been married 22 yrs on Dec 1st. We have 4 kids between us. They are all amazing people and we are very proud of them.

Skip is manager of the Re/Max Gold Coast Realtors office in Thousand Oaks. After our marriage I opened a gift shop in Moorpark and did interior design, again, which I loved. After doing this for 12 yrs I got a little burned out and went into outside sales for a large showroom in the L.A. Mart. I had a great territory but the traveling got to me after 5 yrs and realized I wanted to be around more for my grandchildren.

Our first grandchildren were twin girls who are now 12 yrs old. Then in 2001 three of our kids had babies at the same time so we have 3 grandkids that are all 5 (which makes it feel like triplets when they are all together) and we have a 2-¬Ω yr old. The count is 4 girls 2 boys. Watching them grow is truly the most amazing thing in my life.

6 yrs ago I started my own business, All Tuckered Out. It is a line of kids and baby blankets that I have manufactured in L.A. and are sold all over the country through sales reps. I have a trademark on my special blanket for Big Brothers and Big Sisters. I haven't made my millions yet but I get great satisfaction from my designs and hearing how kids love their blankets from reps and from store buyers.

Having 6 grandchildren to bounce ideas off certainly helps. They are the love of our lives and we are lucky to have 4 who live minutes away. Our other two live in Oregon, which, at least is not all the way across the country, but we wish we could see them more.

My time at Alemany was certainly a time of growth for me. Being on the committee for our reunion has given me the opportunity to see people again I have not seen in years and to also reflect back on a time that helped shape me as a person.

Being able to read everyone's bios has been inspirational as so many have gone on to pursue their dreams and have such full and wonderful lives. What a gift it is to be able to share this all with each other. I feel incredibly blessed to have my family who I love and who has brought so much joy to my life. I am so looking forward to seeing everyone on Oct 28th. How can we cram 40 yrs of news into a few hours?? Let’s do this again in 5 yrs.

GO IRISH!

Monique has thrown down the gauntlet to all you Bruin and Trojan fans out there. Here is how she describes the weekend of October 21st (when she should have been doing her reunion committee work!)

It's 11:30 PM, I just arrived home from one of the most incredible football games I have ever been to in South Bend, watching the Irish beat UCLA in the last 20 seconds of the game. Even for people who aren't football fans, let me tell you the sound in that stadium...well I can't believe I can still hear!!. What a week end. There is something indescribeable that happens at Notre Dame Stadium. My husband, Skip, graduated from ND in 1962 and I have a nephew who graduated 2 yrs ago and another who is in his freshman year and he took us all over. What fun!!! Don't even get my husband started on talking about ND. My brother in law also lives in South Bend and runs the hospice program there.He's an amazing man. Unless you go and experience it you just don't know how special it is. What a week end!!!! I have no voice today Ha Ha.

Monique (Lussier) Padberg

Newbury Park, CA

KAREN KING

My Life and Times:

Where Did Those 40 Years Go?

(Pictured above: Frank's daughter, Valentina del Olmo, received her MSW from UCLA in June of 2005. Her Aunt Lisa Garcia (Frank's sister) and her Mom (Karen King, Class of '66) share the proud moment. Karen said, "We know that Frank was standing with us. You just can't see him." )

I have so enjoyed reading the bios and blogs from my classmates. The lives, loves and accomplishments described are truly amazing. I am honored and humbled to be part of such an interesting, intelligent, and professionally diverse group of high school classmates. As a reunion committee member I have been asked to submit my own bio, and threatened with lifetime detention if I don’t, so here goes.

I have several college degrees and certifications and have used that training to support myself through the years. I have an AA degree in Child Development, a BA degree in Child Development, a BA degree in Mexican-American Studies, and a Paralegal Certificate in Litigation from the UCLA Paralegal Training Program.

From 1970 to 1982 I was married to our classmate, Frank del Olmo. During those years, Frank helped to establish the Chicano Studies Department at CSUN and began his lifelong career at the Los Angeles Times. As a journalist he covered riots, wars, immigration issues (we’ve come full circle on that problem), bilingual education, and gang problems in the barrios of LA. There were days when he wore a bulletproof vest under his dress shirt. That was an exciting, often scary, very intense period of my life and has left me with a few interesting stories about people met and places seen.

Frank and I had one child, Valentina, who currently lives in Long Beach and works at Harbor/UCLA Medical Center as a psychiatric social worker. She is accruing the 3200 supervised hours that she needs to enable her to take her licensing exam. Her goal is to become certified as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Eventually she would like to relocate to the Bay Area and work at Stanford, her alma mater.

I have lived my entire life in California. Cities include Northridge, San Fernando, Echo Park, Silverlake, Glendale, Menlo Park, and Mountain View. My favorite place to live was Menlo Park. I have traveled to various cities in England; Paris, France; and Mexico City.

I like to read and am always asking for book recommendations. Time permitting I like to crochet, do cross stitch projects, and knit. I can easily spend way too much time and money in bookstores and yarn shops. I enjoy a well-made movie, almost any type of musical concert, and community theatre. Valentina and I like to visit antique stores. She has an interest in old glass and pottery. I collect old glass, pottery and metal shoes. They are inexpensive and I always have something to look for when we go antiquing. My best find was a souvenir shoe from the 1893 World Exposition in Chicago – the world fair written about in “The Devil in the White City”.

I am currently looking for a way to exercise that does not aggravate arthritic knees. It is those arthritic knees that remind me that I am 58 years old and, indeed, 40 years have passed since that graduation day in 1966.

(Ed Note: Karen sent this additional message on October 25, 2006:

"I found out over the weekend that LAUSD is naming a school after Frank. I believe the dedication is Nov. 1. I am trying to get more info. Apparently the school chosen for this honor was used in the filming of the movie "Godzilla" and they are also putting a plaque at the school to recognize that. To a person, the family thinks that somewhere Frank is having a good laugh about the whole thing.")

Karen King

Northridge, CA

ROBERT J. "BOBBY" GUERRERO and ARIANNA RAMIREZ (AHS '72) - 2006

Hi everyone: It has been great to read about, and see pictures of all of you. I can't believe how fast 40 years can go by.

After graduation I attended (casually) Valley College for two years before getting drafted into the Army. I signed up for an extra year to get a choice of training, and ended up at Personnel School. I served a year at Fort Ord, a year in Cam Rahn Bay, VietNam, and nine months in Oakland. After two years, nine months, and twenty-one days (who's counting?) I was discharged in July 1971.

I took advantage of my GI Bill and attended CSU-Northridge from 1971-74, graduating with a degree in Public Administration, with an emphasis in Public Personnel, and a minor in Chicano Studies.

I started working in School District Human Resources with LAUSD while attending CSUN. I have since worked for three other school districts (Glendale, Victor Valley, and currently in Poway), the last 19 years as a Director. I also worked for Xerox for two years and for a liquor company, Hiram Walker, Inc, for a year. I’m a little fuzzy on the details about that job, but I think I had fun!!

I met the love of my life in 1984, and was lucky enough to marry her in 1987. Eriana (Ramirez, AHS-72) and I were married on October 17, 1987, and I also was blessed to inherit a daughter, Maricela. We have lived in Oceanside since 1989, and have been moving west since we got to Oceanside, and now live three blocks from the beach. Eriana has worked at Mira Costa, the local Community College, for the last 17 years. Our daughter attended Mira Costa, earned her BA from San Francisco State, and her Teaching Credential from CSU-San Marcos. She just started teaching a Kindergarten class in the Temecula School District. Mari recently became engaged and she and her fiancee are planning to wed in May 2008.

Most of my family still lives in and around the Valley; my Mom lives in the same house in San Fernando where I lived when we graduated! Many of my friends also still live in the Valley, many attended San Fernando or Sylmar High School, as did my brothers and cousins.

I enjoyed my years at Alemany, and enjoyed the opportunity to meet kids from all over the Valley, all the way out to Lancaster & Palmdale! I really wish I had been able to participate in more school activities besides B football and JV Wrestling in the 10th grade, but work was a priority for me at the time. I met my best friend, Tom Lopez, on the first day of Freshman year (I think it was Mr. Diaz's Science class), and we have been friends ever since, and Compadres for the last 35 years.

I have been blessed in my life, with a loving wife and daughter, surrounded and supported by family (I have 4 brothers and about 80 first cousins) and good friends. I look forward to seeing some old friends, especially my fellow Santa Rosa School alums. I hope the next forty are just as enjoyable!

Bobby Guerrero

Oceanside, CA

THE MIND IS A BEAUTIFUL THING

EILEEN (ELLIE) McCONNAUGHY - 2006

Let's see, I've been married for 21 years and have two children, ages 14 and16 (that's right, my kids are in high school!). I am a shrink--a clinical psychologist in private practice. I also enjoy public speaking and acting and I work out at the gym--6 days a week! My kids like to perform. My son, James, plays drums in two rock bands and he was in the high school jazz band and marching band. My daughter, Katie, made her first CD this summer and she also dances and acts. My husband, Ed, is a theoretical physicist and he works as a technical writer and also writes mystery novels.

Now, let's see if I can attach a picture!

Ellie McConnaughy

Norwood, MA

(Ed Note: Ellie passed the technology test and her picture will appear in the Photo Collage)

Pat Maryon Weihe Critchfield

Keeping HOPE Alive

I have so enjoyed all the e-mails and being thrown back to the days of old. What a nostalgic trip it's been. Unfortunately, I will not be able to be at the reunion - I had planned on it but life takes strange turns and now it is not going to be possible. Please give my regards to all. There's always the 50th!! Thought I'd give you a little bio and a recent picture. Here goes - the abridged version.

After leaving Alemany, I went to Valley State for a year and did a short stint in a sorority (this will be significant later!). My parents decided to move to Goleta to be closer to my sister who had just lost her husband to help with her 5 (yes count them!) kids, the youngest being 6 months, so I went along and did my next year of college at UCSB. I then transferred to UCLA to get my BS in nursing. I did a short stint of working in a hospital and decided to go back to grad school at UCLA to get my MN in community mental health. During this time, I reconnected with Ed Calaba (Alemany class of '65) but I was dating another guy who would later be my first husband, so Ed and I parted ways. I married in 1973 and we then moved to Mammoth for a year. When we returned in '74, I finished up grad school and started working as a director of nursing for a home health agency, which I did for most of the rest of my time in CA. I divorced in 1982 - a very significant year for me - divorce, my father died, and I did 2 marathons. I remarried to my current husband in 1998 and we made the decision to move to Boulder in 1990 as we both were longing for a different lifestyle. Once in Boulder, I got a job as director of the home care department at Boulder Community Hospital where I stayed until '93. I then went to work as a geriatric care manager until I got a job in '97 as client services coordinator with Boulder County Aging Services Division where I am today. I supervise a staff doing care management work and also am in charge of our information and assistance program and a grant funded program called Project HOPE. The picture I'm enclosing is of me and a volunteer who works with me to put on an annual fundraiser - Keeping HOPE Alive to support the grant program which provides services to frail older adults to keep them out of nursing homes.

It is very interesting how life takes the turns that is does. My current husband has a distant relative who I met at a family wedding in the summer of 2005. Turns out he was a coach at Alemany after we graduated - his name is Bernie Kyman. He now coaches in Pear Blossom. He and his wife joined us for Thanksgiving last year and we started talking about Alemany. Turns out he is friends with Joe Dispensa's brother. So then I get out my yearbook and he sees Ed's note to me and says he coaches a girl with the same last name. So he goes home and talks to her and she is Ed's niece. So Bernie connects with Ed and then Ed calls me! What a small world. In talking with Ed, I find out he married one of my sorority sisters that I introduced him to when we were at Valley State - (I didn't remember this at all but I believe Ed!) Thus the connection from my first sentence!!

One of my great losses in life is never having been able to have children so I take my maternal instincts out on our dogs. Currently a yellow lab named Lucy. I still run, but not marathons, work out at a gym and am so grateful to live in such a beautiful place as Boulder - we call it 10 square miles surrounded by reality!

I regret not seeing everyone but please send my regards and know that I will be there in spirit.

Pat (Maryon) Weihe Critchfield

Boulder, CO

PAM (LONGWORTH) PELTON & FAMILY

2006

Here is my life story in short for the wonderful occasion of our 40th Alemany High School Reunion.

Many of you know my husband, Jerry, because we dated through high school. We met the summer between freshman and sophomore year when I was on vacation on Balboa Island with Terri Icardo and Paula Carabelli. We married in 1970 while we were both still students at CSUN and we are still together and having fun!

We lived in the Valley until 1992, however, in 1984 we bought a second home in Santa Barbara and began spending our time between both places. Our daughters both graduated from Alemany, Jennifer in 1988 and Vanessa in 1992. Our son, Jeff was born in 1985, and, we moved our home to Santa Barbara fourteen years ago as he started first grade.

I began my teaching career at Alemany as an English and Journalism teacher from 1973-1975. It was quite an interesting experience to become a faculty member with teachers who were there when we were in school. I even taught one of my brothers and his friends their Senior English. They all passed! After that I taught Adult English as a Second Language part time for LAUSD. Since moving to Santa Barbara I have continued to teach part time for UCSB. I design and teach English as a Second Language and Communication classes.

Jerry began his Commercial Real Estate career with Coldwell Banker in the Valley office as an Industrial Broker. After moving he managed the CB Richard Ellis Offices in Ventura and Santa Barbara until two years ago. Now he focuses on developing industrial real estate.

The most important part of life for Jerry and me is our family time and, fortunately, all of our children live nearby and we spend a great deal of time together. Our oldest daughter, Jennifer, graduated from Antioch University and is married to Tom Gibbons and they have a two year old son, Will. Our daughter, Vanessa, graduated from Holy Names College in Oakland and works as a Transcript Analyst at Santa Barbara City College. Our son, Jeff graduated from Bishop Garcia Diego High School and now attends SBCC and works part time as a bartender at Chuck's Endless Summer at the Waterfront. We also get together with the Longworth & Pelton extended families several times each year and that's a big group with my three brothers, three sisters and their spouses and children and grandchildren!

Jerry and I are getting used to our "empty nest" years and traveling more often. We took a trip to Italy in the summer and a fall trip to the Bay Area. We enjoy long walks on the beach, entertaining at home, dancing and dining and, like I said, we're still having lots of fun! We look very forward to seeing so many friends at the reunion and catching up with everyone.

Pam (Longworth) Pelton

Santa Barbara, CA