ACALANES BULLETIN BOARD 

Okay . . . here's the deal.  We thought that this would be a great place for us to communicate among ourselves as we cruise through the Post 50th Reunion Period of our lives.  It will be maintained in chronological order and none of it will ever be erased . . . so it will be kind of an alumni archive of events, a chronicle of things that matter to us  . . . . a sort of diary, if you will.   So, whatever you want to post goes right here (within reason, of course, hahaha)!!  But check out the Mugshots Since the 55th also . . . lots of places, eh?

Pat Bacon and her Uke!

click on the picture to enlarge

7/31/19

Hi Pat . . . glad to see you again!  You haven't changed a bit . . . Look'n Great!

"It's so fun to read and see all the pictures and try to remember what everyone used to look like. Sometimes it's difficult.  I just had a heart attack 100% blockage and they put in a stent so now I'm just fine. I nearly died though. It was March of this year.

I teach three classes of ukulele now so here I am in the picture after the attack with the nitro around my neck Ha!  So as you can see I'm happy and playing 'pickleball' and doing gigs with the ukulele groups.  Life is good."

           Pat Bacon Brothen

Pete Dahlstrand, Champion Cyclist . . . Wow! 

 >> Be sure to click on the racing photos to enlarge << 

7/29/19 

Harry Noller just let me know that on January 18, 2018, Pete Dahlstrand won the Masters 80-84 category at the cyclocross National Championships in Reno, Nevada.  Pete lined up at the back of the Masters 70+ race on That Wednesday, rolled down from The Starting Line, following all "the wheels" (see him at the left).  But he wasn't content to remain at the back of the pack.  He revved up his 80-year-young engine and soon pushed past racers So Hard . . .  he threw up.

But he "soldiered on through", on a course he described as "a good course" with "a lot of stuff that's really difficult, not only physically but skill-wise" also.

Pete's effort was rewarded with the 80-84 Masters National championship.  But finishing first as in the picture below . . . It wasn't his first win!!!  He also took a victory in the 60+ category at the 2000 Cyclocross Nationals in Overland Park, Kansas.

Two National Championship wins, 17 years apart.  What brought him back to the top?  "I had a heart bypass a long time ago and it kind-of took the top off my racing".

He made this year's race partly because it's relatively close being only a three-hour drive from his home in Berkeley 

Click here to see Pete's  interview.  

We all have to keep active in our 80s, so let's follow Pete's example and keep the blood pumping around for a little longer, right!!!

Way to go, Pete

6/18/18

As I drove by Acalanes a couple of weeks ago they were prepping for graduation, caps and gowns etc. It brought back so many bitter sweet memories of our grad day. As I recall it was stinking hot out on the field, a late Sunday afternoon? June 10 or 17? Very mixed emotions about leaving a place I really loved. All my closest friends were heading in different directions. Two of my Canyon buddies were gone the following day, one into the Coast Guard and the other to a job as an apprentice printer for the Walnut Kernel.  Me, college bound where I met so many new friends.  Started out at East Contra College J.C. Then, Chico State, and then post grad at U.C. Berkeley, then a scholarship at California College of Arts and Crafts.  After I began teaching, I spent 16 summers at U.C. taking Comparative Literature courses (film aesthetics).

Canyon School is celebrating its 100th anniversary on July 29. I'll have to check it out.

Vivian and I spent a few days in Chicago at the end of May.  Had my first trip to Wrigley Field to watch the Cubs pound on the Giants.  So much history oozing from that ballpark.  [click the Chicago Elevated Train and Gorilla to enlarge the photos shot from Marlowe's "Real Camera"!]

Our usual summer haunt in July will be our timeshare in Vail at the end of July.  Our 32nd year there.  We're taking a Road Scholar trip through Western Canada in early September, Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, et al. via the Rocky Mountaineer. Haven't been in that area since 1994.

Early October we're heading  to the Baltic Capitals, Vilnius, Riga, Tallin, ending in St. Petersburg.  Rented an Airbnb there for a few days.  Then in January we're going on our first trip to Hawaii, believe it or not. Oahu. Got to keep moving!

I had a great weekend/sale at my old alma mater, Chico, on Mother's day weekend.  It's an annual Art Festival called "ART AT THE MATADOR",  using all the rooms in an old Spanish style motel for the weekend.  My 5th year of participation. Sold 44 images, lots of new Cuban pictures and some quite abstract works, it was very gratifying.

So here are a few iPhone snaps from recent weeks. Our Maine Coon Kitty, Mischa, has fallen in love with my Charger (ordered it from the factory in 1970, 75.000 miles). Also a couple of Noir shots with my real camera that  I took in Chicago.

Passion Pilgrim Gospeleer #1 to Passion Pilgrim Gospeleer #3. "Stay in touch".

Warmest Regards . . . Marlowe Boyd

Two Tales . . . Several "Jays" 

3/30/18 

Here's Jay and Joan Bridges on a cruise from Rome to Venice.  These two have fun "hopping" all of the world.  Remember Machu Picchu, or South Africa !  You're looking good, guys!

I know now why I should have studied more in pre-med. Open heart and two other operations in the last 3 years. Aging has great pleasures and occasional set backs! Note: My business degree has served us well.

The GOOD NEWS is that I'm back to volunteering and fishing. If you follow me on Face book you've seen a couple of St. Paul's Episcopal Church events. As a member of the Vestry, elected for the second time, I'm very active with the church.

However, fishing and travel are a great pastime. Four countries in Africa and fishing three years ago, Australia and New Zealand and fishing last year, Pyramid Lake in Nevada last week, (March),also local trips with Payson Fly Casters, Desert Fly Casters, White Mountains Lakes Foundation, and Trout Unlimited. As a member FFI, Fly Fishing International, I also teach local Fly Fishing 101. This year Diane and I will float for the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho for five days....more fishing and hiking.

Son Jay is the GM at the Sausalito Yacht Club for your sail people, stop in to say hello. Daughter Pam has two in college and one graduate in John's Creek GA.

Life is good! We are fortunate to live in Payson Arizona at 5000 feet in the middle of three million acres of National Forest. If anyone is out/up this way call for a visit and good food. Room for a small crowd if we need to expand sleeping accommodations . . . Love to All, Gary Jay Bedsworth, '57

3/29/18

This is "breaking news" . . . Judie Miner Hockel is, a Great Grandmother!  Who would have believed so much time has passed to permit such an event?

Here's what Judie said . . .

"Jack and I with our first great-grandchild, Genevieve, born at John Muir hospital; the second, Lily, was born three days later in Tallahassee. Now the family can discard “Grandma” and call me “GG”!  By the way, Judie and Jack have 26 grandchildren.  

1/9/16

Would you believe that here's Larry ("Cork") Peterson Hiking to the Annapurna Sanctuary in the Himalayas, Nepal to 16,000 feet elevation plus.  Who would'a thunk it when we were all in Lafayette Grammar School, way back when!

9/25/14

The happy wanderers being the Petruccis and Macauleys traveled to Portland, OR.  Guess they were looking for a cruise, eh?  Hi Sally and Sally and Ernie and Pat!

9/8/14

Here's a shot of the Shoptaugh's on their 55th Wedding Anniversary, celebrating at Trader Vic's.  Let's see . . . I've been married nearly as long, but not to the same person!  Anyway, Congratulations Pat and Phil.  Left to right we have:  Daughter Sonia, Pat, Phil & Ava in the forground.

7/24/14

Judy Sinclair Morton is leading the way to healthy golden years.  She's winning competitive swimming races . . . WOW!  What a great example for all of us.  Read about it in this recent Rossmoor News article!!

Steve Platt Just got back from a trip to Florida, New York City, and the New Jersey shore visiting friends and son, Eric, in NYC (he and Robin had four boys!)  He'll see Jay & Joan Bridges at Tahoe in a couple of weeks, and then "do" Minneapolis, Chicago, and maybe the Jersey shore again in August.  Here's Steve, the "happy traveler", ready for a martini while consulting with his butler, Harland.  He looks mighty spiffy and in good shape these days.  Steve recalls that he and Robin, shown here wearing her cap and gown, had their first date on graduation day.  Remember "Commencement Sixteen" . . . that day at Acalanes on June 17, 1956?

Here's Keith Takahashi on one of his "World Adventures" . . . This one was last month's backpacking trip INTO the Grand Canyon.  Grandson , Aiden (shown here), daughter, son-in-law and Keith camped two nights at Indian Gardens Campground. They wore "crampons" during the first 1 1/2 miles because there was ice and snow on the trail. It was Keith's first time to the bottom of the canyon.  Now, look below to put things into perspective!

Here is Harry Noller with his entry in the "Our Cars" section:  Exhibiting his car (1966 Ferrari 330GT 4-litre V12) at the Concorso Italiano in Monterey last summer.  Hey  . . . does this car really have "12 squirrels" under the hood?  Nice car!!  Well . . . probably . . . anyway Harry, you've come a long way since the old MG TD and Triumph motorcycle days, eh?  I remember riding on the back of that thing to Lake Temescal for a little tennis once.  

Okay so here is the one, the only, Pete Villa, or should we say "Captain Pete Villa".  Note that he was only a sergeant in his Committee picture on the home page.  He must have gotten a promotion, eh!  Well this is before we knew him, which began in his Sophomore Year at Acalanes.  

Keith Takahashi, "World Traveler", has been at it again.  He and his family recently spent Easter week in Flagstaff.  Here's Grandpa, Keith, with grandson, Aiden, at Meteor Crater, Arizona.

And here we have grand daughter, Miss Lauren Olivia Crawford (6 mo), . . . and Grandma Sandy Planz Fortini with Mother, Allison (attended our 50th), in the background going for the "brownies".  Lauren had just been Christened at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco and here, all is well with full tummies and plenty of attention. The facial expressions are the proof!

Okay, here's my grandchildren contribution on Easter in Lafayette!  Left to right we have the twins, Josette and Jeaneva Cocotis.  And then Micaela, Timothy and Reid Arbogast.  Of course, Fred Arbogast (that's me), gets in there twice.

"Here you go", Fred.  It's Pat Monosmith Shoptaugh, Sonya (daughter), granddaughter Ava & Phil Shoptaugh, taken by Phil holding the camera at arm's length, on Valentine's Day in New York City . . . one great picture!!!

Larry Tessler & Carol went to Spain & Portugal in May 2008.  Here we see them with their friends, Rosemary and Ellie enjoying a cup of hot chocolate in the town of Obidos, Portugal.

Harry Noller and Laura Lancaster on their honeymoon during September of 2008 in France.  Here they are having a wonderful dinner at L'Oiseau des Vignes, in Beaune, the capital of Burgundy.  "Things are a little blurry, Harry".  Is that your 2nd bottle of chardonnay?

Here, we have Harry "hobnobbing" with his buddy . . . well at least a statue of Charlemagne in the vineyards of Corton-Charlemagne.  According to Harry, they produce "the mother of all grand cru chardonnays".  I think I need some wine lessons . . . maybe French cuisine too.  Best we've done is Flur de Lys in S.F. . . . hahaha

Okay folks . . . here's your old wine maker, Gary Gorman, at it again!  I suppose that he's a wine taster also.  Looks like his "designer" tee shirt has really been through it.  I wonder who's palm print is on it?  Could it have been Dave Heltman's?  Well, time will tell.  Anyway, Gary, good show!  Maybe your "exposure" here will inspire others from our illustrious class to make the same sacrifice that you have made here.  We wait for other brave individuals to make "first contact" . . . or second or third . . .   

7/24/08

  Folks -  Here are some images from our Polynesian trip.  We're glad that we took the trip when we did.  There were no traffic lights, neon signs, fast food outlets, internet cafes or multi-story buildings.  All pretty picturesque and very "third world".  

Here I am standing near the Le Meridien Hotel in Bora Bora (we had an over-the-water bungalow).  Bora Bora's water is unbelievably radiant because the sunlight penetrates the clear water and bounces back off the pristine white coral sand on the bottom of the bay.

The left picture (tikis in the foreground) is near the landing in Ua Huka (Marquesa Islands) with our freighter, Aranui 3, in the background.  On the right is a typical island scene.  The freighter was state-of-the-art, but the crew was very Polynesian. Once underway, crew members dropped handlines into the water to catch fish.  Most of them were very good musicians and dancers and provided entertainment at night.  

We soon "set sail" and returned to Papeete, Tahiti in the Society Islands. We journeyed to the Tuamotu ("Dangerous Islands" on some navigation charts) and Marquesas. 

The islanders were incredibly hospitable, although a little more than a century ago they were cannibals.  This has to do with the old religion of Polynesia that a portion of honored enemies' flesh was ritually consumed to perpetuate their "mana" life force.  The Polynesians are now very devout Christians.  Everything comes to a virtual standstill on Sundays and everyone attends church in all their finery. 

The world would be a much better place if nations were more like the kind and hospitable Polynesians. -  Keith Takahashi

2/25/08

Gail Hanson Ruff is continuing a wonderful tradition each season as she appeared again on December 8, 2007 in "The Nutcracker".  

Here you can see a "sugarplum fairy" and "Cavalier" up on the set, a festive elephant, the famous nutcracker, the Hagopian Brothers who dance parts as "Russians".  This is the tenth year they have performed in "The Nutcracker" with this ballet company. They are real professional Russian dancers from LA.  

"Grandma" Gail and "Grandpa" Vern are shown on stage.  She is at the top of this collage, overseeing the whole event.  Gail says, "it was such a special opportunity for our company of 90 strong to be at a venue like the Grand Sierra in Reno...a great feeling, indeed!"

Yo Fred & Sandy . . . Happy Thanksgiving to you, too!  Attached is a photo that could be titled "What I did on my winter vacation". It's from February in Rio, at a jazz club in Ipanema listening to some bossa nova, with Laura (left) and our Brasileira friend Ana (right), biophysicist and bossa nova singer, table littered with spent Caipirinhas. Life is good.   Looking forward to seeing you guys in person sometime.  Best, - Harry Noller                           (Harry . . . you look more like Sean Connery . . . every day. . . great vacation, eh? - Fred)

I missed the Halloween invitation for photos in costume. What I do have is my husband, John, and I on a hiking trip in our Sutter Buttes last Spring. And those aren't masks; aging can do scary things.  This is a very belated acknowledgment to all old friends at the reunion that I am very sorry I wasn't there to see you.  Unfortunately, two days before that our daughter lost her long battle with breast cancer. The end was surprisingly fast, but quite peaceful, for which we are very grateful. Now we are moving on, appreciating all that we do have: family (especially two wonderful grandsons) and friends and the ability to garden, hike, bike and to travel all over the world.  Greetings to everyone. You'd probably be surprised to know that I do look at my Aklan every once in a while and really can remember you! . . . Diane Bregar Vafis

Kauai is beautiful. My daughter, son in law, grandson and I spent a relaxed week in the Hanalei beach house late last month.  We saw and did the usual things: hiked the Na Pali coast, luxuriated in the huge Queen's Bath tide pool near Princeville, sweltered with the locals at Hamura's saimin, enjoyed tropical smoothies at Banana Joe's and shave ice at Wishing Well. A curious Monk Seal beached himself next to us at Secret Beach much to the delight of my 6-year-old grandson, Aiden. I even wore my Bubba hamburger T-shirt which entitles the wearer to a free beverage (two more visits and the shirt will be paid for).  Visited the Big Island and managed to reserve a very nice time-share in the "quiet" part of Waikiki near Kapiolani Park.  .That's probably my last trip to Hawaii for a while.  We've booked passage on a freighter that will leave from Tahiti to the outer reaches of the Marquesa Islands. How can you get more Polynesian than that?. . . Happy Holidays . . . Keith Takahashi

11/13/07

Upper left - Here's the way to do it! . . . "this is a picture of a guy who rarely drinks.   However, the beer was great!!!!!!"  Well, everyone's having a great time on the Macauleys' and Calestinis' trip to the Orient.  Upper right, Dave and Loretta are complying with the speed limit somewhere.  Then, lower left a little sight seeing is fun while in Singapore.   On the lower right, Pat says, "the six of us having "Noodle" in Bangkok.  Dave, Loretta Calestini, the ones on the left are Sylvia and Bill Wolin, good friends of Pat and Sally Macauley, and now good friends with Loretta and Dave."  Great pictures guys!!!!!!!

Okay . . . as long as we're doing this . . . "Beijing China . . . . now Tom Horner can be happy . . . . . . . . we sent you some pictures!!!"

11/2/07

Here's Tom and Kathleen Hannan on a 2007 Halloween hayride . . . Tom in a dinner jacket??? and Kathleen in a wig . . . I bet the punch was okay!  We all wish you two the best!!!

10/31/07

Now here's a couple of people that we know real well!!!  It's Phil Shoptaugh ("the Hong Kong Kid") and Pat Monosmith Shoptaugh last year while enjoying a trip to Bodega Bay.  "Sam" and I can attest to their great hot tub . . . and view of Oakland.  

10/31/07

WOW . . . Now here's a family to be real proud of!!!  We all had a chance to meet and chat with Tom and Jackie Horner at the Reunion.  Here they are with two of their sons, Air Force Lt. Colonel Todd Horner (a Major in the picture) and Mark Horner, Air Force Major at their youngest son's (Scott Horner) wedding this Summer.  Tom . . . you've come a long way from Moraga Road . . . right?  Thanks for the update.

Here's Tom and Jackie Horner just getting off of a cruise ship at Grand Turk Island Fall of 2007

Here's the "Palm Desert Gang" - Top Picture is Irene Mortara Bonelli, Ernie Petrucci, Sally Macauley, and Virginia Halstenrud.  Bottom Picture has Sally Petrucci, Pat, Gerry Halstenrud, Irene and Ernie.  The picture was taken by Sue Panella Steele in February 2007.

We made a discovery . . . . more than that . . . we realized that one of the "Sweetheart Couples" were not acknowledged during our Saturday night celebration at the Marriott in Walnut Creek.  The Reunion Committee apologizes profusely for this faux pas and hope that Bill and Linda Alves Link, '58, will forgive us and the flowers that "Tush" sent will be enjoyed by the Links.  Here they are at their Reunion table.  We wish you the best!

Today Joyce and "Mikie" Bonner received their 1 complimentary copy of "The Sinclair Solution".  I hear Mike is going to take it to bed with him.........

Gary Phelan, Diane Barrows Phelan, Robin Mark Platt and Steve Platt, dining in Las Vegas.  Our Acalanes "Field Office" in Las Vegas!