VENICE HIGH SCHOOL - CLASS OF 1953 - NEWS LETTER - APRIL 2005
Authored by Sharon (Massey) Goodner
It’s that time again! This year we are having a mini reunion at
Mike Peak’s house.
In 1999 when we had a party there and nearly 80 people showed up
and it was a great time. I mentioned this in last year’s
Newsletter, but just in case you forgot it will be Saturday,
May 21st, 12 noon until (?).
I am enclosing directions (below) – it’s easy to find. He will
have his jazz band there like before, and will use the people
that do the catering for his jazz band parties. The price will be
$10.00 per person. Toni (Wilson) Carlton is collecting the money.
Please send it to her by May 10th.
--- Her address is 3106 Hillcrest Avenue, Orange, CA 92867,
(714) 637-6065. E-Mail: tonijc@aol.com.
Mike says “you can always pay at the door – just let us know. If
the money is a problem – come anyway.” Mike was one of the 2004 VHS
Honorees. They had a dinner in November at Petrelli’s restaurant
for the three honorees. This was also an honor for our class I
think, having Mike as our classmate and school president.
Our Old Broad’s Lunch will be in Big Bear this year at Barbara
Green’s house on Saturday, September 10th. It should fun, as it
always is. Barbara owns the Wishing Well Motel for anyone that
wants to stay longer; (909) 866-3505, E-Mail; bkoza@earthlink.net.
For those of you that haven’t attended before, let me know.
We will send out directions and other info the first part of August.
People are on the move.
Jack Barber had moved from Montana to Big Bear Lake, but after
nine months he said he just couldn’t handle the over population.
There are more people living in the Victorville Desert area than
the whole state of Montana, so he sold his new home and moved back.
--- His E-Mail is jackb1935@msn.com.
Jack and Jerry Rettela got together before Jerry made his move
to Port Angeles, Washington. This is just nine miles from the
Canadian border. They designed a triple wide manufactured home
and had it shipped from Oregon. He said the people in the
“New Comer’s Club” are 90% from California. He just loves it there.
--- Jerry’s E-Mail is aletter@earthlink.net.
Bonnie Meeker showed us a picture of her big new home in
Prescott, AZ. She’s all moved in now, which was quite a move
after living in her home in Simi Valley for decades.
--- Her E-Mail is jmarshl8304@msn.com.
Karin Heiss has moved from Hyland, CA to Temecula, CA to be closer
to her kids. I think she will be attending Mike’s party. I have
talked to her a few times, but haven’t seen her for 52 years,
so we are looking forward to it.
Carleen Fraley has moved to Washington, MO. She has survived a
heart attack. She says with a good doctor, the right medicine and
will nothing will stop her. Her only son passed away 4 years ago
in France so she is still trying to get over that.
--- Her E-Mail is cmcgon@fidnet.com.
Marion Fulmer has moved back to Washington from Florida. Her
husband, Sam, is terminally ill with Lou Gehrig ’s disease. They
moved to be closer to her family. She says she will miss the
southern weather (but not the hurricanes).
--- Her E-Mail address is mmsnedaker@charter.net.
Jim Dombrowski had to also ride out the Florida hurricanes –
no hotel would take them with their four greyhounds.
--- His E-Mail address is dskisue@aol.com.
Joanne Boston has moved to Simi Valley, she was in Santa Maria.
Hope we can get her to join the “Old Broads”.
Joan Ritchie is now in Florence, Oregon. She was in
Klamath Falls, OR.
--- Her E-Mail is joanbill@msn.com.
Victor Salcido has moved to Sunnyvale, CA, also to be near
family.
--- His E-Mail is thebeep@earthlink.net.
Ron Reed, our Web Master, has made a big move after 31 years
in New Jersey. He has moved closer to their son in Olive Branch,
Mississippi, but says he finally got rid of the snow shovel.
--- His E-Mail is ronreed@passco.com.
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I told you in the last Newsletter that Robin Allen got married
in July of 2003, they have 15 kids between them (she has four).
Well she told me they have 52 grandchildren. I bet “Hallmark”
loves them. Robin and her husband Norm are on a two year mission
for the LDS Church. They arrived in January to the island of
Kiritimati (Christmas Islands). She sent a great E-Mail describing
her “favorite place” where she goes in the evening and sits and
watches the fishermen returning in their canoes. She would love
to hear from you.
--- Her E-Mail is robinsorensen@mac.com.
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There was an article in the Orange County Register with a picture
of Don Gibas. He has been into “bartering” for years, using his
golf products. It said he has bartered from dog grooming, painting,
plumbing and even dental work. I know he enjoys this exchange and
they have a big Expo every year. I don’t think Don will ever retire.
--- His E-Mail address is info@gibasgolf.com. .
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Last year Barbara Kent was cleaning out her frig, as they were
about to deliver a new one, when she felt a tightness in her chest –
thought she better slow down. Her daughter who lived 20 minutes
away told her to call 911. Well she did and they did a 5 way bypass
(90% blockage) that evening. I just talked to her; she feels great
and has so much energy she has to tell herself to take it easy.
Anyway she’s off to Houston to visit her son.
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I also spoke with Leland Deyoe the other day. He is still in Las
Vegas. We are hoping he will join us at one of our get-togethers.
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Bill “Pete” Shelton calls every now and then. He is still in
Arkansas. He lost his wife Millie not long ago. I’ve tried to talk
him into coming back to California but he’s planted firmly. He loves
to talk to classmates. His phone is (501) 643-3558, which is also
his FAX number. Give him a jingle.
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Tom Blair called. He has been working stateside on and off working
with heavy equipment at harbors and beaches. Someone told him he was
to old. You can imagine how that went over with the “union guy” –
he told me age discrimination.
--- His E-Mail address is blairbac@ilhawaii.net.
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I have been sitting on my butt for the last 5 years finding people.
I really do enjoy this, but it puts on the pounds. While working on
the ’55 and ’56 classes I found two more of our Missing through their
younger sisters.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Diane Ware is in Utah and Maxine Fell is in San Diego. I haven’t
talked to them yet, but I have addresses and phone numbers.
Karin Heiss was going to get in touch with Diane Ware.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The VHS Alumni dance will be May 7th at the Hacienda Hotel along
with the ’55 class 50th reunion.
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We have lost three more of our classmates.
Louise (Bensen) Roehrman passed away of a heart attack November 15,
2003. She had lived in Chatsworth, CA and kept in contact with
Betty Stanton. Louise was in the winter class listed as Roehrman.
Jewell Gramig passed away September 4, 2004 of Leukemia. She and
Orma Freeman kept in touch. Jewell lived in La Palma, CA. She called
every now and then. I enjoyed talking to her. I had a note to call
her about her brother Harry ’56. But it was too late – you just
shouldn’t put things like that off I guess.
I did notify a lot of you about Allen Lucian passing away
September 3, 2004. This just broke my heart. Allen and I didn’t
really know each other that well in school although we became close
over the last 11 years. He came to my house and spent the day and
would call every so often. Allen went to the 45th reunion but almost
didn’t go to the 50th. With a little prodding from Dick Bradley
and myself, and telling him his “high school crush”, Betty Rickert
would be there – he changed his mind. Allen had lung and liver cancer
– was given 6 weeks to live which he beat by three days. I got and
E-Mail from his daughter Julie. She said they went to Laughlin, NV
and he won for a change, and kept telling her how he had enjoyed the
reunion. She said he passed away on the 3rd, his favorite number,
which was also his basketball uniform number. I just ran across a
letter from Allen written a year before he died saying “I went to
the doctor, first time since 1997, a slight case of food poisoning,
the doctor gave me a clean bill of health – was glad to hear that .”
It makes you wonder.
All of these people will be missed greatly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~
“May you have enough happiness to make you sweet,
Enough trials to make you strong,
Enough sorrow to keep you human and
Enough hope to make you happy.”
Hope to see you all at our parties this year –
till then – take care, - Sharon
~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~
Sharon (Massey) Goodner
(714) 897-5653
E-Mail: SharonVHS53@SOCAL.RR.COM
Toni (Wilson) Carlton
(714) 637-6065
E-Mail: tonijc@aol.com
Barbara (Green) Koza
(909) 584-2253
E-Mail: bkoza@earthlink.net
Mike Peak
(949) 425-9192
E-Mail: mikepeak@cox.net
~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~
The Peak Residence
25522 Nellie Gail Road
Laguna Hills, CA 92653-6122
(949 425-9192 Fax: (949) 425-9156
(A Working Mapquest Map)
DIRECTIONS FROM NORTH
----------------------------
(1) South on 405/I-5 into South Orange County.
Right on La Paz Road, approx. one mile.
Left on Gallup Circle to top of hill.
Right on Nellie Gail Road.
First house on left across from park.
(2) South on 405.
Right/South on 73 (approx. $5.00 toll) in Costa Mesa.
Left On La Paz Road, approx two miles.
Right on Gallup Circle to top of hill.
Right on Nellie Gail Road.
First house on left across from park.
DIRECTION FROM SOUTH
---------------------------
(1) North/West on I-5.
Left on Oso Parkway.
Right on Cabot Road.
Left onNellieGail Road to top of hill.
House on left across from park.
(2) North on I-5.
Left on 73 (approx. $5.00 toll) in San Juan Capistrano.
Right on La Paz Road, approx. two miles.
Right on Gallup Circle to top of hill.
Right on Nellie Gail Road.
First house on left across from park.
DIRECTION FROM EAST
--------------------------
(1) West on 91 into Orange County.
Left/South; on 55.
Left/Southeast on I-5.
Right on La Paz Road, approx. one mile.
Left on Gallup Circle to top of hill.
Right on Nellie Gail Road.
First house on left across from park.
(2) West on 91 into Orange County.
Left/Southeast on 241 (approx $5.00 toll).
Right/South on 133 (approx. $3.00 toll).
Left/Southeast on I-5.
Right on Las Paz Road, approx. one mile.
Left on Gallup Circle to top of hill.
Right on Nellie Gail Road.
First house on left across from park.
(If you find errors in his Newsletter's transcription
then please E-mail Ron Reed , ronreed@passco.com)