1997 January

Dear Classmates,

Happy 1997!!!!!!!! Forty years ago, we were beginning our final semester at WHS

My, how time does fly.

To date, we have received 124 reservations for our reunion in August. We are very

pleased that so many of you have sent your reservations in so early. We have exactly

156 places left. Don't miss out on this 40th event. If you have lost your reservation

paper just let me know.

A special thanks to Pat Blair, Don Buekers, Ken Dobler, Rene Dyer, Clarice

Giberson, Ed & Adrienne Fagalde, Eldon Roth, Jerry Baker and Grant Wrathall for

sponsoring our faculty members to our reunion. It is greatly appreciated.

A little news:

Ida Fuller, long time librarian at WHS died Aug 8th at a local convalescent hospital

after a long illness. She was 93.

Margaret Pimentel phoned and is looking for a 1955 WHS yearbook. If, you have an

extra one or know of someone who does, please let her know. She lives at 8065

Maybelline Way, Sacramento, Ca. 95823

Rachel Zuniga writes from their home in Napa, Ca. She and her husband Wayne

Friesel have been married 37 years. They have two lovely daughters and four

wonderful grandchildren (sounds like a grandmother). They are very blessed and give

God all the credit. Wayne and Rachel work together as Business Consultants for 15

years, and over-see properties in California & Oregon, so they do extensive traveling.

Their hobbies are flying, camping, hiking and boating. They have a motor yacht and

just recently vacationed on the Sacramento Delta.

Helen Fowle welcomed their third grandchild in April, Tanner Wright. Helen reports

that he is a cute little squirt, looks like Calvin ) Calvin & Hobbs fame. He's a keeper.

Their project this year for their yard is a greehouse with a Japanese teahouse look. It is

located where Helen can see it out her office window-luring her to come out and play.

She and David spent a long weekend in Carson City at the annual Euro/Brit

Motorcycle Show and Swap meet and vintage motocross. They have a garage full of

these darlings in various stages of restoration. They also enjoyed the fly-in at the

Nevada County Airpark, cruise night in Auburn and Squaw Valley for a vintage

Japanese motorcycle show.

Pat Hewett's middle son, Jeffrey is a fighter pilot in the Air Force. He recently was

stationed for three months in Saudi Arabia, where the bombing took place in Daharan.

He was not injured, but only had a few cuts, as he was exercising and was not near

the building that was affected. Needless to say, Pat was very relieved when her

daughter-in-law called the next morning,and said that he was alright.

Aran Aradiz called from Hawaii where in'lives part-time. He plans to attend our

reunion.

Many of you commented on Carol Tarkington's Class Reunion poem. Thanks, Carol

for sending it in, even tho I had to put on my glasses to read it...Oh, well....

Over the last 40 years Roy and Carol (Phelps) Large have worked hard and played

some. Ten years ago they started their own metal fabrication business in Watsonville.

About 98% of the time their feel confident they made the right decision. They

purchased a building and property this passed year which gives them a feeling of

permanence. They have four wonderful children, three who are involved in their

business. Their oldest daughter lives in Ashland, Oregon. They have three adorable

grandchildren. Carol's pet peeve is being offered a senior discount. She just hates it

when those young "whipper snappers" offer her a a discount.

Jeannine Hubbard retired this year from teaching. She taught 5th grade at Hall

School for many years after transferring there from Mar Vista School in Aptos.

Betty Henry's son Greg is the offensive coach for Watsonville Wildcatz football team.

Betty and Allen are once again grandparents, nine is just fine. Number eight was born

December 27 to their son Greg and was named Gregory Allen Bjur, Jr. Then again on

Jan 6, we welcomed our new granddaughter, #9, Elizabeth Grace Barrick. Daughter

Kerri, mother of Elizabeth is doing well.

Jerry Baker retired from Redwood City School Dist. He was a principal.

Evonne Baldwin writes that she married her childhood sweetheart, Don Sebring. They

met in first grade and have been married 38 years. They moved from Watsonville 15

years ago. Don built their home in Burney Ca. They live in the mountains, and love it.

They have 12 grandchildren and the oldest started High School this year'. Don is an

owner operator "truck" and Evonne often wires with him. They love gardening and

having their grandchildren with them for the summer.

Our newest bride is Carolyn Pettus. Carolyn and Larry Haws were married Nov. 8th in

Carmel at the Highlands Inn. They are making their home in St. Helena. Carolyn owns

an Interior Decorator business and works for Prudential Real Estate Company.

Betsy Wong's mother died this past summer.

I received word from Gary Costa that Don Bacher died Sept. 28th.

Jules Maderos' mother died after a long illness. Jules and his wife Grace live in

Georgia.

Russ Bonnema's wife Sharon died In November from a brain tumor. She was a WHS

graduate.

Lonnie Dugger's younger brother Dann^ died Nov. 8.

Mae Lord, our former teacher at Watsonville High School died on Sept. 27. She was

96. A native of California, Miss Lord came to Watsonville in 1923 and taught school

until she retired in 1961. She graduated from UC Berkeley in 1922. She was a

member of American Auxiliary of University Women, American Civil Liberties Union

and Unitarian Universal Fellowship. She was an honorary member of the YWCA. She

leaves one nephew.

Bob Fenner went to Berkeley after graduating from WHS and got a BS in Engineering

Physics. He played in the Cal Band and went to Brussels World Fair, played in the

1959 Rose Bowl parade and game, shot on the Cal rifle team and won a couple

national championships and met his wife, Gail, there. After Cal, he went to the

University of Illinois for 7 years where he earned a PhD in Physics. Their two

daughters were born there. They moved to LA in 1969 where he had a two year post

doctoral position at USC. He promised his wife they would only be there for two years,

something she reminds Bob about not infrequently.Their son Michael was born in

1970. Bob joined the Aerospace Corp. in 1972. Aerospace is a not-for-profit company

that does systems engineering for the Air Force's satellite programs. He started out

doing ultrasonic imaging-the same stuff that is now done routinely in obstetrics and

cardiology. Their research didn't lead to any products but he knew many of the people

who developed the scanners now in use. He shifted to microwave engineering after

that and worked on satellite communications systems. In 1981, he was promoted to

head the company's Lasers and Optics Dept. They built and tested lasers and worked

with theAir Force and their contactors on a lot of interesting projects. His pet

application was using lasers for communications between satellites-something

they've been close to a number of times but haven't yet pulled off. He resigned his

management job a couple of years ago to devote full time to laser communications. He

started target shooting again and that is his principal avocation since his kids are no

longer doing soccer or baseball. He is the president of a small gun club and he runs

most of the matches. He also teaches marksmanship and has been the Captain of the

California State Junior Service Rifle Team the last 10 years. That title means he takes

a team of juniors back to the nationals at Camp Perry, Ohio every year. Since his kids

have grown up, his wife Gail has become a picture framer and has her own shop in

Manhattan Beach. Their daughters are both married and have moved out of LA. His

son is still in college and is also not in LA. Retirement is still a bit away. He expects that

he will finally have to keep his promise to his wife and move out of LA.

Thanks once again to Rene Dyer for her work on the map, motel addresses, etc. She

has been a vital part of our reunion committee.

Our next reunion meeting is set for Jan. 18 at Rene Dyer's home in Santa Cruz at

1:00. If you would like to attend and help us plan the program please come. You can

call me for directions, 408-7222267.

We really appreciate hearing from you. please drop a line and let us know what is

going on in your life.

Betty Sue Henry Bjur

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