2002 Summer

CLASS OF '57 HOEDOWN

45th Year Reunion

AUGUST 24, 2002

Corralitos Padres

35 Browns Valley Rd., Corralitos

$45.00 per prson

Social Hour 2-3 pm

Dinner & No Host Bar 4-6 pm

Program & Dancing 6 pm

RAFFLE, Bring lots of money!

Vintage cars & trucks welcomed

please detach & return with check

RSVP by August 10th, 2002

Name

Spouse/Friend

After August 10th-$50.00 per person

Make checks payable to Betty Sue Henry Bjur

Mail to: 190 Bjur Drive

Watsonville, Ca. 95076

Directions to reunion: From Watsonville, take Freedom Blvd. to the 5 Mile

House. Turn right onto Corralitos Rd to the next stop sign ( Corralitos

Market is on the left) turn right onto Browns Valley Rd. Park in front of

Corralitos Padres or use Free Methodist parking lot.

Places to stay in Watsonville area:

Red Roof Inn 768-1968 1620 W. Beach

Motel 6 728-4144 125 Silver Leaf

Best Western 724-3367 740 Freedom Blvd.

Holiday Inn Express 728-3600 1855 Main

Seascape Resort 688-6800 1 Seascape Resort Dr. Aptos

Seacliff Inn 688-7300 7500 Old Dominion Ct. Aptos

Reunion Committee: Adrienne, Betty Sue, Ken Dobler, Kathy Crossno,

Bud Mann, John Higaki, Sally England, Carole Hiatt, Clarice Giberson,

Sylvia Armstrong, Georgeann Cowles, Pat Hewett, Leland Smith, Grant

Wrathall, Colleen Connor,Janet Tindall, Ed Fagalde, Darlene Kerns.

Change of address:

Doris Davis P.O. Box 1100 Gilroy, Ca. 95201 -1100

Charles Wygal 3955 S. Stage Rd. Medford, OR 97501

Carolyn Pettus 35 Bridgegate Way Napa, CA. 94559

Frances Tanimura 133 Martinelli Watsonville, Ca. 95076

A TRIBUTE TO OUR CLASSMATE, RUSS BONNEMA

Russ Bonnema died March 17. Russ served on our 40th & 45th class

reunion committee. He is deeply missed by his friends & family.Many of our

classmates attended his memorial service. Russ was born in Chicago &

came to Watsonville in 1948. He worked for many years as an electrician,

retiring in 1988. Russ was very interested in classic cars & hot rods. After

our 40th reunion, Russ & Colleen Connor started dating & were married a

year later. Russ is also survived by 2 daughters, Pam & Sharon; a step

daughter, Kathy & a step-son, Bill. He was preceded in death by his first

wife Kathleen.

*Check out our website www.geocities.com/higakij/WatsonvilleH.html

John has added a guest book to the site. Sign it & leave a message.

*We already have 100 signed up for the reunion in August. Looks like we

will have a huge turnout.

News:

Bob Rackley send his thanks to the reunion committee & enjoys receiving

the newsletter & hearing about his classmates. He is looking forward to the

reunion. Bob retired from teaching last year after 37 years & coaching at

River City High School in W. Sacramento. He & his wife, Patricia, class of

'59 have been traveling a lot. They celebrated their 40th anniversary in

Hawaii, also the 60th year of the Pearl Harbor bombing anniversary. Bob

has 2 sons & 5 grandchildren. Bob & Patricia are very active in their

grandchildren's lives. He is also doing a little subsitute teaching.

Janice Baird retired in the fall of last year.She is a florist & bakes wedding

cakes. She is still living in Swanton, since 1965, the only house her

husband has ever lived in. Janice enjoys researching her roots & has

traced her family lines to the 1400 in Scotland & England. Janice & Barbara

Beard have traveled to Nova Scotia on this project. Janice is planning on

attending the reunion.

Joan Mathews writes that she has lived in Sacramento since 1959. She &

her husband have 2 children & 5 grandsons. They are both retired now.

They spend time at their cabin near Strawberry. They both enjoy golfing &

being with their grandsons, which range in age from 8 months to college.

One of their grandsons was the quarterback for Elk Grove High School &

won the championship. Jerry & Joan have been married 44 years & love to

travel.

Judy Johnson has retired from teaching & keeps very busy restoring their

home. She occasionally volunteers in the school but does not miss getting

up at 4:30am & traveling 41 miles to school. Judy came to the May class of

1957 luncheon, it was great to see her again.

Doris Davis has remarried & moved to Gilroy. She retired from Civil

Service at the Presidio of Monterey in 2000, after 25 years of working for

the Army. She took a month long trip to Oklahoma & Colorado visiting

relatives. Doris' son David was killed in a motorcycle accident. He was 36

years old. Doris is now running her own business in Gilroy which keeps her

well occupied.

Brenda Maxwell lives in Aptos. After graduation from WHS & 12 years of

marriage, she returned to Cabrillo College, graduated from UCSC &

received her Masters Degree from Arizona State University & worked as an

archaeologist & part time college instructor for several years. In recent

years she has become a writer & published books & articles on California

history. She has 2 sons, a granddaughter & a grandson.

Melvin Jackson, class of '58 died Dec. 12, 2001 of cardiac arrest. He was

a native of San Francisco & attended Cabrillo College, UCSC &

Sacramento State. Melvin is survived by his foster-mother Velma Smith

Mathews.

Marilyn Millers' father, Harold Miller died Jan. 17. He was born in

Woodburn, OR. & had lived in Watsonville for many years. He was a

wholesale meat salesman. Mr. Miller is survived by his wife, Louise; 2

daughters, Marilyn & Barbara; 5 grandchildren & 8 great-grandchildren.

Verna Lipska's mother Agnes Lipska died March 22. She had lived in

Aromas many years & worked in food services. Mrs. Lipska is survived by

her children, Harold, Elsie, Verna & James;21 grandchildren, 46 great

grandchildren & 3 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by

her husband Alfred in 1960 & by 2 of her children.

Janice Blohm's mother Edith Alice Waters Blohm died Feb. 19. Mrs.

Blohm was born in Paia,Maui. After several years, the family moved to

Honolulu where Edith's father worked in the Dole Cannery. The family

moved to Watsonville in 1920. Mrs Blohm started working when she was

14 years old. Her job was to put 2 cherries in each can of fruit cocktail. She

& her husband loved to travel. Mrs. Blohm is survived by her 2 children,

Jan & Jim. She was preceded in death by her husband, Kirby Blohm. Her

lovely spirit will be missed.

David Willey's brother Fred Willey died March 23. He was 58. Fred

graduated from WUHS in 1962. He is a veteran of the U.S. Navy &

attended Cal Poly. He worked for several construction companies. He is

survived by his daughter April, his son Mark & former wife Kathy O'Lague

Smith; 4 brothers, Michel, James, David & Stephen.

John Higaki's father died April 28. A native of Monrovia, CA., Mr. Higaki

moved back to Japan at age 6, returning to CA. in 1927. In 1942 he moved

his family to Delta, CO., to escape the internment camps. After the war,

they settle in Watsonville. Mr. Higaki is survived by his wife, Kazuko; 3

sons, John, Arthur & Robert & 2 grandchildren. He was preceded in death

by 2 sons, Richard & Thomas.

Lillian Yahiro's mother Yukiye Yahiro died May 12. Mrs. Yahiro lived in

Watsonville from the 1950's. She & her husband were strawberry farmers.

Mrs. Yahiro was the loving mother of Connie, David, Lillian, William,

James, Michael & Shiro & the devoted grandmother to 16 grandchilren & 9

great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband James.

*Two of our favorite WHS English teachers died in the month of May. Mrs.

Roark & Miss Tamisiea. They were both in their 90's & taught many years

at WHS.

Don Sauer died May 19. Don was an administrator in our school district for

many years, serving as Dean of Boys at WHS, principal of E.A. Hall &

personnel Director for P.V.U.S.D.

DON GARDINER

Don Gardiner, class of '57 died May 24 after a 2 year battle with cancer. He

was 62. Don was a lifelong resident of Watsonville. He has been a major

developer in Pajaro Valley & partner in Lester, Roach & Gardiner. Don was

very active in utilizing the old hospital, resulting in The Towers, apartments

& PVUSD administration offices. He was a leader on the Action PV

solutions to the water supply problem. He traveled around the world &

returned to Africa many times. He was active in the Aromas Bible-Church.

He is survived by his wife, Deanna; brother Glenn, class of '56 & his

parents David & Violet.

Eldon Roth, a nursery's native son honored...Alladdin Nursery & Florist

was purchased by the Roth family in 1946 & continues to serve our

community today with honesty & integrity. The Boy Scouts honored Eldon

Roth at their 35th annual dinner. Eldon was presented the "Friends of

Scouting" award for his years of volunteer service to the Scouts of our area.

Eldon first started out as a Cub Scout, then onto Boy Scouts. Eldon is an

outstanding example to his peers & a role model to the youth he has had

the privilege & opportunity to serve. Eldon's wife Suzie & his children

Heidie & Jon were present to see Eldon honored. Eldon is recovering from

a stroke he suffered a year ago. He looks great & is doing well.

John Higaki did a little research & found Francis McCombs a former

classmate. Francis joined the Marines & became an officer & retired as a

Captain. He did 2 tours of duty in Vietnam. He lives in Bountiful, Utah.

Every second Monday of each month, several girls of our class meet for

lunch. If you are interested in joining us or happen to be in town visiting,

give Betty Sue a call. We would love to have you.

Four former WHS graduates were inducted to the Hall of Fame. Nancy

Bilicich, 1969 ;Chuck Carter, 1960; John Pengelly, 1978; Cathryn Radin,

1973. Congratulations to this years honorees.

Nancy Bilicich returned to Watsonville after college graduation & served

as principal of WHS. Nancy's mother was our P.E. teach & her father was

the head custodian. Nancy now serves as the assistant superintendent of

P.V.U.S.D.

Chuck Carter has been both a Watsonville police captain & mayor of

Watsonville. He is committed to making Watsnville a great place to live.

John Pengelly is a tireless volunteer for numerous local children's sports

activities in Watsonville. Pengelly founded the Make a Wish summer

classic basketball tournament. He is currently vice president at Food

Service Systems. He also works part time as a sports anchor for the AT&T

Broadband Cable Network.

Cathryn Radin took her experience she gained from WHS & applied it to

community service in the city of Antioch. She served on the Anitoch City

Council & many commissions She is presently the human resource

manager for the Central Contra Costa County Sanitation Dist.

Hope to see you at the reunion

.Any questions, call Betty Sue @ 831-

72267 or email GTObjur@aol.com

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