2008 Winter

Class of '57 NEWSLETTER December 2008

Merry Christmas to all!! Yes, it is that time of year again. Hope you are all

well & enjoying each day. I know, the economy is depressing but there is

still hope ahead as a new year is just around the corner. Wishing you all

the very best as we begin 2009, the year most of us get to celebrate the

Big 70!

Joan Mathews writes that her grandson Jeff graduated from UC Santa

Barbara with a degree in Psychology. He was commissioned as a 2nd

lieutenant in the Army thru ROTC. He will go to officers school in Feb. &

will be stationed in Hawaii. Joan & her husband moved after 40 years in

their home to Del Webb community.

Jules Maderos & his wife celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary in

St. Louis, MO., where they were married at the Basilica in 1963. They also

had a family reunion there.

Betsy Wong annouces the birth of her grandson June 30. His mom &

dad are Diana & Mark Gill & his big sister Megan is 3 years old. Tyler

Albert was named after his Grandpa Al, Betsy's husband.

Georgeanne Cowles will be president of our Watsonville Rotary in

2009. She will attend the International Convention in England. Georgeann

spends her Wednesday mornings with fellow Rotarlans at the EA. Hall

School library ready with students. It is now in its fifth year, a volunteer

reading program connects the students with Rotarlans. It is making a world

of difference in our local education.

THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY CLUB

JULES MADEROS & WIFE, GRACE

JANET TINDALL & HUSBAND, BOB

HELEN FOWLE & HUSBAND, DAVE

RALPH SHUGART & WIFE LEE

Nancy Wynne's daughter Julie successfully defended her dissertation &

is now officially Dr. Julie Van Galder-Severns. It has been a grueling few

years with course work, writing & working full time at a very demanding

job. Of course, she gets a big pay raise....hang onto your hats...a great big

$200 a year increase. I wonder if she is in the education field??? I wonder.

Louis & Louise Bilicich celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with

a large crowd at the Corralitos Padres Hall. Their son Luke & daughter

Nancy & 2 grandchildren were also there.

Evonne Baldwin's husband, Don Sebring died June 20 after a

courageous battle with bone cancer. He was 69. Don was born in

Watsonville. He served in the US. Navy from 1955-59. He attended "Little

Country Church" in Redding. Don is survived by his wife of 50 years,

Evonne; children Denise, Sheri, Brad & Cliff; sister, Lou; 13 grandchildren

& 3 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his brothers,

Wayne & Dean & sister, Louise.

Watsonville strawberries made there way to China for the Olympics. This

was the first export of strawberries from the USA to the communist

mainland China. A big thanks to all the Chinese Olympic team who listed

strawberries as one of their favorite fruits. We have been trying to get US

grown strawberries there for years. We sent our picture-perfect berries for

the debut export.

The old post office & library in Watsonville is now Cabrillo College

extension. Many changes on Union St. A new Industrial Technology

Education Center will be part of the Watsonville Center campus. The

Watsonville post office & library are on Main St. next door to each other. I

think they took the place of Busy Bee Bar. Sort of improving the

neighborhood.

IN MEMORY

EFFIE PRTICHARD, LAYTON CLARK, PAT STARBIRD

EFFIE "DEE" PRITCHARD GANDY of Fairfield died Aug. 9th. Effie was a

loving daughter & mother, beloved sister & a cherished "Yia Yu' by her

grandchildren. Effie was a southern girl born in Rayville, Louisiana. She

had many careers, manager of Fox Theatre, Meter Maid, Harrah's club in

Reno, the California Dept. of Corrections. Effie is survived by her mother,

Margaret, sisters Nancy & Dorothy, brothers Bobo & George, her sons

Rodney & Michael & her daughter Cricket & 5 grandchildren.

Layton Clark died Oct. 13 in Roseburg, Oregon after a 17 years battle

with cancer. He was 69. Layton was born in Watsonville & starred on the

football team. After graduation, he joined the Navy, where he became an

electrician. He was also a commercial fisherman. Layton & his second

wife, Cathie, moved to Oregon to live & fish the rivers & ocean that he

loved. Layton was preceded in death by his wife, Cathie, in January. He is

survivied by his son Brett & daughter Marcie, his father, Kenneth; brother

Norman & sister Janis & 4 grandchildren & one great-grandchild.

Patricia Starbird Atkins died Nov 13 at her home. Pat was born in

Powell, WY. & moved to Watsonville in 1950. She volunteered with the

Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, 4H, PTA & Little League. She loved traveling &

spending time with her family. Pat was known as a loving & giving person

who fought hard to overcome many obstacles In her battle with cancer.

Pat is survived by her husband Loren of 50 years, mother, Leona Starbird;

daughter Tamara, son, Shawn; four grandchildren; brothers, Chuck & Rod

& sister Barbara. She was preceded in death by her brother Donald and

son Kevin. A HEARTFELT THANKS TO THE CLASS OF "57

LOREN ATKINS writes: Pat was so proud of being a member of the class

of '57. AH thou she was only 16 when she graduated, I was lucky enough

to meet her 2 months later & we were married 5 months later. She was as

our niece said, "a good woman". Pat fought hard & died very peacefully

with no pain. The very best to the class of '57.

Many packed into our local Crossroads Book Store for reading & book

signings by Kathy Crossno Mann local author of her children's book,

The Almond Heist. It chronicles family events surrounding her grandaugher

Jane's birth. The story involves homemade biscotti & the mystery of

missing almonds. Also attending were Kathy's husband Bud &

grandaughter Jane. Helen Fowle did the art work for the book.

Janet Tindall Mattos & her husband Bob celebrated their 50th wedding

anniversary with family & an airplane ride down the coast with their

grandson Jason as co-pilot. They were married in Taipei, Taiwan while

Bob was in the service. Bob & Janet met during Janet's senior year. They

have two sons, Doug & Brian & four grandchildren. They are active in the

Corralitos Church. They enjoy RVing & traveling to Maui & cruising. Janet

worked as a floral designer & owned Unique Boutique.

Bets Corrigan has a new granddaughter. Madeline was born March 6th.

She has a sister Marguerite. Bets now has 4 granddaughters with Callie &

Elizabeth. Bets & Brian spent a couple of weeks in New York with her

daughter. Also a rail trip from the Bay Area to Glacier National Park & a

great cruise from Venice to Rome thru the Mediterranean with her sister

Barbara, class of '63.

JoAnn Flores celebrated her big 70 with family. She is expecting another

great grandchild this month, that will make 4 greats. JoAnn's mother will

celebrate 91 years soon. She Is class of '36.

Charlene Corrigan is finally a Grandma!! Lyra Cunningham was born on

Sept. 17. She is beautiful with big blue eyes. Charlene gets to take care of

her on Thursdays...pure joy! Charlene & Fred spent a week in Maui &

took a cruise from San Francisco to Chile.

Clarice Giberson & Richard keep the airlines in business flying back &

forth to Europe to spend time in Rome with their two year old grandson. In

Nov. they also visited Normandy Coast & Geneva, Switzerland.

Ralph Shugart & Lee went to Lake Tahoe to visit friends, Joyce, class of

'58 & Johnny Baker, '55. They also attended the Class of '58, 50th

reunion. They came home to Bainbridge Island, WA. on the Sonoma

Coast. Got to eat freshly caught abalone. Ralph & Lee celebrated there

50th wedding anniversary on July 29 at Pacific Beach, WA & Long Beach,

WA & had dinner at The Depot.

THE BIG 70 CLUB

Gary Costa, Gwen Shawver, Jules Maderos, Joann Flores

Steve Siebes will spend his 69th birthday on a cruise to French

Polynesia for 30 days on the Holland American Lines. His brother & sister

are doing well.

Colleen Connor writes that she & Gene took a 12 day cruise on the

Mighty Delta Queen in Sept. Great trip from Nashville to Pittsburg, PA. Lots

of Americana & history. In Dec. they are flying to Brazil & will cruise the

coastline of Brazil, Uraguay & Argentina.

Betsy Wong & Al took a 5 day trip to Rome & then a 10 day cruise to the

Greek Isles & Turkey. Great fun.

Betty Sue & Allen spent 3 weeks in Scotland, Ireland & a few days in

London. The biggest thrill was having lunch at Harrods & noticing that

Stevie Wonder was there eating withAI Fayed. After he finished his lunch,

he went to the piano & asked if anyone would like to come around the

piano & sing with him. Well, didn't take me long to jump up & knock several

people over (my husband's interpretation) trying to be the first one there I

got to sing You Are the Sunshine of My Life with Stevie. Oh my qoodness

never sounded better in my life (my interpretation)

Wanda Palmer visited Vancouver & Victoria boarded the Princess Cruise

ship for a trip back to Los Angles Harbor.

Wanda is doing well & enjoying retirement.

Maryella Kerns & daughter Julie had a great trip to Iceland. She qot

turned on to alternative fuel while there & bought an electric car. it's a Zap

car. They are now very popular with the environmentalist & belonq to Pluq

In Olympia. Her granddaugthers think it's a Barbie car, all pink fiberglass

body with a top speed of 40 mph &a40 mile charge. Maryella is the ED of

the State Medical Commission, WA State Medical Board since July. Lonq

hours, great pay & never a dull moment. Jerry, her husband is still

working, you can't keep a good man down.

Marilyn Bogisich & Ed took a cruise to the Caribbean for a week &

celebrated their 49th anniversary with friends. They also spent time with

their daughter Debra & her dog while she recuperated from knee

replacement surgery in the Atlanta area. They were there when Obama

was elected. There were fireworks in the streets, lots of excitement.

Joan Mezger writes of the thrill of attending her granddaugther's

wedding. The wedding was at Aptos Seascape Golf Course on the 10th

green where Steven asked Shannon's Dad if he could marry her The

setting was beautiful. They went to Europe on their honeymoon &

presently live in Goodyear, AZ where Steven will have spring training with

the Akron Aeros Double A minor league team of the Cleveland Indians

They will move to Akron in April, hoping to make the Major's in a year.

Joan's grandson Keith attends UC Berkeley, Ryan is at UC San

Bernardino & Travis at the University of Hawaii. Granddaughter Jennifer is

in High School & is in the National Honor Society. Joan & husband David

live in Tehachapi & are active in their church.

Adrienne & Ed Fagalde traveled in Canada & Hawaii this summer. In

Sept. & Oct. they spent 2 weeks visiting Adrienne's cousins in Canelli, Italy,

the town where Adrienne's dad was born. After Italy they flew to Prague in

the Czech Republic & joined 3 other Lake Almanor couples. The group

traveled to Nuremberg, Germany for a cruise down the Danube &

disembarked in Budapest. They flew to Poland & toured Warsaw &

Krakow. Now the Fagaldes will be grounded for a bit as Ed is having knee

sugery this month.

A Christmas gift of $410.00 was given to Blanca DiCecco this month

The Calendar Girls plus many other girls collected the money to help

encourage our scholarship recipient this Christmas season.

Our first Class Newsletter was sent out in 1996. Class info has been

mailed twice a year since. HAPPY2009!! Until June of 2009, have a qood

o n e .

Betty Sue GTObjur@charter.net

Love hearing from you

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