Summer 2016

Watsonville High School

Class Of 1957 Newsletter-"HIGH TIMES"

2016 Summer Original written and edited by Betty Bjur

VOL.37 E-editions by John Higaki

1957 CLASS NEWSLETTER, JUNE 2016

Summer is almost here again. Slow down Nellie, as my mother would often say. I've been thinking about my early years of education. Like some of you, I began as a migrant child attending 3 different schools every year, as my parents followed the crops from town to town working in the lettuce fields & sheds. I remember hating walking into a different school every 3 months, trying to make new friends, knowing I would be off to another school in just a few months. The teachers weren't too thrilled either when the Okie laborer's children arrived. Finally my parents got a permanent job in Watsonville. I have to say, being a migrant child helped form who I am today determined, persistent, driven, feisty & independent. I was going to succeed no matter what. Failure was not a word in my vocabulary. So here I am, 70 years later, still in Watsonville, loving life, family & friends. It's full steam ahead & looking forward to a great future. Though my hair has turned to gray & my skin no longer fits. On the inside, I'm the same old me, Just the outside's changed a bit.

25 years ago: Watsonville's KOMY radio station shut down.

25 years ago: Whiskey Hill, a working class bar with a colorful history, lost its lease.

25 years ago: Lily Wong.Class of 1952 & Betsy's sister was inducted into WHS Hall of Fame

30 years ago: Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. We mourned 7 brave hero's.

32 years ago: Apple computer began selling their Macintosh model.

50 years ago: the civic auditorium where many of us skated was demolished.

50 years ago, the new Watsonville High Library was dedicated to Ida Fuller.

65 years ago: Dennis the Menace debuted in 16 newspapers.

100 years ago: All operators of automobiles & motorcycles are required to have a 1916 license

THOUGHTS FROM OUR CLASSMATES, JERRY & NANCY

JERRY CHIN: One's life is made interesting by the planned & unplanned twists & turns with time. It's how we navigate through it all ending with no or few regrets. We're lucky to lived a life with satisfaction in its outcome doing no harm & being good citizens. All is good.

NANCY WYNNE: Life seems to hit in "spurts" doesn't it? We coast along for a while in a rather unremarkable, but safe way & then a double whammy hits. I know we are "at the age" when life can change in an instant. Life is truly fragile. To live each day, happily, gratefully, completely & with good health must be our focus. The reality that all of that can disappear in one breath becomes so real when family & friends are suddenly faced with a health crises. Dementia & Alzheimer's are frightening & cruel. It affects not only the stricken, but every family member, every friend & every aspect of life.

BOB DIETERICH

After graduating from the University of Davis as a Veterinarian, Bob entered private practice in Watsonville for 4 years. He took a position on the faculty at the Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska, Fairbanks. His speciality was & is wildlife diseases. That work allowed him to work in many areas in the world including Africa, Scandinavian countries, Canada, Falkland Islands, South Georgia Island near Antarctica. He retired from the University of Alaska as a Professor Emeritus several years ago & did some consulting work for a few years. Through all these years he did his own bush plane flying for work & play. He is now living in Arizona with his wife of 38 years, Jamie. Their summers are spent in Fairbanks just playing. His 2 boys are catching up with him in age. One lives in CA. with his wife, the other in TX. with his wife & 2 sons. His daughter lives in Fairbanks with her family including a son & a daughter. Life has certainly been interesting for them.

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SAVE THE DATE

Class of 1957, 60th REUNION

July 16,2017

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ANNIVERSARIES

CHRISTINE PARKER & JAMES, 38 YEARS

JAN BAIRD & BEN, 50 YEARS

JIM GIBSON & SHIRLEY, 51 YEARS

DON BEUKERS & MARY ELLEN, 54 YEARS

BOB FENNER & GAIL, 55 YEARS

Nancy Wynne & Bob, 58 Years

Harold Kelsey & Betty, 60 ears

MEMORY OF CLIFFORD YOUNG, JUDEE HANNUM, LAWRENCE PAXTON, JIM CLARK DON VINES, TOM CRISEL

CLIFFORD YOUNG, our classmate died Jan. 8 in Cottonwood, CA. He enjoyed roping with his friend Bob Dieterich in high school & continued his love of roping into his adult life. Clifford was 76 years old.

JUDEE HANNUM died Feb. 9, 2014 in Highland, CA. She leaves two daughters, Me'chele & Debbie, a son Sonny, her brother Doug & sister Lolly & close friend Joyce Marlowe. Judee was a majorette in high school & also for the Watsonville Band.

LAWRENCE PAXTON died May 12, 2012 in Gardina, CA. He is survived by two sons, Allen & Keith, two grandsons, Erick & Kevin & one great granddaughter Elizabeth.

JIM CLARK died April 10. Jim enjoyed hunting, fishing & gardening. He lives 3 children, Jackie, Tim & Tom & five grands. He was preceded in death by his wife Carolyn Dempsey, Class of 1960.

TOM CRISEL died, Sept. 18, 2013 in Baneberry, TN. He is survived by his wife, Carol, 2 sons, Mike & John, daughter, Laura & his sister, Bobbie, our classmate.

DON VINES died May 11,2013 in Dewey AZ. Don was a truck driver for many years.

ROBERTA BUTTON, Class of 1954, died Oct. 3, 2015. Roberta was a bookkeeper. She leaves a daughter & our classmate, sister, Pat Button.

RUTH HAMILTON, wife to our English teacher Mr. Hamilton died Dec. 13, 2015. She was 98. She was a PE teacher at WHS until she married Mr. Hamilton as her contract required her to quit if she married. She was later rehired as a home teacher. She leaves a daughter, 2 sons, 5 grands, 3 greats.

RON MCCLOSKEY, Class of 1956, died Jan. 12. Ron was a contractor in Spokane, WA. & was active in his church & Salvation Army. He was a great basketball player in high school. He leaves his wife Sharon, brother Gerald, Class of 1955, four children, 15 grands & 5 greats.

AL FORT, Class of 1956, died Jan. 13. He worked for PGE. Al was also a great basketball player for the Wildcatz. He leaves his wife Carole, 2 sons & 2 daughters, 6 grands, 2 brothers & his sister. He was preceded in death by his parents & brother Albert, Class of 1956.

DOROTHY SKILLICORN, TERRE's mother died on her 103rd birthday, Feb. 6. She shared the same birthday as daughter Terre. Dorothy was an inspiration to all who knew her. An extraordinary lady that loved the class of 1957. She was chosen "Woman of the Year" in 1991. She leaves daughter Terre, 1 son, 8 grands, 21 greats & 6 great great. Her husband Elmer & son Ron predeceased her.

JULES Maderos' wife Grace died May 18 in Clay, NY. She was a nurse & retired from Home Health Care. She &Jules were married 53 years. She formed the first Hawaiian Right to Life organization in the early 70*s. She is survived by Jules, their children, Tammy, Matthew, & Mary, and grandchildren.

NEWS

PAT BUTTON was the first girl in the history of WHS to take wood shop. Her parents, Mrs. Worthington, Mr. McCombs & Mr. Crook had to go before the school board to allow her to take the class. She made a bookcase, headboard, & hope chest & received an A in the class.

BOB FENNER is still failing retirement. He is working half-time doing electrical engineering work (digital circuit design ). His wife has her picture framing shop. They plan to possibly remodel their Manhattan Beach home of the past 38 years but that's against the backdrop of seeing their son & family move to Texas. They both work for Toyota who is moving their corporate headquarters from CA to Piano, TX. Bob & Gail are very involved with their family & especially the two young granddaughters. Their other children & families are doing well. Pretty soon all four other grands will be flying their nests. Bob is still active in the gun club & the CA. Grizzlies, their state junior rifle team.

****************************************************************** 60TH REUNION OF THE WHS CLASS OF 1956 extends an invitation to attend their reunion. Sept 30, 5-8=00

PM at Watsonville Woman's Club, 12 Brennan for appetizers & wine. $12.00 each. Oct. 1, 3-8:00 PM

Watsonville Elks, 121 Martinelli, $55.00 each. For more info, email, JoAnn Vear at ioannvear(5)qmail.com

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DON BEUKERS grandson, Noah received the MVP Defensive Player of the Yosemite West league in football. He played running back on offense & middle linebacker on defense. Don & Mary Ellen are traveling by motorhome across the USA. They left on March 9th & anticipate returning to San Jose mid August in time for Stanford football, their 47th season. They got a new granddaughter last Dec, his daughter adopted a 6 year old with her partner after being a foster parent for a year.

NANCY WYNNE'S most exciting news is their youngest grand baby will head to UC Irvine in the Fall. She appears to be following in her mom's (their daughter) footsteps. Nancy was flipping through the 1960 Fresno State yearbook & up popped Dennis Reader on stage; Dennis was always so good on stage & fun to watch. Brought back memories of Mr. Gobel & Drama classi

JEAN & JOAN MATTHEWS have left for a 6000 mile road trip. Joan doesn't like to drive so Jean will be driving "Miss Daisy". Joan's daughter calls them "Thelma& Louise". They will be following Route 66 as much as possible, stopping in Sedona, AZ & Waco, TX, (hope to see Chip & Joanna from HGTV), then onto Chandler, OK to visit family, a couple days in Branson, MO & onto Omaha, NE, Mt. Rushmore & Canada. Home along the Oregon Coast.

GEORGEANN C0WLES' daughter Lisa has joined her on their ranch. Gee loves having her. Many of us got to meet Lisa at our class luncheon.

KRISUNE PARKER welcomed her new great granddaughter, Natasha, Dec. 26. She is a chubby girl & very kissable. Christine & her daughter went to Mar dejade, in Puerto Villarta, for a week of dancing & movement with Core Connexion Transformational Arts. They are looking forward to the summer 99's convention in Ottawa. Advice from Christine to fellow graduates, Keep Moving!

JAN BAIRD & daughter Carren's Buttercup shop is open in downtown Santa Cruz. It is doing very well. Her grandson Terry graduated from Sac State, grandson Steven is manager & tops in sales for a tooth implant co., granddaughter Kimie got her Real Estate license, & granddaughter Hannah will finish her first year at the American University in D.C.

CAROLE HIATT's granddaughter, Cristin Murphy French was inducted into the Aptos High Sports Hall of Fame, Class of 2003. She excelled in soccer & continued playing at San Jose State University. She is the mother of three, Parker, Cameryn & Gracie Mae. Cristi's mother is Joyce, Carole's daughter. PEGGY 0'FARRELL & Glen attended one of the granddaughter's graduations in Spokane, WA then onto the next granddaughter's in Ashland, OR. They traveled onto New Mexico to visit with their daughter.

PEGGY 0'FARRELL & Glen attended one of the granddaughter's graduations in Spokane, WA then onto the next granddaughter's in Ashland, OR. They traveled onto New Mexico to visit with their daughter.

EDNA REIMER is helping Watsonville's economy. Edna lives in Portland, OR & shops at Costco where she buys Watsonville strawberries. Very delicious, she said.

GEORGEANN COWLES' hosted our class of 1957 girls luncheon in April. Funny thing happened, BILL BEECHER & GRANT WRATHALL decided to crash the party. The nerve: Although I must admit it was great having them there.

MEMORIES OF WATSONVILLE

The fate of the S.S. PALO AlTO remains unclear. Powerful El Nino storms brought heavy surf & waves to our coastline this year & Seacliff really got pounded. Our 97 year-old concrete ship at the end of the pier at Seadiff beach took the brunt of the storms. The ship shifted, & appeared to have split in the section closest to the pier, tilting the front of the ship to one side. The stern is badly twisted too. The S.S. Palo Alto was built in 1917 to be used in WW I as a wartime tanker. Due to the shortage of steel, 38 ships of concrete were built, only 8 were completed. The S.S. Palo Alto was built in Oakland. However, the war ended before construction was ended. At this time there is no plan to do away with the ship.

TAYLOR'S HOT DOG STAND is still in business as they celebrate 60 years. A little more than 6 decades ago, a pair of brothers opened the hot dog stand at the original Maple Ave. location, selling hot dogs for 20 cents. As their business grew, they moved to the corner of Union & Beach St. (Third St.). Taylor's have retained its mom and pop aura, with the same menu, only hotdogs are now $1.90.

COACH GENE JOHNSON was inducted into the Cabrillo College Hall of Fame. His dedication to Cabrillo is impressive. He spent 38 years as an assistant football coach & later the head softball coach. Of course, we all know where he got all his training as a Wildcat. Congratulations, Coach Johnson. You make us proud.

MARTY FRANICH broke ground for his Arthur Rd. car dealership, February, 1966. After 50 years in business, he announced that he had sold the dealership to a company in Monterey.

FOX THEATRE attempts comeback since being dark in 2009. Watsonville Film Festival director Consuelo Alba hopes to lead the historic theatre back out of the desert. Built in 1923, the Spanish Colonial Revival style building hosted both films & live theatre in its 1,000 seat auditorium where many famous people entertained including the ABC Trio.

MANNY SOLANO, class of 1981 retired as our Chief of Police. Manny was born & raised here. It is his town & will always be. He is so loved by our community. His mother is Pat Gospodnetich, Class of 1956 & father Alex Solano, Class of 1953. We wish him all the best & he will be missed.

WHS HALL OF FAME, 2016

AMY NEWELL graduated as Co-Valedictorian, class of 1965. She graduated from Stanford University in 1969. She was the first woman national treasurer of the UE Union.ln 1994, she moved back to Watsonville to help with her aging parents. DAVID TORIUMI graduated from WHS in 1974. He owns Toruimi's Auto Repair & is active in Watsonville youth activities.His cars have graced the covers of Hot Rod, Car Craft & Popular Hot Rodding magazines. ERIC BORG a graduate in 1975, the third member of his family to recieve the WHS Hall of Fame honor. He is aerospace & missile designer in development & production. Eric is currently the chief engineer for the Naval Area Mission Defense product line of Raytheon Missile Systems. TONY NETHERCUTT class of 1976 is involved in television digital advertising. He has worked for many companies including Geo Cities, Yahoo, You Tube & Google. Posthumous, SAM VESTAL, 1949, worked at our Register Pajaronian winning the Pulitzer Prize in 1956 Photos taken at gunpoint, exposed a corrupt DA & a yearlong local gambling ring in Watsonville. Our city became the smallest newspaper at the time ever to win the Pulitzer. Sam had many job opportunities elsewhere, choosing to stay in Watsonville to raise his family in his beloved hometown. One of his many accomplishments was doing two full pages on the Society section of the Pajaronian on the ABC Trio, returning to Watsonville to live, raise their families & career after college.

OOPS, I ran out of space again...You will be hearing from us about our class 60th reunion in 2017 later on this year. If you are not interested please let me know at GTObiur@charter.net or calling 8317222267 or Facebook. Thank you & have a happy summer: Betty Sue Henry Bjur

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John Higaki

John Higaki