Classmates

Hello, Classmates! We've been here for 10 years now... We would love to have you update your profiles to include any changes during this time. For those of you just joining us, please include answers to the following questions:

1. What would you like to tell us about your life over the past 60 years? High points, unusual experiences, travel, career(s), jail time, family, passions, regrets, etc.?

2. What are your plans for the next years of your lives?

Select the "Add Your Profile" button below. Fill in the info (NOTE: PLEASE TYPE YOUR COMMENTS DIRECTLY INTO THE COMMENTS BOX. DO NOT CUT AND PASTE FROM ANOTHER WORD PROCESSING PROGRAM) and please upload your favorite "Now" photo. We will upload your "Then" photo from the yearbook for you when we receive your information.

We're looking forward to hearing from all of you!
 

Alan James McClenaghan

Then Then
Comment: 1. I graduated from the California Maritime Academy in 1962.  I have been employed in the Maritime industry since graduation.  I did serve in the US Navy and Naval Reserve for 27 years.  I retired as a Commander, USNR in 1990.  I received my USCG Unlimited Ocean Master license in 1971.  Presently I am employed by the University of Washington, School of Oceanography as Master of their research vessel, THOMAS G THOMPSON.  I married my wife, Nadine, in 1962.  She is a 1959 graduate of Alameda High School.  We have four daughters and one son.  They have given us eight grandchildren, so far.  We raised our family in Alameda until 1993.  We then moved to Northern California to enjoy living near the beautiful lakes and rivers and away from the ever busy Bay Area freeways.  



2. My plans for the next 50 years are the same as the last 50.  Enjoying everyday and possibly retiring from going to sea when this second 50 rolls by in 2059. 

Meredith McCormack (Muller)

Then Then
Comment: In 1965, I married Bill McCormack. We have two children and one grandchild. I recently retired from teaching speech and English at San Joaquin Delta College. I enjoy playing golf and enjoy life. I am still best friends with Carol Roland Reeve whom I met in kindergarten.   



In the future, I plan to travel with my husband and friends and enjoy family get-togethers.    

Bonita McFadden (Porter)

Then Then
Comment: 1. What a positive journey!  I’ve had a good life as a nurse anesthetist, a good family and nice friends, and many wonderful travel sites.  I enjoy quilting and square dancing, attending the theater, gardening and being in a Red Hat group.  



2. To make many quilts and stay healthy. 

Judy McKay

Then Then
Now Now
Marital status: Married
Children: 4
Occupation: Clergy
Comment: 2014--When my grandchildren graduated from college and began working in a world filled with technologies and challenges I had never dealt with during my working years, I realized that I had moved into a new stage of life in which I would develop new roles and attitudes.  My vocational life had been one of plentiful opportunities and rewarding experiences, but now it was time for a younger generation to live out their vocations.  Instead of being asked to lead, I was now being asked to suggest names of people who would be good leaders.  Instead of always offering an opinion, I would now listen and wait to be asked for a word of wisdom.  I would remember what people had done for me, and I would learn to be a mentor to young people. Soon I found that I had become free to explore other areas of life, and the past five years have given me time to deepen my love of music by singing in a women's chorus and playing violin.  I found that I understood the changes in the world better when I read a lot of books, blogs, and research papers.  My love of nature was enhanced through long walks on the greenbelt near the Boise River. 



After cleaning out my parents' home, I realized that my children  are not going to want my "stuff", so I have been involved in a giant clean out and downsizing of possessions, memorabilia and property.  My husband and I have reserved a small apartment in a continuing care community that is being built in Boise.  Many people we know will be moving in next spring, as will we.  I plan to continue my involvement in music activities, volunteer work and the study of interesting topics.



As the years go on, all of our lives will grow quieter, and we will experience some losses, but these years can also be a time for us to reflect, to grow spiritually, and to experience wholeness. May all the blessings of older adulthood come to you.



2009--After graduation from Oakland High School I attended the University of California at Berkeley, where I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree.  Terry Walther and I married when we were students.  After college we moved to Mountain View, CA, and later to Sunnyvale, CA, where Terry worked in the semiconductor industry, and  we began raising our daughter and son.  I did not work outside the home for nine years During this time I provided a nurturing environment for my family.  I was also a Girl Scout leader, classroom volunteer and church school teacher.  In 1972 I began working as a church educator.  I returned to school in 1974, and earned a Master of Divinity degree from San Francisco Theological Seminary.  I was ordained a Presbyterian minster in 1977.  In this vocation I served churches and councils of the Presbyterian Church, (U.S.A.) in Idaho and California.  In 1995, after an illness, a divorce, remarriage, and a time of study and discernment, I was ordained an Episcopal priest.  I served churches in Idaho and Arizona in various ways until my retirement in 2007.  Throughout my life I have also served on boards and committees in the communities in which I have lived.  A significant experience was my involvement in an organization which provided humanitarian aid to migrants in distress in the Arizona desert. 



My husband, John Matthew and I have a  blended family of three daughters, one son, two sons-in law, one partner, one daughter-in-law, one granddaughter, two grandsons and three grand dogs.  During the next 50 years I will most likely live in Boise, Idaho.  I plan to read, work on family history, play violin, and continue singing in the Boise Choristers.  If John and I were to celebrate our 50th anniversary, I would be 99 and he would be 113.  This does not seem a likely accomplishment, so we will simply enjoy each other for as many years as we are given.

Katherine (Kathy) Mello (Alhadeff)

Then Then
Marital status: Widowed
Children: 2
Occupation: Retired+ Part Time Medical Actor

Penny Mercer (Holland)

Then Then
Now Now
Comment: 1. I have three wonderful children, two great step-daughters and our tenth grandchild due any day.  



2. I plan to continue to enjoy my family and my life. 

Janice Morgan (Blakiston)

Then Then
Now Now
Marital status: Married
Children: 2
Occupation: Marriage and Family Therapist/Resource Specialist teacher
Comment:

After graduating with a BA in social welfare from UC (Berkeley) I became a social worker for Alameda County Welfare Department. It was an eye-opening experience and I loved it.



With a little money in my pocket I bought a one-way ticket to Europe to learn more about life. I traveled extensively and worked for an “infamous” mutual fund investment company in Geneva, Switzerland. Two years later I sailed home through the Panama Canal and into the next phase of my life.



I married (Jerry Morgan) and we lived in Chicago while he completed his medical residency and I worked as a medical social worker. We moved to Santa Rosa, Ca. to set up medical practice and raise our two wonderful sons. I earned two teaching credentials and started working as a Resource Specialist teacher (special education). After 15 years we divorced and I continued working while we shared parenting. I returned to school once again (nights and weekends) and earned an MA in psychology followed by many hours of internships and finally a Marriage and Family Therapy license.



I developed a passion for rock climbing, backpacking, cross country skiing, and rafting and loved sharing this with my sons. When they were 13 and 14 years old we traveled around Europe for six weeks.



After 12 years of the single life I met and married my current husband (Jack) and my life changed again. I gave up teaching and moved to the bay area where I have worked coordinating a workshop for families of separation and divorce (Kids’ Turn) and have volunteered in various educational programs. We live part time in Mexico where we are very involved with a home for children whose parents cannot care for them (Casa Hogar los Angelitos). Jack and I have been fortunate to be able to travel extensively and often. I spend as much time as possible on my road bike and in the pottery studio. Between us we have six precious grandchildren, four from Jack’s two daughters and two from one of my sons. Our extended family is a joy to us both.



My wishes for the next 50 years include more trips to learn about other cultures and to see the wonders of nature, putting more miles on my bike, finding new adventures and experiences and the joy of sharing time with our children and grandchildren. 

Julie Morton (Olander)

Then Then
Now Now
Marital status: Married
Children: 1
Comment: Please note: Deceased 11/27/15



After graduating from Oakland High I went to Oakland City College for a couple of years. It was there that I met my future husband, Don Morton.



After OCC I went to work for Matson Lines Steamship Company, in San Francisco. I lived with my parents and commuted from Walnut Creek to San Francisco. It was a very special experience working for Matson Luxury Liners. I continued to date Don and we married in Walnut Creek in 1965.



Our first apartment was in Oakland just around the corner from where I grew-up. We both commuted to San Francisco to work, Don worked for IBM and I continued to work for Matson Lines. We took a couple of cruises on the Matson ships and that wetted our appetite for traveling.



After a couple of years we bought an apartment house on Fern Street in Oakland and lived there two years before selling and moving to Danville in 1969. Our daughter Laurie was born in Danville in 1970. In 1973 we moved to Alamo and we have lived there ever since. We love the weather and the outdoor life. We have deer, turkeys, foxes, coyotes and hawks close by.



We have traveled to: Canada, Sweden (where I still have a lot of cousins), China, Europe five times, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, Greek Islands, Turkey, Tahiti and most of the United States. Our next trip will be to Australia and New Zealand and I can hardly wait. Of all the traveling we have done our favorite places are Hawaii, Tahoe and Alamo.



Don is actively selling residential real estate in the San Ramon Valley and I occasionally help him. We have two darling granddaughters: Lucy, five and Savannah, seven years old. We are fortunate my daughter and family are nearby.



We have a dog-named Sugar, she is a Westie and full of personality. I love to garden, sew, ride my bike, swim, read, play computer games, play cards, cook and enjoy photography.



As for the next 50 years, that would make me 117 years old. I'm not too sure that would be good. I do want to enjoy each day as it comes, keep active and continue to travel. I know I have been blessed with a good life.



Another five years passes since I last visited this site.  We continue to travel and feel good we are healthy.  My granddaughters are getting taller and I am getting shorter.  I hope to see some of you Friday night.  Hope you are all well.  Then on to the 60th.  God Bless!

Brenda Nicholson (Karlins)

Then Then
Marital status: Married
Children: 2
Comment: My life is wonderful thanks to my great husband of 60 years, Nick.  Since our graduation together from OHS in 1959, we have experienced so many wonderful and fulfilling things, we are truly blessed.  



We have two children, Peggy and Christopher.  Peggy is married to Craig. They have two daughters, Jessie and Jennie.  Jessie graduated from Northern Arizona University (NAU) with a bachelor's dregree in political science.  Jennie graduated from the University of Southern California (USC) with a bachelor's degree in industrial and systems engineering, and from Penn State with an MBA.  She is attending graduate school at Harvard at present.  Both Jessie and Jennie have great jobs.  Jessie and her husband have a baby girl, our first great grandchild.  Christopher and Renee (Cooper) have twin daughters, Katie and Karin, and a son, Kean.  All our children, children-in-law, and grandchildren are very dear to us.  We are a very close knit family.



Together, Nick and I educated ourselves. While in college, Nick started a process service business and soon I was working there too.  After 5 years of hard and productive work, we sold the business very profitably.  Nick graduated from Hastings College of the Law and became a prosecutor for Alameda County District Attorney’s Office.  Boy, do I have a lot of stories about that!  



For a short time, I sold real estate in Pleasanton and liked it a lot.  We moved to Sacramento in 1976.  Our daughter, Peggy, was in high school and our son, Christopher, was in kindergarten.  Yes, we had children 10 years apart and it was terrific.  Meanwhile, I attended Sacramento City College part-time, with an AA in Photography in 1984, and California State Universitiy, Sacramento, with a BA in interpersonal communications in 1991.  



Nick’s interest in politics brought many new experiences for me and our family.  Meeting and shaking the hands of our President of the United States in the White House, in 1981, is just one of the fantastic experiences that came my way.  



Doing photography opened many doors for me.  Several of my photos and articles were sold and published. I enjoyed this time very much.  



While at Sac State, I took a biology class on California native plants and trees. Presently I put that knowledge to work every day in our yard.  Nick helps a lot.  We planted roughly 350 trees on our 5 acres.  Most are now 60 feet or more tall.  Our Japanese garden is 6,000 square feet. It really is a lot of fun to watch and work in our garden.  Now our grandchildren are getting joy from workng with us, taking hikes, and fishing the pond in back.  



I chaired the OHS ’59 Reunion Committee for several decades.  Nick helped continuously. We were blessed with a dedicated group of classmates who served with us. Together, we planned and conducted successful, well-attended reunions every five years, for 30 years. Doing this allowed us to stay in close contact with countless OHS classmates and friends.

Roughly 10 years ago, we had to retire from the committee.  It was just too hard for us to come down from Sacramento to the Bayi Area to attend regular meetings.  We regretted that and still do.  Even so, we still attend and enjoy  every reunion.  Joyce, Henry, and K.O., and their committee colleagues always do a wonderful job.     



My future plans are pretty simple. Enjoy life. Be a friend and companion to my husband first and to my children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. To help them grow up and live as loving and productive members of our society and respect others around them. I still enjoy exercising, swimming, skiing, walking, and simply being in the out-of-doors.  If my health stays good, I should be able to do this for several years to come. I wish all of you well and happiness.  

George Nicholson

Then Then
Marital status: Married
Comment: Brenda and I met at Oakland High School in 1957.  We are happily married for 60 years now.  We have two children, Peggy and Christopher.  Peggy is married to Craig Whitty. They have two daughters, Jessie and Jennie.  Jessie graduated from Northern Arizona University (NAU) with a bachelor's dregree in political science.  Jennie graduated from the University of Southern California (USC) with a bachelor's degree in industrial and systems engineering, and from Penn State with an MBA.  She is attending graduate school at Harvard at present.  Both Jessie and Jennie have great jobs.  Jessie and her husband have a baby girl, our first great grandchild.  Christopher and Renee (Cooper) have twin daughters, Katie and Karin, and a son, Kean.  All our children, children-in-law, and grandchildren are very dear to us.  We are a very close knit family.

 

Together, Brenda and I educated ourselves. We have helped our children and grandchildren educate themselves. In turn, they are now doing the same, for themselves, and for one another. We are all still learning, alone and together.   Brenda and I are blessed with many, many wonderful friends among our OHS ’59 classmates.  We love them all.  

 

I ws a lawyer and a judge for more than 55 years.

 

For the most recent 28 of those 55 years, I served as a Justice on the Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District, State of California, in Sacramento.  Voters in my 23-county appellate district re-confirmed me three times, in 1994, 1998, and 2010.  I participated in almost 30 percent of the Third Appellate District’s caseload; was directly involved in 10,586 cases, and of them, authored 3,472 opinions, and concurred in 7,114 opinions.  More than 300 of my opinions are published and appear in the official law books.  I served as a justice pro tem seven times on the California Supreme Court in 2018, 2014, 2009, 2009, 2003, 2002, and 1992.  I lectured and taught at the National Judicial College, several Appellate Courts Institutes held by the California Center for Judicial Education and Research, and several colleges, universities, and law schools.    



My friends and colleagues conducted a retirement dinner for Brenda and me in April 2018.  Former Presiding Justice Arthur G. Scotland of my court was master of ceremonies.  Speakers included Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, United States Supreme Court; Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, California Supreme Court; Presidng Justice Vance W. Raye of my court; Jerry Chong, Esq., co-founder, Council of Asian-Pacific Islanders Together for Advocacy and Leadership (CAPITAL); former California State Public Defender Fern Laethem; Assemblyman Ken Cooley, 8th Assembly District, State of California; and our five grandchildren, Jessie, Jennie, Katy, Karin, and Kean.  Everyone told me later that theyi stole the show.  Branch Rickey III and his cousin, Nancy Keltner, also participated in our retirement dinner.

 

Earlier, I was a Sacramento County trial judge for three years.

 

Just after law school, I was a prosecutor in Alameda County for most of a decade, before moving to Sacramento to head the California District Attorneys Association.  When asked by then Attorney General George Deukmejian, I served as a special assitant attorney general in the California Department of Justice.  I moved to the Governor's Office of Planning and Research when asked by Governor Deukmejian.  Then, I worked and taught at Pepperdine University, before Governor Deukmejian named me to the bench and elevated me twice. 

 

Brenda and I hope and pray that we, our children, and our grandchildren, remain close, healthy, and happy.

 

Baseball was a a big deal when I played three years on the Oakland High School varsity.  I have remained involved with the game ever since.  Thus, I hope to continue working from time to time with Branch Rickey III, President, Pacific Coast League, to organize and conduct baseball and freedom education programs in a variety of forums, including Cooperstown Symposia on Baseball and American Culture, held annually by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and the State University of New York (SUNY), Oneonta. 



As Branch’s grandfather said, “Baseball is the proving grounds for civil rights.” Our first, three-hour Opening Night was in 2007, “Baseball and Freedom: Remembering Mr. Rickey,” see “Kindred Spirits, Humble Heroes, Branch Rickey and William Wilberforce,”

http://www.independent.org/newsroom/article.asp?id=1949.  Branch and I have worked with Ohio Wesleyan University; Allegheny College; the University of Michigan Law School; the School Law, Chapman University; Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, the Pacific Coast League and its Hall of Fame.  We also worked with Thurgood Marshall, Jr., and Judge Earl Warren, Jr.  

 

In 2009, we worked with San Francisco State University (SFSU), and its Athletic Director, Dr. Michael Simpson, and the Oakland Athletic League (OAL), and its Commissioner, Michael L. Moore, Sr., its Historian, Paul Brekke-Meisner.  (Moore graduated from OHS a few years after the OHS Class of 1959 did; Brekke-Meisner graduated from Castlemont.)  Stephen Johnson, President, OHS Alumni Association, and a younger OHS classmate, Rob Grialou, also helped immensely.  Our 2009 topic was “Baseball and Freedom:  Remembering Coach Powles.”  Coach George Powles graduated from SFSU and coached McClymonds High School when we attended OHS.  We played against him and his Warriors varsity baseball team.  We split our season series.  We tied Mack for the OAL Championship, OHS’s first in 42 years. Seven of us on the OHS team made the All-City team.   

 

We worked with Oakland High School to name its baseball field for our coach, Mike Marcoulis, posthumously, in 2006.  We worked with Bret Harte Junior High School to name its gymnasium for Ernest G. Fernandes, our baseball coach while there. We were in his first class upon his return from the Korean War.  Along with our parents, Mr. Marcoulis and Mr. Fernandes played important roles in inspiring and energizing those us blessed to have them as teachers and coaches.