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!
 

Ralene Snow (Turner)

Then Then
Marital status: Married
Children: 2
Occupation: Product developer/Farmer
Comment: Hello! It has been a good and busy fifty years! We live in Newcastle, California, on a very small farm. We raise Mandarin oranges and other citrus and have a product line of artisan products featuring our citrus. Married 47 years to  Larry AF fighter pilot, retired in 1978; retired FAA systems pilot, 1997.   



I took classes where ever he was stationed.  Transcripts were a challenge!  BS, Golden Gate University, S.F.,  age 36; MBAwc, Monmouth University, N.J., age 46.  Great educational journey, that continues! 



Two fantastic daughters.  "Mom" best life-time and on-going memories. 



Careers, at will, thanks to Larry.  All but one, self-employed, usually about a five-year interest span:  general contractor; technical writer /editor; aerial/commercial photographer; tennis/swimming teacher; conversational English teacher in Thailand; ESL teacher in N.J.;  business/marketing consultant; Department of State, Foreign Service, Liaison Officer, Frankfurt, Germany. 



And now, I am a farmer and foodie!  Along the way, extensive travel all over the world, private pilot's license, open water SCUBA, cooking classes, sailing, tennis, published two modest cookbooks, working on the third - this one will have an ISBN.  Love to travel, play games, laugh and be with the family.  Looking forward to the reunion picnic.  We'll all have name tags won't we???



Next fifty!  "Fortune favors the prepared mind"...I will continue to prepare! 

Ella Stamates (Christie)

Then Then
Comment: Please note: Deceased 3.30.13



1) Wow! I guess there's a lot to tell about these last 50 years.  I never got my act together to finish college, which is my biggest regret; however, there have been so many other highlights in my life that I truly feel fulfilled. My marriage to Constantine (Tyke) at 24, followed by motherhood two years later were both landmarks for the beginning of my maturity. Being responsible for a tiny, helpless being helped me to grow and mature as a person. Two daughters and a son completed our family. My husband and I were committed to their care and upbringing as they participated in school, sports events and church activities. A strong Greek Orthodox religious background guided all of our lives as it does to this day.



Our greatest joy revolves around our three children, Anastacia, Mary and Christian. Mary recently married a very nice young man, Jeff, and we wish them the best. Our other two are not married but just bought a house together. They are quite thrilled with all the opportunities and responsibilities owning a home entails.



Other than small trips to Lake Tahoe, we enjoyed three outstanding vacations when our children were growing-up: a trip to Puerta Vallarta, the magnificent Redwoods of Northern California and finally to Orlando, Florida and Disney World. We recently celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary and took the family on a cruise to Alaska.  Our dream car became available one day; a Lincoln Town Car, and that purchase began our adventures in taking some wonderful motor trips. Tyke and I drove cross-country as far as New York. Yellowstone National Park followed and then a trip to the Tetons and Mount Rushmore, which included a fascinating dinosaur dig. The next year we took another great trip to the Grand Canyon, Brice, Zion and Joshua Tree. We are pondering our next big motor trip and have yet to decide on a destination.



We've lived in Redwood City since we married on June 26, 1966.  There are no plans to move, so, we'll be there for the rest of our lives. Everything is at our fingertips and we welcome guests.  



2) Ah yes, we still have hopes and dreams. We've been blessed with 43 years of marriage and counting. Perhaps we will become grandparents and also see our other two children marry.  Good health prevailing, we may travel, or start new hobbies. I have this notion to write about our lives for our children but, alas, procrastination is hard to overcome.  We continue to live our lives with joy and anticipation. 

Lynn Stefanetti (Tudor)

Then Then
Comment: I married Chuck Stefanetti in 1961, and had 4 children by 1966. I was a stay at home mom until 1976 when I started working for Narsai David. I did catering and cooking for him and started my food career of 22 years. During the 22 years I catered I worked for Stanford University as the catering manager at Tresidder Union, catering chef for a well known catering company on the peninsula, food service director for Bechtel Corporation at their main offices in San Francisco, also Charles Schwabb headquarters in San Francisco and the Apple campus in Cupertino.



In 1987 we bought a deli on Main Street in St. Helena, moved there and I operated the business as well as a catering company in Napa Valley for 12 years. I closed the business in 1998 and retired. We moved from St. Helena to Paradise to be closer to the grandchildren in 2004. I love being retired and enjoying life with my husband of 48 years.   I have 4 grandchildren and love spoiling them. My husband and I help with their home schooling. I teach them art and my husband teaches them electronics and science. We love to play golf and travel here and there with our trailer, especially to ghost towns in the west. Chuck, a black and white photographer, works on his projects and I paint and sketch.



I still love cooking for my family and friends and am very involved in the art community in Chico and Paradise. I am in two galleries and numerous shows at both art centers and around the community. I paint in watercolor, acrylics and collage as well as monotype. I also still practice the piano for my own enjoyment.



My plans for the next 50 years are to keep having fun painting, traveling, golfing, cooking, doing the family genealogy and enjoying my family and friends. 

Liz Stephens (Morris)

Then Then
Now Now
Marital status: Single
Children: 2
Occupation: Retired
Comment: Life is good! I was married 34 years and then divorced but I had the great pleasure of raising two successful sons with great daughter-in-laws and four beautiful grandchildren ages 5, 7 and two 9 year olds.     



I enjoy traveling and most recently have visited Australia and Europe and have visited almost all of the states in the US.  I look forward to additional travel in the future.

I graduated from St. Marys College, worked 32 years for PG&E  and then took an opportunity to retire early.  I went back to work for PG&E for an additional 8 years. I put some time in as a travel agent until it wasn't fun anymore and to support a habit of shopping I worked several years in retail.   

Now I frequently travel to the east to visit my son and his family in Virginia.  I also spend time in Charleston, SC where my son has a townhome.  In my spare time I take care of my two grandsons in Danville and take in all of their soccer, baseball and baseball games.  

I love gardening and reading which I never seem to have enough time. 

In the next 50 years I expect I'll be doing more travel and watching my grandchildren develop into successful individuals. 

Ann Stevens

Then Then
Marital status: Divorced
Children: 1
Occupation: Retired Software Designer
Comment:  

Arthur Sugden

Then Then
Marital status: Married
Children: 2
Occupation: Retired
Comment:  

Mary Swentzel (Raue)

Then Then
Comment: I married Pete Swentzel 43 years ago and we have had a wonderful life together. We have two daughters who live in the Bay Area so we see them often.We have two wonderful grandchildren, a boy and a girl, seven and nine years. What a joy to be a grandparent! Pete and I are retired but we are still very active. We both do a lot of volunteer work, travel and spend time with family and friends.  



We hope to do more of the same for the next 50 years!  

George Hiromu Tamura

Then Then
Comment: 1) At OHS I had the honor of becoming a member of the California Scholarship Federation (CSF), but declined. I didn’t feel worthy and more to the point, it wasn’t cool in my circle of friends. With a group of malcontents and misfits I played semi-professional baseball. Teammates included OHS players who won The Oakland Athletic League Championship in 1959. I gave-up baseball when they asked for my uniform!



In the 1960’s I worked my way through college, serving subpoenas to unsuspecting recipients with a future Appellate Court Justice. I also delivered Chinese take-out, for which I never got tips and tips were how we got paid. The frigging customers thought my family owned the stupid Chinese food joint and felt it wasn’t necessary to tip this China boy . . .



In college I excelled at wrestling, a sport I participated in at OHS but poor academic attendance removed me from college. Becoming a dropout and being dumped by my girl friend, I wandered the streets of Oakland until I came upon a Marine Corp recruitment office. Suddenly I was proudly serving my nation, even though I still had traumatic childhood memories of being interned in a Japanese relocation camp in Tule Lake during World War II.



As a Devil Dog, serving in the elite tactical air wing of squadron VMF/VMA 144, I was also the Fourth Marine Division boxing champion. I never got knocked off my feet, or on my ass. After serving my country as a punching bag, I turned to the popular sport of drag racing. I set a still standing record at the Fremont Drag Strip for the D/Altered class for flathead powered altered cars.



In pursuit of more speed I became a professional class C motorcycle racer. Never broke a bone, but once had a black and blue mark that ran from my shoulder to my knee and all the private parts in-between.



Pursuing a more stable and sedate lifestyle, I courted my wife, Cimberly. After a whirlwind courtship we married in 1972 and blended our Japanese and Chinese cultures. I went back to school to earn a degree in accounting and rose through the ranks, ultimately becoming a comptroller.



In the 1980’s, at a mere 39, I again started an athletic career. Because of the popularity of ice hockey, due to ‘Miracle on Ice,’ a national hockey league was formed, the Novice National Hockey League and I was one of their first recruits.



In 1984, my daughter Courtney was conceived and born into my elated family. It was about time, was the collective cry! I went into the retail wine and spirits business, taking a small operation doing several million dollars a year, into a large chain store doing over twenty million in less than two years. Along the way I took the California Fair Trade Laws all the way to the Supreme Court and changed the wily ways of the liquor industry nationwide. We were the model for the Beverage and More chain stores.



At a new start-up investment-banking firm, First California Capital Markets, I was hired as their first investment banker, based on my extensive financial background — the easy come, easy go system. I worked as an investment banker for several other banking houses through the 80’s and 90‘s. In the late 90’s I joined a new investment-banking firm. The only problem was, one of the largest bond issues we underwrote for a government agency was with an unscrupulous developer. The FBI was brought in; the NASD; the SEC; and the IRS all converged to bring down the firm. The IRS is still looking for me! 



There are other stories that could be told, capsizing a boat in the roaring Beaverhead River in Montana; getting lost for several days in the dead of winter in the snow and wilderness of Colorado; being rescued by a truck load of Arkansasians, right out of the movie ‘Deliverance;’ but due to limited time and space I will refrain . . . 



2 The next fifty? Same old crap, misadventures, missteps, newfound rewards and friends; surmounting new horizons and side stepping misadventures, that is if I survive another day!! 

Darlene Taylor (Elseth)

Then Then
Comment: 1. Graduated from Oakland City College, Married 44 years. My husband, now retired, was in trucking management and then a real estate broker. We have one son and one daughter, three grandchildren. 



After college, I was secretary to V.P.'s at Montgomery Ward reg. office for 7 years.  We moved to Spokane, Washington and Las Vegas, Nevada.  Then back to California and I worked at Liberty House and Lucky Stores as Admin. Assistant to Directors and V.P. for 20+ years.  During that time, I also taught many 4H classes and lead women's Bible studies.  We did some traveling to Midwest, Washington D.C., and Canada.



One special event: my 50th birthday, daughter's 20th birthday.  Went to three Hawaiian islands--convertibles, parasailing, snorkeling, helicopter ride (our favorite) on Kauai and road to Hana (I love curvy roads).  Favorite evening:  July 4th at Kaanapali, full orchestra playing, sun setting and fireworks over the tops of the palm trees...what a sight!!  Also, hiking in Yosemite with my son on the Panoramic Trail from Glacier Point around and down Nevada and Vernal Falls.  My husband and I usually get to Yosemite once a year and take the boat to Lake Tahoe. 



Passions:  Teaching women's Bible studies, arts/crafts, tole painting, teaching my granddaughters to cook and sew, praying with them, playing ball and games with grandson, sitting at the beach with my husband and watching the seals, having pie at Duarte's in Pescadero.



Health:  25 year cancer survivor!!  Two years ago I joined a walking group and we go to SF every month--recently took the ferry to Sausalito and walked back over the Golden Gate Bridge to Embarcadero BART--11 miles.   



2. More monthly trips to the coast with husband; seafood dinners in Carmel, Pacific Grove and Monterey; fun times with children and grandchildren; listening to the Lord and being thankful for all His blessings. 

Marc Thiry

Then Then
Comment: 1. Hospital Materials Management 40 years. Married to Janet Wallace Thiry 33 years. Daughter—Ashley is 26 years old. Interests—Jazz music, Oakland Raiders, visiting Lake Tahoe, being with friends



2. Aging gracefully