OHS Newsletter
(Archived Copy)

A Summary of Events and Topics of Interest to OHS grads and friends

September 5, 2003

IN THIS ISSUE:

Wow! What a few weeks this has been. Exciting stuff for us. I almost don't know where to start.

REUNION!!! Oakland High Class of 1963 will have 40th reunion October 11 at the Waterfront Plaza Hotel in Oakland. Call 925-682-1082! This is also in the reunion section of the letter and will be repeated until the reunion. I want pictures, reunionites! Please Please share your photos with us!

I may have previously mentioned that Graphicsdoc, my brother Tom, received a request from Classmates the TV show to do their website. He is currently working on it and I will print the website address when I receive it..

Also, as I have previously announced, Classmates the TV show is looking for people who are looking for old loves. Well, one of our own, whose name I will leave anonymous for the present, has asked to find an old crush. Classmates loved the story and have chosen to do a segment, reuniting her with the old flame. For now I will leave the names off, until the segment is completed. Is there anyone else who would be interested in reuniting with an old love on TV?? What an opportunity to fulfill an old dream, folks! Let me hear from you , or write Graphicsdoc1@aol.com (Tom) with your request.

As a side note, I am actually moving somewhere around Oct 1. My husband and I bought a mobile home in (go ahead, laugh) a Seniors Park. Complete with Shuffleboard............sigh......never thought the day would come....anyway, we are excited to move. The Party Porch will be disbanded. They are too young for the Seniors Park.......but now that we have our own place, I can imagine there will be many more stories to come......I'm already envisioning canes, walkers, wheelchairs and electric scooters gathering outside our porch, old men dressed in shorts, black socks and loafers, and ladies in moo moos, beginning to create a new party porch! They will probably drink prune juice instead of Pepsi! Everyone will be holding their medicine containers so they don't miss their regular meds, and Big Band music will be playing in the background. Ah yes, they have already approached us to join the bridge club, and booked us for the monthly potluck. I don't even PLAY bridge. As for potluck, that is just the regular evening meal for us! Mike's reputation has preceded him (we already have friends living there) so they are expecting BIG things from him when it comes time to decorate from Christmas. Remember, he's already a First Place winner from previous years. I do love the fact that when he decorates, it makes others want to compete, and before you know it, there are decorations everywhere. Stay tuned for the newest adventures of the Party Porch!

Biff Gudmundsen, '65, Skyline, took some more photos again this week. I will be using one of them in the weekly photo grouping. He did Fairyland, Prings, Jack London Square and Jack London's cabin (Jack and both his daughters attended Oakland High and the girls actually graduated!), the old On Broadway Club, and Knowland Park. If you'd like to see any of them , let me know and I will send them to you.

Bob Chan, '71, has sent me the yearbooks he recently finished scanning. I'm so HAPPY to announce we now can offer Yearbooks for 1967, 1968, and 1969!!!!! Bob has also spoken with the Oakland Library and they are lending us any yearbooks from their collection to scan! What great news! They do not normally lend out the books from the history room, but are making an exception since we are donating everything we've scanned so far to the Library to complete their collection. They were missing MOST of the 60's. The first book Bob is borrowiong is 1961. If you'd like one of the already scanned yearbooks on CD, send a check or money order for $10 for each CD to Bonnie Hulse, 2301 Muriel Drive Apt 39, Barstow CA 92311. I can put more than one yearbook an a CD. I am keeping the price at $10 for any Oakland High orders, since I am starting to scan for other schools, and the cost will be higher for them, but anyone from Oakland High or on the email list, will remain at $10 no matter if books are ordered for Oakland High or other schools. I've had soooo many requests from other schools for yearbooks, I am going to try to branch out. On your yearbook CD's I will also continue to include a file containing all the photos I've used for the weekly /bi-weekly letter over the years. Currently available on CD are the following: 1932, 1936, 1960, Seniors only for 1961 (until Bob scans the yearbook), 1962 is almost complete, 1963 Seniors only, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969 and summer supplements for '62 and 65, and Reunion yearbooks for 61, 65 and 66, and reunion photos for '65. I have McChesney yearbooks for '59 and '62. If you would like, I can also include all the stories that have appeared in the newsletter.

Our intent for Oakland alumni is to provide them with memories from the past that may have once thought might be lost forever! Not to make money. We provide Oakland Public Library with CD's and sometimes actual printed copies of all we do. We can also provide Oakland High with them if they would like. Paul Manuel, '66, has volunteered to lend his '66 yearbook for scanning! Thanks Paul, this will mean a lot to many people without books!

Thanks to all of you who helped me find all the addresses for the mailing list! Especially Biff, who saved what I sent him a few weeks ago! Lifesavers!.

Congratulations to Walt Albin on his retirement from the military after 35 years of active and reserve duty. Enjoy your retirement, Walt. Thank you, also, for copying the 1941 yearbook for the cause. Bob Chan and I appreciate any help we can get with yearbooks, as does the Oakland Public Lilbrary. For anyone that assists us, we will donate the CD in their name to the library's collection. Thanks again to all those who volunteer to help!

Larry White, '64, is providing me with a scanned copy of the 1934 Oaken Bucket, so we will have another yearbook to offer! Thanks, Larry, for your help! It is appreciated. Also I'm getting help from Craig Hansen, '62 and Jeani Golish Mills, '62, to complete the 1962 book. Jeani will also provide me with a reunion booklet! I can't tell you how much it means that so many people come forward and volunteer to provide us with photos and yearbooks!

Bev Shulster Beiman , '65, is back from a well deserved extended vacation in the states. She spent time all around the States doing research, and helping her son get settled in New York for his new job. I'm sure she is glad to be home and overwhelmed with emails. She will get to them and update the Memorial Board as soon as she can! If you know of any Oakland deaths, please send them to her at bbevy@012.net.il. Welcome home, Bev.

Diane Patterson Goult '65, is doing great at retirement! She said she had no desires to suddenly get up and go teach when the school year started. She is now living in St. Helena, so if you would like to write her, she is at Dgoult@mosquitonet.net.

I also hear regularly from an old Tanya sister, Marilyn Heyden Librers, '66. She is doing well. Marilyn graduated from Skyline, but as with most of us, has many ties to Oakland High and Fremont. She is a member of our email list. She and I have a lot in common, and I enjoy hearing from her. If anyone of you would like to be in touch with her, or you are a former Tanya sister, write to her at dunhill848@earthlink.com or me at Bhulse47@yahoo.com.

A message from Toni Gomez Giovanetti, no relation to Gary Giovannetti '65. She is a great grandmother AGAIN! A girl this time, Ser'Rae, born 7-29-03, 4 pounds 11 oz, 17 inches long. Makes her a great grandma for the second time, and still SO young! Her e-mail address is Maggie3229@aol.com. Congratulations Toni!

Speaking of Gary Giovannetti (Ice Cream Boy ) '65, He sent me a copy of the Hot August Nights Yearbook and it included his Corvette! Hot August Nights is an annual celebration held in Reno, and features HOT classic cars, music, food, parties, and people! Wish I could have been there. Graphicsdoc (Tom) was going to head up there with his Vette, this year, since it was the 50th anniversary of the Corvette, but got tangled up in work and didn't make it. View this nostalgic event at www.hotaugustnights.net! Tons of singers from the 60's are always booked for this event! Ya gotta go if you can, next year!

Another article on Classmate Neal Schwartz, '65, promoting his new approach to Real Estate. See it at www.bayarea.com/mld/cctimes/classifieds/real_estate/6606762.htm

Love,
Bon

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Oakland's own Denny Dent '66 was commissioned by the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team to paint their star, Carlos Delgado. This happened on September 3, 2003 when Toronto hosted the New York Yankees. It should have been part of the pre-game ceremonies, and it may or may not have been televised in your area. If the game is not televised in your area, perhaps you saw it on ESPN's Baseball Tonight Show. Let is know if you saw it. Good going, Denny! www.Dennydent.com

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REGULAR REUNION BLURBS:

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I've been in touch with an old friend from Grade school at Glenview. Do any of you remember Doug Johnstone? I found him through his older brother Jay. Doug moved to Castro Valley after 9th grade. He went from Castro Valley High to Berkeley, and married his high school sweetheart. Sherry. He did a stint in the Air Force as a radar squadron executive officer, in Montana and Texas. He then had a career with the U.S. Customs Service in San Francisco. He and Sherry travel and keep busy with family and friends. He loves to build boats and fly model airplanes. Doug doesn't have email. Still in the dark ages! But he'd love to hear from old friends, so here is his address and phone:

I have included his photo in this week's photo section. He looks disgustingly the same. Why don't some of you out there EVER age! (By the way, a pitfall of the weight loss: what was once nice smooth fat has turned to giant wrinkles and I sometimes think I'm beginning to look like that dog with all the wrinkly skin! )

I have just heard from Gilberto de Paula Ferriera, Foreign Exchange Student for 1967-1968, graduating in 1968. He lived with the Bookers in Oakland. Wendell Booker '68 was his American "brother". Gilberto lives in Sao Paulo Brazil, and works with Human Resources as an Associate Consultant in a company called "Tailor-made Human Capital Solutions". He is married for the second time, and has two children, Natasha, 26, who is married and Michel who is 18, studying to be an Engineer. He would like to get in touch with old friends and make new ones. His email is gilrose@directnet.com.br. I will ask him to send photos if he can.

Paul Hara has been in touch and writes the following about himself and an OHS grad :

Anyone who wants to get in touch with Paul can reach him at phara@longs.com

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Our condolences to Sheryl Rinker White, '62, who lost her husband August 2, from cancer. Condolences too to Nancy Lenihan '65 on the death of her mother. Our prayers are with you both in this difficult time.

Last month OHS also lost two grads. Leo Ray Wallace, '34 died August 17, and Marvyn Chinn, '68 on August 6th. Marvyn was the husband of OHS grad Bonnie Chinn, and cousin of Cyndee Fong Lim '65. Our sympathy goes out to their families.

New additions to the Memorial Pages

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Many of you have probably read this before, but I'm enclosing it because my friend, Kay Crist Lovato, '79 of Barstow High, sent it to me and it truly reflects my feelings of something I would do when not on Hormone Replacement Therapy! Just ask my family......LOL. Hope you enjoy it.

HOW TO HANDLE ANGER

For all of you who occasionally have a really bad day, and you just need to take it out on someone, don't take it out on someone you know, take it out on someone you don't know.

I was sitting at my desk, when I remembered a phone call I had forgotten to make. I found the number, and dialed it. A man answered saying, "Hello?"

I politely said, "This is Fred Hanifin, could I please speak with Robin Carter?" Suddenly, the phone was slammed down on me. I couldn't believe that anyone could be so rude. I tracked down Robin's correct number, and called her. (I had transposed the last two digits of her phone number).

After hanging up with her, I decided to call the 'wrong' number again.

When the same guy answered the phone, I yelled, "You're an a--hole!" and hung up

I wrote his number down, with the word 'a--hole' next to it, and put it in my desk drawer. Every couple of weeks, when I was paying bills or had a really bad day, I'd call him up and yell, "You're an a--hole!". It always cheered me up.

When Caller ID came to our area, I thought my therapeutic 'a--hole' calling would have to stop. So, I called his number and said, "Hi, this is John Smith from the telephone Company. I'm just calling to see if you're familiar with the caller ID program?" he yelled, "NO!" and slammed the phone down. I quickly called him back and said, "That's because you're an a--hole!"

So, one day I was at the store, getting ready to pull into a parking spot. Some boy in a black BMW cut me off, and pulled into the spot I had patiently waited for. I hit the horn and yelled that I had been waiting for the spot.

The idiot ignored me. I noticed a "For Sale" sign in his car window, so I wrote down his number.

A couple of days later, right after calling the first a--hole (I had his number on speed dial), I thought I had better call the BMW a--hole, too. I dialed and someone said, "Hello?"

I said, "Is this the man with the black BMW for sale?"

"Yes it is."

"Can you tell me where I can see it?"

"Yes, I live at 802 West 34th Street. It's a yellow house and the car's parked right out front."

"What's your name?" I asked.

"My name is Don Hansen," he said.

"When's a good time to catch you, Don?"

"I'm home every evening after five.

"Listen, Don, can I tell you something?"

"Yes?"

"Don, you're an a--hole!" Then I hung up, and added his number to my speed dial, too. Now, when I had a problem, I had two a--holes to call.

But after several months of calling them, it wasn't as enjoyable as it used to be. So, I came up with an idea: I called A--hole #1.

"Hello"

"You're an a--hole!" (but I didn't hang up.)

"Are you still there?" he asked.

"Yeah," I said.

"Stop calling me," he screamed.

"Make me," I said.

"Who are you?" he asked.

"My name is Don Hansen."

"Yeah? Where do you live?"

"A--hole, I live at 802 West 34th Street, a yellow house with my black Beemer parked in front.

He said, "I'm coming over right now, Don. And you had better start saying your prayers."

I said, "Yeah, like I'm really scared, a--hole."

Then I called asshole # 2:

"Hello?" he said.

"Hello A--hole," I said.

He yelled, "If I ever find out who you are..."

"You'll what?" I said.

"I'll kick your ass," he exclaimed.

I answered, "Well, a--hole, here's your chance. I'm coming over right now."

Then, I hung up, and immediately called the police, saying that I lived at 802 West 34th Street, and I was on my way over there to kill my gay lover.

Then, I called Channel 13 news about the gang war going down on West 34th St. I quickly got into my car and headed over to 34th St.

There, I saw two a--holes beating the crap out of each other in front of 6 squad cars, a police helicopter, and news crew.

Now, I feel better.

Kind of a bizarre ending, but some days............... (Time for another Prozac!)

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Pictures this week include:

Doug Johnstone, "65" and his nieces.

Doug Johnstone, 65, and his nieces
Doug Johnstone, "65" and his nieces

Fairyland.

Fairyland
Fairyland

Vintage Pink Prison.

Vintage Pink Prison
Vintage Pink Prison

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If you have trouble with the graphics in the email version, go to www.oocities.org/ohsnewsletter

Mail your news, comments and suggestions to Bonnie at HULSEBE@barstow.usmc.mil.

Copyright © 2002-2003 by Bonnie Burke Hulse '65 and Bev Shulster '65. All rights reserved.