MOUNT CARMEL
"50th"
REUNION
AKA THE VIEJITOS OF 1951
NEWSLETTER NO. 3
MOUNT CARMEL
"50th"
REUNION
AKA THE VIEJITOS OF 1951
NEWSLETTER NO. 3Here we are at the CTA again our hosts are John Smith and Bill Hohn. In attendance is Warren Waterworth, Garnett Boklage, Bill Hohn, John Smith, Al Tobey Bob Lopez, Leo Fernandez, Bill Holmes, Ron Plue, Richard Nordell, Marty Butier, Don Grime, Leon Leonard, Frank Lee, John Coppin, and myself Tony Oviedo. See if you can figure out who is who??
Well here it is March 5, 2000 only one year and 3 months to go till our reunion. As you know we have been meeting for breakfast every two weeks in Fullerton at Coco’s. We just shoot the breeze and discuss normal things and people and places we have gone to or met. It seems that at every one of these mini meetings we find out more about each other or other classmates and things they are doing or have done. So far through the diligent hard work of John Coppin, Bill Hohn and others we have located out of 106 graduates a total of 82, unfortunately 14 have passed away.
Some one mentioned that when we finally have our reunion that we have a mass said for our absent classmates. They are as follows: GEORGE BERCAW, FRANK BUTTE, BILL CUILTY, JOSEPH DE LA LLATA, PATRICK FERGUSON, FRED FOHL, BILL GERMSCHEID, JAMES IBBETSON, BRUCE KRAMER, LEO QUIROZ, MATTHEW SKULICH, PATRICK SMITH, OGER VAN DANGE AND ROBERT ZAHARRIS. Please keep these friends in your prayers. I know that normally this newsletter is more humor and fun, but I thought that we should mention our past friends one more time and keep the memory alive.
The more we have these breakfast’s I have learned so much more about Bill hohn, yes he is a retired urologist, but as a person he has a great sense of humor, and the way he keeps trim is to run about ten miles every other day. He also likes gadgets tape recorders, digital cameras etc etc. Bill likes brainteasers he plays with his grandkids, and like all grandparents the kids beat him. I really enjoy talking with him and listen to him speak. Garnett Boklage is something else; he without a doubt is a very nice person and helps others by taking care of them. I will not go into to details, because he wants to keep a low profile and I respect that. He has a million stories and keeps me in stitches; he has two airplanes and will take you up anytime, he may not bring you back but that’s another story. Garnett has a lot of women friends and He keeps telling us that they constantly are feeding him, and say he say’s he wishes he could lose weight like he loses money on the stock market. Bok say’s he can’t lose one pound, but you know he loves every minute of it. Warren keeps busy by working for a computer company, he started as a teacher because that was his field of expertise with the gas co., but got so bored he started working in the repair end of it. John Smith is funnier than ever and still keeps his fingers in the CTA (California Teachers Assoc.) He enjoys keeping busy as all of us do, John has an interesting job where he works on the union side to litigate for the teachers in everything imaginable. Lets not forget though that he is the major stockholder in Grecian Formula and he looks great! look at his picture if you don’t believe me. Albert Tobey belongs to Los Coyotes CC and tries to play nine holes of golf about 4 times a week and also plays a lot of tennis, he is very active at his country club. Don Grime keeps busy playing on his computer, and also is a guide at the Fullerton arboretum, and by the way he is our treasurer so if you need a quick loan I’m sure he is willing to help out an alumnus. Leon Leonard keeps busy working with the Neptune Society, when people don’t understand Leon goes to their homes and explains it to their satisfaction. He still has his boat and does charters or uses it for his own pleasure. Leo Fernandez still works for the Social Security, and we all must take good care of him, so we keep getting our monthly checks. Frank Lee still works at his brass foundry and keeps pretty busy. Frank by the way is working on a site for our reunion. Go Frank!! Bob Lopez is getting ready to leave for New York in his RV, and will return around November. Bill Holmes keeps pretty busy at home tending to his wife who is under the weather. John Coppin keeps working on his computer searching for the unfound grads or calling on the phone to see if this one is a Mt. Carmel alumna. Myself I keep busy typing newsletters and try to keep you informed about your old and I mean old buddies.
We just had our 3rd mini reunion and we had two new faces to greet and hear about what they have done since leaving Mt. Carmel. Ron Plue came from Encino to visit with us and he told us about himself. He went to work for Hughes Air Craft for 30 years and took and early handshake (retirement). He then when to school for 2 years learning woodworking, said it was the best class he ever attended. He got his degree in physiology and works as counselor for the Pacific Lodge Youth services. He is also very involved with Crespi High School and is on the board of directors. All his children went to Crespi, he has 3 boys and 2 girls, and is having the time of his life.
We also had another visitor by the name of Richard Nordell; Richard joined the Navy following High School and served 22 years as an engine man. Richard was in the silent service for 9 years (submarines). He has 2 children, a boy and a girl, both who he and his wife adopted and have 2 grandchildren. While in Orange County he lived in Fullerton then migrated to Klamath Falls Oregon where he felt it would be a better environment for his children. They built their home and he worked for a heating and refrigeration business and wound up managing it for 2 years. Then he went to work for the Klamath Falls school district as a plumber and had 24 schools to take care of. In 1977 he left for San Gabriel ca. to work with the Vinnel corp. in Saudi Arabia as an operating engineer then left when the Iranians took over the embassy. He left and went back to Oregon to work in heating and refrigeration on his own. Then in 1981 he returned to Orange County to work at the Fairview Development Center in Costa Mesa. Richard finally retired for good in 1998 and travels the country in his 34-foot RV. He lives in Anaheim when he’s not traveling like a gypsy.
In my last newsletter I spoke about Marty Butier being in the pipe business, because I really could not remember what he said. When Marty left Mt. Carmel he enrolled at Loyola University and was helping his father in the lawn sprinkler business. To regress he used to hire classmates to help when they large jobs, he hired Donny Powers and John Smith. I heard that Donny got paid more because he worked harder and Marty liked him best. Ha Ha, don’t know what is the truth. Getting back to Marty when he turned 19 his father passed away, so Marty had to run the business and go to school at the same time. Marty finished school and ran the sprinkler business then sold it and went into the irrigation business which he still works at. Marty still looks the same and still has his sense of humor, glad to see you at these mini reunions.
Well as you know we are still trying to get people to come to these mini reunions, and one of the persons we have put our energy’s to is Sebbie Molina. We had a breakfast in Torrance and he didn’t show. Bok went to his home and wife opened the door and she said Sebbie is shaving, and would be down in a moment. Bok heard Sebbie yell to come on upstairs and talk to him. When Bok got upstairs there was Sebbie in his underwear shaving and Sebbie invited him in. Bok said he was a little nervous, but after a few minutes was okay. Sebbie told him he was in the Levi business and sold to all the celebrity’s sports and movie stars and had the photographs to prove it. Alas, Bok could not get a commitment out of Sebbie so if any of you guys have any influence on him please use it.
Well I guess I’ve rambled on so maybe it is time to end newsletter 3. By the way at our last meeting Bob Lopez commented on having 17 grandchildren and John Smith challenged anyone who had more. Well Bill Holmes said are you kidding I have 21 grandchildren from 9 children. He said when he first got married they didn’t have a TV that was Bob’s story also as he has 9 children too. Well adios mis amigos see you in the next newsletter. May our Lady of Mount Carmel watch over all of you.
Now it is time to tell you who is who, Top row left to right Al Tobey, Don Grime, Frank Lee, John Coppin, Leon Leonard, Marty Butier, Ron Plue Middle row Bob Lopez, Leo Fernandez, Tony Oviedo, Bill Holmes, Richard Nordell Bottom row Warren Waterworth, Garnett Boklage, Bill Hohn and John Smith.
I have a little room left so I will fill with a joke. The great golf match!
The Pope met with his cardinals to discuss a proposal from Benjamin Netanyahu the leader of Israel. "Your Holiness", said one of the Cardinals Mr. Netanyahu wants to challenge you to a game of golf to show the friendship and ecumenical spirit shared by the Jewish and Catholic faiths. The Pope thought that this was a good idea, but he had never held a golf club in his hand. "Don’t we have a Cardinal to represent me?" He asked.
None that plays very well, a Cardinal replied. "But," he added, there is a man named Jack Nicklaus, an American golfer who is a devout Catholic. We can offer to make him a Cardinal, then ask him to play Mr. Netanyahu as your personal representative. In addition, to showing our spirit of cooperation, we’ll also win the match.
Everyone agreed it was a good idea. The call was made. Of course Nicklaus was honored and agreed to play. The day after the match Nicklaus reported to the Vatican to inform the Pope of the result. I have some good news and some bad news, your Holiness, said the golfer. Tell me the good news first, Cardinal Nicklaus, said the Pope. Well your Holiness, I don’t like to brag, but even though I’ve played same pretty terrific rounds of golf in my life, this was the best I have ever played by far. I must have been inspired from above. My drives were long and true, my irons were accurate and purposeful, and my putting was perfect. With all due respect, my play was truly miraculous. There is bad news?, asked the Pope. Yes, Nicklaus sighed. " I lost to Rabbi Tiger Woods by three strokes". That’s all folks till next time…….