MOUNT CARMEL
" 50th "
REUNION
AKA THE VIEJITOS OF 1951
NEWSLETTER NO. 4
May 7th 2000, we are only one year and one month away from the big reunion of ‘50’ years. Who could ever imagine having a fifty-year high school reunion, and I thought our class would never have one after so many years had passed. We met today for our fourth mini-reunion working to get this great party finalized. Frank Lee told us that the Reunion would be held at the Sheraton Anaheim, June 9, 2001, 6:30pm to 12 midnight. More info to come at a later date concerning food, lodging and having a special mass, etc etc.
We had a great turnout considering the Lakers were on TV at the same time as our meeting. In attendance was newcomers Ted Bach, Tom (TV) Crosson, Tom Cannon and Larry Fregin and coming all the way from Texas was Tom Steele what a guy, also Garnett Boklage, John Coppin, Frank Lee, Richard Nordel, Tom O’Donnell, John Smith, Leo Fernandez, Bill Hohn, Hal Prukop, Warren (no scholarship) Waterworth and me Tony Oviedo.
Here is a little background on our new visitors:
Ted Bach was born in Gardena left Mount Carmel and worked as engineer at Northrop in Gardena, got married in Gardena, joined the LAPD and lived in Gardena; retired after 31 years has 2 children and has been retired 10 years and still lived in Gardena.
Tom Crosson left Mt. Carmel and attended St. Mary’s Moraga and studied business, when all the specialty stores started He and his family sold all the TV stores or franchised them. He worked for a Magazine called Orange County Advertising, then started his own Ad Agency and worked mainly for car dealerships throughout the country 38 in all. Then was hired by George Hamilton to advertise his business in the casino New York New York and now that has ended he now is working for the Donald Trump Casino enterprises. Tom has homes in Newport Beach and Palm Springs. He has 4 children and 7 grandchildren.
Larry Fregin did some Life Guarding then entered the Navy for 4 years did Life Guarding and was on the Navy swim teams. When he got out of Navy went to LACC for a year or so then joined the LAPD (he didn’t live in Gardena) Larry retired after 22 ½ years got into real estate and antiques, and he also bought Rolls Royce’s in England for about $5000 and sold them here for $20,000 to $25,000 not bad huh? He had a yacht dealership but gave that up couldn’t get away as much as he wanted; he also is a certified Hypnotherapist. Larry has a 35 ft power boat at Dana Point where he stays on the weekends, and has so many women wanting to come aboard he has a ticket machine to keep the ladies from fighting, he also has a home in Ellsinore and has a web site called Potentials Unlimited and considers himself a Professional Beachcomber. Larry has 3 sons and 1 daughter and 8 grandchildren.
Tom Cannon went to El Camino after MC and quit because it was too easy enrolled at UCLA and felt better getting C’s and D’s and took business. Worked in business construction, Ernst & Ernst as accountant then decided to go on his own. He is semi-retired and still has one large client. He has 2 children one son is an Ortho Pedic Surgeon, 2 marriages second marriage has 31 years, has 6 grandchildren and lives in San Diego and has never lived in Gardena. A final note on Tom is that he and his son deliver day old bread to the invalids and AIDS patients and people that cant get around much anymore. He told us some sad stories, but helping in this little way made him feel good. We also feel very proud of what you are doing Tom good work.
By the way Bok said after Tom’s bio of himself that he wanted some bread, because he was broke and couldn’t afford it. We had to pick him up at the airport because he flew in to town in his own plane. I told you this guy is something else, I wish I had known Bok better in school, we all enjoy his humor and his ways.
John Smith and Bill Hohn traveled to Woodland hills and met with Ron Plue, Reynold Johnson, Brandon MacAller and Dick Birnbaumer. I have small amount of information on Reynold Johnson he worked for Hughes for 22 years then went to work for Cal Tech for some time and retired as an engineer, and is happily married. Brandon MacAller is or was a financial Planner, Dick Birnbaumer works in the Probation Dept, and im sorry that’s all the information I have.
Hal Prukop was telling us about his brother in-law Rodney Horejsi that he works for International Rectifier and is the auditor for his company. He traveled to Japan, Italy, Hong Kong and Europe to audit their other overseas companies, but when he got high blood pressure they didn’t send him again. They liked him too much and didn’t want anything serious to happen to him. They even gave 17,000 shares of the company that’s how much they care. Hal asked me to call him to have him attend a mini-reunion or even commit to coming to the reunion next year. I went to grammar school with Rodney at St. Brigid’s and we both worked for the LA Examiner for 4 to 6 years and played on the Examiner's softball team for 4 years and won the city championship. Well when I called I got the surprise of my life, he said he didn’t remember me and didn’t know who I was. I told him if he doesn’t want to attend or be a part of the reunion that’s fine, but don’t give that B.S. that he didn’t know me. I got his brothers phone number and called Bob and he remembered me instantly and we talked about old times. Unfortunately he has stomach cancer, but he and Rodney are planning a trip to Alaska this year. He told me in so many words the Rodney doesn’t really care and is to involved in his own world.
Who is in the picture?
Left to right back row: Frank Lee, Tom Crosson, Tom Steele, Richard Nordel, Hal Prukop, Tom O’Donnell and Larry Fregin.
Middle row: John Smith, Tony Oviedo, Tom Cannon, Leo Fernandez and John Coppin
Front row: Bill Hohn, Ted Bach, Garnett Boklage and Warren Waterworth.
Last but not least a great big hand for our hosts John Smith who acquires are meeting location and supplies the food, and to Bill Hohn for all the refreshments. Thanks guys we really appreciate it.
Well that’s it for this newsletter I hope you enjoy it as much as I do putting it together, see you soon in the news or the meetings or the reunion.