His daughter, Diana Abelar Cortez/Class of 1976.

Retired city manager; sons & I enjoy mtn. climbing and backpacking.

Deceased

WE REMEMBER GWEN

We always thought she would be there. She was the hub, the person who kept us in touch with one another. Now, six months after her sudden and untimely death, we are better able to speak about our loss. Gwen Smith (nee Gwendolyn Mary Bowen) died on February 7, 2002 from a massive heart attack. She grew up and attended school from K through 12 in Santa Monica, graduating in Winter 1953. Gwen was a beautiful statuesque 5'9 ½" woman with an engaging smile who was known and admired by all who knew her. In later years when you went to Gwen's house for a visit, she always had a photo of you by your bedside. She never forgot anyone and we will never forget her.

Those of us who could traveled to Klamath Falls, Oregon where she spent her final years. It was a reunion filled with pathos for Betty (Graves) Plett, Larry and Nancy Goodfriend, Leila (Fogel) Brown and Toni (Teitelbaum) Wellen. Also there were her three sons from her marriage to Bob Vogel (also a Samohi graduate) now deceased, Gregory, Derek and Brad, their families, relatives of Gwen's second husband, Craig Smith (deceased),and many of Gwen's friends in the community.

We would like to share with you a passage Betty, Gwen's lifelong friend/sister wanted spoken at the memorial service that may bring to mind someone many of you have loved and lost:

"Death is nothing at all. It does not count. I have only slipped away into the next room. Nothing has happened. Everything remains exactly as it was. I am I, and you are you, and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged. Whatever we were to each other, that we are still. Call me by the old familiar name. Speak of me in the easy way which you always used. Put no difference into your tone. Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever the household word that it always was. Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it. Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever waqs. There is absolute and unbroken continuity. What is this death but a negligible accident? Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just around the corner. All is well."

We love you Gwen.

-- Submitted by Toni (Teitelbaum) Wellen

The '53 section looked a little barren, so I'm sending this entry. Retired from Lockheed a couple of years ago and enjoying the good life in Cupertino.

Here's hoping there will be a Reunion scheduled soon.  Next year will be nice.
The local Holiday Inn does a nice job. Greetings to classmates.  Al

albie keeps in touch!

We have recently celebrated or 47th wedding anniversary. We have raised 3 great kids,all living locally, and we enjoy our 2 grandchildren, 5 and 10 years old. We also have 3 granddogs and at the moment 4 grandhorses. Bert has been retired from Rockwell Int. for the past 6 years. We have a motorhome and like riding around the country, but our favorite places are Yosemite Valley and anywhere along the Pacific coast. In 1958-60 Bert was stationed on Oahu in Hawaii. We very unexpectedly saw Zella Herstien at the airport as we were meeting some visitors. It was a wonderful 2 years and we were very blessed because the troop ship that Bert was on was headed for Korea. We'd love to hear from anyone who remembers us.

Married to Mike Campbell class of 51 for 47 years. Four children & eleven grandchildren.

I have moved to Arizona and love it. Have been doing a lot of traveling. I am still doing antiques, volunteer at the local hospital and enjoying life. Retirement is just great.

Graduated in 1953, Retired with an injury from Beverly Hills Fire dept.1968 Have lived in Cabo san Lucas Baja Ca. for the last thirty two years, also worked twenty years with the University of Mexico successfully locating fossil sites for them in Baja Ca. south

Hi 53 grads, its really nice to see your names on this list. Brings back many nice memories of long unseen school friends. I am a chemist and enjoy my work (Walnut Creek). I have 2 sons and a daughter. My wife, Debby Nerger, was also a Samohi Grad, '59. Drop a line if you like.

Hanging tuff. Teaching jazz piano, and would love to hear from those of you that remember me.

Served in US army 1955-1957. Graduate BYU; 1965 BS, 1975 M.Ed., 1976 Ed.S. Parents resided in Santa Monica until their deaths. Served as principal of schools in N. California, and Pocatello, Idaho. Retired to West Jordan, Utah. Hobbies, art and painting.

Three children first marriage, Denver, Cordova (AK), and Baltimore. Second wife is soprano, faculty at Emory Univ. We have a 7-yr old girl for an unusual retirement. Former professional violist: Philadelphia, Buffalo; principal viola: Baltimore, Nashville, Santa Fe Opera. Professor Illinois State 25 years and adjunct now at Emory Univ. for chamber music. Wonderful Samohi memories: fellow students, teachers...

Retired now and traveling nearly full time in our motor home to enjoy smelling the roses. Hope to see some of our classmates at the next reunion.
vernonlovejoy.tripod.com/thelovejoys/

I enjoyed the latest issue of the Alumni News. Great things are happening to Barnum Hall! What a joy to see it come back to life and good use.

The geographical listing was interesting but it would be helpful to read the cities in BOLD!

I am now teaching Kindergarten after ten years in 1st and 2nd grades. I love it. The kids are energetic and lots of fun. I don't know why I waited
so long to try it.

Living in the great Pacific Northwest. Green, very green. But I cannot go bicycling anytime I want like when I lived in Santa Monica. The last two months of the 1953 school year I ended at Modesto Hi, so did not get the chance to be at graduation. Hope that is not held against me.

Retired teacher. Volunteer with Hospice of Santa Clara Valley and direct the St. Paul's Episcopal Church Choir in Santa Paula. Spend the summers traveling,fishing and sightseeing. Married to Roger Harvey. Have three super grandkids and 13 step grandchildren!

Still hanging out in S.M. Just cannot seem to leave. Have been working as a broker for Coldwell Banker-Jon Douglas in S.M. for the past 19 years, after leaving the pharmacy business. Still see some of the old gang of 1953. I look forward to our 50th!

Have relocated to Carlsbad, Ca. to get closer to the ocean, once in Santa Monica and the beach always calls.

Deceased
My dad ROBERT L. SPRATLEN (Bobby) passed away on 7/9/06. He had lived in Camarillo, CA the passed 12yrs. and retired in 1992 from the El Segundo fire dept. I don't have any contacts in S.M. but my "E" address is jls155@juno.com