Jan

May 31, 2000

Lewis G. Karcher

Biology teacher, outdoor enthusiast

Lewis G. Karcher, longtime resident of Menlo Park and former biology teacher at Menlo-Atherton High School for 28 years, died May 19 at the age of 74. Mr. Karcher, who was born in Boise, Idaho, participated in school theater during his 30-year tenure at Menlo-Atherton and spent many summers working as a park ranger in the Yosemite and Lassen national parks.

Mr. Karcher is survived by a daughter, Katherine Brandt of Norman, Oklahoma; a son, Kevin Karcher of Seattle, Washington; a brother, Kenneth Karcher of Boise, Idaho; a sister, Dorothy Efron of Bend, Oregon; three granddaughters; two great-grandchildren; and dear friend, Lucie Burak of San Mateo.

A graveside service was held May 24 at the Alta Mesa Memorial Park in Palo Alto.

May 5, 2000

I have retired and enjoying the good life. Cleaning up after our 2 goats, feeding the 3 horses and 4 dogs. The day are not long enough. The move was exhausting. My childen did not have to wait till I died to receive all my things. My Daughter is having a big garage sale.

I am now living in Watsonville on a three acre ranchlette..

Pat Dudley Lowe

4/17/00

We need a new title on the front page. Suggestion--how about a HUGE thank you to Peggy for all the work she did on the amazing Class Reunion Book. It is outstanding, amazing and any other word you can think of. I told her, like it or not, she is up for sainthood as the production of this piece with all she is doing is clearly a miracle! Hope all is well. Take care. Penny

A sad note...the passing of Todd Phipers.
Forwarded to us by Larry Knock:

Colorado PGA hails Post's Phipers
By The Denver Post

Nov. 7 - The Colorado Section of the PGA named its media award the "Todd Phipers Media Award'' and honored the late Denver Post golf writer as the first recipient at its annual awards banquet Saturday.

Phipers, the Post's golf writer for more than a decade, died of cancer in February.

"From our standpoint, Todd was such a huge supporter of our efforts,'' said Scott Wellington, executive director of the Colorado Section. "He frequently approached us with ideas about how we could promote our organization. This is the least we could do to honor him.''

"Todd got kidded a lot about his golf swing, but he truly had a passion for the game and it showed in his work,'' said Tom Kensler, who succeeded Phipers as The Denver Post's golf writer.

Dave Waters was not in our class. He graduated 15 years after we did, but his letter to us, after having viewed our website, was so fascinating, we figured it deserved to be in our forum!

Hi - just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed your web site, even though I'm a bit "newer" - class of '73. Brought back fond memories though. I really liked the picture of Santa Cruz Avenue in 1956! I was a whole 3 years old when you all graduated! ;-)

Ben Parks was the notable coach through the 70's and beyond. He's had quite an influence on the community, way beyond the high school he taught and coached at. I can remember being in his PE class and being chased around the "manmaker", which ran through the school, over to Oak Grove Ave, across on some other street whose name escapes me, and back down Ravenswood (or was it Ringwood?) to the fields. He carried a baseball bat to encourage stragglers. He never touched anyone with it, but was forced to get a plastic whiffle bat when some parent(s) complained. He tried to get me to try out for football, but sports never was my thing. I did play on the track team for two years, the coach was Plato Yanicks. I guess he's still around, he commented to the papers when Frank Bettencourt passed away this year. (http://www.paweekly.com/paw/morgue/sports/1999_Apr_9.FRANK.html) Harvey Corbin was the water polo coach, and Bob Ayers was the Boys PE department head when I was there.

My favorite class was Phil Thompson's Speech I and Speech II - thanks to him I can do public speaking! He was great, probably my favorite teacher of the high school. Funny that I remember that just now, I had lost his name to my lost yearbooks! Hey, I like this remembering thing!! :-)

I noted on your site that Albert Faggetti was a teacher during your tenure - he was teaching when I was there too. I hate math to this day because of him! ;-) He was tough all right. Most of the other teachers I had seemed to be young and the new guard. My counselor was Mr. Ziegler, wonder if he was there when you were?

I loved the pool. The high dive was my favorite. On those rainy days when the coaches couldn't fit everyone under cover, some of us would get to go swimming. I can remember only a few of us diving off the high dive all period long. I had grown up with a pool and the high dive was ultra cool.

"J building" is still "J building" today! I can remember running spotlights for UMA productions there in my freshman year. We usually had assemblies there. I think I went to one dance there during my HS career .

I know what you mean about the school's size. I found that my elementary school (Fremont School on Middle Avenue) seemed miniscule when I took my kids by there and got out to look around. I can still remember the day Kennedy was assasinated, my 3rd grade teacher was white as a ghost when we came back from recess and that image is etched indelibly in my mind. Hmmm, I digress.

I guess the biggest event for us back then was the fact that during my 4 years - 1969 to 1973 - there were no race riots. The year before and several years afterwards had disturbances, but it was quiet during our time. "Equality" was a big topic then - guess it's called diversity today.

Let's see what I can remember about campus life. The trailers that made up the attendance office (home of "cut slips" and Nathaniel Brooks, Dean of Boys. Smoker's Hill (not for me) - across the street from the crossing/entrance on Middlefield. Main hallway during passing period (the forerunner of the Bay Area's freeway rush hour - getting us ready for commute traffic!) The smell of the metal shop, and the wood shop next door. Running all the way out to the gym on rainy days - only to get suited up and all wet and muddy playing flag football. Driver's Training with Mr. Eglington, in a car donated by Towne Ford in Redwood City (gee, we got our current minivan there - same family owns the place). That stupid driver's simulator, where I managed to get an "F" from that malfunctioning monstrosity -- and an "A" in the car, where it counted for 70% (thank goodness). Dick Weaver taught Ecology in 1969, I think that was the first year it was taught (and darned near his first year of teaching too, I think).

Lunch at Jiffy Burgers, A&W, Foster's Freeze (my fave), and the newcomer - McDonald's. McDonald's was robbed one year - by two members of the JV football team! (Geez!) Hanging at Johnny's Smoke Shop (still no smoking, but comic books!). The 7-11 at Oak Grove and the railroad tracks and the early days of Slurpees. The Menlo Square Market across from the library at Alma Street. The mysterious SRI facility (what went on in there?). Kepler's Books on El Camino in the old Victorian house - reputed to be a hotbed of Communism. Some of the stores we had in downtown - Clifford's Pharmacy (and Preuss Pharmacy too), Toy and Party Shop, Gindele's Pet Shop, Joslyn's Bike Shop. Draeger's, Lee Brothers markets, and Safeway (when they were green). The "Alec" department store (little did we know, the forerunner of Target, et. al. Menlo Park Hardware, which, with the exception of major appliances, looks largely the same today as it did then. Don's Hobby Shop. McFarlane's Candies on El Camino, and another newcomer - Baskin-Robbins on Santa Cruz Avenue.

I've pretty much stayed in the area, bouncing around from Foster City to San Jose, then moved at the beginning of this year to Applegate, about 5 miles east of Auburn on I-80. I still work for a company in Sunnyvale and telecommute most of the time. I do their intranet web site (!). I love it up here in the foothills - as much as I loved Menlo Park, it's too much of a mob scene now and I far prefer the spread-out-ed-ness of the Sierra.

Thanks for your comments -- and thanks for enduring all of mine!

Dave Waters, Class of 1973

Well, I finished it all, it was an incredible experience, & I'm still ecstatic. Actually, to even qualify & get to the starting line is a huge high.

Once again, part of that high included a chance M-A hook-up.

In the LA airport, I was in line behind a couple & the man had on an ironman medical team waistpack. We chatted about going to the same event, said where we were from & so on. He had grown up in Cupertino & when I said where I'd grown up he said his father had taught at M-A for 35 years. Who? Robert Condon. I told him I not only knew his father, but had his mother for PE as soon as I arrived at M-A. More? His parents were in Honolulu right then, & would come over to Kona on the 18th. I heard from them on that day, biked down to their condo, & had a wonderful reunion with them. And yes, I certainly did take pictures, as did they. It was terrific! I took my class list with me & told them about you as we went through the names. Sylvia Zeitland Condon left M-A upon their marriage in 1957, per district policy, & taught at Woodside later, following the birth of their son David.

I also had a long talk with Ione Knight Kanetake, with whom all is about as well as last year; and left & got messages from Lee Bowen who is likewise fine, fortunately. Lastly for M-A things, I'd printed up all of your encouraging messages before I left, & read through each one the night before the race. What a boost!

The race? Mostly great. The swim was again good once I got clear of the hardchargers beside me at the start. I should mention that the swiss man who hit me last year was back & was standing next to me just as I was about to get into the water. We smiled, I shook his hand, & we wished each other a good race. Made me wish I had actually made a sign for my bike shirt, "swiss, please stay waaay to the left". At mile 3.5 on the bike leg he passed me, waaay to the left, smiling & giving me a thumbs-up. I breathed a sigh of relief.

The bike leg was OK, but took longer than I'd wanted. Part of this was due to a flat at mile 60. After last year's 2 crashes, a flat was a mere annoyance. Flats usually don't hurt you. The big reason for slowness was a steady headwind coming back the last 30-40 miles & I decided to just do it easily & save my legs for the marathon to follow the bike. When I got off the bike I nearly yelled "no crashes!" at the helpers, I was so glad.

The transition here was just as good as the first one (this is a luxury race): bag handed off with new clothes, helpers in the tent. Here I had a special helper: David Condon's wife----really part of the med team there, but she'd seen me wheel in, so raced into the tent to see to my needs. And as soon as I exited, there was doctor David, checking me over & sending me off with an A-OK. It was quite special.

The run, for me, is a steady slog. But steady slog gets you to the finish line sooner or later. It turned dark after I'd been out an hour or 2, & they pin glowsticks on your back at that point, making for a somewhat eerie sight along the roads. There's all sorts of encouragement from people at the food stations (every mile), and otherwise I was alone or with other runners in the dark. However, the finish is beyond belief, & all the moreso if you're toward the end. THE deal is to go back down to the finish area, no matter when you were done, to see the end. When I came down the last 1/4 mile of Alii Drive there were thousands on the sides & all yelling wildly. The announcer already saw my #, pulled up my sheet & was yelling about last year's crashes & now a finish, & the last few yards were euphoric past description. It was a real rush. I was glad enough to stop running, but what a wildly wonderful end.

I loved being part of the whole ironman experience & really loved finishing it. Thanks so much for all of the encouragement and congratulations, which made it such a high.

Peggy

10/22/99

Has anyone seen Ron Bonjo? If so, e-mail steppinn1@worldaccessnet.com

Jim Stepp

10/22/99

We just received word that Charlie and Anne Grey Bugg had a great trip to Israel, Greece & Turkey in June - Charlie's first venture across the Atlantic. He & Anne celebrated their 33rd anniversary August 7, 1999. Congratulations to a swell couple!!

Jan

PEGGY MCD-CRAMER IS IN KONA DOING THE IRONMAN!

Peggy sent us all this visual postcard from the Ironman Triathlon in Hawaii. Her number is 732 so we should watch for her on the television coverage!

Keep track of the goings on live on the Internet at: http://www.ironmanlive.com/default_live.htm

Go Peggy!!

Jan

Hi Friends, Hope this finds all well with you and your families.

We should all think GOOD thoughts for good weather (no wind) and speed for Peggy while she's competing in the Iron Man Triathlon on Kona.

I have changed jobs. I became the Development Director for the Arboretum Foundation in Seattle in mid-August. I joined a staff of 7 others working with the City of Seattle (they own the 230 acres of parkland in the middle of Seattle) and the University of Washington (they manage the collections--4,500 varieties of woody plants) managing a variety of volunteer fundraising activities and educationals opportunities. A huge challenge. But exciting to me.

I have a beautiful place to work and it is 16 miles closer to home. I live in a place where I am able to kayak to work if that suits my shedule. My biggest commuter traffic consists of flocks of ducks and geese and an occasional beaver!

I can hardly believe that it was just a year ago we all gathered for our reunion. What fun that was. Take care. I look forward to hearing from you.

Penny Post Lewis

Susan Hall Bujnak sends along an article (we don't know where it was published) containing this article about Frank Bettencourt's recent death:

Long Time M-A baseball coach dies

Just a few days before his April 6 death, barely able to talk, Frank Bettencourt still managed to run down the rosters of his favorite baseball players ~ but this doesn't surprise friend Plato Yani.cks.

"He could barely whisper, but he still had baseball on his mind," said Mr. Yanicks, retired Menlo-Atherton High School track coach, who worked alongside Mr. Bettencourt for years.

Mr. Bettencourt, who suffered from prostate cancer, was 74. For 40 years, he was head baseball coach at M-A, leading the Bears to a Peninsula championship in 1957. In 1988, Mr. Bettencourt, who was a physical education instructor, retired from teaching. But he continued to coach at M-A until five years ago. One of his former M-A players, Bob Melvin, went on to play for the Giants.

In the last few years, Mr. Bettencourt worked as an assistant coach at South San Francisco High, coaching until just three weeks before his death, despite deteriorating health.

"Baseball was his passion," said son Mark.

And he was enormously respected among his peers, considered the "dean of baseball" on the Peninsula by fellow coaches, said Mr. Yanicks. In fact, Mr. Bettencourt was the only coach admitted to the M-A Hall of Fame in its first year.

Mr. Bettencourt grew up in Atherton, later moving to Mountain View. He is survived by his wife, Ruth and son Mark.

April 9, 1999, San Jose Mercury News:

FRANK BETTENCOURT
LONGTIME M-A COACH DIES AT 74

Published: Thursday, April 8, 1999
Section: Sports
Page: 10D

BY DARREN SABEDRA, Mercury News Staff Writer

For a while, it seemed nothing could prevent Frank Bettencourt from doing what he liked to do best: coach baseball. Fighting an illness that ultimately would take his life, Bettencourt continued to put on a uniform and go out to the field.

''Baseball really was his greatest passion,'' Bettencourt's son, Mark, said Wednesday.

For more than four decades, Bettencourt, who died Tuesday of cancer, devoted his life to the game. He coached the varsity team at Menlo-Atherton High for 38 seasons, retiring in 1994, and later was an assistant coach at South San Francisco High.

This season, Bettencourt, 74, continued to go to practice, though his health was deteriorating. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer three years ago.

''Looking at his career, he probably was the most dedicated coach I've been around in 37 years,'' said longtime colleague Plato Yanicks, a retired Menlo-Atherton track coach. ''I would say in a year's period of time, he gave about two weeks for vacation. The rest of the time, he coached baseball.

''Summer. Winter. Spring. Baseball was his thing. Just like Enos Slaughter of the St. Louis Cardinals, to get the uniform off his back, you'd have to tear it off. He was that dedicated.''

He also was a dedicated statistician. He knew exactly how his players hit in crucial situations. He knew how many stolen bases they amassed.

''I don't know any coach who kept stats on ballplayers that he kept,'' Yanicks said.

Bettencourt was so well-respected that when Menlo-Atherton selected 55 charter members to its Hall of Fame in 1994, he was the only coach honored.

''Being the first is very special to me,'' Bettencourt said.

Three of Bettencourt's former players also were part of that class, including Bob Melvin, who went on to play for the Giants.

Pam Wimberly, athletic director at Menlo-Atherton, said Bettencourt had baseball on his mind as recently as Friday, the last time she met with him.

''He asked me immediately how was Menlo-Atherton and asked me about my family and then told me it was between the Rockies, the Dodgers or the Giants for the Western Division,'' said Wimberly, who has worked at the school since 1968. ''I said, 'Oh, the Rockies?' He said, 'Yeah.' He had the newspaper lying there on his bed and had been reading it.

''He was just the nicest, nicest man. I was just thankful I got to work with him.''

Bettencourt, who was born in San Francisco and resided in Mountain View, is survived by his wife of 51 years, Ruth, and their son, Mark.

A vigil will be held at St. Nicholas Church in Los Altos at 3 p.m. Sunday. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Nicholas Church at 10 a.m. Monday.