REUNION 50 A THREE DAY BLAST

Our class of 1958 has celebrated the 50th anniversary of our graduation in ultimate style! The weekend of November 7, 8 and 9, 2008 was a time for summoning memories, good times, and greeting old friends.

The weekend began with a golf tournament featuring great pairings: Mich (Sukekane) and husband Sus Matano along with Terry and Rita Slack; starting next were Hank Rullhausen, John Garibaldi, Wells Richter, and Cliff Draeger. The third group out were Fred Pegalow, Dominic Ascani, Doug Hovik and Doug's brother Jerry.

As Terry Slack said about the event, "The day was just spectacular. The temperature and the golf scores were about the same. In the low 70's (if you believe that) and all those '58-ers looked really good for not seeing them in many years." We're certain more would have liked to play, but couldn't be contacted, so if you'd like to play in the next reunion golf tournament, make sure we know how to get in touch with you. Friday evening, the traditional "meet and greet" at Rosotti's Alpine Inn, up in Portola Valley where the beer flowed, the kitchen could barely keep up with the food orders, and there were a lot of laughs. All the "what are you doing now" questions got asked, and since most of our class has retired from the workaday world, there were many new adventures to hear about. Penny Post Lewis, unfortunately, only made the Friday night affair as she was leaving early Saturday for Panama and a learning/vacationing trip. Everyone else, however, were bent on revving up for the big Saturday night event at the Menlo Circus Club in still-chic Atherton. No horseback riding for us, though, as partying was the reason for being there.

The food, overseen by Owen Hawkins and with his personal touches of good taste, was a banquet to dream about. Delicious, unusual, creative foods for everyone's personal taste. Yes, there was even Pizza! Just down the table from the calamari, the perfectly roasted beef, acres of asparagus both steamed and sauteed, and it went on and on, snaking around three tables laden with wonderful flavors.

Janice Matsumura took this photo. (seen on her website #1 below) The Saturday evening program included Peggy (McDowell) Cramer's welcome, compliments to those who worked so hard to put on the event, including her many helpers and a surprise concert by Jack Lorton - noted Bay Area singer and San Francisco club entertainer - who let loose with just the right Sinatra-type songs that pleased the entire crowd. Sitting at 10-person tables, the gang reminisced, laughed and, yes, the horse-in-the-principal's-office came up time and again, Terry Slack still having to explain his role. (In fact the film of the event was shown repeatedly on Sunday at the all-class picnic at M-A!)

All those in attendance were appreciative that the program was sparse, to allow for maximum time to chat, wander around, and to be surprised by attendees we didn't expect to see. What fun!

Sunday was picnic day, a day the "Menlo-Atherton Foundation For The Future." This program helps fund M-A's most reputable "extras" such as small classes, a strong curriculum, excellent teachers, college and career prep, and other critical services. There's also fundraising going on which includes the new "Raise the Roof" campaign, raising offset funds for the simply gorgeous new Performing Arts Center which replaces the old "J Building" we all knew and loved. Click the link to "visit" what the PAC will look like upon completion on the Architects' website.

...PHOTOS OF THE BIG REUNION

Several classmates have uploaded their digital photos of the events over the weekend.

1. Janice Matsumura's photo are here.
2. Neil McCarty spent the mid day photographing the Menlo Circus Club and the area. Those photos are located on on this website
3. There are two online albums of photos taken by Jan Claire and Sharon Draeger, located here and here.
4. Beth "Everything's coming up" Rosener's photos are here.

Charlie's Looking for a Yearbook

Charlie Bubb, class of 1958, is desperately
seeking a yearbook from his year (1958).

If you have one you'd part with:

• via e-mail
• or Cell: 858-361-3711
• or leave message on 858-454-8983 (La Jolla, CA)
• or look for him at the Reunion!

Got your Bear Wear?

Get your M-A Bears alumni apparel from the online Bear Store...this (relatively) new website sells all things Bear and now you can advertise that you're an alumnus of one of the world's great high schools.

Just click the photo at left and you'll go right to the Alumni section...from there you can choose sports-related apparel, as well. Want to bet that a Lacrosse sweatshirt would have been rare in our era? As a matter of fact, did anyone play soccer in 1958? Now's your chance for redemption and to help the Bears while doing so. And to give one of these items to the kids or grandkids might earn you enough points to get you into a championship!

Noted Menlo-Athertonians

• Isaac "WestmenloAA" Baron, young American professional poker player from Menlo Park. He was the winner of the first Card Player Magazine Online Poker Player of the Year Award in 2007. Graduated circa 2005



• George Hanks "Hank" Brown, a Representative and a Senator from Colorado; born in Denver, Colo., February 12, 1940; attended the public schools; graduated, Menlo-Atherton High School 1957; B.S., University of Colorado, Boulder, Colo. 1961; J.D., University of Colorado 1969; M.L. (tax), George Washington University 1986; served in the United States Navy, lieutenant 1962-1966; admitted to the Colorado bar in 1969; vice president, Monfort of Colorado, 1969-1980; served in the Colorado senate, 1972-1976; became Certified Public Accountant, 1988; elected as a Republican to the Ninety-seventh and to the four succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1981-January 3, 1991); elected to the United States Senate in 1990 and served from January 3, 1991 to January 3, 1997; not a candidate for reelection in 1996; co-director, Center for Public Policy and Contemporary Issues, University of Denver 1997-1998; president, University of Northern Colorado 1998-2002; president, Daniels Fund 2002-2005; president, University of Colorado 2005-2008; Now retired, he has gone back to work for the University, helping coach up-and-coming student leaders.



• Lindsay Buckingham: Growing up in Atherton, Buckingham and his brothers were encouraged to join the M-A Water Polo team. Though Buckingham dropped out of water polo to pursue music, his brother Greg Buckingham went on to win a silver medal at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. Lindsay played guitar and bass with Fleetwood Mac. (see Stevie Nicks below)



• Cheryl Burke: Professional Dancer, winner of Dancing with the Stars season 2 with partner Drew Lachey and season 3 with Emmitt Smith; Currently a Dancing With The Stars instructor; 2002 grad of M-A



• Greg Camarillo, Professional Football Player (Miami Dolphins), attended Menlo-Atherton High School and was a letterman in football and basketball. In football, he was a four-year letterman and as a senior, he was a first team All-Peninsula Athletic League honoree and an All-San Mateo County selection. In basketball, he was a second team All-Peninsula Athletic League selection.



• Chris Dorst, Olympic Waterpolo Player
  a member of the 1980 and 1984 US Olympic water polo teams, Dorst won a silver medal at the Los Angeles Games. He holds a B.A. in History and an MBA from Stanford University, where he was an NCAA All-America, team captain and national champion in water polo. Currently chairman of the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame Board of Directors.



• Sahara Lotti, 1995 grad, screenwriter and actress. Wrote scenes for acting classes at USC and after graduation decided to do screenwriting full time. Currently greenlit is her film A Family Affair starring Sarah Jessica Parker. 1995-ish graduate of M-A



• Greil Marcus, noted critic on rock music (First records editor of The Rolling Stone) and American culture and author of many books, including Mystery Train and Lipstick Traces.



• Bob Melvin: circa 1979 grad, (born October 28, 1961, in Palo Alto) is a former Major League Baseball catcher and the current manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks. His cousin Tom Melvin is tight ends coach for the Philadelphia Eagles.



• Stevie Nicks: singer, songwriter, and keyboardist; member of rock band Fleetwood Mac. In 1966 her family moved to Atherton where she attended Menlo-Atherton High School for her junior and senior years, that included Lindsey Buckingham, who was a sophomore. They had a garage band and played current top 40 cover tunes at dances at M-A. 1974 is when they got the fateful telephone call that would propel them into "Fleetwood Mac"



• Courtney Thorne-Smith: actress who grew up in Menlo Park attended Menlo-Atherton High, but graduated from Tamalpais High School, Mill Valley. Her father a computer scientist, and her husband is Roger Fishman.


• Bob Weir: guitarist and founding member of the Grateful Dead, raised by adoptive parents in Atherton, played guitar at 13, evidently holds a record for being expelled from nearly every school he attended - probably due to his then-undiagnosed dyslexia. First Grateful Dead appearance in album Ace (1972). You DO remember vinyl, don't you?



• Steve Westly, Managing Partner, The Westly Group which holds $2.9-billion in North American investments former Controller and Chief Fiscal Officer, State of California. Stanford graduate.

M-A's Foundation for the Future:

Please show your alumni pride by joining the Foundation for the Future’s Million Dollar + Annual Campaign & the Richard Weaver Fund for Social Studies. With your support, M-A will continue to flourish as a leading public high school, now and in the future.

Recent Successes

New Look on Campus

M-A’s Students

New Alumni Initiative

M-A Building New
Performing Arts Center

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