June 10, 2014

Prom memories

Candidates for Prom Queen and Prom King from Burbank High School, 1968.

Candidates for Prom Queen and Prom King from Burbank High School, 1968. (L-R) Susie Meyers, Kathy Musson, Mindy Poe, Claudia Babbe. Back row: Jim Gustad, Greg Horton, Bob Reitherman and Pat Sullivan. Don’t they all look gorgeous?!

We’ve come to the end of the school year where many seniors are involved with graduation activities and going to proms. If you look up “Prom” in Wikipedia, you’ll find this:

In the United States, and increasingly in the United Kingdom and Canada, prom (short for promenade)[1] is a semi-formal (black tie) dance or gathering of high school students. This event is typically held near the end of the senior year (i.e., the last year of high school). Prom figures greatly in popular culture and is a major event among high school students. High school juniors attending the prom may call it “junior prom” while high-school seniors may call it “senior prom” or “senior ball”. In practice, this event may be a combined junior/senior dance.

Betsey Nash wore the same dress to two events.

Betsey Nash wore the same dress to two events!

At prom, a Prom Queen and Prom King may be revealed. These are honorary titles awarded to students elected in a school-wide vote prior to the prom, and seniors are usually awarded these titles. Juniors may also be honored, but would be called “Prom Prince” or “Prom Princess.” Other students may be honored with inclusion in a “Prom Court.” The selection method for Prom Court is similar to that of Homecoming Queen/Princess, King, and Court. Inclusion in a Prom Court may be a reflection of popularity of those students elected and their level of participation in school activities, such as clubs or sports.[3][4] The Prom Queen and Prom King may be given crowns to wear. Members of the Prom Court may be given sashes to wear and photographed together.

Those of you who are on FaceBook know that a few weeks ago, several pictures from Burbank High’s proms were posted. Betsey Nash admitted to wearing the same dress to the prom and to another event, then passed the dress on to her niece’s friend twenty years later!

Jan DeJaegher and Neil Hershenson.

Jan DeJaegher and Neil Hershenson.

Jan DeJaegher also sent a prom picture (1965) with herself and Neal Steven Hershenson.

Class of 1968, if you still have your prom pictures, won’t you share them with the rest of our class? Send pictures to burbankhigh1968@gmail.com with a description as to who is in the picture.

And it’s summer vacation, which means it’s time for travel. Please send vacation photos for our “Signs of Burbank High Grads All Over The Universe” feature!

 

 

John Wray and Donna Canzoneri at the BHS Senior Prom.

I also found a picture of Donna Canzoneri and John Wray which was posted by their daughter on FaceBook.

 

Posted by on June 10, 2014 in Burbank High School and tagged , , , , , , , , .

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June 5, 2014

Sisyphus at Baccalaureate

Jeremiah Clarke, 1674-1707

Jeremiah Clarke, 1674-1707

I work in a school, K through grade 12, and just finished playing my last service for the school year. During last Sunday’s Baccalaureate, I couldn’t help but think back to Burbank High’s Class of 1968 Baccalaureate forty-six years ago at the Starlight Bowl. I’m sure that no one except me remembers it! Because, you see, for me it was a nightmare!

As you may recall, I was sitting at the organ and supposed to play processional music. I played Jeremiah Clarke’s “Trumpet Tune,” for the processional and his “Trumpet Voluntary” for the recessional. No problem there–these pieces are used a lot for weddings and other grand occasions and I had practiced them well.

The problem is that each of the pieces only lasts three minutes or so. Now, do you remember how many kids were in our class? Over six hundred, and I had only brought the “Trumpet Tune” to get everyone in and the “Trumpet Voluntary” for everyone to march out. Which meant that I played each of the pieces over, and over, and over, and over . . . I think I lost count of the repetitions after about thirty or so, and I started flubbing up. A missed note here, and a missed note there. STOP THE WORLD! I WANT TO GET OFF!

I felt like I was running an uphill battle! Do you remember the story of Sisyphus? In case you’ve forgotten Greek mythology (and I dare say that most of us have!), Sisyphus was punished for his deceitfulness, and required to push a large boulder up a hill, only to watch it roll back down. Repeat, and never stop.

Forty-six years later, I know better, and bring several pieces of music in related keys to play for long processions, whether they be graduating students or shy brides.

Class of 1968, do you have any memories of Baccalaureate that you would like to share? Use the Contact Us form above or send email and/or pictures to burbankhigh1968@gmail.com.

Anyway, here is a version of the piece as played by Gregory Pierson:

And here is the Trumpet Voluntary, also known as “The Prince of Denmark’s March.”

Posted by on June 5, 2014 in Burbank High School and tagged , , , , , , , , , .

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May 4, 2014

Remember the Shopping Bag?

The Shopping Bag store on Glenoaks.

The Shopping Bag store on Glenoaks. Photo from the Burbankia website.

Rex England 1968

Rex England 1968

If you have a SUPER memory, you might recall that the Shopping Bag store was on the corner of Glenoaks and Irving, and near Currie’s Ice Cream and J Scott Drugs. And if you happened to have gone into the store in 1967, you might have had Rex England bag up your groceries for you. Rex started out as a bagger in the Burbank store, then became a meatcutter. In addition to working for the Burbank stores, he also worked at the Glendale, Sunland and La Crescenta stores before he moved to Grass Valley, CA (near Sacramento) in 1978. The Shopping Bag grocery chain was acquired by Von’s in 1960, and at that time it was their sixth largest competitor. The merger was challenged by the FTC on antitrust grounds, and the chain was eventually sold to Fisher Foods. Read the whole story here.

Rex England is retired and enjoys the outdoors.

Rex England is retired and enjoys the outdoors.

Rex continued as a meat cutter at the Lucky Supermarkets in Grass Valley for three years, then in 1981 he went to work for a family-owned market that has the old-style meat market with over the counter service. He retired in 2003, where he now enjoys the outdoors with his wife, Lynn — skiing, hiking, white-water rafting, jeeping and cycling. Most of all, Rex and Lynn have enjoyed their numerous dogs over the last forty years of marriage.

Rex’s wife, Lynn, just retired after 36 years in the local medical community. Rex writes that they have been married since 1974 and that Lynn was a 1968 graduate of Villa Park High School in Orange County. They never had children but have always shared their home with two or three rescue dogs.

Thanks for writing, Rex! It was great to hear from you!

Posted by on May 4, 2014 in Burbank High School and tagged , , , , , .

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May 3, 2014

A memorable and talented teacher

Graham Young, music teacher at John Muir Jr Hi Burbank

Graham Young, music teacher at John Muir Jr Hi Burbank

Okay, Burbank High Class of 1968, I know it’s been a LONG time since high school graduation, and memories are fuzzy, but think back to junior high, and things are even more obscure. It was Don Ray (aka Don Ripley), BHS’67, who started the conversation about Mr. Graham Young, the chorus and stage band teacher at John Muir Junior High. Twenty years ago, Don found out that Mr. Young had retired from teaching to pursue a career as a studio musician. He had apparently played the trumpet in the Dixieland band at Disneyland. Don asked whether he had done anything for TV or the movies, and Mr. Young replied, “Do you ever watch The Waltons? That’s me playing the trumpet at the start of each show.” Don said that at the time he spoke with him, he was retired and playing once a week on the Queen Mary. “What a great guy. What an inspiration.”

But that’s not all. A search on allmusic.com credits Graham Young with 106 recorded performances on trumpet, guitar, cornet, flugelhorn and bass for such leading musicians such as Henry Mancini, Roy Eldridge, Tex Beneke, Anita O’Day, Captain and Tennille, and Gene Krupa. And he also played for the 1975 Robert Redford movie, “The Great Waldo Pepper.”

24K Gold Trumpet Mouthpiece, E4 Graham Young

24K Gold Trumpet Mouthpiece, E4 Graham Young

There is even a Graham Young mouthpiece for the trumpet, which undoubtedly is named after the John Muir teacher! Check out this website, which says that “Graham Young played with Henry Mancini’s orchestra, Gene Krupa, and Roy Eldridge, among many others.”

It’s Mr. Young’s influence as a teacher, though, that made the most lasting impression and played an important role into molding us into the people we are.  James Hill (aka Junior Hill), a professional jazz trumpeter, wrote that “while attending John Muir Junior High School in Burbank, California, I had the good fortune of having Graham Young as the director of the stage band. Without a doubt, it was because of Graham Young and the natural talent that I was born with, that has made music and trumpet playing my life-long passion.”

Another studio musician, Larry Brown, who has worked with everyone from Etta James, Tower of Power and Andy Williams to Willie Nelson, George Harrison and Kenny Rogers, said that one of his biggest influences happened at John Muir. “I’ve also got to give a thumbs-up to some of my teachers when I was a kid. A guy named Graham Young was my junior high school teacher, who was an amazing trumpet player and studio musician here in L.A. But he still found the time to teach junior high school, and his love of music and that excitement that he instilled in me back then has always hung in there.”

Linda Duffendack Oxley (BHS’67) wrote: Graham Young was my musical inspiration to move forward in my life in choral music. He had a long and extensive list of credits in the professional film, television, movie and band world. Yet his passion was teaching young persons to live and love music! In addition to all those named above he also was Henry Mancini’s first call whenever Mancini toured or recorded. You can hear him on many Mancini’s famous tunes. In 1989 I hired him and he put together a small dance band for my parents 50th wedding anniversary party. It was great fun because the big band era was his and my parents favorite styles of music. Also in the 80’s he played Easter services for me a couple of years when I was directing at Westwood Methodist Church. It was a classical gig and he certainly could to do that equally as well as swing band! We had a lot of fun with the student now director and teacher relationship on those mornings. He was a great musician and a wonderful person. Terrific memories! Thank you!

 

'64 Muir Music Directors and Accompanists

’64 Muir Music Directors and Accompanists. I posted this photo previously and found myself second from the left. To my right is Marilyn Williams (BHS’67). On my left is Kenda Vaughan. To the far right are Linda Duffendack and Cheryl Boyd.

I’m sorry to say that I don’t think I ever took either mixed chorus or girls chorus while at John Muir, even though I have spent the last 48 years accompanying rehearsals with choirs of all kinds. However, I do remember that Mr. Young’s choirs and the stage band at John Muir were outstanding. Another of his former students, Jolene Firgens, asks, “Does anyone remember in choir when we sang ‘Moon River’ before it was ever released? Thanks to his (Mr. Young’s) friend, Henry Mancini.”

64 Muir Mixed Chorus

’64 John Muir Mixed Chorus

'64 Muir Girls Chorus

’64 John Muir Girls Chorus

 

I found a University of Michigan School of Music alumni newsletter (1977) in which Graham Young wrote about himself (Master of Music, 1951): “living in Burbank, CA and extensively involved in recording, movies and television, has played for such movies as Jaws, King Kong, and the Towering Inferno, and T.V. shows “Emergency,” “The Bionic Woman,” and “Raid on Entebbe.” He also works with Henry Mancini.”

Cathy Palmer (BHS’67) also wrote a blog, “The Legacy of Mr Graham Young, Music Director at John Muir Jr High.”

Posted by on May 3, 2014 in Burbank High School and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

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April 24, 2014

Like father, like daughter

Norm Sabin, 1968

Norm Sabin, 1968

I guess it was my story about criminal defense attorney, Dale Rubin “Our own Perry Mason,” that prompted another attorney in our Burbank High Class of 1968 to write —  it was so good to hear from Norm Sabin! Norm is presently living in Chattanooga, TN and is an estate planning attorney.

But law wasn’t Norm’s first or even second career. After spending four years in the Air Force (including one year in Thailand during the Vietnam War), Norm became a Systems Engineer, and worked for 12 years for IBM, Control Data and Storage Technology, finishing with Integrity Solutions as Vice-President of Marketing.

In the 80s during the economic downturn in Colorado, he went through a bankruptcy and ended up back in the Air Force reserves, flying C141s. He also flew for World Airways for about four years and had “numerous adventures including several inflight emergencies.”

In 1991, he went to law school at the age of 40, and graduated in 1994. The first fourteen years of his law career were spent as a litigator, first in insurance defense, and then doing plaintiff’s work. He formed Sabin & Associates 5-1/2 years ago and specializes in estate planning and elder law. His company helps families preserve their wealth during and after their lifetime, including wills and living trusts, legacy planning, family-owned businesses and farms, incapacity planning, IRA and retirement planning. He even addresses estate planning for the LGBT community and their unique needs, as well as protection for beloved family pets!

Proud parents, Norm and Pat Sabin, with daughter Daris

Proud parents, Norm and Pat Sabin, with daughter Daris

But it was the story on his company’s website that caught my eye — “Attorney Sabin Presents Daughter to the Tennessee Supreme Court,” In this story in the Hamilton County Herald, Norm got choked up when he presented his daughter, Daris Freeman, for acceptance to the state bar. “The realization of what she’d accomplished overwhelmed me,” says Sabin, who’s seated with his daughter in his 4th Avenue office, where his estate planning and elder law practice is based. “She’s done well. For the last four years, she’s been working 50 to 60 hours a week at … [Unum] while going to law school, which involved traveling back and forth between here and Nashville two or three times a week. And she graduated in the top ten percent of her class. When you put all of that together, it’s awesome.” Go back and read this well-written story by David Laprad by clicking here.

Norm and his wife, Pat, have three children, Daris, Kelsey, and Zachary, and two grandchildren. He says he doesn’t plan to retire until probably “48 hours before my funeral!” 

Guess that’s going to be a l-o-n-g time from now!

I've known Norm Sabin from KINDERGARTEN days! Can you find him in this picture?

I’ve known Norm Sabin from KINDERGARTEN days! Can you find him in this picture? Click to enlarge. *Hint: look in the back row

 

Posted by on April 24, 2014 in Burbank High School and tagged , , , , , , , , , , .

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April 22, 2014

Our own Perry Mason

Dale Rubin, 1968

Dale Rubin, 1968

We recently heard from our BHS’68 classmate, Dale Rubin, whom you may recall, was the other half of the “Dynamic Duo” team which editorialized in the Burbank Hi-Life student newspaper. You can go back and read that post by clicking here. At that time, I had found Dale’s summary on Linked-In: Dale has been engaged in the private practice of criminal defense work in the Los Angeles area for almost 38 years. He is experienced in capital defense work in both state and federal court and has been qualified as “learned counsel” by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Dale has tried over 100 murder trials. He is a member of the United States District Court, Central District of California, Criminal Justice Appointments Panel. The Law offices of Dale Rubin provides aggressive advocacy on behalf of our clients. 

Dale, in a recent picture on Facebook

Dale, in a recent picture on Facebook

Dale said that after law school, he backpacked around Europe by himself for a year. His 38-year old law practice specializes in death penalty defense work and he is highly respected by his colleagues. He has been awarded with an AV Preeminate Rating, meaning that he has received the highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards reflecting the confidential opinions of members of the Bar and Judiciary. He also received a special recognition award from the California Public Defenders Association in April 2005 when he served as lead counsel for the Thomas Goldstein state court defense team. He provided “remarkable and unyielding application of legal skills to assist Mr. Goldstein, an innocent man who spent over two decades in prison for a crime he did not commit and in setting free this innocent man.” The case even appeared in The New York Times, which you can read by clicking here, “Wrongly Convicted Man Gets $7.95 Million Settlement.”

One of Dale’s colleagues wrote: Dale is an exceptional lawyer with great courtroom skills. He is accomplished in both State and Federal Courts. He treats his clients with courtesy and dignity

Dale has been married for almost 30 years. He met his wife in the old Van Nuys Superior Court where she was working as a student worker during college. They have four wonderful children, two boys and two girls. The three oldest are college graduates and working, while the youngest is a senior in high school and will be starting college in the fall. Then he and his wife will officially become empty-nesters! Dale says, “OMG, I become the only child!” Dale doesn’t plan on retiring for another four or five years.

Thanks so much, Dale, for taking the time to write. Dale adds, “I honestly hope that no one we went to high school with will ever require my services!”

By the way, if you want to go back and re-read any of the other posts on this blog, click Archives in the masthead. And keep those cards and letters coming!

Posted by on April 22, 2014 in Burbank High School and tagged , , , , , .

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April 10, 2014

Fishing for salmon, instead of veins!

Bill loves fishing for FISH these days!

Bill loves fishing for FISH these days! He’s on the right with the red shirt.

Bill Reimers, 1968

Bill Reimers, 1968

We had a nice exchange with Burbank High ’68 grad, Bill Reimers today who said that he was a registered nurse for most of his career, with a specialty in anesthesia. For the last two years, though, instead of fishing for veins for drawing blood samples or starting IVs, Bill has a great time fishing and hunting in Utah where he moved to be near his oldest son. He has been retired for two years now and loves not working!

Bill has three adult children: Justin, who is a fireman/paramedic in Utah, and has a five-year-old daughter and infant twins. Another son, Chris, is an engineer in Arkansas, who graduated from Oklahoma State in 2010 and married his college sweetheart, a middle school math teacher. His youngest daughter, Lindsay, is a model and “absolutely gorgeous!!! Looks like her dad in my younger days, sans the beard, of course!” Lindsay just started paramedic school in the Antelope Valley.

Bill's middle son, Chris and daughter, Lindsay

Bill’s middle son, Chris and daughter, Lindsay

I remembered that Bill Reimers and Cheryl McNulty were chosen as Class Sweethearts and in fact were briefly married in 1971. Bill called her recently and they talked for quite awhile to catch up. Bill’s second wife, Annette, who was mother to his three kids, died at age 45 of breast cancer. Bill says “Being a parent has been the best and most enjoyable part of my life… and still is.” He was too busy raising the kids to think about remarriage, and “now we are pretty old for starting up a new relationship.”

Thanks so much, Bill, for checking in. We’re so envious that you’re retired!

Bill Reimers' three children at Yosemite.

Bill Reimers’ three children at Yosemite.

 

Posted by on April 10, 2014 in Burbank High School and tagged , , , .

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March 20, 2014

We made it!

Annette Dinolfo Bennett shared this video on FaceBook, and I think it describes all of us in the Class of 1968. How did we ever survive?

Posted by on March 20, 2014 in Burbank High School and tagged , .

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March 13, 2014

A favorite teacher

Mr. Mathias

Mr. Mathias

I recently heard from Don Ray (BHS’67 formerly known as Don Ripley), who posted this video interview with his fifth grade teacher from Joaquin Miller, Mr. E. Jean Mathias who taught in the Burbank Schools for more than thirty years. So perhaps some of you Burbank High grads remember him — he is now almost ninety years old! He was a teacher at Miller, then moved to Edison, then finally taught math at John Muir Junior High.

Someone posted: He was my teacher in 7th grade and I’m a teacher now too!  Thank you Mr. Mathias for teaching me math and helping me get over my math phobia!

Jill Gipson also sent along this photo of the faculty of Emerson School, which she thinks was taken in April of 1959.

Emerson Teacher

Emerson Teachers

Please send along any remembrances of favorite teachers! Use the Contact Us form above.

Posted by on March 13, 2014 in Burbank High School and tagged , , , , .

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February 28, 2014

Remember field trips?

Jill Gipson continues to share some priceless old photos, this time two pictures taken in April 1960. Mrs. Gedda’s third-fourth grade class from Emerson School took a field trip to Olivera Street, probably as a unit on early California history.

20140228-074037.jpg

In this picture, Mrs. Gedda can be seen about mid picture (plaid dress, white sunglasses). That’s Jill Gipson facing the camera (holding the paper) and John Mancini behind her. Joanne Wood and Debbie Brewer have their backs to the camera in the foreground, and Janet Nelson is over Debbie’s right shoulder in profile (with glasses). Yes, that does look like me, Kathy Au on the far left! Jill’s mom was on the trip with us and took the photos.

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In this picture of a wishing well, you can see is (L-R) Becky Hand, John Mancini, Marilyn Kasper, Jill Gipson, and Susan Persen .

Thank you, Jill, for sharing!

Posted by on February 28, 2014 in Burbank High School and tagged , , , , , , , .

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