November 24, 2013

Racking up the frequent flyer miles

Mike Mooney, 1968

Mike Mooney, 1968

When our BHS’68 classmate, Mike Mooney, used the Contact Form to update his information, he wrote that for the last 33 years, his business has allowed him to travel internationally  — namely, that his favorite place to visit was Australia, but that he has been to Japan more than fifty times and to Europe more than 100 times.  And apparently he has been to Asia “too many times to count.” Perth, Australia, though, is his favorite — a far cry from the small town in Oregon where he now lives, and says that they have cows in their pastures. He writes that “big cities are a change of pace — for awhile at least.” Mike was also in Maui last week, and had a good time despite the not so good weather.

Mike Mooney's ring-cutting device

Mike Mooney’s ring-cutting device has taken him all over the world.

Being a travel lover myself, but never getting up to those numbers, I asked Mike for some more information about his business. Over thirty years ago, Mike developed a ring-cutting device that is used in hospitals all over the world, to remove rings from fingers after trauma to the finger, hand or arm. You can check out his website here. He has distributors around the world, so he travels a great deal to help with set-up and support.

Mike has been married for 41 years to a 1969 Burbank High grad, Kathy Kieffer, and has a daughter, Heather, shown in the picture below. Unfortunately we didn’t get a picture of his wife, who was taking the photo!

Mike Mooney with his daughter at Coronado

Mike Mooney with his daughter at Coronado Island

Thanks for writing, Mike! and keep those emails and photos coming.

Posted by on November 24, 2013 in Burbank High School and tagged , , , .

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November 23, 2013

Sooner or later …

Sooner or later, it seems like everyone gets to Hawaii, especially people who live on the West Coast. Having lived here for over forty years, we have entertained hundreds of visitors from the mainland US, Europe and Asia. We’re now on volume seven of our guest book, a tradition we started at our wedding.

Jim Ranshaw, 1968

Jim Ranshaw, 1968

Jim at the Byodo-in Temple on the windward side.

Jim at the Byodo-in Temple on the windward side.

So a couple of weeks ago, I was happy to entertain BHS’68 graduate, Jim Ranshaw and his wife, Patti, who were on a 15-day cruise from California to Hawaii and back. When looking up my address on a map, Jim remarked that their ship was going to dock just four blocks from my home so, after their arrival in Honolulu, they just walked to my building.

Even though it was their sixth visit to the islands, I was able to take them sightseeing to some places they had never been before. On the other hand, they requested that I take them to the International Market Place, a popular tourist destination in Waikiki, where I haven’t been for forty years!

I know a lot of you have visited the Aloha State — I just heard from Mike Mooney, who visited Maui last week. So this is a request for you Burbank High grads, Class of 1968. If you have visited Hawaii, how about sending me a picture of yourself here? Or, if you are a Hawaii resident (and that’s about nine of you BHS’68 grads!) how about giving us an update as to how you got here and made the decision to stay?

Hope to hear from you! And if you plan to visit Honolulu, write to me (at the Contact tab), and maybe we can meet.

Jim and Patti Ranshaw at the Pali Lookout. Wow, it's windy up there!

Jim and Patti Ranshaw at the Pali Lookout. Wow, it’s really windy up there!

Posted by on November 23, 2013 in Burbank High School and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , .

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November 19, 2013

More pictures from the 45th

Burbank High Class of 1968 —45th Reunion

Burbank High Class of 1968 —45th Reunion at the Castaway Restaurant, October 13, 2013

We have to thank Sallie Shelton Thomas for sending along the link to 109 pictures she took at the 45th Class Reunion which you can view by clicking here.  Now if you weren’t able to make the reunion, or even if you were there, you can see your former classmates in all their glory! Sallie was also good enough to identify all the people in her pictures.

If anyone else has pictures of the reunion, or any other photos that you would like to share, you can send them to burbankhigh1968@gmail.com and I’ll post them on the blog.

Why don’t you take this opportunity to click the Contact us tab and tell us what you’ve been up to?

Posted by on November 19, 2013 in Burbank High School and tagged , , , .

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November 14, 2013

A story of murder

I had Mr. Pyne for English in my junior year.

I had Mr. Pyne for English in my junior year.

I had the good fortune of sitting at the same table as Louise Good Hernandez at the 45th Class Reunion, and for some reason,  the subject of former Burbank High teacher, Raymond Pyne, came up. He was my English teacher in my junior year and perhaps some of you had him for English, also. 1967 was apparently his first year at Burbank High. I recall coming home on weekends during my college years, and reading about a story in the Burbank Daily Review of a murder committed by a Burbank High teacher, but I couldn’t remember who it was. So it was Louise who gave me his name.

The Burbank Daily Review ceased publication in 1985, but is archived at the Burbank Public Library, where I sent my sister, Margo (BHS’70) to read the old microfilm. The story was on the front page of three consecutive issues, January 23, 24, and 25, 1970. Here’s what she found out.

Raymond Pyne was Sandy Wilkes’ 12th grade English teacher.  After she graduated, he asked her for a date.  At that time, he was age 28 and described as charming and jolly in public by the Wilkes family.  They married, and within two weeks he exhibited a violent, uncontrollable temper.  Pyne assaulted her by choking her, and threatened to kill her.  An arrest warrant for battery was issued. He once said he wanted his wife to die like Romeo and Juliet.

A few days before she was killed, Sandy filed for divorce.  Pyne had been roaming her parents’ neighborhood where she was staying, threatening to take his own life.  She talked him out of taking his own life and told him she loved him and would stand by him, but she was too afraid to live with him.

Sandra Wilkes Pyne, BHS'69

Sandra Wilkes Pyne, BHS’69, age 19, was murdered by her husband, former BHS teacher Raymond Pyne

She had been living with her parents for about two weeks.  On Thursday morning about 8 a.m., January 23, 1970, her father, Guy Wilkes, went to the backyard to start the car before taking Sandy to work at Technicolor, where they both worked.  Pyne pointed a rifle at Wilkes’ head and demanded to talk to Sandy.  After asking Guy for the keys to the house, Guy yelled to warn the family.  Mrs. Wilkes tried to phone for help, but the phone was dead.  Sandy, meanwhile, ran out the front door to head to a friend’s house.  Pyne heard the door slam, and ran to the front of the house.  He pursued her, aimed, then shot her in the head, killing her instantly. Guy Wilkes, who had followed Pyne, shot at him, but missed.  He later said he didn’t shoot again because there were other people standing around. He ran to help his daughter, and was holding her when she took her last breath. Pyne drove away in a leased 1969 black Cadillac.

The incident was witnessed by five teenage boys.

Police think Pyne may have spent the night on the back porch.  An army-type jacket, trench coat, flashlight, and tire iron were found there, plus numerous gum wrappers.

Pyne had resigned voluntarily from Burbank High School after his second year of teaching, and was to have started a new job the next day.  He surrendered to Burbank Police on Saturday afternoon. On February 21, 1971, he pled guilty to first degree murder and sentencing was set for March 26, 1971. He was incarcerated for years, but by 2010 he was paroled, according to Linda Mustion who writes a blog about deceased Burbank High Alumni. Apparently Raymond Pyne was also a Burbank High alum, class of 1959. Louise Hernandez remembered that the Pyne family moved from Kenwood Street before he became a teacher at Burbank High, and that there were other siblings.

I found Raymond Pyne’s obituary at redding.com:

Raymond Pyne, 72, of Cottonwood died Thursday at Mercy Medical Center in Redding. Arrangements are pending at Allen & Dahl Funeral Chapel in Redding. Published in Redding Record Searchlight on July 6, 2013.

Posted by on November 14, 2013 in Burbank High School and tagged , , , , , , , , .

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November 13, 2013

Retirement? What’s that?!

Laurie Eisenberg, 1968

Laurie Eisenberg, 1968

At a time when many of us are thinking of retirement, or already “retired and loving it,” along comes our BHS’68 classmate, Laurie Eisenberg, who up and gets a new job! As of October 1, she is now Professor of Research Otolaryngology at the Keck School of Medicine of USC.

Laurie Eisenberg, in a recent photo. Doesn't she look gorgeous!

Laurie Eisenberg, in a recent photo. Doesn’t she look gorgeous!

Laurie writes: “My primary role as an audiologist and hearing scientist is to conduct research on children with hearing loss. Our latest NIH grant is to investigate outcomes on young children born without auditory nerves who will be implanted with electrodes on their auditory brainstem (I don’t do the surgery!). It’s an exciting project. With this new project and other ongoing research studies, I’ll be busy for the next five years or longer. Retirement? What’s that?”

I found Laurie’s bio at the USC Undergraduate Neuroscience Program’s House Ear Institute in Los Angeles, her previous job, where I was most surprised to learn that she received a Bachelor’s degree in Music from California State University in Fresno! When asked about it, Laurie said she studied music theory and composition, and played string bass from junior high through college. She also received a Master’s degree in Communicative Disorders from Cal State, Northridge; and earned a Doctorate in Speech and Hearing Sciences Graduate School at the City University of New York.

Bob's Big Boy Luncheon

Bob’s Big Boy Luncheon

Laurie Eisenberg is an audiologist who engages in clinical research specific to pediatric hearing loss, auditory perception, and sensory devices. Her primary research interests involve: 1) defining the auditory factors and their inter-relationships that underlie the development of spoken language competence in infants and young children with hearing loss; and 2) developing methods and assessment tools for measuring auditory capacity in children with hearing loss. Dr. Eisenberg has a number of ongoing collaborations with scientists from UCLA, Indiana University, Purdue University, Johns Hopkins University, and San Diego State University. Her research is supported by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Laurie attended the BHS Girls’ Luncheon at Bob’s Big Boy a few years ago and reconnected with classmates Stephanie Llewellyn, Christine Cullen Bartlett, Alice Hanson, Jan Wahler Hill, Leslie Reel Rozek and Louise Good Hernandez above. She is in the middle, fourth from the left.

Here is a video of Laurie’s lecture in Australia, “The Consequences of Being Born Deaf in the 21st Century”

Congratulations, Laurie, on your new job!

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November 11, 2013

A brilliant musical mind

Dr. Theodore Twitchell, 1963

Dr. Theodore Twitchell, 1963

It was Norm Sabin‘s memories of our English teacher from John Muir days, Dr. Theodore Twitchell that led me to search for him online. He says that he would never forget Dr. Twitchell’s trying to teach “a bunch of ninth graders the finer points of Dickens’ Great Expectations.” Donna Canzoneri Wray remembered that we read David Copperfield in his class.

And who suspected that our English teacher was really a brilliant musician at heart? Jan DeJaegher said she went to dinner with him when she was in her 30s. “A great guy. He was writing a symphony when he was teaching us. He had the score at his desk and worked on it when we were doing assignments. I never got to (play) any of his works, sadly.”

Dr. Twitchell headed the yearbook staff.

Dr. Twitchell headed the yearbook staff, seen in the back, second from left.

Steve Raine found a reference to Dr. Twitchell writing “Burbank on Parade.” and said the music was arranged by Joe Rizzo, who was BHS’68 grad, Gary Rizzo‘s dad. Joe used to play with Lawrence Welk’s orchestra.

So, it was with great sadness that I found his obituary: Jan verified that this is the same Dr. Twitchell who was writing Tidewater when we were his students. She says he married really late in life and lived life to the fullest. “I was honored to have known him and to have been mentored by him.”

Theodore Grant Twitchell, 83, of Charlottesville, died Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at The Laurels of Charlottesville. Born January 26, 1928 in Melrose, Kansas, he was the son of the late Curtis and Sarah Frances Lane Twitchell. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a stepson, Russell Norman. He is survived by his wife Rebecca J. Twitchell; a stepdaughter, Dawn Jiricek of Missouri; a stepson, Mike Norman of Charlottesville; a sister, Elva Louise Staley of California; a nephew, Grant Staley of New Zealand; a niece, Joan Staley of California; and a cousin, Ray Lane of Michigan. Dr. Twitchell, a veteran of the U.S. Army, was a music educator, composer and poet. He obtained his doctorate degree in Secondary and Higher Education from the University of Southern California at Los Angeles in 1964. He was a past president of Palo Verde College in Blythe, CA. Among his musical compositions are Tidewater, The Pride of Monticello, and Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address which was performed in Gettysburg for Lincoln’s birthday by the U.S. Army Field Band and Chorus. A memorial service will be conducted 2 p.m. Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at The Laurels of Charlottesville. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Alzheimer’s Association, 1160 Pepsi Place, Suite 306, Charlottesville, VA 22901. The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to the staff of The Laurels for all their loving care and compassion.

Dr. Twitchell advised the Student Court

Dr. Twitchell advised the Student Court

I was especially saddened to think that his brilliant mind may have been felled by Alzheimers. His granddaughter wrote: 

I just finished grandpa’s memoir and now truly wish I had read it earlier so that I could’ve have discussed it at length with him. Reading it allowed me to see him with new eyes; not just as the grandfather I knew, but also as a compassionate, accomplished man. He gave more of himself than I knew to his family and had every right to be proud of his achievements. I always admired that he carried himself with pride and dignity and I feel privileged to have been but a small chapter in his life. The end of his book said that at the end of his life, he hoped to be viewed as a man of good character. I would say that he most certainly achieved this and was viewed by many as such.I love you, Grandpa Ted— heaven has gained a brilliant mind.

Please feel free to enter any remembrances you may have of Dr. Twitchell.

Posted by on November 11, 2013 in Burbank High School and tagged , , , , , , , , , , .

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November 10, 2013

Need a lawyer in Las Vegas?!

Tom Tanksley, 1968

Tom Tanksley, 1968

Thomas Tanksley, attorney

Thomas Tanksley, attorney

With a degree in Political Science from Cal State Northridge, our BHS’68 classmate Tom Tanksley (website: www.legaltank.com) was a lieutenant in the United States Navy and became a helicopter pilot just in time for the Vietnam War to wind down — good thing! He went to Officers Candidate School but claimed “they couldn’t make me a gentleman — LOL!”

He then went to law school at the University of Arizona and has spent the last thirty+plus years as a civil litigation attorney and mediator in Las Vegas (which he calls “Sin City”), representing both plaintiffs and defendants. He opened his own office in 1998, but prior to that he was involved in many cases, trials and appeals including multi-million dollar matters covered on the pages of Las Vegas newspapers.

But, like another attorney (another John Grisham?), Tom is trying to get his first novel published! Maybe our classmate will be rich and famous and will have his book on the New York Times bestseller list! Actually, he says he is about “1/3 retired” and is enjoying life with his “original” wife, three kids, one grandchild and one on the way.

Tom says that his best vacation was spending 11 weeks in New Zealand “bumming around Navy and Law School . . . fantastic but was still happy to get back.”

Tom also loves tennis these days. He was on the Burbank High golf team but says his left shoulder “no workey so good these days.” (Join the club!) Here is a recent photo of Tom with his granddaughter.

Tom with granddaughter

Tom Tanksley with his granddaughter

Thanks for writing, Tom!

Posted by on November 10, 2013 in Burbank High School and tagged , , , , , .

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November 9, 2013

45th Reunion memories

If you weren’t able to make it to the 45th Reunion of the Burbank High Class of 1968, your curiosity about what your classmates now look like can be satisfied. There are two keepsakes of the October 13th Reunion which you can order. One is a memory book which I created, which contains over 86 photos and can be ordered in a number of sizes and prices. You can view the book by clicking here or by clicking the picture below.

45th Reunion Memory Book. Click the picture to view the book.

45th Reunion Memory Book. Click the picture to view the book.

The Reunion Committee reviewed the book to make sure all people were identified correctly. It is a compilation of photos that I took in addition to those which were sent to me. I would suggest that you view the book at the largest size possible, then click Next on the scroll bar underneath the book to move to the next page. (NOTE: MixBook often has discounts available. You can also check out this link for additional coupons. I was able to save 50% by using a coupon!)

By the way, neither I or the Reunion Committee will profit from the sale of this book. I worked on this simply for yours and my own enjoyment!

The other memento is a 45-minute DVD which was filmed by Jim Ranshaw’s wife, Patti, and can be ordered directly from Jim for $4. Send a check along with your mailing address to: Jim Ranshaw, 1017 E. Fairmount Road, Burbank, CA  91501. The DVDs will be ready for mailing around November 20th, after the Ranshaws return from visiting me in Hawaii!

Until the 50th Reunion in 2018, please stay in touch with us by filling out the Contact Us form above!

Posted by on November 9, 2013 in Burbank High School and tagged , , , , .

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November 9, 2013

Remembering Nov. 22, 1963

John Muir faculty, 1963

John Muir faculty, 1963

When asked where we were on Nov. 22, 1963 when we heard the news about President Kennedy’s assassination, almost fifty years ago, a bunch of us Burbank High Class of 1968 grads could say, “At John Muir Junior High.” So it was after Kenda Vaughan posted this picture of the John Muir faculty on FaceBook that our classmates joined in the conversation. I for one was in Mrs. Pearle Rankin’s eighth-grade English class when I remember that an office monitor came in and handed her a piece of paper. She took off her classes and put her head in her hands, then read the announcement.

From the Los Angeles Times

From the Los Angeles Times

Laurie Eisenberg said that she had few memories of junior high, but receiving the news of JFK’s assassination is still haunting. Jodi Tillotson Huddleston says she was in 8th grade social studies with Mr. Beeton. Betsey Nash said she was in science class. Kenda Vaughan has a vivid visual memory of the classroom she was in when she heard the news. Jan DeJaegher was in the cafeteria.

Seeing these photos of the faculty brought back a flood of memories, though. Jan recalled that the orchestra teacher, Mr. Manning, was her favorite, and led her to play the french horn, which she is still playing 52 years later. Karen Walther Berg remembered Wendy Wright, the PE teacher as her favorite. A number of us also remember Dr. Theodore Twitchell, English teacher, and Jan says that she went to dinner with him when she was in her 30s. She writes, “A great guy. He was writing a symphony when he was teaching us. He had the score at his desk and worked on it when we were doing assignments. I never got to (play) any of his works, sadly.”

Merrily Thorne Prescott is still in contact with Neala Yde, the clothing teacher. Wow, do they even teach sewing anymore in public school?

Kenda summed it all up this way:  Thanks for everyone’s wonderful comments. They certainly remind us that we as students experience the essence of our teachers when they instruct us as youngsters. And that essence, those feelings stick with us throughout our entire lives.

P.S. I remember going with several other students to visit Mrs. Rankin in a nursing home a few years later.

Posted by on November 9, 2013 in Burbank High School and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

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October 23, 2013

Another great-grandmother

Jodi TIllotson, 1968

Jodi TIllotson, 1968

Along with Bonnie Moody Rapp, Jodi Tillotson Huddleston recently revealed to us that she is also a great-grandmother! She is the mother of two boys and two girls — the older son is in Florida, retired from the Air Force and is starting as a Correctional Probation Officer with the Florida Department of Corrections. They are the parents of two girls and one boy. Sadly, her other son passed away when he was 13, almost 20 years ago. Both of her daughters both live in Colorado — the older daughter has four children, and the younger daughter also four children, including a set of twins. Altogether she has eleven grandchildren ranging in age from 21 to 1-year-old twins, and one great-granddaughter.

Jodi Tillotson Huddleston at the Reunion.

Jodi Tillotson Huddleston at the 45th  Reunion.

Jodi’s second husband passed away from cancer in 1984. She worked for a Thousand Oaks newspaper for almost ten years, then tired of commuting, she up and moved to Colorado. She says that she loves the seasons and the Rocky Mountains. She says that Fort Collins is much like Burbank when we were growing up — except that it is a vibrant college town with Colorado State University. Jodi worked in the Physics Department at CSU for four years.

Now Jodi works as a support clerk at Enterprise Rental Cars. This past April she had a wonderful vacation to New York City and saw Wicked, on Broadway — another thing she could cross off on her bucket list.

It was great to see Jodi at the 45th Reunion!

Posted by on October 23, 2013 in Burbank High School and tagged , , , , , , , , .

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