November 5, 2017

A BHS love story

Toni Szilagyi, 1968

George Frigerio, 1968

We who are Facebook friends with our BHS’68 classmate Tonia Szilagyi Mapston have witnessed something beautiful over the weekend. A few months ago, she posted something very mysterious—about her life changing unexpectedly. On this blog we did report that it was two years ago that her beloved husband of 45 years, Darrell Mapston, passed away after a heart attack. The Mapstons had four daughters, Danielle, Tara, Nicole, and Tiffany, and eight grandchildren.

A couple of months ago, I seemed to notice that another BHS’68 classmate, George Frigerio, began commenting on nearly every post Tonia wrote. And she changed her Facebook relationship to “It’s complicated” as of May 23, 2017. Hmmm…

When I sent out the “Save the Date” notice about our 50th Class Reunion, and George wrote, “ME AND THE BOSS ARE TALKING ABOUT IT!” Was he referring to Tonia?

Then this tell-tale post appeared on Tonia’s Facebook wall:

On November 2, Tonia posted a picture of her boots with the caption: “Leavin’ on a jet plane ✈️ yet again! Philly bound … three week vacay, here I come! 😉” On a hunch, I checked the database of Burbank High Class of 1968 graduates, and found out that George lives in Pennsylvania!

I began checking Facebook every hour for updates to this post!

Over the weekend, another BHS’68 classmate, Teri Hill Clark, posted this: “These two have been carrying on for months! Actually tip toeing around it for, what? A year? I just happened into the mix via geography😉 I’m sure they will spill the whole story for a class reunion blurb! It is totally sweet and romantic!

And Tonia wrote this: “sparks in HS, a year and a half reconnected, seven months serious … bulletins as they break … he has asked me to go steady (HS ring and letterman’s jacket) lol … and I said … wait for it … Yes! 😉 He plied me with bouquets of les fleurs, sweet 🎼, chocolates, and vino 🍷🍷! He makes me laugh and smile! Happy dance! Who’d a thunk! Out of left field! Neither looking and Shazam! The brainiac as he called me in HS and the jock aka the brat and the pest! I do not let him get away with nuttin’ and he was a pest everyday in HS in the bio lab attempting to get me in trouble with Mr. Buckner and Mr. Bugg! 😂 Life certainly took Us on a circuitous route to Us! I am twice blessed in this arena of life … hubby and the Pest! 😉

Tonia further explained:

“lost touch after high school grad night but weird connections kept happening we discovered along the way or after the fact … him being on a flight with my cousin and realizing they had me in common, being back in Burbank at same time after both being gone many years, being in North Carolina nearby towns same time … reconnected inadvertently over FB, a mutual friend, a daughter of mine going back to July 2016 … evolved to Messenger on 2/14/17 … phone 4/2017 … video chat 7/2017 and the rest is history! Took it slow! Nothing forced! My youngest and her kids visited him in July 2017! My family and friends have been connecting with him since April 2017! Life certainly does take interesting crazy turns!”

Finally, tonight I asked “what happened on May 23rd?” and Tonia answered: First time George definitively told me he was in love with me, sent me a first bouquet of red roses of four bouquets of flowers he has sent me since then, and it was my 67th birthday and he was in cahoots with my youngest daughter on Messenger … we posted awhile back we were in a complex 2885 mile apart relationship … later this week, we will post we are going steady … the other day he gave me his BHS letterman’s jacket and senior ring! He wants me to pick out a St. Christopher medal necklace this week! 😉☺️ all symbols back in JHS and HS of going steady! We are having fun with this!

[Editor’s Note: George still had his BHS letterman’s jacket?! He still had his senior ring?!]

Tonight we saw this:

No more doubt about it! How exciting for them both!

What a beautiful story! George and Tonia, we wish you much happiness together!

 

 

Posted by on November 5, 2017 in Burbank High School and tagged , , , .

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November 4, 2017

The mayor of Pine Knoll Shores?

John Ferguson, 1968

John Ferguson, mayoral candidate

Yet another of our illustrious BHS’68 classmates is entering the fray of politics. This time, it’s John Ferguson who is running for Mayor of Pine Knoll Shores, NC and the election is only a couple of days away.

If you check out John’s website, you can read his bio here:

My wife JoAnne and I moved to Pine Knoll Shores in 2012, subsequent to our respective retirements.  When we moved here from the Raleigh area, it became important to get involved with this great community.  We joined the Country Club of the Crystal Coast and found many friends there, and I was elected to the Board of Directors in 2013.  I have also been honored to be the president of our condominium homeowner’s association for several years before we moved to our current home.  JoAnne has been involved in the Pine Knoll Shores Women’s Club as well as the Garden Club.  I now think it is time to give back to the community directly by participating in the Town’s political environment.  I believe my background supports a leadership role in this wonderful community.

I attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, and served this great country for five years after my graduation.  My service took me to Germany and various stations in the USA.  I left the service and joined Carolina Power & Light Company (now Duke Energy) where I worked in human resources as a recruiter, human resources manager at the plant and group levels.  I spent two years in strategic planning in our marketing department, and finished my career in supply chain management, where I was responsible for contract management, procurement engineering, quality assurance, warehousing and purchasing.  

JoAnne and I love this area and the opportunities that it provides to not only us, but all who are lucky enough to live in this great place.

John is running on a platform of public safety, fiscal responsibility, public service and care of the environment.

I was curious to find out more information about Pine Knoll Shores, and found that it is 2,667 miles away from Burbank, CA but vastly different in terms of  the type of community it is. For one thing, the population is only 1,547 people, 776 households and 557 families residing here, according to a 2008 census. The town was developed by the grandchildren of President Theodore Roosevelt.
John is running against an incumbent, but finds that the biggest challenge is voter apathy. Early voting ended today and apparently it is lower than previous turnouts.
We’ll hopefully see John and his wife, JoAnn, at the 50th Class Reunion!
Good luck, John!

John’s family

(Update: John Ferguson recently posted this: By now, you have all heard about the results of the our run for Mayor of Pine Knoll Shores.  I am sorry that things did not work out.  However, I do wish to thank all of those of you who have assisted me throughout the past several months.  Many have assisted in Meet and Greets, as well as helped with the campaign.  I am in your debt.  I also want to wish Ken Jones well as he proceeds with the next two years as Mayor.  Last night I communicated with him and congratulated him on his victory.  It is time we all did our part in assisting him, as on the surface things look pretty easy, but of course they are not.  It requires many dedicated people to continue making this Town a great place to live.  Again, I thank those who supported me in this run for Mayor and wish Ken congratulations.) — What a gracious man John is! We hope you will try again.

 

Posted by on November 4, 2017 in Burbank High School and tagged , .

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November 2, 2017

Twenty-five years ago

Speaking of Mike Katzman (see the post about his latest book), twenty-five years ago he took this video at the Burbank High’s Class of 1968 reunion:

See anyone you know? Twenty-five years later, it’s time for our FIFTIETH CLASS REUNION, and you’ll want to put this date on your calendar! October 6, 2018 at the Angeles National Golf Club. 

Here are five more reasons to attend the Class of 1968 50th Reunion (Thanks to Tracy Morrison’s blog)

1. Everyone is old. It’s not just you. Now I know that you think you’ll be the oldest. You look in the mirror and see those not so fine lines, that gray hair, that neck with a few wrinkles and wonder if those 18 year olds you remember will make fun of you because you now look like your mother. But guess what – THEY ARE OLD TOO and look surprisingly just like their parents. The only 18 year old I saw were my classmate’s children coming to pick them up after the reunion so no one got a DUI.

2. No one cares what you do for a living. [Ed. note: Many of us are retired, anyway.] After 25 years no one can even hear over the loud music to be able to listen to your career stories. Let go of your hang-ups of what you have or haven’t done. Nobody cares. They just want to see you.

3. Remember – these are the people who probably saw you at your worst. Remember 14? 15? Weren’t those kind of sucky and awkward years? Yeah, well these people went through them with you. Now is the time to laugh about those awkward crazy times when you thought you knew everything but truly knew nothing. These are your people. They don’t necessarily have to be your people tomorrow, but tonight..well remember at one time these were your best friends so break open a 4-pack of Bartles & James and party like it’s 1968.

4. No one cares if you still fit into your cheerleader uniform anymore. In fact no one even remembers if you were a cheerleader. Call it old age, diminishing memories, or too much wine – but no one cares. Leave your insecurities at home. These are the people you should feel comfortable with – these people are home.

5. It’s always nice to go home. Maybe you don’t have the connection there anymore and maybe you don’t feel the need – but going to a place that was home is good for your heart and soul. Take the time to visit your old school, cruise down Third Street like you are still 17, call an old, favorite teacher and schedule a breakfast date. [Ed. note: I’m afraid most of our teachers are gone.]

Have questions about the Reunion? Check out the FAQs here.
Are you thinking about coming? Send an email here and tell us how many are in your party.
Want to know who’s planning to come? Check out the Guest List here.
Forgot what someone looked like? Take a look at the senior class photos of people who have sent in an RSVP.
Afraid that you might not recognize some of your fellow classmates? Look at the Photos Now page.

 

Posted by on November 2, 2017 in Burbank High School and tagged , , .

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October 29, 2017

17 Years of Dating Escorts on a Teacher’s Salary

Mike Katzman’s latest book can be purchased on Amazon.

Our BHS’68 classmate, Michael Katzman, has written a new novel, 17 Years of Dating Escorts on a Teacher’s Salary, which he labels “Adult language and humor, thoughtful.” For a limited time, you can download a free copy of the Kindle edition.

In addition to 17 Years Dating Escorts, Michael Katzman is the author of 47 and Not Married: What Am I Going to Tell My Wife? and numerous theatrical presentations seen by tens of thousands of secondary students in Los Angeles. He also is known as a data consultant to schools solving complicated logistical problems. His views of education have been published several times in the Los Angeles Times.

His third novel Forever My Teacher, about a high achieving Latina who cannot forget that her high school teacher witnessed a secret about her, will be published in 2018.

Here’s a synopsis of 17 Years Dating Escorts: (hope this is PG-rated enough for this blog!)

Ruben is no push-over, not a loser, but he is always ready to help. After he rushes to the aid of a garish woman screaming in her apartment, he protects his career reputation by rejecting her half-price thank-you offer. After Luanne, the proprietress of the woman’s escort agency, calls to throw in more discounts, Ruben becomes her 24/7 confidante, often bantering late on school nights, plotting how the average lonely guy would be able to finance a girlfriend at least twelve times a year.

When the police raid Luanne’s place of business, Ruben teaches Luanne how to use a computer in the years before the Internet. Ruben fancies himself a published author composing web page profiles, which some of the escorts adopt to enhance their self-image and client lists.

As the years go on, Ruben’s intrigue with discount girlfriends is stoked by Luanne and her realities on racism, pornography, and the paradox of sexism.

Mike has been writing stories, short books, and television scripts even when he was at Emerson Elementary, John Muir Junior High and was on the Hi-Life newspaper staff of Burbank High.

Mike Katzman, 1968

Mike Katzman, 1968

Mike Katzman’s Facebook photo

About the video, Mike’s senior class performed a play he had written based on his experiences as a columnist for Burbank High School’s Hi-Life newspaper.

“Most of the main plot conceits and characters were based on real events and people; in fact, the character names were taken from members of the journalism class. The incident in the play with Willie Wilson running as a write-in candidate for student body president really did occur as well as the uproar in the drama department when a play review, meant only as a joke, was accidentally published. Assistant editor-in-chief Sharon was really the butt of many jokes and Bob, the editor-in-chief, was popular for a variety of talents. And there really was an old photography darkroom where we wrote some of our most inventive critiques of high school life. I was Johnson and there really is a Rubin.”

(For more of Mike’s memories of the BHS journalism class, go back and read “Remember the Dynamic Duo?“) Other characters referenced in the play include Merrily Thorne, Sally Bartley and Paul Pilson.

He bought his first typewriter at Zody’s (remember that discount store?) in Burbank. He says “I was slowed by a teaching career, raising children, and writing software. I’m hoping to publish my third and fourth novels, currently in revision, in 2018.”

Dale Rubin and Mike Katzman, Make-up Editors in the Hi-Life classroom

 

 

Posted by on October 29, 2017 in Burbank High School and tagged , , , , , .

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October 25, 2017

Burbank in Paris, Texas?

Kenda Vaughan, one of our Class of 1968 graduates, was surprised the other night, to see photos of Thomas Jefferson Elementary School in Burbank (!) in the film, “Paris, Texas.” The 1984 film is a story of Travis Henderson, an aimless drifter who has been missing for years and wanders out of the desert, needing to reconnect with society, himself, his life, and his family (IMDb). It stars Harry Dean Stanton, Nastassja Kinski, and Dean Stockwell.

Kenda wrote on Facebook:  Imagine my surprise seeing my old school show up in the film PARIS, TEXAS when I watched it the other night at home on ROKU. I checked it out on IMDB and it proved me right. I saw my kindergarten room right off the bat and the playground where we had our once a year fun-filled School Carnival. If you are also an alumni of Thomas Jefferson Elementary in Burbank, you might want to check out this HARRY DEAN STANTON movie, too. Fun to view our old stomping grounds about 1/2 way through the movie! The Hollywood-Burbank Airport is also shown in the film but we from Burbank are pretty used to that.😎

Crilly Butler is also an alumnus of the Thomas Jefferson, and said he had no idea that it was used in this film. He does remember the annual carnival, though, and remarks: “Wow! That used to be SO much fun!!

One of our Class of 1968 alums lives near Paris, Texas: Merrily Thorne Prescott, and George Frigerio‘s mom lives in the next town over. How many of our Class of 1968 went to Thomas Jefferson Elementary School? It was one of three elementary “feeder” schools that was part of Burbank High School.

Just another reason to come to the 50th Class Reunion on October 6, 2018—Tenny Battles Kendryna writes: “This is a BIG celebration! Not just a high school reunion, but celebrate the fact that we are all still here! Now 68 isn’t old by any means, although our bodies may tell us differently! Right?! 😉😃 I hope to see a lot of you there!”

Tell us you’re coming by sending an email to “burbankhigh1968@gmail.”

Check out who else is coming to the 50th Reunion.

Frequently asked questions about the Reunion.

Forgot what someone looks like? Find the senior class photos of your classmates who are coming to the Reunion.

Read the stories of your classmates here.

Here is a picture of the 1968 Ceralbus staff, with Kenda Vaughan smack dab in the middle of the front seated row.

Ceralbus staff: Seated (L-R): Cathy Fulan, Kenda Vaughan, Janene Verge. Back row: Carole Aikin, Melody Velasquez, Steve Kubelka, Joyce Mulder, Donna Parlin, Cathy Palmer.

 

Posted by on October 25, 2017 in Burbank High School and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

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October 25, 2017

50 Reasons to Go to the 50th Reunion

50 Reasons You Need to Go to Your 50th High School Reunion!
a special feature from Leslie & Kay, founders, Grandparentslink.com

Hey, don’t be reticent to get up enough nerve to attend your 50th reunion! There are so many motivating reasons for you to be part of such an important aspect of your life journey. Go ahead, enjoy yourself, and take note!

  1. You are grateful you can attend!
  2. You realize some of your friends you grew up with are pretty damn cool, still to this day.
  3. It is hard to believe that you made it through those tumultuous years. Remember the too-fast car rides? The tests you forgot to study for? The teacher who insulted you?
  4. You look at old pictures of yourself, and can’t believe you were ever that age.
  5. You think about your family, and what it was like for your parents and grandparents.
  6. Reconnecting is good and powerful.
  7. One of your high school teachers comes to the reunion.
  8. You cannot believe how many classmates of yours passed away, and you ask why and how and when.
  9. You look back and think about some of the foolish things you did or said, and ask “why?”
  10. You look back and think about some of the good decisions you made, even though you were just a “high school kid.”
  11. You talk to a classmate who served in Vietnam, and think about where you were, and what he went through. You thank him.
  12. You talk to a classmate who had a really tough time growing up, and you knew nothing about it. You see the pain… and you had no idea.
  13. You miss the friends who are not attending but are still around, and wonder where they are or how they are.
  14. You see old friends in a new light, a wiser light.
  15. You look at some folks and realize you did not connect then, and you still cannot connect now.
  16. You miss that really good friend of yours who died way too early.
  17. You talk about old times, old girlfriends, old boyfriends.
  18. You appreciate the reconnections.
  19. You look at that huge football field and can’t believe how gorgeous it is, and you relive Friday night football games.
  20. You talk about what you did that you weren’t supposed to do.
  21. You realize how much wiser you are today.
  22. You laugh a lot.
  23. Your emotions surprise you.
  24. You are exhausted from all the energy it takes to see everyone.
  25. You look at your old school, walk the halls, and reminisce.
  26. You wonder about your own driving force in high school. What motivated you? What bothered you?
  27. You relive some of those precious moments.
  28. You think about some of your painful moments, and how you got past them.
  29. You think about how cool so and so was back then, and that same person now reveals all their personal insecurities and how they never ever really felt cool.
  30. That beautiful friend of yours is still beautiful.
  31. That friend of yours who was a total geek is now a well-known and successful physician.
  32. One of the most “popular” classmates ended up in big trouble. Who would have thought?
  33. You see an old friend who is not physically well, and you see those studs who were so cool and so into themselves when you were in school — but now, they are the kindest, taking care of this friend with such love and warmth.
  34. The peer pressure is gone.
  35. You see your classmates now as you saw them years ago. They don’t look 68. You still see them as 18.
  36. You realize life is short. Enjoy the moments now.
  37. You can be yourself. You don’t have to prove anything.
  38. Remember you thought you were invincible?
  39. You get to share pictures of your grandchildren, and talk about this new journey.
  40. You wonder, “Will I ever see some of these people again?”
  41. You get to hear all that great music that you loved, and you remember what those songs meant to you. And you may even dance.
  42. You rekindle old friendships, and vow to stay connected.
  43. You watch as new flirtations and new relationships develop. What a kick!
  44. You recall all sorts of anecdotes and adventures. You may remember some and your friends don’t. They remember and you may not. Oh my!
  45. You see that boy or girl who was your first crush.
  46. You become Facebook friends, and can now really keep up with each other.
  47. You recall the politics of the time, what you were doing the day JFK was killed.
  48. You see that people are real. Who cares about the frills?
  49. You learn how to share more than your gum- you enjoy reaching out to others
  50. You reflect on the moment at hand- you are mindful of life’s embrace. Something as simple as a reunion can do just that!

Hey! Did anyone take note of the fact that we are the class of 1968, and many of us will actually be age SIXTY-EIGHT at the time of the 50th reunion! How cool is that! Thanks to Carla Robinson Pollard who came up with this idea.

Posted by on October 25, 2017 in Burbank High School and tagged .

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October 22, 2017

Because this may be the last time…

If ever there was a reason to attend a 50th High School Reunion, it may be this: It may be the last time you ever see these people. Yes, even as our Reunion Committee volunteers are trying to call all those graduates with no updated email addresses, we are learning about the death of four more of our classmates.

Linda Loranger

The most recent was Linda Loranger Snipes, whose obituary appeared in the Downey Patriot: Linda Loranger Snipes passed away suddenly on Oct. 25, 2016 in South Gate. She was born and raised in Burbank and worked as a registered nurse for Los Angeles County before working at Rancho Los Amigos Rehabilitation Center in Downey for many years. She is survived by her daughter Lisa (Joelle) and her son Daniel. Linda was predeceased in by her parents.

Another one was Myron Eugene Mikkelson,  who was born on November 2, 1949 and died on December 16, 2007. Here is his obituary as published in the Salt Lake Tribune: 

Myron Mikkelson

Photo of Myron Mikkelson in the Salt Lake Tribune obituary.

Myron E. Mikkelson, Sr., loving husband and father, passed away Dec. 16, 2007 at the age of 57, at the Salt Lake City Veteran’s Hospital. He was born in Scottsbluff, Nebraska on November 2, 1949. Myron will be greatly missed by his wife, Elena; son, Gene Mikkelson and his wife Jennifer; and grandchildren, Julian and Jeanette. He served his country in the Army during the Vietnam Conflict. Funeral services will be held Friday, Dec. 21, 2007, at 11 a.m. at the Murray 8th Ward, 4600 S. 160 E. Friends and family may attend the viewing at Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary on Thursday, Dec. 20th from 6-8 p.m. and Friday at the church from 10:00-10:45 a.m. Interment: Utah Veteran’s Memorial Park. Online condolences may be shared with the family at http://www.jenkins-soffe.com (Published in Salt Lake Tribune on Dec. 19, 2007)

We also found out about the deaths of Rudolph “Rudy” Maurer (born 12-4-48, died 12-4-2011) and Michael A. Olds (born 5-26-49, died 3-17-09 in Denver, CO at age 59). Jim Ranshaw, our chief detective in tracking down people, said that he actually spoke to Rudy when he was searching for classmates back in 2007-2008. Neither of these two guys, though, had senior photos in the Ceralbus. If any of our classmates has further information about Rudy or Michael or about any of our other fellow Bulldogs who died, please send information to “burbankhigh1968@gmail.com.“
You can also check out the rest of the Memorial List here.

Posted by on October 22, 2017 in Burbank High School and tagged , , , .

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October 21, 2017

Sewing is IN again!

If you’re female and reading this, do you remember taking a class in junior high where we learned how to use sewing machines? As I recall, “Clothing” was mandatory for all eighth-grade girls. I remember sewing a lot of my clothes in those days.

Here’s a little history of sewing in America:

In 1963, American women spent a record $1 billion on sewing—including patterns, fabric, notions, and sewing machines. By 1964, the average age of the home sewer was 25 years younger than in 1940. Between 1960 and 1968, the amount of clothes sewn at home increased by 50 percent.

By the 1970s, the overall sewing numbers are down (44 million women and girls sew in 1974—8 million less than in the 1950s), but the back-to-basics idea of making something with your own hands appeals to a generation of young women fed up with mass consumerism.


By the 1980s, we started buying more and more ready-made clothes, but fiber arts become an area of interest, however, and the art world begins to look at quilting as a relevant form of artistic expression.

1990s through today: A 1997 Home Sewing Association survey put the number of American women sewing at about 30 million. By 2006, that number was 35 million. Sewing is booming again, thanks in large part to the Web (especially sites like Etsy) and the DIY/eco-chic movement.

We’ve previously written posts about seamstresses in our class: Jan DeJaegher and Carla Robinson Pollard (“Fabric Artists“) and that was about the time we also heard that Susan Parker Easley (“Married for life“) was looking forward to getting home and sewing. Since then she has been quilting up a storm, and was happy to share her creations with us.

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Sue Parker Easley and John Easley, her husband of 48 years.

Sue writes, “Most of these quilts are from kits, so somebody else picks the fabrics, but I do have a lot of fun sewing them together. My biggest problem is remembering to take pictures of them before they leave the house… Mostly I sew for pleasure, so if you receive one of the quilts it is usually for a special occasion. My husband complains I do all that work and then I give it away, so now I am taking pictures so I remember what they look like. Most of the smaller wall hangings are on the wall in my workroom.”

Beautiful work, Sue!

Posted by on October 21, 2017 in Burbank High School and tagged , , , .

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October 19, 2017

He planned to be a forester

Plan to be a forester. That was BHS’68 Wayne Wyatt‘s statement for the Senior Index at the back of the Ceralbus. Today we found his obituary on the Horan and Conaty funeral home website:

Wayne Wyatt, June 10, 1949 – December 4, 2013

Wayne H. Wyatt, 64 of Arvada, Colorado, passed away on December 4, 2013, of a massive heart attack. Wayne was born on June 10, 1949, in Los Angeles, California, to Rufus and Marion Wyatt. He had an older brother, Warren. He grew up in Burbank, California. When he was 16 years old, he professed to serve God. He was a smoke jumper right after high school then started working at Forest Lawn in California then at the City of Burbank Parks Department. He met Joyce Morrison when she was working in Burbank. Wayne and Joyce married on August 8, 1970, in Bayfield, Colorado. One year later, they welcomed their first daughter, Glenda, to the family. They lived in California about a year after she was born then moved to Bayfield, Colorado, for a short time where Wayne worked for La Plata County and operated road graders and plow trucks. They then moved to the Denver area and stayed briefly with dear friends Bill and Rene Hartman before moving to Aurora and holding various jobs. There, they had a premature baby girl named Mirenda who passed away shortly after birth on July 16, 1973. On Glenda’s 2nd birthday (August 29, 1973), Wayne started working at the City of Arvada Parks Department. He worked at the City for 40+ years.

In November, 1973, they moved to Arvada to their current home. Their daughter, Tonya, was born in 1975 and son, Stan, was born in 1979. He served as a father figure for many kids over the years. In 2003, Wayne earned his favorite title of being a Papa to Brooklin and happily welcomed grandson Traybin in 2011.

Wayne enjoyed hunting and camping and spending time with his family and did side sprinkler jobs most of his life. He served as President of the Arvada Cemetery for a while and was a board member on several ditches over the years. He really enjoyed working with the Horse Protection League. Wayne even played Santa Claus a few years with a little persuasion for the City of Arvada and helped deliver gifts to needy children for Lighting up the Holidays. He always loved kids.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Rufus and Marion Wyatt, and his daughter Mirenda. He is survived by his wife Joyce, his daughter Glenda and her husband Darrell McCord, his daughter Tonya, and his son Stan and his wife Jenni and their children Brooklin and Traybin. He is also survived by his older brother Warren, his wife Sue as well as many brother- and sister-in-laws, nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be Monday, December 9, 2013, from 6PM-8PM at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 7577 West 80th Avenue, Arvada. His Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, December 10, 2013 at 1:00 PM, also at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel. Interment to follow at Arvada Cemetery at 2:30 PM, 5581 Independence Street, Arvada, Colorado. Reception to follow Interment back at Horan & McConaty.

We extend our deepest sympathy to Wayne’s family and friends.

Unfortunately Wayne was one of a handful of Burbank High School 1968 graduates whose senior photo was not in the Ceralbus. Others who are missing senior photos (so far) include Steve Gleason, Christine Cullen, Monty Morgan, Steven Lester, and Carol Cooke, the graduates who have contacted us about attending the 50th Class Reunion.

 

Posted by on October 19, 2017 in Burbank High School and tagged , .

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October 19, 2017

RIP Rick Alan Nelson

Rick Nelson

Rick Nelson, November 22, 1949 – July 13, 2016

Inevitably when we are searching for long-lost classmates, we come upon an obituary. That’s what happened when we looked for Rick Nelson. Here is his obituary as published in the Sacramento Bee:

NELSON, RICK ALAN, entered into rest July 13, 2016 in Martinez, CA age 66. He is a native of Glendale, CA born November 22, 1949 and a former resident of Madera, CA before moving to Placer County for the last 12 years. Loving father to Chad E. (Melissa) Nelson, Meghan E. (Bobby) Jovel and Scott T. (Danielle) Nelson. Grandfather to, Chase E. Nelson, Cameron E. Nelson, Caiden E. Nelson, Macy Jane Nelson, Robert Jovel, Thomas Jovel, Scarlett Nelson, Harper Nelson. Also survived by a sister Lynn D. Nelson. Rick is preceded in death by a son Jason Nelson and both parents Robert E. and Shirley (Coffeen) Nelson. Rick was an auto mechanic for over 40 years and a veteran of the Vietnam war proudly serving in the US Navy. The family invites you to attend a Celebration of His Life on Sunday, July 24, 2016 at 12:00 Noon at Chapel of the Valley 97 Vernon Street Roseville, CA 95678.

We convey our deepest sympathies to his family and friends.

Here are some comments which have been posted on Facebook:

That is sad news! (Deanna Dugger Bergman)

So sorry to read this. (Nancy Frisch Silverman)

I’m so sorry to hear this. He was a neighbor of mine on Groton during junior and senior high school and we saw each other around town when he still lived here. His son, Jason, was a student at the preschool where I taught. (Sallie Shelton Thomas)

Rick and I were good friends in junior high and high school. His parents were good friends with mine. His sister Lynn and I were in Jobs Daughters together and Rick was in DeMolay. (Patty “Trish” Molloy Vosper)

Kindergarten through 12th [Grade]! Nice guy! (Tonia Szilagyi Mapston)

He lived around the corner from me. Rick was such a nice guy, sorry to hear this. (Jeani Chiarolla Chambers)

RIP Rick! We dated after my second husband passed away, just one or two. He was so sweet. (Elizabeth “Liz” Anderson Eder)

 I often wondered about Rick. He was such a nice guy. (Kathy Benno)

Loved rick. Such a sweetheart. (Laura Dermedy Unch)

Posted by on October 19, 2017 in Burbank High School and tagged , .

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