Another Teacher leaves us...

...saw this on FB this morning.  Thank you, Dan Dumlao for sharing:

Walt Gaffney
August 24, 1932-June 30, 2016
Resident of Sunnyvale
Beloved husband 59 years to Phyllis, father to Wally (Lynn), Casey, Amy Beth and Melissa (Robert), biked courageously for 84 years. Devoted Opa to Kailey, Makenna, Joe and Sarah. Devout Christian, compassionate friend, gentle soul, self-sacrificing, teacher and coach.
Memorial Service Saturday July 9th, 2 p.m. at Bethel Lutheran Church 10181 Finch Avenue, Cupertino, CA. Memorial donations may be made to Pathways Hospice 585 North Mary, Sunnyvale, CA or Bethel Lutheran Church.

Pics from Cuesta 2015

Thank you all for showing up!  It was a joy and delight seeing you all.

I thought this would be a good pic - and I was right... 

Representatives (one each) from classes of

1978, 77, 76, 75, 74, 73, 72, and 71!

No All Alumni picnic would be complete without an OLMOS sighting!

Thanks, Frank!  We love you and your whole family.  Give Rosa our best.

CLASS OF 1938!  If you have ever been to the history center of the Mountain View Library, you know this lady.  It is both humbling and exciting to see all the people from classes that came before us coming out to smile and have some fun.

My motto for the day, when anybody mentioned the "O" word, was "We're not old.  All the old people stayed home today."  ...no disrespect to those who were unable to make it due to previously made plans, infirmaties, or sheer distance.  ; )

1938 people!!!  Here she is with her twin sister.

The only person missing from this photo is Tim Hickey.  But he did show up, despite having a full plate of events that day.  And that made my day.  But the best reception of the day goes to Tom Lovelace...you had to be there.

For those of you who couldn't make it this year, here are the MINUTES from the day:

See how thin the crowd is in this pic?  It is noteworthy to bring up that the class of 1975 

CLOSED THE PICNIC DOWN this year.  Yep, we were the last people standing in the BBQ pit area on Saturday.  ...memorable.

The Disc Jockey died last year and so there was no disc jockey this year.

Vince Pezzella and some volunteers BBQ'd this year, but the rumor is they AREN'T going to next year.

This year there wasn't any drawings for prizes.  My guess is that won't happen next year either.

-----------------

Well, whether somebody picks up the batton and breathes new life into this event or not, it is enough for me to just see the smiling faces of the people I went to High School with and spend a few precious hours once a year.

Come hell or come high water, you can't take the first Saturday in October away from us!!!

See YOU next year?

Until then...

Where have I been?

So, I haven't posted in some time because, well... I QUIT my job after nineteen years and two months because I wanted to be home with my husband.  Early retirement!
That's the good news.  The bad news is, I didn't make it down to Cuesta in 2014 and don't know if there will even be a picnic this year.

But I do have plans of coming down to (I moved to the Sacramento area) Cuesta this year - as it is our FORTIETH!

If I hear of any plans in the works for a reunion, I will be sure to post them here for any of you who still frequent this site.

Thank you for your continued support.

Go Eagles!!!

A Post Script from Mr. Ridell's wife, Janet

Written Jun 1, 2013 2:17pm

Hugh joined God and his Angels on May 31, 2013 at 12:10 a.m. with Janet holding him in her arms, Anne and Catherine at his side.

Services will be held Thursday June 13, 2013, 4:00 p.m. at Hugh's Church - St Luke Lutheran, located at 1025 The Dalles Avenue in Sunnyvale.  For further information, if needed - you may call St Luke Lutheran Church, 408.730.0365.

If you would like to honor Hugh with a donation please donate to CaringBridge his lifeline to his band of Angels and Army.

For those of you that would prefer to donate to St Luke Lutheran Church - please make those donations to Amazing Creations Preschool. Hugh was one of the key founders of Amazing Creations.

Hugh wanted you ALL to know "he loved each and every one of you and he will see you again."

All My Gratitude and Love, Janet

The passing of Hugh Riddell...

...sometime the last week of May 2013.  I heard the news this morning from a co-worker whom I don't even know, but it's funny, we BOTH know Hugh.  I found this out one day when I had nothing to do while breaking the receptionist and I was looking up people I work with on FB.  I saw Hugh as one of this guy's friends.  Small world, man.

I found this on the Internet.  Hugh is the 2nd speaker, but actually the whole thing is a good listen.
Jim Bouquin "Cancer Support with a Testimonial by Hugh Riddell" from Cupertino Rotary Club on Vimeo.

Definitely one of my FAVORITE teachers back at MVUHS.  I will miss his light.

A Teacher Update

Hugh Riddell

Updated: 12-Jul-2009

What's New?

I have been retired from MVHS since 2002. I was
diagonsed with colon cancer May, 2008. My daughter set
up a web page for me at Caringbridge.com/visit/hugh
riddell. I am giving it the "good fight" with Chemo
treatments. My wife, Janet, is a saint and is my
mainstay in this battle.
I had a wonderful career at Mountain View High School,
and I am now doing volunteer work as my health allows.
I began my profesional career in 1965 after graduating
from Whittier College in '62, then my MS from UCLA
in '64. I retired in 2002 after 37 years at a
fantastic school with wonderful staff and students; a
great life so far!
I am living in Cupertino, California with my wonderful
wife Janet. We have two great daughters. Life is good
and I thank God for each day He gives me. Remember,
that life is a short journey, so make each day count.

Cuesta 2012

Mark Perry, Toni Walter, Marjo Baams (and yours truly).
Mark's son, Nick, has written another book
called Now and Then
I would be going to the book signing on Oct 13th
except I will be at the Renaissance Faire - hey, I can't be everywhere
and do everything.

Damn it; I thought sure I got a picture of Lynette Braughton, but I guess I didn't.  Seated at the Class of 72's table, in pink.  Larry lives in Sebastopol, btw. Darrell and Nick are both doing fine.

The Pruitt sisters.

The Reynolds sisters.

Theresa Briones and her mom-in-law.

Me with Betty'n'Bobby (Barbara)

Brother of our classmate, Laura.

Lorraine Collins

Two of the FOUR guys from the Class of '72 with which I was very smitten

Just think...EVERY year is gonna be somebody's 50th !

These two gals (in white) are graduates of the Class of 1957!

Larry Leib.  I can put you in touch with him if you are interested.

Half of one of our Class's marriage success stories...
♥ Mike Miller and Paula Knab ♥

Rocket J Squirrel

Game On !!! for 2012

Hope to see YOU there !

This year the class of '72 (my favorite class next to ours) is celebrating their 40th.

There are bound to be lost of new faces out at Cuesta this year.  I know that was the case with

the class of '71's reunion last year.  WOW.  I even made a new friend.  Shelly Hatzenbeler's older sister, Karan.

Come on down, out, over, up...  Come spend the day with us.  We'll shoot the shit and reminisce.

It's FUN, damn it.

Sadly, we lost one of the (now famous) Pezzella brothers this year (Pat -MVUHS Class of '61, pictured here on the right with his brother, Vince), but hopefully Vince will be there cooking up the burgers and dogs for us to enjoy.  And you never know if someone will bring some (even more famous) Linda's sauce for them.  Yum-m-m  O.  

Or bring your own picnic.

Let this Stand

As my humble and PUBLIC apology to any and all of my classmates who were

subjected to SPAM emails from my Yahoo account on Monday April 2.

This was quite beyond my control. I have taken steps to try and insure this will

never happen again.

Meantime, I am sooo sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused you.

This is worse than I felt when the glove box of my Volkswagon Bug was vandalized back in 1982, and I still remember what that felt like. Ha! Sh'yeah, I can laugh about it now, but not this.

OUCH ! It smarts so bad.

How the mighty have fallen...

Tim Hickey and his lovely WIFE, Sue !

married in Dec 2011

CONGRATULATIONS TIM !!!

Bye bye SEARS :' (

Cool. Now I don't have to go over there at lunchtime today and take my own pictures.

But you know me...I probably will. Ha!

We went through that intersection (San Anton' and El Camino) yesterday on our way to see this (which never disappoints) and as I sat at the red light my mind was BLOWN at the shere IMMENSE nakedness of that corner.

Waaaaaaaaaaa. Between that, and the 7-11-Liquor store-Chinese Buffet-31 Flavors-Dry Cleaners sector at the end of Alvin (still NAKED), I feel my youth and all its familiar landmarks slowly waning and disappearing into obscurity.

Hey, did I tell you MV now has a CASKET store?! Yep, as Ron and I were dining at Amici's last month, which is right across the street from Spangler Mortuary, we glanced to the right of that and lo and behold, there were caskets on display (you know, lids open and such) in one of the shops. I think it used to be a flower shop, and yet there still is a flower shop (of course, right? death & flowers, duh...) next to that. Anyway...

Cuesta Rengstorff 2011

 It was a gorgeous 73 degrees in Mountain View under a canopy of old-growth OAK trees we gathered...

The eucalyptus were absolutely stunning !  And the trains...  God, I love the sound of a train.  BONUS. 

The class of 1971 was in the throws of their 40th reunion, orchestrated by Gary Infante (yes, Marcia's brother).  What a blessing for it brought many NEW faces to the party.  Thank-you, Gary !

Sharon ('69) and Karan Hatzenbeler ('71),  Jeff Badzik, Ana Delgado

 Joana Zumwalt (seen here with our very own Craig Reynolds).  Lori and Eryn were there too.

[ Blogger isn't exactly letting me type wherever I want to so bear with me. ]

The class of 72 was represented by the likes of Robert Lee, Steve Bohnstedt, Linda Delgado and John Gard.

From the class of 73 we have the Gazdayka brothers, Tom and Jim.  The class of 74, Lori Reynolds (Thornton).  

Throw in a TEACHER for good measure -  Ladies and Gentleman, the one and only HUGH RIDDELL made a cameo appearance.  Thanks, Hugh !

 Then from our class,
 Rick Foster, Peter Delgado (with wife, Kim in yellow), Jim Feeney (with wife, Helen), Jon Anderson (his brother, David is class of 82), and the beloved Rosa Olmos.  I'll give you three guesses who is standing behind her, and the first two don't count. Ha!