THE GALILEO OBSERVER
A Monthly Newsletter of the Galileo Alumni Association

VOL. I, NO. 1                                                                                      February, 2003

WELCOME to the first issue of the monthly newsletter of the Galileo Alumni Association. It is an honor for me to serve as the Editor of this publication. Each month we will bring you timely news about what’s happening at Galileo Academy of Science and Technology, stories and whereabouts of Galileo alumni, and upcoming events.

The newsletter will be emailed to a list of alumni and will also be available by mail and on the Galileo website, www.galileoalumni.org. As the newsletter expands and reaches more alumni, it will serve as a binding factor to renew friendships, share high school memories, and help our school achieve its present day goals.

We welcome your comments and suggestions. Please send them to Editor, The Galileo Observer, c/o Galileo Academy of Science and Technology, 1150 Francisco Street, San Francisco, CA 94109. In our next issue, we will also have an email address for you to contact us.

Sisvan Der Harootunian, Editor, Class of 1951

The Galileo Auditorium will be the site of the first annual Galileo Gala on Saturday, February 22nd at 2:00 pm. The show will feature world renowned performers, vocalists and unusual variety acts.

Douglas Bryson, an operatic tenor who has appeared with the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, will sing selections from grand opera. Mr. Bryson’s voice will remind you of the golden voice of Mario Lanza in the 50s.

Also featured will be Pamela Brooks, who recently toured Europe in an all-Gerswin concert. She will sing Gershwin as well as operatic selections.

Patti Leidecker, a talented pianist, vocalist and composer, who recently recorded an album, will perform.

A surprise visit by a comic you will recognize immediately rounds out the program.

Tickets may be purchased by sending your check (made out to Galileo Alumni Association) to GAA, 1150 Francisco Street, San Francisco, CA 94109. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for children under 16, and $50 for a family ticket for 5 persons of any age. Tickets will be mailed to you. Proceeds of the Gala will go to help Galileo with its music and athletic departments and assist in the Christmas aid program for neighborhood seniors and children.

This musical matinee promises to be an unforgettable experience. What a great chance to see your old classmates and help your alma mater at the same time!

As an added bonus, attending alumni will have an opportunity to take a free guided tour of the renovated school at 12:30 pm.

GAA LAUNCHES MEMBERSHIP DRIVE

Did you know that for less than the price of a movie ticket you can be a member of the Galileo Alumni Association for an entire year? Not only that, you would be helping to fund new projects for your former high school. I don’t know about you, but my three years at Galileo were some of the happiest of my life. Now you have a chance to give something back to the school where you spent your teenage years preparing for the life you are now living.

Galileo is in need of many improvements. Already a face lift has given the school building a bright new appearance, one to be proud of. Alumni will have a chance to tour the new Galileo before the Gala being held on February 22^nd (see preceding article).

Once a Galilean, always a Galilean. The spirit of the Lions lives on in its alumni. Galileo has produced some of the most successful people to come out of the San Francisco school system in all walks of life. More than 50 years ago Boys Life named Galileo as "The High School of Champions". Sports is only one field in which Galileo has excelled. In 1996 Galileo received the California Distinguished School Award.

Join GAA today by filling out the membership form below and mailing it with your check for $5 or more. You will be glad you did, and it will enable you to keep in touch with your former classmates and friends. This is also an invitation to recent grads to keep in touch with your school by joining now. If you know the whereabouts of other Galileo alumni, send in their names and addresses, and we’ll make sure they receive an application along with a copy of this newsletter. All members will be guaranteed to receive a copy of this monthly newsletter and future publications of the Association.

DID YOU KNOW. . . . .

6.5 million dollars of renovation has taken place at Galileo in the modernization project. This has included new science labs, internet access in every classroom, new auditorium upgrade, interior and exterior painting and much more.

Galileo distinguished itself in the national and statewide effort to restructure science education.

85% of Galileo graduates go on to college or university.

Galileo offers 25 sections of Honors classes and 9 Advanced Placement classes.

Galileo is the only school that offers the Astronomy Program and all students have access to this program in cooperation with CCSF.

(from Galileo Handbook)

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
(Biography)

Every Thursday night at 7:00 pm at the Washington Square Bar & Grill in North Beach, a musician puts the bow to the bass, and along with his partner on the piano, delights diners and drinkers alike with some of the greatest jazz you’ll hear anywhere. His name is Vince Gomez and he is a graduate of Galileo, class of 1952.

When Vince was at Galileo he played the violin and participated in many assemblies and musical performances. He also played basketball and was Sports Editor of The Pendulum. Nowadays, the bass fiddle is taller than he is, but his unmistakable charisma permeates the atmosphere at this popular restaurant.

The multi-talented maestro has had a checkered career in music, having taught in the public schools and at the collegiate level, conducting youth and professional symphonies in the United States and abroad, and performing as a freelance musician since 1958. His passion and energy have flowed into work with music educators at every level and advocating the importance of music education.

After graduating from Galileo, Vince attended the University of the Pacific and received a B. M. degree in violin performance and music education. He went on to earn an M. A. from the University of Hawaii in 1964. He is a Faculty emeritus of Cabrillo College in Aptos. At present, he is California Arts Council Artist-in-Residence in the San Jose Unified School District.

His conducting career has included the Youth Orchestra of Monterey County, San Francisco Bay Area Chorale, Sacramento Chorale, Santa Cruz County Youth Symphony, and numerous other guest conducting appearances. He has conducted and taught in the Philippines, Ecuador, Honduras, Brazil and Costa Rica.

Throughout the years, Vince has not lost his infectious good humor, charisma, friendship and loyalty to his fellow Galileans. Vince is delighted to see old friends visit him at WSB&G. Drop in on Thursday night and treat yourself to some cool jazz and the music of one of your fellow alumni.

THE LIONS’ ROAR TO DEBUT IN JUNE

A brand new quarterly publication of the Galileo Alumni Association will publish its first issue in June of this year. It will be in newspaper format and distributed to alumni and the general public. It will be the voice of Galileo for alumni as The Pendulum is for its students. Watch this newsletter for more details.

THE LIONS PRIDE AVAILABLE BY EMAIL

If you would like to receive a private newsletter emailed weekly about Galileo alumni, class reunions, upcoming events, and other interesting information, contact Phil Kaiser at pkaiser@juno.com. We highly recommend it to all Galileo alumni. Phil does a great job with an uncommon dedication to his alma mater and its alumni.

FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION, VISIT THE GALILEO ALUMNI ASSOCIATION WEBSITE, WWW.GALILEOALUMNI.ORG.

Comments? Contact the Galileo Alumni webmaster
last updated 9feb2003
© 2002, 2003 Galileo Academy of Science and Technology Alumni Association of San Francisco