THE GALILEO OBSERVER
A Monthly Newsletter of the
Galileo Alumni Association
|
THE GALILEO OBSERVER |
VOL. I, NO. 6 September, 2003
LAST CHANCE TO BUY TICKETS
FOR
THE BEST OF BROADWAY!
The second Galileo Alumni Association Musical Gala will take place on Saturday,
October 18, at the Galileo High School auditorium. It promises to be better
than the first one earlier this year. There will be music from Phantom of the
Opera, My Fair Lady, The Sound of Music, Oklahoma, Fiddler on the Roof, and
Chicago performed by outstanding professional artists. There will also be at
least two surprise performances. Tickets are now on sale. Please go to the Galileo
Alumni website, www.galileoalumni.org, for details as well as prices. Don’t
miss this exciting event!
The day before the Galileo Gala is the homecoming game between The Mighty Lions and the Washington Eagles at the football field. Highlight of the event will be the 59th Annual Song and Yell Contest, starting at 10:15 in the morning. Come out and enjoy the day!
DATE ANNOUNCED
FOR SPORTS
HALL OF FAME DINNER
The Galileo Sports Hall of Fame Dinner will be held on Saturday, May 8, 2004, at the Italian Athletic Club. Twelve former Galileo athletes will be honored. Nominations are now being accepted. Please check the alumni website for the proper way to nominate your choice. Details will follow.
ALUMNI GOLF & DINNER A SUCCESS
Everybody had a good time at the recent Third Annual Galileo Alumni Golf & Dinner Event at Sharp’s Park Golf Course. The dinner was delicious and many prizes were given out at the raffle. Everybody got a prize, several won 3 or more, and some even got as many as 7 prizes. We met old friends and made new ones among the 100 people present. Congratulations to Mel Chiarenza (Class of ’52) who arranged the event.
EDITORIAL
The Alumni Connection
There are many types of alumni. Some stay
in touch with classmates from the day they graduate. They see each other on
a regular basis and don’t see the changes as others do. Some remember
classmates as they were in school and don’t recognize them after several
years. Some are married, others divorced, widowed or single. Some see each other
only at special events. Some experience initial shock, then become accustomed.
Some never come out, remain anonymous, move away, or don’t want contact
with other alumni. Some you never hear from again. Many, unfortunately, pass
away, some tragically in war or accidents, others of old age. Some make it big
and are followed in the media as well-known personalities in politics, business,
film, or sports. A few exceptional ones get involved with specific activities
to maintain relationships – they go to lunches, reunions, and other get
togethers.
The Galileo Alumni Association attempts to reach all of these people in a way that makes it possible for all alumni to maintain a connection with their school and classmates. This newsletter is an instrument of the Association for those who otherwise would not have a connection.
WHEN: October 9, 2004 (tentative)
WHERE: San Francisco (exact location to be announced)
COST: To be announced
Looking for alumni to attend the 30th reunion. Please RSVP to Virginia Ho at Galileo74@sbcglobal.net. Updates will be posted in this newsletter and at www.classmates.com.
It’s
Fun Getting Well
by Ben Dito
(Class of ’51)
About a month ago I learned from my doctor that I had some serious internal problems as evidenced by the results of recent X-rays and tests. Shortly after my visit to her, I was consulted by a surgeon who informed me that he felt it important to operate as soon as possible. So the following morning I was in surgery.
That was about a month ago, and I am pleased to say that I feel much better now. Although I am still on the road to recovery, I’m heading in the right direction. Let me tell you one thing – it isn’t fun being sick, but it sure is fun getting well. We all may have to go through a sickness from time to time, but I guess we just have to “hang in there” and bear with it. I did, so I’m sure you can, too.
Incidentally, there are many rewards for being sick, especially if you’re hospitalized. You generally get a lot more attention than you deserve. In my case, I was hospitalized for a few weeks, and during that time I was able to do many things I might not have done otherwise. I caught up on my reading (a couple of magazines and books), I watched a lot of TV (mostly sports, I love the Giants; but I also watched the Tennis Open and some golf) and lastly, I got a lot of rest. I also was able to play with the computer a little, as my hospital had a lounge that provided the patients and their guests with many amenities, one being the use of a computer.
The best part of being sick is that soon you will feel better. Believe me, it sure is fun getting well again.
Editor’s Note: Ben Dito is an Editor of The Grapevine, a bi-weekly newsletter in Yountville.
Contributors to this newsletter. Writing ability not crucial. Memory essential. Willingness to contribute a plus. It’s YOUR newsletter. Email contributions to: editorgalileoobserver@yahoo.com or mail to: Editor, The Galileo Observer c/o Galileo Alumni Association, 1150 Francisco Street, San Francisco, CA 94109.
Thank you for the wonderful article you did on Bob Hope. He was part of our youth and American. I have special memories of Bob Hope because as a young comedy team “Bloop and Bleep” (Steve Tonkovich and I, both from the Class of ’51) we were performers on the second traveling unit of the Bob Hope Servicemen’s Entertainment USO Show. We did record pantomiming and performed and traveled to all the military bases in California, Nevada and Texas. We got to fly in a special military plane with the name Bob Hope written on the side of it. The show I remember the most was at a Nevada desert base, in the 105 degrees blazing sun, with a thousand soldiers getting ready to be shipped out to Vietnam, yelling and cheering us on. It was then I understood why Bob Hope did those shows all over the world for our service men and women. It gave them a little joy and a lot of hope. Ray Piccinini (Class of ’51)
* * * * *
The piece on the Alhambra and Royal Theaters brought back a lot of memories. I guess we were one of the few families who didn’t have a TV, so the Saturday night double feature at the movies was a real highlight of the week. The theater on Union Street was also one of my favorites. Sorry to hear of the fates of the Alhambra and Royal. I have lamented the loss of Blum’s on Polk Street and downtown for many years and more recently, Ahrens Bakery at Van Ness and Jackson. Where did the time go? What I used to think was a corny cliché, “Youth is wasted on the young”, is so true. Sally Logan (Patterson) (Class of ’55)
Editor’s Note: Thank you for your letters. As an editor, it is always satisfying to know that your work is appreciated by readers. Keep the letters and comments coming.
The M. S. feature original planned for this issue has been postponed until a future issue.
October 17, 2003: Galileo Homecoming/Song and
Yell Contest/Lions vs. Eagles.
October 18, 2003: “The Best of Broadway” Musical Event, Galileo
Auditorium.
May 8, 2004: Galileo Sports Hall of Fame Dinner, Italian Athletic Club.
The Galileo Observer invites your letters, memories, inquiries and suggestions. All submissions are subject to editing. Send them by email to: editorgalileoobserver@yahoo.com, or by postal mail to: Galileo Observer, care of Galileo Alumni Association, 1150 Francisco Street, San Francisco, CA 94109.
President: Jim Dresser (1951)
Vice President: Joe Scafidi (1950)
Secretary: Monica Parenti Kirkland (1953)
Treasurer: Augie Venezia (1953)
Directors
Mel Chiarenza (1953)
Frank Clima (1951)
Nina Pattini Clima (1950)
Diane Wall Cowart (1965)
Kay Lazzari Michelis (1953)
Fred Setting (1950)
Cordy Porter Surdyka (1953)
Janet Sullivan Neilsen (1953)
Ben Vanni (1948)
Committee Chairpersons
Public Relations: Cordy Porter Surdyka (1953)
Membership: Diane Wall Cowart (1965)
Database: Mel Chiarenza (1953)
By-laws: Monica Parenti Kirkland (1953)
Communications (Newsletter): Sisvan Der Harootunian (1951)
Webmaster: Vaughn Spurlin (1960)
FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION, VISIT THE GALILEO ALUMNI ASSOCIATION WEBSITE, WWW.GALILEOALUMNI.ORG.
The Galileo
Observer is a monthly publication of the Galileo Alumni Association, 1150
Francisco Street, San Francisco, CA 94109. Views expressed are strictly
those of the Association and in no way reflect those of the Galileo Academy
of Science and Technology, its students or faculty. James Dresser, President;
Sisvan Der Harootunian, Editor; Vaughn Spurlin, Production Manager/Website
Director. Copyright 2003, Galileo Alumni Association. |
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Alumni webmaster
last updated 29september2003
© 2002, 2003 Galileo Academy of Science and Technology Alumni Association
of San Francisco