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THE
GALILEO OBSERVER |
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THE
GALILEO OBSERVER |
VOL. II, No. 7 ____ August, 2004
A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT OF GAA
August 6, 2004
To: Phil Kaiser ‘57
From: Jim Dresser ‘51, GAA President
Re: Galileo Alumni Association
GAA is a nonprofit organization whose Board members volunteer their time and receive no financial compensation. GAA was started three years ago to provide support to the Galileo Academy of Science and Technology (formerly Galileo High School) and its alumni. Prior to that time, Galileo was the only high school in San Francisco that did not have an alumni association.
“The mission of the Galileo Alumni Association is to engage the alumni as a unified group to the benefit of all members of the high school community which include the alumni, students, faculty, staff, and friends.” Unfortunately, the tone of your weekly email newsletters is hostile towards GAA and its Board members and does not seem to benefit anyone.
Although not necessarily in the capacity of Board member, many of us have communicated with you in the past regarding meeting dates, scheduled events, information, and appreciation for your assistance to Mel Chiarenza in developing the database. The GAA website, since its inception, has identified your website http://GalileoHS50s.homestead.com/ as a related link.
My most recent email to you regarding the date, place, and time of the August GAA Board meeting was sent on July 17, 2004, at 11:22 AM, just shortly after the meeting was scheduled. This information was not passed on to your readers.
In that email, I asked you to have readers check the GAA website http://galileoalumni.org/home.html for future meeting dates rather than suggest they phone the school because such calls may disrupt the academic program. This request has been ignored.
In your newsletters, you do not provide specifics regarding who has communicated with you nor the events to which they refer, making it difficult, if not impossible, to respond to your allegations. Rather, this tactic seems to be used to incense and inflame alumni. You have never contacted other Board members or me directly, either through links on the GAA website or email addresses in your database, to confirm or deny accusations before printing them.
For example, no Board member was contacted before you wrote your editorial on insurance fees. In my July 17 email, I stated, “FYI: GAA has never paid any amount for insurance coverage for any of its events.” However, you chose not to acknowledge the response, suggesting you prefer rumor and innuendo over direct knowledge from Board members.
For up-to-date information about events and reunions, minutes of Board meetings, editions of the Galileo Observer, and ways to contact Board members, please refer your newsletter readers to the GAA website http://galileoalumni.org/home.html. I strongly encourage you to check the website regularly and contact Board members directly if you have questions regarding GAA.
Editor’s Note: Phil Kaiser lives in Colorado and is the editor of The Lions Pride, a monthly newsletter covering the classes of the 1950s. Although he is an alumnus, he did not graduate from Galileo High School.
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EDITORIAL
The Alumni Connection
(Reprinted from the September, 2003 issue of the Observer)
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.
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SMALL
WORLD
(an editorial)
(Reprinted from the April/May, 2003 issue of the Observer)
Approaching the beginning of my eighth decade of life, it always amazes others when I tell them I bumped into so and so, an old buddy or a friend from high school. San Francisco has always been a small town in the sense that one "bumps" into friends all the time. We who grew up together in The City and attended Galileo maintain a love and nostalgia for our past. We are constantly recalling events that happened and where we were when they happened. There is no place like San Francisco. It is a microcosm of the world with all its different cultures, languages and foods.
It was the same when I attended Galileo. People from other cities and towns don’t understand how we can keep relationships alive for so many years. I can number several dozen people that I’ve known for over 50 years and many for over 60 years. I have kept all my high school memorabilia — Block G sweater, Pendulum copies, three yearbooks, etc. It feels good to have these things around. But more so as a reminder of what good times I enjoyed growing up in San Francisco and attending Galileo.
Recently some seventy people from Marina Junior High School, Galileo and North Beach gathered for luncheon at Caesar’s Restaurant, an annual event. There were classmates I hadn’t seen in 50 years. Some had lost their hair, what remained on others had turned grey and white, some had paunches, but all of them still had that spark of youthful memories. This is why we alumni like to keep in touch. I hope that as Galileo alumni we never lose this connection with our past.
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To All Galileo Lions,
The two-member nominating committee is preparing a slate of officers to present at the next Galileo Alumni Association (GAA) Board meeting on September 9, 2004. The meeting will be held in room 210 of the Galileo Academy of Science and Technology, starting at 6:30 PM. Galileo alumni and friends are cordially invited to attend. Election of officers will take place at the October Board meeting.
To quote from the October 2003 Galileo Observer: “For recent grads and those in the classes of the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, the Galileo Alumni Association needs your representation on its board and committees. In order to make GAA a truly representative organization, we need to have the participation of as many different classes as possible.” http://galileoalumni.org/news200310.html
As modified from a more recent Galileo Observer, all graduates regardless of age, race, color, creed, gender, grade point average, popularity in school, life after graduation, or computer-literacy are welcome. http://galileoalumni.org/news200405.html
To date, no one has communicated with GAA about joining the Board. Each time a Board member has contacted alumni of diverse ethnicities or from different decades, the opportunity to join the Board has been declined for various reasons - family commitments, work schedules, health issues, etc.
GAA looks forward to hearing from all alumni who wish to volunteer for the Board or participate on committees. Email me at president@galileoalumni.org, leave a voice message at (415) 749-3430 ext. 3743, or send a letter to GAA, 1150 Francisco St., San Francisco, CA 94109.
Please take a moment to consider how you can help GAA, a nonprofit organization benefiting the Galileo Academy of Science and Technology (formerly Galileo High School). If you have not already done so, please join GAA by using the membership form available at http://galileoalumni.org/membership.html. Thank you.
Jim Dresser
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| Make your check payable to GAA and mail to: | ||
| Nina Clima
(Pattini) 3533 Santiago San Francisco, CA 94116 (415) 566-4782 |
~
or ~ |
Cordy Surdyka (Porter) 108 Somerset Drive Novato, CA 94945 (415) 898-1119 |
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| Through The Telescope. . . |
|
At the recent dinner meeting of the GAA Board of Directors at Caesar’s Restaurant, we were graced by the presence of four ladies from various classes. Eleanor (Rinaldi) Clayton (1941), Gloria (Campisi) Tornay, Rose (Garcia) Melcher (1955), up from Orange County, and Renee (Mau) Wade (1951), recently back in the Bay Area from Las Vegas. They all expressed interest in getting involved with GAA which is a good sign for the future success of the organization. Incidentally, Caesar’s put on a good spread, everybody ordered what they wanted and paid their own way, and we all had an enjoyable time after the serious business was concluded.
It was good to hear from Mario Lechuga (1950), a former basketball teammate from Marina Junior High and Galileo and a regular at Helen Wills Playground. By the way, after its facelift, the playground will be called Helen Wills Park and will have areas for seniors as well as youth.
Vince Gomez (1952), our pint-sized friend, who’s still smaller than the bass he plays, writes that he is playing on alternate Thursdays at the Washington Square Bar & Grill (on Powell near Union) from 8 to 10 pm. His next dates are 9/16 and 9/30. He will also appear at the Stinson Beach Grill on 9/3 and 9/6. Go see and hear Vince play. He breaks out in a huge smile when he recognizes a former Galilean.
How much more Galilean can you get than Art Leones (1951). In Spanish, leones means lions. Art, who is Greek, spent many years hanging out in his family’s famous Minerva Café in the Tenderloin, a good reason for us to have gone there.
Look-a-likes: Jim Dresser, GAA President, and Spiderman Tobey Maguire.
Besides being a successful recycler, alum Joe Garbarino has a priceless collection of World War II tanks. Some garage he must have.
The Magic of Science: Mel Chiarenza (1952), who has enough on his plate had another thing added when his wife came into the computer room and told him that there was a fire in the hills where they live. She was in a state of panic, he says, as she told him to phone 911. Mel went out to the deck in the back of the house, and she pointed to a dark orange glow. After he observed the glow he noticed there was a high wind blowing and what his wife thought was a fire was a street light and the trees in front of it swaying in the wind which looked like flames dancing and flickering. After watching a sci fi movie and making this observation, he believes in flying saucers. Upon hearing this, our alert webmaster, Vaughn Spurlin (1960) sent the following note to Mel: “Magic is science that hasn’t been figured out yet. The world is a very magical place.” True. Go out on a clear, starry night and look at the skies above. Disney couldn’t have done any better.
Speaking of Mel and his full plate, we can’t wait for his Golf Dinner & Raffle to take place on October 22nd in Pacifica. Each year attendance increases at this popular event. Everybody, and I mean EVERYBODY, leaves with at least one prize, most with more than one. The prime rib dinner is excellent. Proceeds go to the golf program at Galileo.
Roaming Lions: Ann Giampaoli (1951) on a Muni bus . . . Bill Dito (1950) back from a week in Hawaii . . . Jim Dresser (1951) off to Italy in October . . . and I’m off for my annual Labor Day weekend trek to Tijuana, Mexico, for the bullfights.
Why are hearing instruments called hearing aids and eyeglasses are not called vision aids? Wouldn’t ear mikes be better? And why do we call it fish & chips and not fish & fries?
Galileo alumni are not the only ones to have reunions. Alcatraz recently had a reunion of former guards and workers on the island, their families, and yes, ex-convicts. Some reunion, eh? Hope they weren’t served prison food.
How to lower your blood pressure: Whenever I go for a blood pressure check, I try to relax as much as possible in order to get a low reading. What I do is think of a peaceful, relaxing atmosphere, which, for me, is sitting on a terrace on the island of St. Lucia, looking at the moon and listening to the sound of waves lapping at the shore. This is pure magic, Mel and Vaughn.
How to lose weight: I recently lost 13 pounds. How? Just by eating LESS! There is no magic weight loss diet, just common sense. I have been a fan of Post Grape Nuts since my days at Galileo. I eat dry cereal almost every morning. I know a Gal alumnus, Al Karahadian (circa late 1930s) who eats lots of seeds and berries like the birds do. Have you ever seen a fat bird? Yeah, there are a few pigeons around that are bulging at the breast. Someone once asked the jockey, Angel Cordero, how he kept his weight down. He said when he’s on a flight and they serve peanuts, he takes one peanut, breaks it into halves, and eats one half. A sure weight loser if I ever saw one!
PET PEEVE: Remember when a live person answered the telephone when you called a company? Today, more likely than not, you will be greeted by a recording that goes through a number of options, none of which apply to your call. It is a pain in the you-know-what to have to listen to this litany of options. Some companies use the wait time to play endless advertising messages. In our office, we answer phones LIVE after one or two rings. No advertising, no delays. The time wasted while waiting for a live person to talk to you is costly. One answer is to use the hands-free speaker phone. And even then you might get the response, “All our operators are busy assisting other customers. Your call is important to us. Please wait for the next available customer service representative.” If the call were really important to them, they’d answer the phone live and immediately. Don’t you agree?
Gastronomic Magic: In a 2002 interview with Larry King, the late great cook (don’t call her a chef) Julia Child said she hated the herb cilantro. Gadzooks! Cilantro is a popular ingredient in Chinese, Mexican, Italian, and Mediterranean cooking. She also said elsewhere that Costco had the best hot dogs (I agree) and that she often ate the burger at In’N”Out Burger. But the best burgers were the ones she and Jacques Pepin (you can call him a chef) prepared on public television. I could taste them through the TV set. True magic, Julia.
Prediction: That Natalie Coughlin, the Cal senior who won 5 swimming golds at this year’s Athens Olympics, will go far in the celebrity area. She is being signed up for several endorsements, but I’m predicting she’ll make the movies, just like that other swimmer, Esther Williams, did. She’s got the face and figure to be a big success.
THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH: Since this has been a magical column, here’s a magical thought . . . our human hearts beat like the stars twinkle and give out love as the stars give out light.
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Galileo Featured in The Chronicle
Galileo Academy of Science and Technology was featured in an article in the Sunday, August 15th issue. The article dealt with the unique architecture of San Francisco’s high schools. Galileo was ranked in the top 3 for its architecture. Mentioned were the auditorium, observatory and portico.
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CLASS OF 1994 REUNION IN SEPTEMBER
The Class of 1994 will hold its 10th year reunion on Saturday, September 11th at Galileo High School from 1 – 5 pm. Cost is $25 per adult, $5 per child (make checks payable to Galileo Alumni Association and send to Jenny Chan, Class of 1994 – 10 Year Reunion, 10090 Dougherty Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95034). For more information contact Jenny Chan at JennyChan204@earthlink.net or Mariaelena Barbosa at ipse312@yahoo.com or 650-291-1117.
The Galileo Alumni Association is proud to have assisted in the planning of this reunion by providing valuable advice and suggestions.
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Rich Baptista’s North Beach/Marina Dinner
This annual dinner will be held on Friday, September 17th, at the San Francisco Italian Athletic Club in San Francisco. The event is sold out every year so mark your calendars now. Five honorees will be selected for athletics and community service. For further information contact Rich Baptista, 9144 St. James Place, Windsor, CA 95492. Tel. 707-896-0328.
Please note: In last month’s issue, we incorrectly stated the date of the Rich Baptista dinner as Saturday, September 18th. The correct date is Friday, September 17th as shown above.
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CLASS OF 1984 REUNION IN SEPTEMBER
You are cordially invited to the
GALILEO
HIGH SCHOOL
Class of 1984
20 Year Reunion
Come join us for an evening of dinner and dancing and catch up on the last two decades with former classmates!
Date:
Saturday, September 25, 2004
Time: 6:30 – 11:30 pm
Place: Miyako Hotel
1625 Post Street, San Francisco
(415) 922-3200
Cost:
$75.00 per person
Room Rate: $99.00 per night
Parking: Available at the hotel
Please
send checks by July 31, 2004
Payable to: Steve Bokura
151 Forest Knolls Drive
San Francisco, CA 94131
Please help us spread the word so we reach as many alumni as possible!
If you have any questions about the event, or have any high school memorabilia that you can loan us, please contact the reunion committee at: Galileo84reunion@yahoo.com
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Date: October 9, 2004, Saturday
Time: 4:30 pm to 10:30 pm
Cost: $45 per person if RSVP'd by 8/30/04
$55 per person after
8/30/04
Location: Galileo High School "Dining Hall"
Who: Open to ALL CLASSES and their family and friends
Alumni, come back to Galileo for an
exciting evening of fun and nostalgia... we'll have a catered buffet dinner,
dancing, school tour, surprise entertainment, door prizes, and more...
We are requesting a high school and a current picture. Pictures will be returned
at the reunion. If preferred, pictures may be emailed in .jpg format to Galileo74@sbcglobal.net.
Hardcopy invitations to be sent June 1, 2004. For information online, please
see our webpage at:
http://www.geocities.com/galileo74@sbcglobal.net/reunion2004.html.
Looking forward to seeing you!
Class of 1974 Reunion Committee
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October 9, 2004, Saturday
Cost: To Be Announced
Location: Dominic's at Oyster Point in South San Francisco, CA.
Update! Jan-Feb Class of 1955 now included, as requested by Fred Basconcillo.
Believe it or not, we are approaching a special milestone! A few of us have gotten together to try to plan something for out 50th reunion and we need your help.
We are planning a reunion event for Saturday, October 9th, 2004 and hope to have a good turnout. Unfortunately, with the passage of time, many of us have lost contact and it is a challenge to try to find some of our classmates.
If you are interested in attending this special celebration, please complete the Registration Form and return it. We want to be sure we have correct names, addresses and e-mail so even if you have already provided this information, please confirm it to: Marie Pardini Noce, 776 Berkshire Drive, Millbrae, CA 94030
Most importantly, if you are in contact with any of our classmates from the class of June, 1954, PLEASE let us know by listing them on the form.
Thanks very much for your help. We hope to see you at our 50th !!
Josephine Dempsey Romine
Marie Pardini Noce
Carlo Noce
Lillian Baiocchi Valli
Registration Form: http://galileohs50s.homestead.com/1954_Reunion.html
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Galileo’s 60th Song and Yell Contest
Galileo’s 60th Song and Yell Contest is scheduled for Friday, October 15, 2004 from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM. In the last 2 years, many Galileo alumni served as judges and enjoyed the experience. This year alumni from the classes of 1944-45, 1954-55, 1964-65, 1974-75, 1984-85, & 1994-95 are being recruited. If interested, email Eugene Wing, Galileo ASB Advisor, at ishiwing@sbcglobal.net. Include your name, address, the year you graduated, student government offices held, sports played, and your current career. If selected, you will be notified by mail.
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ENJOY THE SUMMER
EVEN IF IT IS WINTER IN
SAN FRANCISCO
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SILVER LEGACY RENO SITE OF 50s REUNION
Hosted by members of the classes of the 1950s, any and all Galileo alumni from any class, their families and friends are welcome to attend. The Silver Legacy Hotel will be the location for the reunion from May 4-6, 2005, and a “Save The Date” card will soon be mailed to all those who attended the reunion in 2000. Those who receive the card are requested to pass the word to their classmates. The reunion will be dedicated to the class of 1955 as this will be their 50th anniversary. If anyone wants to get on the mailing list, they can notify the GAA with their name (maiden name for women), address and year of graduation. Include your spouse’s name if they are a graduate of Galileo. Notice of the reunion will be by regular mail.
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GAA To Reserve Block of Tickets for Belasco Production
Based on the success of 2004’s attendance at Ed Belasco’s musical productions in Walnut Creek, GAA has decided to reserve a block of 100 tickets for next year’s production. Janet Neilsen is handling ticket distribution.
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AVID Summerfund
Galileo
Academy of Science and Technology
1150
Francisco Street
San
Francisco, CA 94109
Spring,
2004
Dear Friend,
Did you know that when you donate to Galileo’s AVID Summerfund every single penny of your money goes directly to deserving students?
Because we volunteer our time and printing and postage are donated we have no overhead whatsoever.
Where else can you get such a return on your contribution?
Last summer, thanks to generous private donors, we were able to send 17-year-old Jean Lee to a special program in expository writing at Carleton College in Minnesota. There, Jean was trained in the analytical approach to writing she will need when she enters the University. But this rich summer experience gave her much more than that (see ONE STUDENT’S STORY).
Galileo’s student body is an extraordinary ethnic mix. Over forty percent of our students are foreign born, a higher percentage than in any other high school in San Francisco. Many of the rest are first-generation Americans who speak a foreign language at
home—24 different languages to be exact! Chinese and Southeast Asians constitute the majority of our students, together with smaller numbers of Latin Americans, African-Americans, Indians, Pakistanis, Africans, Bosnians, Albanians and others.
61% of our students are considered “at risk” because family income is below the official poverty line. They have had none of the advantages that middle-class American kids take for granted—no summer camps, no books at home, no family vacations, no special classes and tutors, no parents who can help with lessons. Many have heavy family responsibilities or must work after school to contribute to family income.
To break the chains of poverty, our students will need to go to college, but for most of them, college is a vague and unfamiliar concept.
The national AVID program (Advancement Via Individual Determination) was formed to help students who will be the first in their families to go to college achieve success at a four-year institution. The program stresses writing and reading. Students are tutored, helped to understand what college will be like, and assisted with school and scholarship applications.
We established the AVID Summerfund to help prepare students for the challenges they will meet in college. We select programs that will ease the shock of transition to a college environment and make survival there more likely. And we try hard to find the right program for each student’s needs and interests.
We favor programs beyond commuting distance because most of our students have never traveled outside California, some never out of San Francisco. They are shy and inexperienced in the ways of people from the broader American society. We try to provide out-of-doors adventures for those students who have had to work so hard that they have never had the chance to enjoy nature or the company of other kids.
This year we have expanded the variety of programs to which our students apply. Some are highly competitive and difficult to get into. The list includes, among others:
Summer Science Program, Ojai, California. Instruction in astronomy, physics and mathematics for students with high math skills. Students determine an asteroid’s orbit using their own measurements and software.
San Diego Zoo Teen Program. Counselor-in-training camp for Sea World.
The Women’s Technology Program, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. A program to introduce high school girls to engineering and computer technology.
The Junior Statesman Summer school, Stanford, Yale and other universities. A program for students interested in politics and government, emphasizing the study of political systems, debate, and clear, persuasive writing.
Exploring Leadership, Coro Northern California. Internships for leadership training in business.
QUEST Program, Stanford. Free program for bright low income students interested in medicine, environmental science or public service and leadership.
Telluride Association Summer Programs (TASP), Universities of Michigan and Texas. At Texas, free classes on what great philosophers say about human identity; or at Michigan, race, gender and class in American and British history.
COSMOS, UC Davis and UC Irvine. The California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science offers intensive, advanced courses for students considering careers in these fields.
Your gift can help make our students’ dreams come true.
These young people have already demonstrated their ability and their readiness to work to achieve their goals. All they need is a little help in getting started on the road to becoming contributing members of our society. Summer enrichment programs cost between $500 and $5500, depending on the nature of the program, length and location.
At the end of the summer you will hear directly from the students you helped. You can see at first hand what your gift has accomplished. Please be generous.
YOUR GIFT CAN CHANGE LIVES.
Yours
sincerely,
| Helen Giambruni | Cathy Kornblith | Karen Cancino | Katie Pringle |
| Volunteer Tutor | Volunteer AVID Counselor | AVID Coordinator | AVID Counselor |
| Galileo graduate, 1945 |
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Amount enclosed:
500.____ 250.____ 100. ____ 50.____ 25.____ Other_____________
Make your tax deductible check to: Galileo AVID Summerfund
Mail to:
Galileo
Academy of Science and Technology
Attn:
Katie Pringle
1150
Francisco Street
San
Francisco, CA 94109
| Your name: | For more information | |
| Address: | call Cathy Kornblith | |
| 415-821-1486 or | ||
| 415-749-3430 x3247 | ||
| or Katie Pringle | ||
| E-mail: | 415-205-2703 |
Important note: If you can donate airline miles that would help a lot! Call Cathy.
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ONE STUDENT’S STORY 17-year-old Jean Lee burst into tears when told that Galileo’s Summerfund would pay her tuition and airfare to the writing program at Minnesota’s Carleton College. She was amazed, appreciative and excited. |
 |
Jean’s family had emigrated from China 10 years earlier. They moved in with relatives in Chinatown --eleven people in a two-bedroom apartment. Eventually they moved to the outer Mission, far from the Chinatown that was the center of their world. To stay on at the Galileo Academy, she has had to make the long commute by bus every day, with a transfer and stop on the way to deliver her young sister to school in Chinatown.
Jean entered Galileo as a quiet, serious and shy freshman. Always self-motivated, she earned straight A’s that first year. By her junior year she was coping with a challenging schedule of honors and Advanced Placement courses and taking classes at City College. In addition, as Jean overcame her shyness she began to take a more active role in school activities. Her kind and gentle ways helped her work effectively with others.
At home, life was harder. Jean’s father works in housekeeping at a hotel but her mother has been too ill to work for some time, so the family income has dropped substantially. Jean has had to carry a heavy load of family responsibility and cope with unrelenting pressure. Having to decide whether her mother should have back surgery was extremely frightening for her. In school, however, she has presented a smiling face.
On the day of departure her counselor picked her up at 6 a.m. and drove her and her father to the airport. Jean brought homemade Chinese snacks for herself and as a gift for the counselor. Over the next weeks her enthusiastic postcards and e-mails from Carleton told of academic challenges and learned skills, enjoying her teachers, meeting people from many different places, and reveling in Minnesota’s small town collegiate life. On her return she was a more confident, self-assured young woman. “It was remarkable to see Jean’s personal growth,” her counselor said, “And to see how much she had relaxed with some time purely for herself.”
It was the generous donors to the 2003 Summerfund who made all this possible.
The skills Jean learned in the Carleton writing program have greatly eased her work this year as editor-in-chief and business manager of the school newspaper, The Pendulum. Jean has become a multi-dimensional person: a committed student who loves learning, a school activist, a risk taker who is resilient enough to bounce back from failure or disappointment, and a compassionate young woman establishing herself in two cultures. She is looking forward eagerly to new challenges at UCLA, where she has been accepted for the fall semester.
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Galileo alumni, family, friends, students, faculty . . . anybody and everybody, The Observer is for you. If you haven’t already done so, send in the email addresses of anyone you know who would like to receive a FREE emailed newsletter every month or so. We’d like to reach as wide a range of readers as possible. Send the email addresses to: Webmaster@www.galileoalumni.org.
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(and dinner afterwards)
by
Mel Chiarenza
We had 25 show up at Johnson’s Beach and we all enjoyed the camaraderie. Carla [Fisher Harris] provided beach umbrellas and beach chairs. We had a banner with an orange background with dark blue lettering (“Galileo Alumni”) tied to two umbrellas and it was very visible from the parking area. Some visitors who were not alumni saw the sign and came by to share stories about San Francisco. It was a great first time outing and from what the consensus of opinion was, it should be an annual event.
Some of the alumni present were Mario and Barbara Lombardi, Rich and Lorraine Baptista, Bernard Valdez and Jackie Brown, Anne Farrell, Mr. & Mrs. Seb Saia, Hugo and Leah Giovanini, Barbara Garfes Wenzel and her husband, and Marian Napolitano Gizzi, among others. We also had an ex-Galileo teacher who lives in Guerneville and now teaches in San Francisco. Others who came by to say hello were Tony Ribera, a couple from San Francisco, a fellow from Polytechnic High’s Class of 1949, and Rick Comollo (1959).
After the beach party, Carla and her husband Clair invited everyone to their beautiful home for snacks and beverages where we were joined by other alumni, Jackie and Virgil Sivieri, Juan Rico and Mary Lou Cox Rico, and Marie Bregante. At 6:30 pm we all went to the Northwood Lodge Restaurant for dinner. Dinner selections were Tri Tip Steak, Breast of chicken and Alaska Cod and included veggies, salad, bread/butter, coffee or tea, and orange sherbet. It all came to $28 per person (including tax and gratuity). We departed the restaurant at 10:15 pm.
I would like to thank Carla and Clair Harris for allowing us to use the facilities at Johnson’s Beach and to have a lovely day and evening with alumni and friends.
* * *
Always enjoy reading your newsletter. Thank you. Just a note regarding the North Beach Athletes and Friends dinner date. Date on the mailer is Friday, September 17th. Plan to be there so will see you then. Keep up the good work. Sorry to hear that Ben Dito passed away. I have fond memories of our time in school together.
Dick Bechelli (Class of 1950)
Love this newsletter.
Ed. Note: Thank you, ICCITTUB, whoever you are.
During the 1970s my mother found a class ring in our backyard in Clarinda, Iowa. She recently gave it to me. I am interested in locating its owner or at least a family member. The ring says “Galileo” on the front and is dated 1949 with the initials S Z on the inside. Could you direct me to the right person who might check the graduation records for someone with these initials? Thanks for your help!
RaeJean Lepird (Hastings, Nebraska)
Ed. Note: If any of our readers has information about a person with the initials S Z who graduated in 1949, please email RaeJean Lepird at hawks22@charter.net or email us at editorgalileoobserver@yahoo.com and we will pass on the information.
I’m searching for the yearbook for the class of 1969. Mine was lost and I was wondering if the Galileo Alumni Association has some information on how to obtain a copy. A while back I contacted the school and was told that Galileo would have a website that I could download the book from. I can’t seem to find any information on the website, however. Thank you in advance for your help.
Vickie Crivello
Ed . Note: We have since contacted Vickie and referred her to Mark Huynh, Faculty Advisor to The Pendulum.
Dear fellow Galilean, response from publication of my email has been very good. Frequent question: “How do I get in touch with former teachers?” Eleanor (Freund) Gerstenkorn (1958-59) asks how can she can get in touch with Dr. James Morena. Mr. Frank Voci and Dean of Girls Barbara Higgins? Please give me the email address of the person who can reply to those questions. Thank you very much for mentioning my email address in the last issue of The Observer. You are a pal. Take five.
George J. Poppin (retired in 1977)
Ed. Note: By now we all know George Poppin (see his letter in the last issue), including those of us who did not know him personally while at Galileo. George, I believe Dr. Morena passed away some time ago. As for the others, please contact Bettie Grinnell, Assistant to the Principal, at Galileo, who might be able to help you. Her email address is egrinne@muse.sfusd.edu.
NOTE: Some letters are edited for length, spelling, grammar, and content.
September 9 – GAA Board Meeting, 6:30 pm, Room 210, Galileo Academy
September 11 – 10 Year Reunion, Class of 1994, Galileo Academy, 1-5 pm
September 17 – Rich Baptista Annual Dinner, S. F. Italian Athletic Club
September 25 – GAA Social, S. F. Italian Athletic Club
September 25 – 20 Year Reunion, Class of 1984, Miyako Hotel, 6:30 – 11:30 pm
October 9 – 30 Year Reunion, Classes of 1974, Galileo Dining Hall, 4:30 – 10:30 pm
October 9 – 50 Year Reunion, Classes of 1954 & Jan./Feb. 1955, Dominic’s, South San Francisco
October 15 – Song and Yell Contest, Galileo Football Field, 10 am – 12:30 pm
October 22 – Galileo Alumni Golf & Dinner Raffle.
(Additional information on these and other events at www.galileoalumni.org.)
NOTE:
Photos of the May 8th Sports Hall of Fame dinner can be seen by
visiting the GAA website, www.galileoalumni.org.
BACK ISSUES OF THE GALILEO OBSERVER CAN BE VIEWED AT WWW.GALILEOALUMNI.ORG.
* * * * *
For all EDITORIALLY-RELATED comments or suggestions, please address your emails to www.editorgalileoobserver@yahoo.com.
For all TECHNICAL problems (non-receipt of newsletter, etc.), address your emails to webmaster@www.galileoalumni.org.
Thank you.
* * * * *
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)
Sisvan Der Harootunian (1951)
Kay Lazzari Michelis (1953)
Janet Sullivan Neilsen (1953)
Fred Setting (1950)
Cordy Porter Surdyka (1953)
Bernard Valdez (1949)
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 2004, Galileo Alumni Association. |
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last updated 28August2004
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