Class of ’55 Today

Reunion Newsletter for Muir & Pasadena High Schools. Spring 2005 Issue

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Reunion Reservations “Take Off” for August 2005 Extravaganza

With the invitations “salvo” sent January 25 to nearly 700 “located” classmates, the Muir-PHS 50 Reunion committee is off to a fast start according to co-chairs Dick Ratliff (PHS) and Doug Stone (Muir). After nearly four years of planning the nine-day “extravaganza”, the joint reunion committee sent invitation packets (via the mail – which means, you should have received yours by now!) and launched an e-mail campaign to 365 PHS and 325 Muir classmates near and far. “We have had a great response, and the committee expects in excess of 500 attendees for the reunion events, “ said Ratliff, “and already we have 30 booked for the Reunion Cruise to Mexico.”

The reunion committee has been working diligently and creatively on a variety of fronts to “take us back in time”, according to co-chair Doug Stone. “A key attraction for both the Friday (Rose Bowl’s Court of Champions) and Saturday (Ritz Carlton) night events will be the Rhythm Kings, a jazz band formed at Eliot and Muir, which will provide entertainment and dancing from the music of our ‘era’”. This will be the Rhythm Kings’ 50-year reunion, too – and five or six of the original RKs are practicing on their original chart music as we speak. Several have had to dig out their old instruments to get their lips in shape according to RK leader Keith La Motte. Interestingly, the RKs performed at all of the Pasadena junior highs at assemblies.

The goal of the reunion committee is to make this the “best reunion ever.” “We only get this chance once in our lifetime,” said Don Fedde, chairman for the Friday night event. “We have waited a long time for this event – and we are fortunate to have such a wonderful opportunity to share this with our sister high school – what a marvelous time it will be.”

What prompted the “merging” of reunions was started over 52 years ago when most of us had a choice to either attend PCC or Muir. Students from each junior high school would opt to go to either of the high schools, so there was an ‘integration’ of sorts of classmates from many different junior highs that created melting pots at both high schools. “There was a lot of inter-dating going on,” Don said – whose wife, Julie, went to Muir. “So it is natural for us to celebrate together after all these years.”

If you have not placed your event reservations in yet – please do so. Although space is limited at the Ritz Carlton there is still an opportunity to get the special rate for the Muir-PHS 50-year Reunion at the hotel, site of the Saturday night event. Friday, Saturday and Sunday events all have space limited space. For reunion reservations call Mary Ann Case Ashworth at 626-577-7278 (PHS) or Cleve Traughber (Muir)
at 818-547-1970. For Ritz Carlton hotel reservations call direct 1-800-241-3333. For cruise reservations call direct 1-800-228-8843.

Here is the LIST OF PARTIAL ATTENDEES…. whom have already signed up. Spouses names included when they are also graduates of Muir or PHS 1955 class.

Class of 1955- Muir High School attendees (partial list only)

Dick Adams Sue Anderson Tanner Peter Beam

Tom Bright Linda Brown Hauswald Gail Carlson Mapes

Joan Christianson De Graffenried Jay Clawson Bob Cockayne

Don Cooke Ginger Cowley Grafues Dick Crouter

Nancy Dyer Fairchild Nancy Elliott Kroernschild Carole Fabrin Speer

Janie Fawcett McReynolds Nan Fletcher Djordjevic Ron Gossner

Julie Harwood Fedde Lowell Hauswald Bob & Mary Higbee

Buz Honsaker Yvonne Inco Crowley Peggy Jenkins Moore

Kay Kane Fredette Jane Lange Delahooke Linda Liscom Power

Susan Maag Efting Dan Mann Joy Matsumoto Endow

Ellen McCabe Trepp Ron McDaniel Judy McPhee Fries

Dale Miller Pat Mackelburg Miller Lucy Morrison Stoneberg

Alice Narasaki Bernthal Gary Nelson Sharon Okerstrom Gates

Sally Palmer Gordon Tony Pejsa Ann Perine Nelson

Yvonne Pizzo Virginia Reed Olsen (?) Duke Rohlffs

Dick Ruppert Rick Sant Claudia Scott Edwards

Susan Smith Jenkinson Arline Sterner Stroup Doug Stone

Ted Tichy Jim Tracy Cleve Traughber

Bob Travers Janet Trunick Denton Allan Ulves

Clarke Van Sant Scott Van Sant Lee Wainscott

Bob Webb Charlene Wilton Taylor Henry Yamada

Eleanor Hargrave Erickson Kit Sanders Jean Bickel Owen

Class of 1955 – Pasadena High School attendees (partial list only)

Chuck Ayres Rolin Baugh Matt Biller (Bill)

Jenean Botsford Averill Barbara Brisley Van Dorn Bob Brisley

Jan Brumley Mary Ann Case Ashworth Kay Chelsvig Fisher

Margaret Corry Jones Walt Culbertson Frank Dilluvio

Alice Eichorst Riess Nancy Ewing Bale Don & Julie Fedde

Barbara Frailey Van Holt Carol Gaebel Brennan Roger Gertmenian

Carol Hamill Briery Dick Heffelman Joyce Hoffman Newman

Jerry Holman Marilyn Hughes Johnson Bob Johnson

Van Kasper Dick Knirk Sharon Lawrence Dziubala

Ann Lightbody Kamm Bob Liljenwall Bettie McDonald Vickers

Patsey McKee Loughboro John Miller Bob Oakley

Dick Parker Tony Pascoe Dick Ratliff

Ed Sedita Lea Springer Kittleson Darrell Stewart

Wally Swapp Marylin Thaxton Richmond Mickey Theilacker

Muir Thompson Jean Toomath Miller Don Van Buskirk Martin

Linda Vernaci Griegorian Allan Way Roland Williams

Bob Wilson Jeanette Woods Jaycox Robert Cheney

Golf Tournament Entrants List Growing…a word from the co-chairs

Golf Tournament is progressing “nicely. We have 35 already signed up, with a growing list of "lunch only" sign-ups according to Ron McDaniel, co-chairperson. “As of press time we had 41 for lunch and expect more golfers. We would like to see more from the PHS side, as most of the early sign-ups are from Muir. Our goal is to have 52 golfers so we can have a shotgun start. This is going to be a fun, no-pressure event – well, at least officially. Since we came up with this idea, there has been this underlying competition between the schools’ golfers. Side bets are not illegal – that’s my understanding,” said Muirite McDaniel.

Duke Rohlffs, co-chair for the event, is promising a “…smashing, fun, no-holds-barred lunch,” featuring prizes for (legitimate) golf-performance winners, plus other gifts and rewards for all golfers.” Golf plus lunch (and prizes) is $125/person; lunch is $22/person. Any new sign ups, will need to send the payment in full, with their registration. Duke is writing a short “bio” on all participants, so tell us about you, and your golfing accomplishments or lack thereof. Good golfing to all. Ron McDaniel, Duke Rohlffs, Nancy McDaniel. For information on reunion golf reservations call Ron McDaniel 1-856-408-9799 or email rmcdaniel@chartertn.net

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Cocktail Reception at the Rose Bowl, Court of Champions……Friday evening, August 19, 2005

The entertainment kicks off with 1950s themed class reception and dinner in the “Court of Champions” at the Rose Bowl. The evening event will include an outstanding buffet. The theme for the evening will be “The Fabulous Fifties” featuring the famous Rhythm Kings band. This will be a casual affair, and “fifties/bobby sock/saddle shoes” dress is optional. Price is $37.50/person. Don and Julie Fedde are co-chairs.

Help Us Find Vintage Cars For Friday Night at the Rose Bowl

We’d like your help in finding vintage cars from 1937-1955 for display at the Rose Bowl event on Friday evening. We know there are classmates who have “stashed away” in their garage cars from this era – restored to pristine condition in some cases – and to enhance our evening of memories at this Friday Night “bash”, please let Don Fedde know if you have one (or access to one) of these now-classic vintage automobiles….Don can be reached at 626-796-7104.

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Pasadena Ritz Carlton (Huntington Hotel), Saturday, August 20, 2005

50^th Reunion Banquet and Festivities

On Saturday August 20, 2005, we will hold our Reunion Banquet at the Pasadena Ritz-Carlton (formally the Pasadena Huntington Hotel). This will be a true Celebration of our 50 years since high school graduation. It will feature a special presentation of the “life and times of our class”, plus the Rhythm Kings. Price is $75/per person for dinner (no-host bar). Order your dinner ticket reservations today.

A few rooms are still available (as of press time) at $150 per night at the Ritz Carlton. You can call the hotel at 1-626-568-3900 (direct) or 1-800-241-3333 for hotel reservations now. Rooms are available on a first come -- first served basis. Scott & Janet Van Sant and Dick Parker are co-chairs.

***********************************************************************Sunday Sunday Brunch and Tour of Wrigley Mansion. August 21, 2005 Pasadena Tournament of Roses Headquarters.

Sunday, August 21, 2005, a special brunch and tour will be held at the Wrigley Mansion, the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Headquarters on Orange Grove Blvd. It will be catered by one of Pasadena’s finest catering services. This is a rare opportunity to see the famous Wrigley Mansion up close. Tours will be conducted. Price is $37.50/person. Bob Cheney and Jean Bickel Owen are co-chairs of this event.

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Five-day Mexican and California Cruise, Aug. 22-26, 2005

We have signed up 14 cabins (29 persons) for the Five-Day, 50^th Reunion Royal Caribbean cruise to Baja beginning on Monday, August 22, 2004 starting at Los Angeles and visiting ports in San Diego, Catalina Island, and Enseñada, Mexico and returning to Los Angeles on Friday, August 26. Under the leadership of Dick Knirk, he expects over 75 to take advantage of this great post-reunion cruise. Reservations are still open and being accepted now at Travel of America: 1-800-228-8843.

Help Us Find Missing Classmates

We need your help!! We’re trying to locate as many Muir and PHS classmates as possible, including those who attended the junior high schools – Eliot, Marshall, Washington, Wilson, McKinley, La Canada and Temple City (our feeder schools). There are 1,507 total graduates from both high schools, and because of Pasadena’s unique junior high school structure – where each of us were given a choice to attend either Muir or Pasadena, the committee has expanded the inclusion of graduates of the 1953 classes from these junior highs. Please go to: www.phs55.com or www.muir55.org to review the names of classmates.

Heading Muir’s classmates search is Allan Ulves. Muir has 606 total classmates. Heading the Pasadena search effort are Mary Ann Case Ashworth and Marilyn Hughes Johnson. PHS has 901 names in its database, so we have a grand total of 1,507 classmates. We have identified nearly half of all of these classmates with either a mailing address, telephone #, or e-mail address. Amazingly, we have approximately 350 classmates who have e-mail addresses. If you know any classmate who may not be listed on our complete Web site of classmates, please contact: Muir – Allen Ulves – 949-856-0498; Pasadena – Mary Ann Case Ashworth – 626-577-7278 or Marilyn Hughes Johnson at 626-792-6776.

Pasadena High School, Class of 1955, committee members

Mary Ann Case Ashworth Marilyn Hughes Johnson

Chuck Ayres Dick Knirk

Nancy Ewing Bale Robert Liljenwall

Jan Brumley Dick Parker

Bob Cheney Dick Ratliff (Co-Chairman)

Don Fedde Ed Sedita

Muir High School, Class of 1955, committee members

Don Cooke Duke Rohlffs

Ginger Cowley Grafues Kit Sanders

Janie Faucet Reynolds Claudia Scott Edwards

Julie Harwood Fedde Doug Stone (Co-Chairman)

Cleve Traughber Ellie Erickson Hargrave

Ellen McCabe Trepp Jean Bickel Owen

Allen Ulves Scott & Janet Van Sant

Change of Address: If you have changed your address, phone number or e-mail address, please send new information to: PasadenaClassof55@yahoogroups.com

E-mail us now with names/addresses/e-mail addresses of missing classmates or just send us “news” so we can include it in the next Class of ’55 Today. If you have a great story or photos you’d like to share for our upcoming Newsletter or Web site, send to Robert Liljenwall at bob@liljenwall.com. Thanks.