PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR OUR

Jane Nash Millett has taken over for Alice on the '52 page.

 

                                                                                         

 

                                                                                                   Jan.31, 2010

 

Hi there everyone,

   I just read what I wrote last time so I won’t repeat myself this time. The month of January is pretty much over. There isn’t a whole lot going on. Lately, I have been feeling good, with energy to get things done. I still don’t have a lot of exciting things going on in my life. As I said in my last report, we had been advised that one of our properties had caught fire. The tenants were using a candle in the garage; it was packed with personal items of theirs and caught fire rather quickly. Tom, our son Craig and others have been busy getting thinks done. The other day, they demo’d the garage and there is a BIG dumpster in the front yard. Things are coming along. It will be like new when they get finished. It is great to have a husband and son who are knowledgeable about building things. Years ago, when the kids were about 12 & 16, we added 800 sq. ft. to our home with a huge bedroom,  walk in closet and a bathroom with a sunken tub. We loved it. A few years later, we built a 3 bedroom house, behind the house next door. They were deep lots, so the boys learned a lot. Here I go, rambling again. I’ll keep you posted on the progress.

  I got an e-mail the other day from Bill Burt who lives in Farmington, Mo. Inquiring about Marilyn Ballard, who is listed as deceased. He was asking about others and how do we know when someone passes away. Usually we get the information from family member or other class mates who have stayed in touch with that person. I know that we discussed listing the deceased in the Wildcat at the Alumni meeting. Jo Ochoa wants hard evidence before she will list anyone as deceased. They had a rather embarrassing situation at the reunion for the class of 1954, shared with the classes of 1953 and 1955. A woman was there who had been listed as deceased, so it does happen. Of course I appreciate having the information passed on, but I’m not sure if there is a right way or a wrong way as long as the information is passed on. I know I was surprised when I heard that Valerie (Badger) Brooks passed away. She never came to the reunions and she lived right here in Glendora. Small world.

  I was shopping in Stater Brother’s the other day, and ran into Janet (Nichols) Boyer. We chatted for a few minutes. I guess it is good news when you have nothing new to add.

  One of my pet projects is staying in touch with all the guys and gals that I have worked with through the years at Monrovia Police Department. When there is something special going on, I send out an e-mail or get on the phone and start calling people. Last Monday, I had planned a luncheon at the Northwoods, for a couple who recently moved back to Tennessee and were going to be out here. We normally meet out front, between 11:30AM and 12:00Noon, visit and chat till we go inside to eat. A gentleman came out and said they were closed, and I said, I know, but we are going in at 12:00 and they will be open. He said, No they are closed for maintenance. I suddenly panicked, like I got 20 people coming and we don’t have a restaurant to eat at. I immediately called Tom, who was going to drive down in his truck, he wanted to check on tires for his truck after the  

 

 

 

 

 

luncheon.  Tom called the Outback, they didn’t open till 4:00PM, so were decided on Max’s, in Azusa, on Azusa. Tom went down there and asked if they could handle 20 people. They said, No problem and with that started moving tables around, putting silverware on the tables, water and menu’s. We found our way there and had a great time.

I really enjoy putting things together. I attended a couple bridal showers lately and got to see all the girls. I love catching up on the news. There are several retirement parties coming up. There again I get to see and visit with everyone. I have decided that is one of the things that make me happy and I look forward to. I enjoy people and I miss that now that I am retired, so I have to be creative. I do go to the Mixer’s down in El Monte with Tom. We have know those people for a long time too and there are always new people joining the Chamber of Commerce.

    I still go to my exercise classes in Monrovia. I was driving home on the freeway and it was another one of those beautiful days with lots and lots of snow on Mt Baldy. We have had some pretty good rain storms lately and we certainly need water so bad. There is another one due next week. The plants love it and I always think about the animals in the mountains who need green grass and water. They say that the bears are becoming a problem in Monrovia. They have been a problem for many years. They love to find a fish pond full of  fish,  a Jacuzzi  or swimming pool to cool off in. We get bears here in Glendora near the mountains, they love avocados. One morning, very early in the morning, I was awakened by many helicopter’s over our neighborhood. I staggered out to ask Tom what was going on, and he said there was a bear in a tree eating avocados and it was a slow news day. Poor bear, they should leave them alone.

         As I’ve said before, I would love anything from any of you to put on the web-site. Please let me know.

    Waiting to hear from you,

    Jane     .

Covina/West Covina

 

 

...A stroll down memory lane

This is hard work. 

                                                                                           1-1-2010

 

                 Hi Everyone,

                    Better late then never, wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy Honokaa or what ever and a Happy New Year.

Yesterday was a beautiful bright sunny day with a nip in the air and the mountains crystal clear with snow on Mt. Baldy. I love days like that. Today, is gloomy, cloudy and a chilly 53 degrees. I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas where ever you spent it, with family or friends or alone watching TV or getting out to a movie. All week I procrastinated and kept putting off sitting down at the computer and writing something. Lots of things crossed my mind and many memories of years gone by, not being sure of what you want me to write. As I drove down Myrtle Avenue, I noticed there were lots of cars which translate to shoppers which makes the merchants happy because this has been a tough year for many people. Many businesses are failing and every thing trickles down affecting us all. Car sales are down, that means the cities are not getting the sales tax, so they have to cut back and everyone is afraid to invest, not being sure what the future holds. I am concerned about our future as a nation. Our parents went through the last depression and made it and I’m sure this generation will make it too, but not over night like they would like us to think.

Sorry, I’m straying away. The new library looks lovely and the new water fountain looks great. The big new building and parking structure is coming along at Myrtle and Olive. They have already painted the outside and it’s nice that no one came along and broke out any windows during construction. Monrovia is doing OK.

     Tom and I spent Christmas Eve with friends visiting from Arizona. Their daughter lives down the street from us and we have been friends for many years. Leon worked with Tom at El Monte Police Department. We were going out to eat with no plan of where we wanted to go. We started with the Golden Spur in Glendora, the lot was full and we knew there would be a long wait, sooooooooooo we drove on over to Arcadia and the Derby, same thing, lot full, soooooooooooooo we continued down the road. Not really sure of where to go when we drove by the Capistrano restaurant at the Embassy Suites hotel. We found to our surprise a place to park, walked inside and we got seated right away and at a very nice table, and several choices of food on the menu. We could hear what everyone was saying and it wasn’t crowded at all. Christmas day, we were invited for brunch at my brother and sister-in-laws home in Monrovia. Jack (John Nash ’54) and Sally had invited her daughter Lori Hliata, his son Scott Nash and his wife Gail (Castro) all graduates of Monrovia high school. It was wonderful and I was very happy we were invited. More friends joined us after brunch. They too, went to Monrovia high. We had a great time reminiscing of days gone by and how things are today. We talked about our health problems and how we were dealing with them. It is funny and fun to share how we are doing and laughing about our forgetfulness, especially names, we all have problems with names.

 Recently Tom and I visited with a couple we have known for years. The wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s but when I sat down and talked with her for an hour or more, we talked of the old days and the great times we had, she remembered everything. Alzheimer’s is a strange condition, very complex and something none of us want to experience.

After leaving my brother’s home we headed down the road to our place. Our son David, who lives in Ridgecrest, called to wish us a Merry Christmas and thank us for their gifts. The grandchildren got on the phone and said their thank you’s. In the late afternoon, we walked over to our son Craig’s home where we all opened gifts and had a wonderful prime rib dinner. Our grandson Steve was there too.

Earlier in the week I attended the annual potluck at the Monrovia Police Department. It was great seeing everyone. That is the one thing that I found since retiring, I miss all the people at work. We are all kind of family. I do have a project that I do every year. When I compose my annual Christmas letter to send to family and friends, I also compose a letter to all the former Monrovia officers and the retirees. I collect information during the year and then put it in a special letter. I do special e-mails or phone calls when something unexpected happens to keep them up to date. It keeps me in touch and I respect their privacy if they don’t want something shared with everyone. People feel differently about different things. With all the temptations of food, desserts, cocktails and other goodies, I have been able to lose a little weight. I always took my vacation from work at Christmas time because of all the wonderful temptations like See’s candy, cookies, piazza, donuts and the list goes on and on. I love all that stuff and have a hard time saying no. I have been with TOPS (take off pounds sensibly ) for 17 years, and every Friday I drive to El Monte to attend our meeting and I have to step on the scales. Many times you don’t want to but……………… it is what it is.

    I’m back, sorry for the delay. Tom and I got home from going to dinner on 12/28/09 and received a phone call that one of our properties in El Monte had caught fire. We rushed down to see what had happened. The attached garage had caught fire and caused some major damage. We are presently dealing with the Insurance Company.

     I had planned to write some words of wisdom, you know, all that stuff people say when there is a New Year. I started one with how disappointed and concerned I am about this great country of ours and the direction we are going, but after thinking about it, I deleted it. So I rethought about it and decided not to make it complicated,. As I grow older I think about what is important to me. I have decided that being healthy is very important. Tom always says, “If I had known I was going to live so long, I would have taken better care of myself.” I guess when we are young that doesn’t cross our mind. The other thing that I think is important, is friends and family. We are lucky to have many wonderful friends and a great family. The material things don’t matter so much but of course a warm house and food in the refrigerator doesn’t hurt. So, with these things said, I want to wish all of you a Very HAPPY NEW YEAR and good health.

   If anyone has words of wisdom or anything else on you mind that you would like to share, I would love to forward it to Gary.

 

    As Always,

     Jane (Nash)  Millett    

 

                                                                          Nov. 28, 2009

                   

Hi There

    Well Thanksgiving is behind us and I hope all of you enjoyed spending some time with family and friends. We spend the afternoon over at our son’s home. They only live two houses away so we walked. Our grandson joined us. Craig had what I remember as the good old fashion Thanksgiving dinner with Turkey, a big ham, mashed potatoes with gravy, yams and dressing with sausage, Jell-O salad with sour cream, black berries and cranberries and asparagus. That was all topped off with your choice of pumpkin cheese cake or two other pies. I never even checked those out ‘cause I love cheese cake. I ate too much, I know, but it was all so good.

    I have been busy going through all our pictures taken over the years, sorting them out. Lots of wonderful memories and some things I have forgotten. Joyce Turshan’s wedding announcement, Margie (Howard) Bonners wedding picture. We were all so young and thought we knew it all. Times haven’t changed that much. Kids still think we don’t know what we are talking about and they have all the answers.

  I hope you all got your “Wildcat” in the mail. Mine was a little late. They ran into some problems with the post office. We are trying to cut the cost down, so we can continue without raising the cost. Thanks go to Jo Ochoa and the volunteer Alumni committee. They do a great job.

   By the way, I am still waiting for someone out there to share something with us. Perhaps a trip or memory. I love walking down memory lane. My memory isn’t very good. I can’t tell you what I did five minutes ago but my long term memories are alive and well. I talk with Pat Van Wormer frequently. He was disappointed that his health won’t permit him to play Santa Claus for the children of Fort Bragg. His wife Cindy had to shave off his nice white beard.

  I am proud that I have my Christmas letters all written and printed and I have spent the day verifying names so when we run off the labels no one will be forgotten. I’m one of those people who write about the family, etc. I have heard and read about people who just hate receiving them. One time I asked if they would prefer that I not send them. Most everyone said they loved to get them. One time I was talking to an old friend and he asked the usual things, like how you been, etc…………..? I said, ”You haven’t read my Christmas letter”. He admitted he had not got around to reading it, so I told him to read it because it was the year I discovered a lump in my breast and discovered I had breast cancer. That was ten years ago. Maybe I made too much of it…………….I’m sure some of you are saying that but when you suddenly find out you have cancer and you might die, your priorities change.  Sorry, I didn’t want to go in that direction. The other letter I send out is to all the fellows that I have worked with at the Police Dept. for the past 50 years. I keep in touch and collect tidbits during the year then put it all together in a letter and mail out to them.…………

  I got an e-mail from Gary Dayton, that he had received information about a classmate of ours who had just passed away. I didn’t know him, but I m sure there are those of you out there who did. His name is Kenneth Woodgrift. All the information is available on www.legacy.com/venturacountystar/Obituaries.asp?Page It was published on 1/22/09 – 11/25/2009. There is a very nice bio. about his life and a place to leave your condolences or share memories by signing the guest book. Ken’s funeral services were on Saturday Nov. 28^th in West Lake. There will be a Celebration of Ken’s life on Dec. 5^th held at the Indian Wells Country Club. No time listed. Call country club for more info or check the website.

   Don’t forget folks, please send me something, maybe how you spent your holiday. It is lonely out here talking to myself. Maybe you helped served turkey to the poor or maybe you went out of town to a nice resort or drove 500 miles to visit family. Maybe you sat home alone and watched the Macy Day Parade and football and fixed a TV dinner because there wasn’t anything better to do.

   I have to go out and buy more cards. I can’t decide if I should do it now or wait and hit Wal-mart tomorrow. Tomorrow is back to exercise class and the old routine. Guess I better get on the ball, get up and go out there.

   As Always,

      Jane.                                                                                                 

                                                                                                   November 8 2009

 

Hi there everyone,

     I don’t have any thing earth shattering to discuss, just the usual rambling that I am so good at. This time I read what I sent out last time, so I don’t repeat myself, which Tom always reminds me that I am doing. I don’t have anyone else to tell so I once in a while repeat something. Of course it might have been ten years ago, but I’m repeating myself.

Enough about that, you certainly don’t want to hear that nonsense.

     The other day, I think it was Thursday, Tom noticed an article in the Obituaries that Earline Mountjoy had passed away and the services were that morning in Sierra Madre. I knew I didn’t have time to make it there but decided I could make the reception at the Aztec. I never knew Earline that well, I knew her because of Dick Mountjoy, her husband of  57 years. I went to Santa Fe School when it was a grammar school with Gordon and Dick Mountjoy. We lived in the same neighborhood and my brother Jack and I often walked by their house on the way to Budget Town Market. I remember their father had a wooden trailer, that he hauled a tractor on. We stayed in touch through the years because Dick was on the city council and mayor for several years in the city of Monrovia. I remember one year I was getting an award and it was in the council chambers and there was Dick, Paul Garber, city attorney  and myself. We joked about all of us graduating from MAD. Of course Dick went on to Sacramento to bigger and better things. He use to fly out of El Monte airport. Rumor had it that Earline would bake the pies and put them in the plane for Dick to share with the “boy’s” in Sacramento. I didn’t know anyone at the reception except Dick and Gordon. Judge Bruce Marrs and his wife Susan Motander.

Susan writes for the Monrovia Weekly and  had written a lovely article about Earline. It was a very nice reception with lots of family and friends.

   I personally haven’t done anything earth shattering but have taken on a project at home of going through all the bags of pictures we have taken through the years. I am sorting them into boxes, one for our son Craig, another for David and one for us and of course the trash box. I am very sentimental and have a tendency save “things”, so I am trying real hard to let go and throw it out. I’m sure that is exactly what they will do when I am gone. I do want the grandchildren to have the pictures we have taken of them through the years. That being said, I can say that it has been fun because with each picture there is a memory and so many wonderful memories of days gone by and of course the pictures that you look at and  say “who the hell is that?” or “where was this picture taken?” Tom says if I can’t remember, throw it away. I never knew we had so many pictures but hey, it’s 50 plus years ago. Craig has already threatened to bring in a dumpster when we both are gone. I said, “No, no, Estate Sale, estate sale.” I was talking to a friend yesterday, Kathryn Russell, whom I have known for many, many years. She will be ninety very soon. She told me she had moved to “the Gable’s” in Monrovia, where the old “Lyric Theater” use to be.  She said her children and grandson have packed up her things, and sold all furniture in a yard sale. They bought her all new furniture and even a plasma 42” TV. She is like me, hangs onto things. She said it was difficult seeing them disappear and sold to someone in a yard sale. She just resigned her self to it and let them take care of it all.

     Like I said, lots of wonderful memories of days gone by. I can’t remember what I did five minutes ago but the old memories are still there.

   The Alumni committee will be meeting on the 12^th to fold the “Wildcat” and mail it out for all of you to enjoy.

   The new Kohl’s has opened, where the old Mervyn’s use to be, and the new Living Spaces store moved into where the old Expo was located. The Big Building at the south east corner of Myrtle and Olive is coming along great with parking structure. The Friday night Street fair is still very successful with lots of people from near and far. It always does well before the holidays and I’m sure will still have the Christmas parade. Tom is driving his 1914 Ford depot hack in the Covina parade, not sure about Monrovia’s yet.

   You know if you have anything to add or want to say, please send me an e-mail or call me on the phone (626) 335-6271 or e-mail tmillettt@yahoo.com .

.

   Enjoy the holidays,

          Jane.

 

10-19-09

From: wanda Sue Parrott
 amykitchenerfdn@hotmail.com

Subject: LOUISIANA SENIOR POET LAUREATE NAMED

 

     Edgar Allan Philpott, 74, author of "The Boondoggler's Bible," has won the 2009 Louisiana Senior Poet Laureate Award with the Sonnet "Dining with the Louisiana Hag."  Philpott, posing as a homeless jazz musician from New Orleans, is an alias
 

of poet Wanda Sue Parrott, co-founder of the annual national Senior Poets Laureate Poetry Competition for American poets age 50 and older. 

     The popular literary event, now in its 17th year, is sponsored by Amy Kitchener's Angels Without Wings Fdn. of Monterey, Calif.  Wanda Sue Parrott is editor of its 2009 GOLDEN WORDS anthology.
      Patricia Frolander, 66, rancher from Sundance, Wyo., won the National Senior Poet Laureate Award for her poem "Father when You call."  Details about the contest and all winners' poems appear in the online anthology GOLDEN WORDS currently on the sponsor's website www.amykitchenerfdn.org
                                                         ###

 
 

Sponsor National Annual Senior Poets Laureate (SPL) Poetry Competition

Editor "GOLDEN WORDS" anthology of winning SPL poems

www.amykitchenerfdn.org
 

10-19-09

 Reminder, the Alumni Committee will be folding and mailing the "Wildcat" out around November 13th. The cost is $5.00 per year for the two mailings, a real bargain for all the news from the different classes. Anyone wanting more info or wants to be included in the mailing please contact Jo Ochoa 627 Terrado Ave., Monrovia, Ca. 91016
626 358-8300

 Jane

Hi there everyone,                                                                          10-04-09

  How are you all doing? Time to catch up on what has been going on. It has been a busy summer for Tom and I.  Last night we went to the 55^th class reunion for the class of 1954 who also included the classes of 53 and 55. It was held at Santa Anita Racetrack, 3^rd floor. To my surprise there sat Marilyn and Bob Humble. They were checking people in and giving them their name tags. My brother Jack Nash graduated in the class of 54. We joined Jack and Sally (aka: Sarah Luckinbill) and her sister Susie (Luckinbell) with her husband Bob. Susie was nursing a knee injury, she slipped and fell on a piece of ice and arrived in a wheel chair but that didn’t stop her from having a good time. I really enjoyed seeing everyone. Scott and Bev Morris also sat with us. Scott graduated 54 and is Susie and Sally’s cousin.. Ray Infantino MC’d and Bob Huntington spoke. Ray went from table to table and let everyone identify themselves and the year they graduated. At one point, the Monrovia band came marching in and playing, MAD our hats are off to you.Funny how the words all came back like it was yesterday and we were attending the football came. Part of their reunion was attending the football game on Friday night, and yes they did win, and the lit up the BIG “M” to make a “V” for victory. I got a little lump in my throat.  There was a buffet and the bar was busy. I tried to get Bob Costarella to come, but they had a prior commitment.

  Tom and I celebrated our 50^th wedding anniversary August 24^th, by having a great party at our son Craig’s home. We invited family and friends and had it outdoors. We hired a Chinese   magician from the Magic Castle  and Jon Destry to MC and play music. I hired him once for one of our reunions and everyone seem to enjoy his act, he is very funny and entertaining . We had Edwards Steakhouse cater the food and hire a bartender to keep everyone happy. I kept it casual with a Hawaiian theme, lots of bright colors. The area behind the pool is about 6’ above the water and provided a perfect stage for the entertainers. Jon made Tom sing to me, I swore he wouldn’t do it, but he did. I didn’t get off, I thought I had dodged the bullet, I also had to sing to Tom. I held the mike far, far away. There were many wonderful moments  and it went exactly as we planned which was for everyone to enjoy themselves. Not long after that, Tom went on line to check airfares to Hawaii and the prices drop after Labor Day so we booked a trip to Maui for 8 days and we had a wonderful relaxed vacation. Several times we walked down the beach to another resort and had dinner at their restaurant and we often picked from the appetizers and never had a regular dinner. I was thrilled when I got home and had actually lost weight. I had weighed myself on some scales in Whalers Village and it was a lot more then I weigh and scared me into being very careful the rest of our trip, which was a good thing. When I returned to my TOPS meeting I wasn’t afraid to get on the scales. The weather was great, trade winds with a nice breeze and cloudy skies, a fine mist once in a while which produced some beautiful rainbows. The Jacuzzi  was hot but I didn’t stay in too long. Met some wonderful people and laid in the shade of a palm tree and read my book. We didn’t travel much, been there done that. Gasoline was $3.65 a gallon and food was extremely high, even with the discount card which made you think twice before making a purchase. We flew Hawaiian, they even served a hot meal. Lately I have had a problem sitting in a plane my restless leg syndrome kicks in and before you know it, I’m dance the Saint Vitas (sic) dance. The only way to make it go away is to get up and walk around. I usually go to the restroom so people don’t notice. Surprisingly once I get up and walk around, it goes away and then I am fine.

    Tom just called me into the other room because the news is reporting a mandatory evacuation in Wrightwood because of the Sheep fire. We have a log cabin we have owned up there for 20 years on Twin Lakes road. We have had fires before but not where they made a mandatory evacuation. Suddenly Fire Insurance becomes very, very important. Well the fire department came through and saved Wrightwood and our cabin.We will have to make a trip up there soon and get it winterized so the pipes don’t freeze.

 Goodnight for now.

   Jane.                                                                                                    

8-28-09

                                                                                                              August 2009

 Hi there,

    How has your summer been? Anyone go on a great trip they want to share? Anytime you want to share, just let me know. I don’t know about you BUT it is HOT…..very hot

here in Glendora, 106 yesterday and suppose to be hotter today. We are staying indoors like they tell us old folks to do.  Remember “Smog Alerts?”  Well, they are now called “Smoke Alerts”. There are soooooo many fires out there burning. The first started in Azusa Canyon, then La Canada- Flintridge area, then Pacific Palisades last night and east of Hemet today. I can smell the smoke in the garage. Enough about the weather.

   Here are some tid-bits. I do ramble, so hang in there with me.

   First of all, the classes of 1953, ’54 and ’55 are having a reunion Oct. 2, 3, and 4^th and we have been invited to come. They have many things planned but the BIG event will be on Saturday night with cocktails and dinner starting at 6:30PM ‘til exhaustion at the Club House Plaza at the Santa Anita Race Track (where lots of us learned to drive) The cost is approximately $80.00 per person. Check their web-site.

  I received a phone call from Tony Rogers the other day and he wanted to know when we were going to have another reunion, and I reminded him we had one in 2007 and the next would be 2012. His concern was that we are not getting any younger and that was too long to wait. Agreed, but there is a lot of work involved and agreed we are not getting any younger. Perhaps going to this reunion would satisfy that need. Tom and I are planning to go because my brother Jack Nash was in the class of ’54. I know Ron Mowry is also planning to attend. Whatever, we, our class, are invited .

  Tom and I just celebrated our 50^th wedding anniversary with a big party at our son’s home. We kept it casual and at pool side. Bob and Pam Costarella attended. We had David Chen, a magician from the Magic Castle, and Jon Destry, DJ/entertainer. We had him one year at our class reunion and everyone enjoyed his show. I had forgotten how great he was. Everyone was entertained and the two of them worked well together. We were very happy that everyone had a good time. Life is too short to sweat the small stuff.

  Some of you living in the San Gabriel Valley have heard about an 82 year old man, Robert Harrod  who was reunited with a woman he was engaged to 59 years ago and they got married  shortly after getting back together. His new wife returned to Missouri to get her things before moving back here to live with her new husband. He disappeared and hasn’t been seen since. His car was still in the driveway, eye-glasses in the house. She has moved into the house with her son and changed the locks. The reason I am telling you this is that his daughter “Robbie” went to Monrovia High school. She worked for a time at Monrovia police department with me and we have stayed in touch. She is beside herself with worry.  I know her as Robbie Brady but her maiden name was Roberta Harrod. I’m not sure what year she graduated but she is younger. He disappeared July 27^th. No activity on his credit cards or bank account, very strange.  

     Got an e-mail from Eddie (Edna Mae Hickman “52) Kokanour who had a half-sister living in Glendora and she had heard that she passed away. I was able to confirm that she and her husband had both passed away and both were buried in Live Oak Cemetery in Monrovia.

   Got a nice e-mail from Marie (Griffith ’52) Scofield. She is still living in Fiddletown selling real-estate and they still run their western resort business. Her e-mail attached.

  I was talking with Sharon (Stallman ’64) Mondrala and her husband, Barney Mondrala, who worked with me at Monrovia PD before becoming a pilot with Continental Airlines. Barney used to call me from Guam, Japan, Hawaii before he retired. Anyway, they just had their ’45 Class reunion at the Monrovia Museum a couple weeks ago. She said they had a wonderful reunion and everyone is excited about their 50^th, in five years.

You know how funny things are about how people who know people who know people. Well….

I worked with Barney. His wife Sharon worked at JPL. My brother Jack Nash (’54) worked at JPL and his son Scott Nash) worked at JPL and Sharon knew him. Tom’s good friend, Leroy Overstreet married Patricia (Speigle) Overstreet. Leroy worked at JPL. Leroy and Tom belong to a club of men who restore old farm engines, etc. and the group is called WAPA. Barney and Sharon have neighbors two houses up, that also belong to WAPA. And so on and so on…

  I go to Monrovia at least twice a week to exercise so I try to notice what is going on and the changes. Remember Rosedale’s Nursery at the S/E corner of Mayflower and Huntington? Well they just put in a Henry’s Market there. Haven’t checked it out yet, but understand that they sell in bulk. Now on the S/W corner where Mervyn’s was, they are putting in a brand new Kohl’s. Remember….. when that was all orange groves and no freeway existed? After the war, around 1948, they tore all the orange grove out and built houses and they came along with redevelopment and tore the houses out and put a big shopping center there with a nice restaurant row…..Remember? Some of you probably remember more then I do and can tell us more stories. I was checking out the construction at Myrtle and Olive S/E corner including the whole block. It is coming along fine and they have put the windows in. I’m not sure that is such a good idea; too much temptation, but who am I, I don’t know anything about construction..

   Got a call from John Bianchi, he has a lovely home up on the hill behind the Ritz Carlton in Rancho Mirage. I worked with him too at Monrovia Police Department. He said it was HOT.…..and they were headed out for a vacation.

  On a more serious note, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I’m sure many of you have lost a loved one to breast cancer or they are a survivor like me.  Be supportive. There is always that little bit of fear that it may come back and you won’t know until it is too late, soooooooooooooooooooo enjoy yourselves and live your life to the fullest. That includes you men too. Take care of yourselves.        

 

Hi Jane   It has been to many years since I attended a class reunion but I do enjoy catching up by reading your letters and others on the site. I was Marie Griffith at MAD High   Amazing that you stayed on the police force so long and I am surprised to hear you use the word depressed about yourself because you are one of the busy involved ones in our class. I am glad you keep it together on our MAD site.   Even if the market is lousy I am still selling real estate in Amador County California where we have a ranch in Fiddletown. To add to the fun we have been putting on Cowboy music and poetry events for the past 12 years. The site is  www.scofieldscowboycampfire.com This season was especially fun with 8 shows featuring some of the top entertainers in the cowboy poetry and western music field.   We own the local saloon building that has not been a saloon for 17 years so decided to have Cowboy Church there. There is always plenty to do and enjoy living in the country; even if people coming here for the first time ask "what do you find to do here?"   I don't ride horses much these days ----broke my shoulder off a horse a few years ago and the rehab was too much work to risk more chances with these old bones.   Ruby Warner, who was also in our class, called me a couple of weeks ago after 56 years. That was quite the surprise.We then wrote letters and sent pictures. She has recently become a widow and moved to her daughter's in Ontario Oregon. Ruby doesn't use the computer so it was something for her to locate me after so many years. If we can manage it she may go with me to our 60th reunion. I hope I can get my husband to go to the 60th also. What is planned?   I am finally a Great Grand Mother and have 2 more on the way. Life is good.   Keep up the good work.   Marie Griffith Scofield

Sent: Sunday, July 19, 2009 10:47:42 PM
Subject: Hi there!!
 

Dear Jane,

     You were asking about what others have been up to, so thought I'd check in.

      I have been enjoying a Life History writing class, which has led me down memory lane, and I'm hoping that the enjoyment I am having will be shared by my son and daughters and their families.

     In the process I have been in communication with Darlyne Ramos (West), Karen Day (Overbaugh) and Vic Pell and have been able to add to my memories from information they shared.

     My grandparents were among the early settlers in Monrovia.  They came there in 1887 and my grandfather was the first baker in the area.  He later purchased several properties one of which was on Myrtle Avenue - when we were growing up it was a stationary store on the west side of the street between Colorado and Lemon.  He also owned the building where the bowling alley was located on Lemon.

     My father was born in the house they purchased in the year 1900, at 336 N. Ivy.  It has been restored and is now one of the houses shown at times.  I remembered dad saying that they had a solar water heater.  That was all I could remember, and so asked Vic if he had any data, as his father had worked at Day and Night.  He did, and knew that solar water heating was the first heated indoor water in the area, and he had additional info on the owner of Day and Night.

    My father and mother were partners with Louie and Florence Wicks in the service station and garage business - Zerell and Wicks.  They had the only station on Myrtle Ave, and it was a Shell station across from Library Park.  When the property was to be used fro store frontage, they moved to a Mobile station on Lime and Ivy, and were there until dad retired in 1965 and they moved to Morro Bay where they shared their retirement with several other Monrovians.

    I would really appreciate any stories that anyone remembers about my parents.  Dad taught Sunday School at the Methodist Church (Junior High boys class) for many years and took several groups to our cabin at Barton Flats, near Jenks Lake in the San Bernardino mountatins.  Mother was active in the church and shared the station bookkeeping with Mrs. Wicks.

    I have enjoyed reading various bits of information that you and others have shared about growning up in Monrovia.  We were a fortunate group and the town was a great place in which to grow.  The information about the carnivals held during Monrovia Days, confirmed the information I had put into my story about Library Park.

    I do hope that others will share more memories, and again I would appreciate any sotries would like to share with me.  NMBuffalo@aol.com

Love, Dorothy (Zerell) Jefferson

 

7-20-09

Hi Dorothy,
 Wow, what a wonderful story. I am surprised frequently when I meet people and they have a connection with Monrovia and the past. We talk about growing up in Monrovia and the fun things we did as children, what a wonderful age of innocence. I remember when I worked at the police department looking at the gas station across the street and there was a little restaurant. That was where all the detectives were when ever you needed one. They should have phone extensions over there. For a while they planned to build a new police department on that lot but the citizens of Monrovia didn't vote it in, too bad.
  I want to thank you for sharing with me and your class mates the wonderful history of your family. 
  My folks came to Monrovia in the 20's and attended Monrovia high school. I was born on Olive Ave., in the 300 block east. Donna Fiatt lived on East Lemon Ave., I think. I use to spend the night with her way back when. 
Jane

Your latest Alum news
7-19-09

Hi There, you guys!

Just read the latest word from you on the '52 page.  You asked for news, so I have news from the Hegg front.  Paul and his wife Bev were at our mutual grandaughter's wedding on the 10th in Pomona.  Samantha and her now husband are both in the AirForce, about to be deployed in different directions.  They decided to get married now.  Paul looks good, probably just as tall as you remember him.  Actually, when the family gets together, they look like the Lakers.  Paul @6'6", Rick @6'7", and his son Brandon at 6'8".  If he ever gets married and has kids....watch out.

I now live at Palos Verdes Shores in San Pedro, with an ocean view from most of my windows, as I am directly opposite Catalina.  It's great here and I'm enjoying it, even tho I'm not home a lot.  I'm fairly active with a small improv. comedy troupe.  We perform monthly in Culver City and meet for class in Santa Monica every week.  Lots of fun.  Haven't had any more paying acting jobs since my commercial last year at this time.  Things are so slow!

Hope your tests come out well.  Glad to hear you're into exercise.  So am I, and feel it makes all the difference.


Good to hear about you, and take care.

Karen Day

7-19-09

Jane,

 

I think you are doing a great job with the 52 page.  Here is a little of what I have been doing if you are interested.

 

My husband Ken (Covina 1952) and I just returned from 8 days in Washington D.C.  We took our 17 year old granddaughter Melissa along with us.  It was her graduation present from high school from us.  We stayed in Georgetown as it was convenient to the Metro.  The weather was very hot, humid a few days and also rain.  I don't think we missed a thing.  The day we went to Arlington Cemetery it was 90 degrees and very humid.  I thought I was going to die!!!!!.  We found shelter in our hotel room after seeing the cemetery.  We stayed in and had lunch and recouped.

 

  That evening we took the Metro to the Marine Corp Barracks where the Drum and Bugle Corp and the Marine Commandant Bank were to perform.  We were in line at 7:00 p.m. for the concert to start at 8:30 p.m..

 

There were a lot of young kids in line with us.  A Marine came up to me, saluted and said "How many in your party".  I replied 3 and he said" I think I can find 3 tickets, follow me".  I am sure it was because we were old that he did this.  He took us back to where you had to have reservations and we got great seats.  As we were sitting there the man behind me said "I think we are going to get rain very soon".  No sooner said than it started to sprinkle.  Luckily we had our umbrellas.  As soon as they were put up the wind started to blow and the rain came down like in buckets.  The Marines motioned for all of us to exit the bleachers and go across the lawn to where there was a  covered  walkway.  By the time we made it inside we were soaked and I mean soaked.  Melissa thought it was so funny, she couldn't stop laughing.  She said "Grandma you look awful".  My hair was completely soaked and water was running down my neck.

 

We waited about 20 minutes and the storm passed by.  We were given towels to sit on and went back and sat in the bleachers.  The program was fantastic. 

Our step grandson was in the Marines and he called and told us about the program.  It made us proud to be an American.  We rented a car for a few days and drove to Suffolk, Virginia to see him and our two great grandsons.  We also drove over the line into No. Carolina ( Melissa wanted to say she had been there).  From there we drove to Maryland and Delaware.  All in all, it was a wonderful trip .

 

Jane, keep up the good work.

 

Carol Block Rowland 

 

                                                                                                                7-19-2009

Hi everyone,

    Sorry it has been awhile since I wrote anything. I started one, then read the website and found that I was repeating myself, which I do more frequently. That was supposed to be a Ha Ha !!!. To be honest, I don’t really have much to write about. I never get any e-mails from any of you; I don’t even run into anyone at the market anymore. I hope all of you are enjoying the summer. We have had a hot spell here in Glendora, I just checked the temperature and it is 98 and has been most of the week.

   We went to a retirement party last night, Linda Proctor who has worked at Monrovia City Hall for the past seventeen years   and is also elected city treasurer. She had it at her home up on Sunset Pl. (I thought it was Stedman Pl. and we found the address and went up to the door and knocked and a gentleman came to the door, and I asked,  "Is this were the party is?" and he said "No" which surprised me, but then I rechecked the invitation and found we were on the wrong street…………….Ah, getting old is fun. They hired the Taco Man who fixed tacos and other Mexican food. The Margarita’s were great and there were a few people there that I knew. I never really got to know the people at city hall. I seldom had a need to go over there and working the swing shift they were soon going home after I came on duty.

  Tom and I attended another retirement party for another Monrovia officer. Sgt Tom Wright came to the department many years ago; he had been a bouncer at the Black Angus back when there had a disco club and lots of young people partying. He and his family are moving to Ireland. Long interesting story. They had it at a new sports bar here in Glendora called T. Phillips, right downtown. As a matter of fact, there is another one coming to Monrovia at Myrtle and Colorado on the southwest corner. There was a great turn out, and they had reserved the patio. I e-mailed all the old timer’s, so there was a good mix of retired officers and the current ones. I think it made him happy to see so many people who came to wish him well. While we were there in the patio area, Melvin Laub and his wife Joyce arrived. They said they had walked up from their home. It was great to see they were both very happy and enjoying them selves. They have a new business called "FUNction PROS". I mentioned that Tom and I are planning our 50^th Anniversary Party on Aug. 22^nd. Mel dropped off their business card.

  As you can see we have been out and about, going to more retirement parties. Most of the cities, including Monrovia are hurting financially. If someone wants a retirement party they have to do a "Do it yourself" party for lack of money from the city. Too bad.

  When we drove home last night, we drove down Myrtle Avenue, the new library look lovely with all the lights and there were many restaurants open and lots of cars on Myrtle Ave. which is a good sign.  The new project at Myrtle and Olive, south-east corner is coming along. Looks like a lumber yard, takes up the whole block. They have the new Parking structure finished I think. I think it is 4 stories high and the other buildings appear to be 4 stories high too. As I recall, the bottom floor will be commercial and the upper floors for housing. I’m sure it will look great when they finish.

   I went for my yearly physical on Friday, I took a list of things that I wanted to discuss but my number 1 problem seems to be lack of energy so we will start with the usual blood test and go from there. I haven’t really done much since I retired; I’m depressed that I don’t have the energy to tackle projects. I’m still going to exercise classes twice a week in Monrovia and the doctor was happy with my cholesterol. We will see what the test show.

   Now I wish some of you would share what you are doing for fun or keeping busy doing something. I haven’t found anything that I feel excited about but I do know that I miss the people contact, and I need to talk with people. Life is too short, I shouldn’t be wasting it.

  Don’t forget, sit down and send me something. I know many people our age, just don’t want to learn the computer and I can’t blame you, I’m very limited myself and if I didn’t have Tom to help me I would stop using it.

 Tom and I attended the Alumni Committee meeting, they are shut down for the summer and will resume meetings in September. Bob and Marilyn Humble also attend. They are always so busy and active.

  Here is wishing you a busy and happy summer.

      Jane               

                                                                                                            May 30, 2009

Hi everyone,                                                                                                                                                                            

  Summer time will soon be here and I’m sure many of you are planning on vacations.

Memorial Day came and went. I hope you all had a great time with family and friends. We were planning on driving to Wrightwood this week end but the weather man wasn’t co-operating so we passed. We have a little log cabin we have owned since 1989. We bought it on 4^th of July weekend. Jack and Sally, my brother and sister-in-law owned a home just a couple houses up the street so we bought the log cabin. We don’t get up there much any more. Jack and Sally sold their place and others we knew also moved away so there wasn’t the motivation. After we bought it, Tom and our son Craig built a front porch and it beats the beach for getting a tan. We never go up in the winter because "We don’t do snow,." Tom comes from Maine and he has seen all the snow he ever wanted to see. Our grandson, Steve and his friends like to go up in the winter and snow board.

 We recently flew to Fort Lauderdale, rented a car and after resting over night, we drove to Key West. We stay in a laidback little place called Banana Bay, right on the Gulf of Mexico. The weather was great and we ate a lot of shrimp at the marina. It was wonderful. Nice breeze, sunny days, low 80’s, no hurricanes………….GREAT!

 Back home to reality. Tom is always busy with various projects. We have several rentals, apartments and houses so there is always something to do, sometimes too much. He is still very active in community things in El Monte and Glendora. I get involved by going to the mixers, social you know. The other day we were going to a mixer driving down the 605 and proceeding to get onto the 10 freeway when a car came flying past us in the dirt  swerving and fishtailing trying to get control and we both thought we were lucky to have not been hit by the car when we heard and felt a great big crash. What we didn’t know was that the car that went flying by us had clipped the light pole which proceeded to snap off and fall on top of our car, my beautiful metallic red Dodge Magnum station wagon. It landed on the top and slid back falling into the freeway, missing the front windshield by 4". I’m beginning to get concerned, first a deer hit us in Maine and now a huge lamp post, both of which could have killed me………….hope my luck isn’t running out.

 Talked with Bob Costarella the other day, he is feeling great and is reading some wonderful books. He still enjoys traveling. Pam’s father is still alive in his 90’s, living in England. She makes frequent trip to visit him.

 Monrovia Day wasn’t much fun. A small group of us met at Recreation Park meeting in the museum which was open for the public. They had a table set up for us. Tom drove the 1914 Ford Depot Hack over and I drove the 1957 T-bird. When they went out to decorate the cars for the parade Tom noticed the alternator light was red and on and became concerned and I knew I couldn’t drive it home in the dark so left while it was still day light and safe to drive. I didn’t go back to watch the parade. Tom said they had a pretty good turn out. The picture of his car  in the parade was in color in the local paper that comes weekly. They were placed behind the Monrovia High School band. Marilyn and Bob Humble were there. They are always actively involved. Bob is great at getting things done. I hope next  year will have the parade on Saturday morning, like it use to be and I always enjoyed the luau at the Aztec, great patio area for private parties. Tom and I will be going to the Alumni Committee meeting coming up in a couple weeks. They are more involved in scholarships.   

   I’m going to close this and send it on to Gary because I lost it and just found it and I am not really sure how I did it. It is dangerous when your not really sure of what you are doing.

  Tom and I will be celebrating our 50^th wedding anniversary in August. Planning a big party at our son Craig’s home. He and Carolyn had the backyard completely landscaped, it looks lovely. They live two houses away from us, it is good that we get along so well.

  Wished I had more……………our computer is screwed up, need my grandson, Steve to come get it cleared up

 Forgot to mention, Steve Millett, our grandson, graduated from Cal State Fullerton, last Sunday. He studied Economics and Finance. He is supervisor of the Geek Squad at the new Best Buys in Duarte.

  Hopefully I will have more next time.

    Jane

Wednesday, May 27, 2009 12:06:05 AM
Subject: Message from Wanda Sue Parrott for Poets and Friends

 
 

Greetings from Monterey Bay! Details about my journey to California from Missouri, with some wonderful pictures taken on the historic Trail of Tears, are in the June issue of The Diploemat, along with a final call for entries in the 2009 Senior Poets Laureate Contest. Click here, scroll down to the Newsletter link and click on June 2009: www.amykitchenerfdn.org    May the muse be with you.

Wanda Sue Parrott, Editor

 

5-10-09

 

 

 

Hi Everyone,
   Happy Mother's Day to all of you mother's out there; hope you have a great day. I guess I'm going to a brunch, which is a change, at our son Craig's home. Carolyn, my daughter-in-law and I are going to hang out by the pool.
Tom and I are home from Key West. We had a great vacation. The weather was great. We ate lots of shrimp at the marina and were thrilled when we found out we didn't gain any weight. We have a great place called Banana Bay Resorts where we stay in a Cabana. It isn't a big place and we kicked back and relax, no children. There were a few surprises when some people chose to be nude out by the pool. No, we don't take off our clothes........... The weather is great and we can step right out into the Gulf of Mexico or stay by the pool.
   I called Marilyn Humble about Monrovia Day and, as I said before, the parade is Thursday evening starting at 7:00 PM, moving north up Myrtle Ave. The literature didn't say where it will end.
  The alumni is encouraged to join us in Recreation Park at 3:00PM, Thursday, May 14th. The park, in case you have forgotten, is located at Mountain, Lemon, Shamrock and Royal Oaks. We will be decorating the cars for the parade . 
Look for a white 57 T-bird and another old car and probably decorated with green and white balloons, Bring your own lunch and we will make a picnic out of it..
  Marilyn did say that the museum will be open. It is were the old plunge was, on the Lemon side of the park. I enjoyed going through the museum, there are many wonderful memories there that I think you will be surprised to see. Give yourself plenty of time to enjoy going through it.
  There will be no all class reunion at the high school and there will be no luau at the Aztec on Saturday night.The new Library will be open on Saturday, May 16th.
  I personally am disappointed with the plans for Monrovia Day but that's just me. Lets make the most of it, and hope to see you there.
  Karen (Overbaugh) Day will participate in the tour of Monrovia Historic Preservation Groups Vintage Home Tour on Sunday, May10th.    
  Any questions?  Give me a call.
   Jane (Nash) Millett
626 335 6271  or email: tmillettt@yahoo.com  (Yes, there are three "t's")
 

 

 

 

 

 

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Amy Kitchener <amykitchenerfdn@hotmail.com>
To: A. Kitchener <amykitchenerfdn@hotmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, April 21, 2009 11:15:13 AM
Subject: MADCAT CLASS OF 1952-- Re: Wanda Sue Childress-Parrott's $91,000 poem

At last, the whole Weeping Waters saga is completed. The third portion, known as Parrott's POWWOW, is now online... thanks to the brilliance of webmaster Al Baker.  You might want to read about my poem that I believe makes me the best-paid living poet throughout all history. Not even Shakespeare earned $91,000 for one poem... did he? 
 
Those of you who have lived through the chapters of this one-gal stand against the city--through stormwater/sewage floods I incorporated into a narrative historical poem I read at conventions, libraries and on street corners--might find it of interest to see how a negative situation ended positively. Your comments will be appreciated! 
 
I am heading west on May 6. After May 15, you can reach me by snail mail at:
 
Wanda Sue Parrott
Amy Kitchener's Angels Without Wings Fdn.
P. O. Box 103
Monterey, CA 93940
 
I probably will be offline for a few weeks, but will keep my e-mail address and will check it as often as possible: amykitchenerfdn@hotmail.com
 
Yvonne Nunn will continue administering Senior Poets Laureate Competition.  If you have any questions, e-mail her at: ybyrdnunn@yahoo.com or visit the CONTESTS--Senior Poets Laureate link on this website.
 
To see the whole 3-part resolution. click on WEEPING WATERS after accessing the website. To see only the final part, which includes news about an upcoming new Native American Poet Laureate contest, click on POWWOW.  The website can be accessed by clicking here:
http://www.amykitchenerfdn.org/
 
May the muse be with you.
 
Wanda Sue Parrott
(aka Prairie Flower)

 

 

4-4-09 & 4-6-09

Hi Jane,  4-6
I wasn't sure how much to include & didn't want to bore people.  Since
you asked for more, here it is: 
At FAU I taught a variety of courses, mostly at the upper division &
grad levels.  I also did research & published a modest numbers of
articles.  In the late '60s I spent a year on half-time leave working
as Executive Direct of the Palm Beach County Governmental Study
Commission.  Made up of a dozen community leaders the Commission
studied all phases of county government & made recommendations for
modifications.  A year of so later, I went on half-time leave of 18
months.  This time I was working as a consultant for the Florida State
House of Representatives.  I worked mostly for Bob Graham who was a
junior member of the House then.  He later went on to the Florida
Senate, was our Governor or two terms, then became a U.S. Senator, &
even took a brief shot at the presidency in 2004. 
In Egypt I worked as the Director of the Graduate Management Programs
at the American University in Cairo.  About 4 weeks after I arrived,
the Yom Kippur war broke out.  Things got a little more exciting than I
had anticipated.  However, because there were virtually no tourists in
the country for about 6 month, I was able to see most of the ancient
historical sites in a way that is no longer possible.  I worked for the
International Labor Organization (ILO), a UN agency, in Nigeria at the
Center for Management Development  doing research and training.  I also
worked for the ILO in Ethiopia for the Ethiopian Management Institute
doing similar work.  As it turned out, mine was the last plane to leave
Ethiopia for about three months.  The rebels captured the airport later
that day and subsequently overthrew the government.  Whew!  Both ILO
assignments were a real change of pace from academic life.  I learned a
lot, met some wonderful people, & came back realizing how much we have
going for us in this country.
Hope this isn't too much.

Hi Jane,  4-4
I came across the 1951 website a few weeks ago and enjoyed reading what
you and others have posted there.  If you like, please post this brief
update for me.

I came to MAD from First Avenue Elementary in Arcadia and was
originally scheduled to graduate in 1951. Three months of active
military duty at Sand Point Naval Air Station delayed me until 1952.  A
classmate of ours, Charleene (Sheri) Fuqua and I got married in 1953. 
After I finished my undergraduate work at UC Riverside, we moved to
Oregon where I did my grad. work at the U of O.  We spent a year in
Detroit (now that was a cold winter) and then headed to Boca Raton, FL
1n 1964 where I joined the faculty of a new state university:  Florida
Atlantic.  Sheri and I divorced in 1972.  We went our separate ways,
but stayed in touch.  Sadly, Sheri passed away in 1994 with early-onset
Alzheimer’s, truly a nasty disease.  I retired in 2001 from the
university, but taught part-time for another three years.  To break the
monotony of university work, I took periodic leaves-of-absence to work
abroad:  two years in Cairo, Egypt, two in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and
18 months in Lagos, Nigeria.  It was very interesting and rewarding
work.  I remarried for the third time almost 15 years ago.  We live in
Delray Beach, FL and I am thoroughly enjoying life and retirement. 
Regards to all,
Don Clare
clare@fau.edu

I think he meant the 52 site. Gary

3-30-09

Hi there everyone,

   Don’t have a whole lot to write about. I just called Bob and Marilyn (Lambert) Humble to find out what is going on for Monrovia Day. You can forget what ever I wrote before about the all class reunion at the Monrovia museum.  Tom and I went to the Alumni meeting and found that plans had changed and for various reasons that idea was dropped. It appears that the Monrovia Day Parade has been moved to Thursday night. I’m not sure why but it has. That kind of screws up the normal sequence of events that use to go like this, pancake breakfast at the Elks Lodge, Bloody Mary’s on the lawn of the Elk’s lodge while watching the parade go by then over to the high school for the all class reunion visiting with fellow class mates and people from the other classes. This was all wrapped up with a luau at the Aztec Hotel in the patio area. Lots of good food, especially the Coconut fried shrimp that Kathy Reece had whipped up in her kitchen. It was great sitting down and visiting and moving about talking with everyone. It was always hard for me because I worked the night before till midnight, and 2:00AM, later. It was tradition. My father always went to the pancake breakfast at the Elk’s lodge and we always made it a point to be there too. We would run into old friends there and more while watching the parade.  It changed when the Elk’s Lodge was sold and turned into a Chinese Temple. The church at Foothill and Myrtle took over that tradition  for a while serving the pancake breakfast..

   Do you remember the carnival would come to town and set up in Library Park, usually arriving on Wednesday and setting up and going by Thursday. My brother Jack was on the Monrovia Day committee. Mary Wilcox was also on at that time. There just doesn’t seem to be an interest anymore from people in the community. We don’t have a local daily newspaper that tells you when events are happening. People stop coming to the parade. The merchants complained if Myrtle was shut off because shoppers couldn’t  find any place to park. I’m sure the merchants like the parade being on Thursday night because it doesn’t interfere with the Friday night street festival and of course Saturday is a big shopping day for downtown Monrovia. Hopefully things will get back to normal at the high school construction wise.  
  They are dedicating the new library the first week in April, I forget the date, I’ll have to check the banner.

  I’ve been holding off sending this hoping that Bob and Marilyn Humble would have some info regarding Monrovia Day. Bob said he had been sent the forms for the Alumni entry in the parade on Thursday and they were hoping to get something together that day but so far nothing. I’ll keep you posted.

  I was pleasantly surprised to get an e-mail from a former Wildcat. He found my name in Classmates. Does the name Don Clare ring a bell. I have never been able to find him for the reunions. He use to be my brother-in-law many years ago. He has lead a very interesting career. I have asked that he put something together for the web-site and he promised that he would. His wife was Sheri Fuqua. She was the sister of Joe Shaffer who I married way back when. That’s another story. I also put him in touch with Carol (Igert)

I also asked her to put something together for the web-site. That also applies to all of you out there reading this. What would you like to share with us or what do you want in your obituary to be remembered for what your life meant.

  Tom and I will be celebrating our 50^th anniversary  in August and we are planning a big party. Our son Craig lives two houses down from us and they just finished having their backyard completely redone including the pool and all new tile with waterfalls cascading down the wall into the pool. It looks lovely. Great place for a casual summer party to celebrate our anniversary. There will be more on this.

   We are also leaving for Key West in three weeks, after Spring Break. The place we stay at is called Banana Bay right on the Gulf of Mexico. Adults only, we prefer not having small children running around and screaming etc. Last time we were surprised to find that some of the people were nude, both men and women out by the pool. I’m afraid Tom and I are not adventurous enough to participate and some of those who did shouldn’t have.  
     I’m closing so I can forward this to Gary for the web-cite.
   As Always,

Jane

 

 

                                                                                                              February 15, 2009

Hi everyone,

   Hope you all had a nice Valentines Day. I’m sure it is more important to the ladies out there then the men. Remember when we were children in school and we would make Valentine cards and take them home to our mother’s and we were so proud when they told us how much they loved them. Next came the colored ones with funny jokes and we had to give them to everyone in the class and as we got older we got more selective because there were "special" people we wanted to send to and there were some that we didn’t like that much for what ever reason and we didn’t want to give them a card. I bet things haven’t changed that much.

  Nothing real exciting going on. The other night Tom and I drove to Monrovia for a meeting at the Community Center. The Monrovia Alumni committee was having their monthly meeting. There seems to be a lot of things up in the air. I called Bob Humble to find out about the Monrovia Day parade. He hasn’t heard about anything being planned and said he would get back to me.  It appears that construction at the high school will interfere with the All Class Reunion that we usually have at the circle is going to be changed to the Monrovia museum. It will be a nice change because there are a lot of memories in the museum including the grade schools and good old MAD. I enjoyed going through but there is so much to see and they have a special room with memorabilia

From the police department. In case you don’t know where the museum is located, it is at the plunge. They converted the building into the museum and filled in the pool area and use it for social events like weddings, retirement parties, etc. That is Recreation Park in

the 700 Blk. E. Lemon Avenue. They will have food available and may turn it into a potluck picnic, more to come on this. I haven’t hear if there is going to be a luau at the Aztec, waiting to get info on this too.  When I get more information about the events and the times for them I will pass it on. Set the date aside in your calendar book, May 16^th, the weekend after Mother’s Day..

   I was amazed how busy it was down town on a Thursday night. Many of the business were open and the restaurants were full of people. Monrovia has grown into a very busy business community. I was amazed that the new library is so big. It is still in Library Park and at the same location. They tore the "new" old building down. The old trees are still there. I kind of would have liked that the design of the new library to be like the "old" one we remember but totally modern inside. There isn’t much left in Monrovia that you would remember, everything has been torn down. They are redeveloping the corner of Mayflower and Huntington where Rosedale’s Nursery use to be. They tore down the old PE building and are constructing a new parking structure with additional commercial businesses and I think more housing above the businesses. They have big plans for the old train depot. I went to Santa Fe grammar school and we would look out the window when ever the trains came through. I remember going there and when it shut down. The city eventually gave away all the bricks. Thank God they didn’t tear down the building...   
There will be a whole new shopping complex there with restaurants, etc. and will tie in with Myrtle Ave., going north. The Blue line will make stops there. The street fair is still going strong on Friday nights, one of the most successful and the farmers market goes year round but the whole things with all the crafts, petting zoo, clowns and lots of taste food opens back up in March, I think the first week, not sure cause they changed it.

  I was driving down Myrtle the other day after my exercise class, there was a man on the corner twirling one of those signs to get your attention, and it did, but I was saddened that it said Boxx Jewelers was going out of business after all these years. Sign of the times.

   I’m also sending some e-mails that I received from Jim Shirk and Bert Taylor, and Sue Childress. I hate to repeat myself but I sure would appreciate any little tidbit that you want to share.

 The weather has been cold and they are expecting a big storm to bring lots of rain which we need. At the first of the week when another storm passed through, the sky was crystal clear and so blue and the mountains were covered with snow. It is such a beautiful sight.

  As Always,

     Jane    

 

Posted 2-17-09

Thanks for the website work!

Hi Jane:

Just read thru the latest newsy news. Great to hear what people are up to these days, as well as old stories. I am moving AGAIN, but this time it will probably by (semi)

permanent! Was able to purchase a home overlooking the ocean in San Pedro. In fact, when you look out my front windows, you are looking straight at the Isthmus on Catalina Island! What a treat! Reminds me of summer vacations and Easter weeks spent at camp Orizaba on that island. One year, some of us took a rowboat over to the next cove and were able to meet Humphrey Bogart, who was yachting there at the time. Also met Claire Trevor and Mervyn LeRoy, who invited us aboard, of all things! Of course it was such a thrill for a movie fiend such as yours truly. Joan Colbert was in the rowboat and one of our councilors, I think.

Quite a day!

I am still 'dabbling' in commercials, buy work is slow due to the SAG negotiations, etc. Did an MTV gig, and a few unsold pilots, as well as a Target commercial last fall. I love it! My two sons Rick and Scott (father is Paul Hegg, who is still going winters to his house in Mexico with wife Bev. via their motorhome) are both employed by Lockheet Martin in Sunnyvale, CA. Great guys. Everyone very tall, I'm sure you remember Paul at

6'6"....Rick is 6'7", and his son Brandon is 6'8". What will the next generation bring, I wonder.

I love e-mails! My address is: kdrich25@yahoo.com Hope to hear from anybody and everybody!

InMay (Mother's Day) the Monrovia Old House Historical Society has a tour of selected old houses. 2009 will be the

300 block of Wildrose Ave., all Craftsman homes, and all now designated as historical with plaques and everything. It so happens that 312 Wildrose was the first home my folks bought after we came there in 1944. They have asked me to be a docent for that house from 10AM to 2PM, because I have stories to tell about it, I guess. Sounds like fun.

Keep up the good work....maybe next time I'll have something interesting to write you about.

Karen (Overbaugh) Day now at: 2275 W. 25th St. #160 San Pedro, CA 90732

 

Feb 16-09 Posting date

 
Hello Jane - I notice that after December 20th and after my e-mail to you, the page suddenly stopped. I sincerely hope that nothing I said has had any determination in your willingness to keep our webpage alive and well.
 
Please tell me what your feelings are and what you would like to see happen with our webpage.
 
Bert Taylor

Hi Bert
   No it wasn't anything you said. I appreciate your impute and encouragement. I have started three times and didn't follow through and send it to Gary. Been a little busy but just procrastinating. I was happy to get an e-mail from Jim Shirk and Richard Williams so I am going to work on it today and send it off. You know you can always send me something to put on the page, like a bio for the last fifty years. Just joking but you know what I mean. The web is kind of like talking to your self and no fed back. I run out of things to talk about because the  only thing I have to talk about is the things I know in my life. After while your not sure what you have said and I hate repeating myself, sign I'm getting old. I hope third time is the charm. My friends from MPD are joining me for lunch at the Northwoods, so I'm off to that. I'll work at it when AI get back home.
   Thanks again Bert.
  As Always,
    Jane

 

Jane - Thanks for your response. Around the end of the year, I e-mailed four or five of the e-mail addresses I had which included Jim Walters, asking them to e-mail you with something. Jim e-mailed back and had to ask for the MAD website address in order to look at your '52 webpage to see if he wanted to send in something. I don't know if he did or not. I believe, that is what it is going to take. E-mailing our classmates to get them to respond. Richard Williams was one of them. So that was positive. I will try to come up with something from my very ordinary life that might be of interest. You mentioned talking about what you know. May I again suggest that you talk about what has happened in Monrovia in those many years that you worked for the police department. Those of us who moved away maybe don't realize how Monrovia has kept it's identity by careful planning and execution. Other little towns didn't fare as well. Because city fathers didn't step up to the plate and face the challenge of malls and huge shopping centers, their towns simple dried up. I watched as the downtown area of Santa Ana turned into a slum of dime stores and liquidation stores. My cousins were raised in Santa Ana, and we used to go over there all the time and enjoyed downtown Santa Ana through the 1940's. It was much like Monrovia. I remember Jim Walters used to work in one of the men's shops in Monrovia. Again may I suggest that if you don't have anything else to talk about, that you talk about the wonderful little town that has managed to keep its identity through the last 50 years. All of the MAD graduates will identify with that. And start e-mailing classmates and asking them to participate in your webpage. If you feel uncomfortable doing that, send me the e-mail list and I will be happy to e-mail them as I did the four or five, and see if they won't respond.
 
Jane, I appreciate that you have taken this responsibility. The '52 webpage for all means and purposes, was dead! It is going to take a big transfusion to see any life, and I don't believe it will just spring into full participation over night. I know that you don't want to spend 8 hours a day doing this webpage. And even if you did, Tom wouldn't let you. So give me an assignment and let's see if we can breathe some life back into this page. I am NOT trying to take over your job. Gary tried to get me to take it and I told him that I work best behind the person in the spotlight, just as I did on the stage crew at MAD. Think about it and let me know.      Bert

 

Hello Jane, or Tom,

Just read the Alumni Web Site since you took over.  Sorry. I have no excuse in my delay.

However, I had e-mailed you several times in the past with no

reply!?  Hopefully you are recieving this one?

I am still living in Tyler Texas (16 years) with my wonderful wife Maureen of 31 beautiful years.  We only return to California for special occasions, like our #2 Grandsons High School graduation in June of '08.  First time being there in 5 years.

Since my retirement from Carrier A/C after 19 years (reason

to move to Texas) I have been working sort of part time at a

local Toyota dealership, driving a Courtesy Van or answering

incoming phone calls. Been doing this for 8 years. Maureen

has had three of her family's move here also; and 8 years ago our best friends moved here. Can't even get any of my relatives to visit unless we pay their way (can't afford it)!!?

We have been in touch with two of our classmates of '52 that

live nearby. Bud Pickrel lives about 4 miles from us and

Victor Pell lives in another city about 40 miles away. Small

world!!  Was in touch with Wanda Sue Parrott for a while but

havn't heard from her for about 4 years.  We are in regular

touch with Carol (Igert) Peterson who lives in Washington

State. She and I worked together at DuPont in Monrovia back

in the 70's.

By the way is Jo Ochoa still president of the Alumnis at the

school?  I've never met her but did talk to her on the phone a

few years ago. Seems very nice. I do appreciatte all of you

who work on the committees. It was fun working with some of

you on our 25th re-union.  My memory is so poor, but I think

Carol and I were at DuPont during the time she and I were working on the re-union!? Now I remember, She and I had the

idea to have a re-union when we met you, and then we put it all together, because your group was doing the same!!

Well, I guess I had better close for now. Be Blessed and may

God continue to bless your Ministry Of Helps!!  I can certainly

see how He has used you.

                                              YOU ARE LOVED,

                           Jim Shirk 

 

P.S.  Please let me know if this e-mail goes thru!!

 

 

Hi Jane,

 

You may not remember me but I lived in Arcadia and went to 1st Ave. and then to MAD.  Gosh it is hard reading the list of our classmates that have gone on.  I still keep in touch with Jerry Brown, Dan Simpson, Bert Taylor and others but the list is shrinking.  We had a great class.

After returning from England with the airforce I got married, moved to Marin County and worked with  Allergan Pharm. for 17 years.  I had my own business mfg. contact lenses and sold it and retired.  My wife Ann and I  have lived in Azusa on the old Angling Club lake, Glendora, and now at Glen Ivy (Trilogy) in Corona.

We have a RV and love to travel and also like to go on cruises.  It is fun to hear from OLD classmates and I wish we could get together more often.  You can print my e-mail if you want. 

Good luck on your new job and I can write more next time.   By the way, how did Richard Plimpton get into  the 52 year as he was in year 53?  Our paths have crossed many times.      Regards,  Dick Williams

.  

 

 

 

Hi Jane,

 

At our 50^th MAD reunion, I spoke to Chet Ullom, who was there as a guest, and thanked him for his music teaching services at Monrovia. I also took viola lessons from Harold Scott and played in our school orchestra. I enjoyed music so much from those beginnings that I got a degree in vocal music and went on to teach in Utah and Nevada. A number of our graduates have previously mentioned how various teachers at MAD made a lasting impression in their lives. We were very lucky to have the kind of quality of teacher and the experiences they gave us in the classroom. I will never forget, and be forever grateful to, Student body President Jim Walters and his committee for having the vision, the courage, and the organization ability, to put our school letter on the mountain complete with lights.

 

I was saddened to read about John Massey’s wife passing. I want John to know how much I appreciated his spirit and leadership in our senior year at MAD. It was good to see him at our 50^th reunion.

 

Funny, there are so many who touched my life back then. Classmates who never knew I was watching them, observing them. Some were athletes, some were in drama, some were in our student government, some were just students that I saw every day, who didn’t stand out in any special way; but I admired them for their achievements.

 

I would like to mention Marilyn and Bob Humble. Marilyn graduated in the Winter Class of 1952 and is considered a 1952 graduate. She and Bob have carried the torch for the rest of us. They have attended numerous committee and planning meetings for various reunions including our 50^th and other multi-year reunions. They quietly work behind the scenes to take reservations for these various events and should be given a very loud "THANKS" for all they do for us. Marilyn sat in front of me in the 7^th grade at First Avenue, and if we had had inkwells in our desks back then, I think Marilyn would still have ink stain in her hair.

 

May I make a suggestion? Will all of you who DO read this 1952 web page, contact another of our 1952 graduation class you might still be in contact with, and ask them if they read the page regularly? If they don’t, ask them if they will tune in to our 1952 web page and support Jane with a few comments now and then. I have found some classmates who didn’t know how to get into the website itself. Tell them how to do it, and support Jane as much as you can.   Thanks.

 

Gilbert E. (Bert) Taylor                          (Jane, this IS for publication. Make any

                                                                  corrections that you feel should be)

btaylor92@hotmail.com

 

Jane - It dawned on my that it was not at our 50th reunion that I spoke to Chet Ullom, it was at our 35th. Would you please change that for me! I think he may have been dead by our 50th. I e-mailed Jim Walters again with the request to put something on our page. Haven't heard back from him this time, but hopefully he will respond. Please e-mail me anytime. If you feel there is something that I can do, please ask.    Bert 
 

Thank you Bert.
   You know it is funny that we don't realize and appreciate what teachers and others who have influenced and molded us into what we are today. I guess with age we realize we didn't do it all by ourselves. I worry about the next generation and guess our parents worried about ours. I guess when we are young we don't worry about those things and forge on. My mother worried about me. I had two children, one mentally retarded and left my husband and moved back home with my parents. Thank God I had great parents who allowed me to come back home. I worked nights so I could be home during the day to care for them. Mom didn't think I would ever find a man who would marry a woman with two children and one being retarded. I am happy knowing that she knew I had a great husband in Tom. You never know where your life will lead you or who will change it. I tell the young people this all the time. You know, Bob Costarella doesn't do computer's. He always had his nurses and secretaries do everything for him so he never learned. He even had them addressing envelopes for our reunions. He doesn't do e-mail or check the web site. I don't think he has a computer. There are several out there who won't try unless they are forced to. I enjoyed reading your story.
  I was an Art major in high school. I love musicals but never had any musical talent. We had a lot of great kids in our class that went on to do great things and then there was just the norm. but they were all important. Many wonderful memories, I am grateful for them .
   I am tired and babbling so I'll say good night.
    Thanks again,
     Jane

 

                                                                                                               January 31, 2009

Hi Everyone,

   Well, the holidays have come and gone. The elections are over and things aren’t looking too good, what a wonderful way to start off a new year. I have started this three times and not finished with what I started. It is time to get on the ball. Bert Taylor has been prodding me along to do this. It is a beautiful warm sunny day and tomorrow is Super Bowl Sunday. I always looked forward to going to someone’s house for a party. I never cared who was playing but I always enjoyed the commercials. Some are very cleaver and funny and others that we would turn and look at each other and say, "What is that all about?" I always fixed something and others always brought something to eat or drink. It was a great time to get together. We don’t do that much any more and I miss it.

   I have been keeping busy with two exercise classes a week in Monrovia and then my TOPS group still meets on Fridays in El Monte. I get together with friends for lunch once in a while and I still do luncheons at the Northwood’s with my retired police officers and fellows that left Monrovia for other departments. Some of the new retirees have come and laughed so hard listening to stories that the older ones tell. They can’t believe how times have changed.

   Tom has been very busy completely remodeling our apartments as we get vacancy, he has just finished the last one. We ran into Bruce and Mary Ann Staller at Staples the other day. Their class of 1954 is getting ready to celebrate their 55^th this coming October. That is the year my brother graduated. I haven’t talked with him to see if he and Sally (Luckinbill) Nash are planning on attending.

   I was saddened when I got a message that a fellow we grew up with passed away. I have such fond memories of him. Don Puerner moved to Monrovia around 1947-48 and his parents bought a home on
Duarte Rd, just west of Mayflower. Jack and Don were friends and he was like one of the family. He would walk in the back door (it was never locked in those days) and announce that he had arrived. Jack and Don and a whole group of guys were always working on a car back under the big black walnut tree in the back yard. We had a corner lot at Mayflower and Genoa and Genoa didn’t go through because of the wash and there were no sidewalks. Don got older and found a beautiful blond girl that he fell madly in love with. Her name was "Pat". She was younger so he joined the Air Force and waited for her to grow up and graduate before getting married. They had four lovely children one being a Victoria Secret model; I told you she was beautiful. We stayed in touch through the years. He worked the tables in Vegas for a while. Last May he called to tell me that Pat had died from cancer. We talked about the "old" days and shared some memories. I sent him a recent picture of Jack and I that was taken at Jack’s birthday brunch in May. Don passed away in September. Don and Pat will be missed but the memories will live forever. .

·          On a lighter note, I received a nice e-mail from Jim Shirk. I asked if it was Ok to forward it to the website. He and his wife moved back to Texas. He played in the MAD band and he was able to get a group of men that play for their own enjoyment and they played at our 25^th class reunion in La Mirada, making it very special.

·          Thanks to Bert I also received a nice bio. From Dick Williams which is included for the web-site.

·          I think it would be great if some more of you would send a little e-mail and let us know what you have for the past 50 – 55 years. There certainly must be something that you can tell us without upsetting someone out there. I have heard some wonderful stories through the years from many of you but it is up to you to share them with others. I sometimes feel like I am talking to myself when I try to get something interesting for the website. It is a one sided conversation. I missed the alumni committee meeting and Christmas party that conflicted with other things. Tom and I plan of being there for the February meeting. They have news on the re-modeling and additions going on at the high school and the plans for Monrovia Day.

·        Tom did drive Bob and Marilyn (Lambert) Humble in the 1914 Ford Depot Hack when they were honored by the city of Covina. Tom was very impressed with how well it was run and came off like pros.

·          Don’t forget, send me something, we need to share.

·         Tom and I will be celebrating our 50^th Anniversary in Aug. this year. Craig our son and his wife Carolyn have their backyard completely torn up and are redoing the pool and landscaping for our party? They live just two houses down. It will look great when it is completed.             

·          Don’t forget your loved one on Valentines Day.

·        As Always,

·              Jane

From: williams richard <dixtoy24@sbcglobal.net>
To: tmillettt@yahoo.com
Sent: Monday, January 19, 2009 6:38:30 PM
Subject: Congrats on your new job as MAD52 person.

 

Hi Jane,

 

You may not remember me but I lived in Arcadia and went to 1st Ave. and then to MAD.  Gosh it is hard reading the list of our classmates that have gone on.  I still keep in touch with Jerry Brown, Dan Simpson, Bert Taylor and others but the list is shrinking.  We had a great class.

After returning from England with the airforce I got married, moved to Marin County and worked with  Allergan Pharm. for 17 years.  I had my own business mfg. contact lenses and sold it and retired.  My wife Ann and I  have lived in Azusa on the old Angling Club lake, Glendora, and now at Glen Ivy (Trilogy) in Corona.

We have a RV and love to travel and also like to go on cruises.  It is fun to hear from OLD classmates and I wish we could get together more often.  You can print my e-mail if you want. 

Good luck on your new job and I can write more next time.   By the way, how did Richard Plimpton get into  the 52 year as he was in year 53?  Our paths have crossed many times.      Regards,  Dick Williams

.  

 

From: "JRSShark@aol.com" <JRSShark@aol.com>
To: tmillettt@yahoo.com
Sent: Sunday, January 25, 2009 2:35:17 PM
Subject: Hi '52 !!!

 

Hello Jane, or Tom,

Just read the Alumni Web Site since you took over.  Sorry. I have no excuse in my delay.

However, I had e-mailed you several times in the past with no

reply!?  Hopefully you are receiving this one?

I am still living in Tyler Texas (16 years) with my wonderful wife Maureen of 31 beautiful years.  We only return to California for special occasions, like our #2 Grandsons High School graduation in June of '08.  First time being there in 5 years.

Since my retirement from Carrier A/C after 19 years (reason

to move to Texas) I have been working sort of part time at a

local Toyota dealership, driving a Courtesy Van or answering

incoming phone calls. Been doing this for 8 years. Maureen

has had three of her family's move here also; and 8 years ago our best friends moved here. Can't even get any of my relatives to visit unless we pay their way (can't afford it)!!?

We have been in touch with two of our classmates of '52 that

live nearby. Bud Pickrel lives about 4 miles from us and

Victor Pell lives in another city about 40 miles away. Small

world!!  Was in touch with Wanda Sue Parrott for a while but

havn't heard from her for about 4 years.  We are in regular

touch with Carol (Igert) Peterson who lives in Washington

State. She and I worked together at DuPont in Monrovia back

in the 70's.

By the way is Jo Ochoa still president of the Alumnis at the

school?  I've never met her but did talk to her on the phone a

few years ago. Seems very nice. I do appreciate all of you

who work on the committees. It was fun working with some of

you on our 25th re-union.  My memory is so poor, but I think

Carol and I were at DuPont during the time she and I were working on the re-union!? Now I remember, She and I had the

idea to have a re-union when we met you, and then we put it all together, because your group was doing the same!!

Well, I guess I had better close for now. Be Blessed and may

God continue to bless your Ministry Of Helps!!  I can certainly

see how He has used you.

                                              YOU ARE LOVED,

                           Jim Shirk 

 

P.S.  Please let me know if this e-mail goes thru!!

 

11-28-08

Hi there everyone,

I don't have a whole lot to talk about. I was happy to get my Wildcat in the mail, thanks to the Alumni Committee. Tom and I went up to Monrovia and helped put stamps and seals on them to get them ready for mailing. We got ours in the mail the next day. Bob (Class of 48) and Marilyn (Lambert) Humble both are on the committee.

It is a beautiful day in Glendora, the weather has been perfect except for the wind and all the fires. What a tragedy all those people who have lost their homes and all their personal belongs. Some things, insurance can't replace. You wonder where I'm going with this, well back in my memory bank, I remember an incident from my childhood. I was probably 8 to 10 years old, and Donna (Fiatte) Cestari and I were playing in an old eucalyptus tree. It was Big, and we could sit inside the trunk of the tree. It was perfect for two kids to play in. Somehow, we had matches with us, and we were playing with the matches and we started a little fire in the middle of the tree, we even helped it along, putting dry leaves on it, and the fire grew. We suddenly realized that we had a fire started that we couldn't put out. We threw dirt on it, what ever our little hands would hold, but we couldn't put it out. We got scared and I ran home and I guess Donna ran back to her grandmother's house. When I walked in the house, my parents asked me what was wrong and I of course said "Nothing", well I never did lie well, and I spilled my guts and told them what we had done. My dad grabbed the shovel and got in the truck and rushed up to where the tree was and started putting out the fire with dirt. I don't remember any fire trucks coming but I did get a lecture. What we didn't pay attention to was that there were a whole bunch of chickens in cages next to a wooden fence that would have burned right up once it got started. It could have been a real bad experience but that guilty look was written all over my face. I never forgot, "Never play with matches."

Another memory. When I was 4 or 5 years old, I was with my cousin, Betty Lou (Relph) Walker , class of 49, I think. and we were getting ice cream in the ice cream store next to the Lyric. We were going to the movies, some thing I think we did every Saturday. It was a rainy day. I heard the police siren and I was curious, it's in my blood, and I ran out to see what was happening. A policeman was in a pursuit of a car which turned north on Ivy Ave. Unfortunately the officer was unable to make the turn because of the wet road and he and his motorcycle went skidding by us crashing into the box office. The officer was killed and thank God, my cousin pulled me back just in time so I wasn't hurt. Strange how things like that happen. I always enjoyed the movies and I look back at the movies we watched. I was watching a show on PBS the other night and there was Mitzi Gaynor, she looked great and boy was a figure she had and still does. I always loved musicals, still do. I remember I always got the third degree about how old I was because in 7th I shot up to 5-9 ½, and weighing 140 lbs. I think it cost 12 cents and junior's paid a quarter. By all means, my parents were not rich so paying twice as much wasn't fair. Strange, we never had to worry about child molesters back then. When my children wanted to go to the movies with friends when they were young, I had to warn them about perverts. So sad.

I remember my first date was at the Lyric. Lee Widrig invited me to an afternoon matinee. It was his birthday and he had gotten some money. I think Lee would have been in the class of 51, but I'm not sure, my memory is fuzzy, I'm not sure he graduated because he joined the Navy. We actually dated again around 1957-1958?, when we both worked at Monrovia Police Department Small world. Our parents were friends.
Time to get this off to Gary. Added note: We had to put our cat, Boxer to sleep, he just couldn't eat. He will be missed, 17 years is a long time.

 

Until next time, Happy holidays,

Jane (Nash) Millett

I still need input and articles from all of you. This is your website... As Gary says, when he doesn't have anything, he just puts in what ever he has. No one can complain if they don't contribute. Thanks

 

From Jane 11-3-08

Hi Everyone,
The other night I couldn't sleep, I
was up and down and kept trying to get back to sleep. You all know
what I mean, right? My thoughts kept turning to what to write for the
web-site.  Tom, my husband, would surely say "Your loosing sleep
over that! Well that's not really the case, because I have a "thing"
with my legs, growing up I called it the "Willies". My father had
it, I'm not sure if my brother Jack inherited it or not. Now days
they have a name for it, it's called restless leg syndrome (RLS).
Well what ever you want to call "it", it wakes me up and I get
"HOT" feet, something new, since I had chemo and radiation. That
is another story for another time. Well, as I was thinking, I started
writing notes about things that I remembered when I was growing up
and remember these are memories from a long time ago.
My cat, "Boxer", named by my
grand children because he has great BIG paws because of extra toes on
each paw, hadn't been acting right and wasn't eating right or hardly
at all, so I told Tom, I think I better take the cat to the vet. Now
keep in mind, "Boxer" is getting old like me. We are growing
"old" together, and the cat is about 93 in human years, about 17
cat years. Well, $274.56 later, the cat is back home and were are
holding the cat down, forcing medicine down his throat so he will get
well. Where am I going with this you ask? Well remember when the cat
and dog ate what we ate. Mom would put the scraps and leftovers on a
plate and they were happy to eat what we eat. (No garbage disposals,
they were it) and I don't remember vet's, well like we know them
today. They had them for "farm" animals,   horses and cows but
not for our pets. They either got well or died. That was life. By the
way, the cat is getting better and eating again. And we have aisles
of "special" foods for our pets, you name it, cat food, hamster
food, bird food, dog food, on and on, and it cost lots of money.
Heaven forbid, they ever eat anything were are eating. The vet would
say, "Your feeding them what!", what do you want to do, kill the
dog". Well you get the drift of where I'm going with this, as I'm
dumping food down the sink, because the cat won't touch it, at .50
cents a can.....................
The other night was Halloween, and
the kids came around with their cute costumes on and we gave them
candy. Well that triggered another memory. When I was growing up,
someone had gone to Hawaii and brought back a hula skirt and leis. I
loved that hula skirt and I wore it as a costume for Halloween. One
year around 1946 – 1947 I went over to a neighbors who had just
moved in the neighborhood, and did my usual "Trick or Treat"
thing. She looked at me and said, "aren't you too old to "trick
and treat" I was 12 but I had shot up to 5'9" and 140 lbs.
Anyway, her two girls, Joyce and "Dee"  hadn't arrived from
Pennsylvania yet, but we became friends when they did get here and
remained so for a life time.
I wore that hula skirt when ever I
could. One year Clifton school had a float "bed of a truck" in
the Monrovia Day parade and we had a theme, Children of the world,
and I dressed as a  hula girl and rode in the parade. My mother gave
"my" hula skirt to my niece many years later. I wanted it, there
were lots of memories about that skirt. Silly memories.
Remember what the fun thing to do
was "turn" on the fire hydrants on Halloween. The fire Department
always carried BIG wrenches to shut them off. I guess kids finally
out grew that and moved on to bigger and better things. I remember
the police and fire department were always trying to catch the kids
who were responsible. I know  from time to time, we caught a few..
I only got a couple responses, two
e-mails from Class of 53, hey, I'll take anything I can get. I will
forward them to Gary, so I can share them with you. The other
response was from phone call from Ellie (Taylor) Shetron. We had a
great talk, she lives here in Glendora. She wants to help when we
have our next reunion. She would like several classes, like 1950 thru
1954 to come together. Some people like that idea and others don't
like it at all.  Have found through the years that it is impossible
to please everyone and you just have to go for it.
Don't forget let me know what your
doing. Call or e-mail tmillettt@yahoo.com or  626 335-6271
As Always,
Jane (Nash) Millett
PS: we are folding the Wildcat News
letter and they will be in the mail soon.
 

 

Greetings Jane!

     I worked for the Monrovia Fire Dept. in 196l. Capt. Ted Tarwater was my Training Officer then. Chief Fritzjafbecker (SP) was the Monrovia Fire Chief. We worked out of that old Fire Station on Lemon St. in Monrovia and had only two Active Fire Engines. We had a big Coast Pumper, a Seagrave Pumper, a Ford Pickup we called "the Fish Wagon", a World War Two Ambulance, two Reserve Pumpers in the Reserve Garage, and the Chief's car. We slept upstairs and had a slide in that olf Fire House. Charlie broke his ankle on it one evening when the Fire Bell called us to respond! Eventually we acquired a new Crown Pumper like L.A. County used. Maybe you remember 196l if you worked for the Monrovia PD? That was the year the "Malibu Fire" did a lot of damage to homes along the Coast near Santa Monica? Capt. George K. drove the Coast Pumper to Malibu with his crew to man the L. A. County Fire Station on PCH. "Little George" eventually became Chief of the Monrovia Fire Dapt. Remember Firemen Caputo and Birdsong? Big guys & big eaters! HA! That Fire Dept. had a good crew! I'll always remember them!

     I only worked for Monrovia less than one year and left to work the rest of my working days with Southern California Edison that gave me my Retirement in 1996. Our son, a UCLA a Biology MCD Graduate, Class of 196l, now a Family Practice Doctor for Kaiser Permanente HMO, Fairfield, CA, must have liked helping people as he became a EMT 1A with MEDI VAC driving a Cardiac Unit, Ford F 350 out of Good Samaritan Hospital, L.A. before he trained to become a Doctor at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas. He lives in Davis, same City as Class of 53 Mary Ann Lewis Holtz. Our son is married, has two kids, 8 & 10, and lives near UC Davis Campus. We live in Vacaville, CA. near Travis AFB, half way between S.F. and Sacramento, CA.

     Good Luck being Editor of the MAD Class of 1952. R. Plimpton, MAD Class of 1953.

 

Greetings Again,

     A correction is in order. Our son Tim graduated from UCLA in 199l as a Biology MCD Major. Sorry! If you post the E mail on your web., please make the correction on it! Thanks! R. Plimpton, MAD Class of '53.

 

P.S. Did you work with Pat Fortner's Mom? She and her family lived on the corner of Santa Anita Ave. and Naomi Ave., Arcadia. She once worked for Anokia Girls School on Foothill Blvd., Arcadia, CA. Her husband was a Realtor as I remember? Pat Fortner, her daughter, graduated from MAD in '53.

 

 

1953 Donald Lewis Law

 

Ok Jane I was brought up in Arcadia at 871 Palo Alto on the corner of Golden West and Palo Alto.

I us to race up double drive in a model T modified with a race engine of that year in which you had to grind your own cams. Chief Kahill told me one time that if I kept it up I would be killed. So I told him to give us a place to run and he suggested the fair grounds which later became the Pomona drag strip. So I am still love and have raced sprints for 4 years and later flew a F-102A jet for the USAF and now I am making fuel for the future called Alcohol (Ethanol) of which all gas engines can run on with out any add gas. Also I have patented the process and also make biodiesel which diesels can use. I have done many things in my life and the list is long but I still love racing and all the wild things. I have been married to my wife for 52 years and now live in Post Falls, ID. I met my wife bovill, ID when I was a pilot at Geiger Field which is the main airport in Spokane WA of which is just 30 minutes away since I live in the pan handle of Idaho.Have a good day and by the way I have travled 26 countries since I left MAD.

Dr. Donald Lewis Law

 

 

10-21-08 From Jane

Hi everyone, I'm not sure how this is going to go. I started an hour ago and I'm depressed already. I'm not the most computer savvy person in the world, you know how it is with us older folks, we have to keep asking our grand children how to do something.
I learn something and then they turn around a change it and I can't find it any more. I print something and it doesn't print the full message, etc. Very frustrating.................
Well I thank those of you who do read the web site and sent messages of encouragement.
At least  Tom keeps up with it, he goes to classes and they have meetings to help you when you don't know what your doing.
I attended the Alumni Committee meeting at the Community Center in Monrovia. I was happy that I knew so many of them. Bob Humble was there, and Marilyn normally attends.
They are checking on the all class reunion at the high school for
next May. There is a great deal of construction going on and we
aren't certain if the space that we normally use will be available by May, there will be more info on this. I also found out that there is an all class reunion picnic (potluck) that is held at Santa Anita Park every October. I had been planning on going and then I read that it had come and gone. I did talk to Bob and Marilyn Humble, who are active in these events and they said there were only about 20 people who showed up. They decided to form a committee and advertise it better. I never knew they had one.
Bob and Marilyn are being honored this year in the Christmas Parade in Covina. Bob asked Tom if he would drive them in the parade in Tom's 1914 Ford depot hack. It is great for parades because it is so open and you can see who is sitting in the car.

I talked with Bob Costarella the other day. He and his wife Pam love to travel. He loves Africa and of course as most of you know he loves to hunt. They flew for 11 hours to Frankfort, Germany, then another flight for 11 ½ hrs. to Johannesburg, Africa, and another two hour drive to Kruger. (forgive
my spelling) They had their own personal chef who prepared wonderful meals. There were 18 people  in each group.  They got to see many wild animals including lions, leopards, giraffes and a  elephant with two calves, hippopotamus and many many more. The entertainment consisted of Zoolies dancing.

I had heard that Valerie Badger passed away. She lived here in Glendora. Marilyn Humble went to a memorial service they had for her. Bob recalled having a wonderful conversation with her at the one and only reunion that she attended.
Thank you to Kathi Henry, Frank Jerome, Norine (Foley) Wallace, Wanda Sue (Childress) Parrott and Kitty (Armstrong) Kelly for letting me know you are out there.
I talked with Pat Van Wormer the other day, I'm not sure what class he was in and I think he went into the Navy before graduating. He lived in Monrovia and Arcadia. He worked at Monrovia Police Dept. with me and he and Marlow Crawford
both came to work for the city of Monrovia back in the early 50's. He loves to talk and he remembered that he lived a few houses away from Alice (Parker) Browne. He remembers Alice's father out on the porch smoking a cigar and her mother at the door with her hand on her hip and an apron on. I was in Star Duster's with him in high school. It was a club for tall kids.
Monrovia has changed a lot. They recently tore down the old PE depot down town at Myrtle and Olive, where we would catch the "Red" car to Los Angeles. I think we all
remember riding the street car to Los Angeles and going to Clifton's cafeteria. They are saving the train depot for the Metro line. I hope I live long enough to see it happen.
Don't forget to let me know if you have some memories or pictures you want to share. You might enjoy going to the museum. Monrovia converted the old city plunge into a museum. It has a wonderful display about Monrovia High school or as we knew it MAD. Young people can't believe it was segregated back then (the plunge).. The museum also has many displays that will bring
back memories of years gone by.
Keep in touch,
Jane (Nash)  Millett
 

Below letter from  Wanda Sue Parrott
 

Jane:
A couple of questions:
1.  How did the reunion go last year? The 55th?
2.  Alice made a remark recently about four more obituaries of our classmates to be added to the page, but nothing more was said. Do you know who died?
Also, If you want something that might be interesting for classmates to look at, Al made a very short video of me doing a poetry reading on National Public Radio earlier this month. It's less than two minutes long and is running on You Tube.  If you know how to put such a link onto the page, I am sure he would send the thing to you.  He put it up on my website.  Take a look, if you can get it, by clicking here: you cannot miss me, as I should appear in a box at the right of the contents list. Just click on the doodad in the center, if necessary, and then turn on your sound. It is the Springfield in Missouri to which I refer, as I was in the Springfield affiliate of NPR, KSMU-
FM.  See link at the bottom of this e-mail.
 
I won lst Place in the Missouri State Poetry Society Contest announced last Sat. for a narrative poem. I will copy it below for you.  My thought is that classmates might find it more interesting than just a blurb saying I am still alive and writing.
 
The poem will follow, if I can get it to copy. Feel free to use it, or feel free to reject it--but do enjoy the story it tells.
 
The website to click on for the video is www.amykitchenerfdn.org
 
I hope you enjoy editing the 1952 class page, and that you are better on a computer than I am!
 
Love,
Sue
(known here as Wanda)
___________________________________________________________________________
Wanda Sue Parrott
 

Springfield, Missouri

 

won 1^st Place in poet's choice category of 2008 Missouri State Poetry Society's summer contest

 

 

THE SUMMER OF 1945

 

Grundle's grocery closed at four throughout the last year of the war,

until, in August forty-five, his missing son was found alive

imprisoned in a German camp. Gus Grundle lit an old oil lamp

and hung it on his market's door, attracting folks into the store.

They celebrated, shared his mood, and gobbled every crumb of food

that ration stamps had rendered rare. They gorged on all; left none to spare:

butter, sugar, chocolate, ham, horsemeat burgers, cans of Spam.

A second telegram soon came containing Grundle's son's full name.

The War Department said that he'd died tragically while being freed.

The Russian tanks rolled through barbed wire and mowed John down in friendly fire.

When Grundle got the grisly news, he stripped to boxer shorts and shoes,

Then pulling up his argyle socks, Gus Grundle marched a dozen blocks.

He reached the ocean's rocky shore. He meant to drown, but then before

the grocer joined his son in death, a messenger--near out of breath--

brought Gus another telegram with new regards from Uncle Sam.

WE REGRET, the message said, INFORMING YOU YOUR SON IS DEAD.

"Jim's with the Allies, safe and sound!" Gus Grundle grimaced, "Homeward bound?

He'll be arriving here this week!" The old man turned his other cheek

and, resurrecting grocer's mood, Gus billed the folks who ate his food.

 

 

 

Hi  everyone,

    As you all know, Alice has ask for someone to take over the Class of 1952 website, so I sent her an e-mail and told her I would like to give it a try. I am a novice at tackling a project like this, so bare with me. It will be a trial and error thing, but I mostly need your help because without you and your input this won’t work. I need you to provide me with information. Let me know about your trips, what you are doing now, and if you want to, remind us of what you did in years gone by. Let me know, either by e-mail or a phone call. I love to talk with people that have the same memories of Monrovia that I do. I love to tell the young kids about what it was like growing up in Monrovia. I have wonderful memories and I’m sure many of you do too. So please share. If you have pictures you want posted, send them to me. I know when I’m working on our class reunions, I love getting on the phone and talking with all of you. 

  So, now let me introduce myself , I’m  Jane (Nash) Millett , Class of 1952. I recently retired (July 2007) after 50 years  at the Monrovia Police Department. I have worked with Alice and Bob Costarella on all our class reunions since 1977, which I enjoy very much. I am married to Tom Millett, who comes from Maine. We will be celebrating our 50^th anniversary next August. We have one son, Craig, and I had two sons from a previous marriage. My brother, Jack Nash is from the 1954 class and still lives in Monrovia with his wife Sally (Luckinbill), who also graduated from MAD, not sure which year, I think 1958. My mother and father both graduated from Monrovia high school. As you can tell, my history goes way back. We lived in El Monte for 37 years where Tom worked on the Police Department for 30years, then moved to Glendora. I can be reached at tmillettt@yahoo.com (yes, three "t"s), or at 626-335-6271.

O.K., now that I’ve laid out my life before you, feed me with info on you, and make the class of 1952 the forefront of information.