The Worst

Since Friday, June 12, 1964 we have been saddened by the loss of Class of '64s Mike Hatfield and Ricky Stevenson, and our Class of '65 champion, Charlie Wright Greppi. For over 50 years this day ranks as perhaps the darkest day in the history of Cloverdale. Charlie is remembered in many ways, mainly for his athletic ability, the Charles Atlas of our class. The one quality Charlie is most remembered for - being nice to everyone. Greppis are that way. Mrs. Greppi was the North Star of nice. His sister Kathy - the more you know her the more you want to know her. There has been a void in many of our lives that was created that day. Charlie, you have been missed and we know our Senior Year would have been even better had you been there in person. You have been with us in spirit over fifty years and will continue to be until every one of us moves to your side.

Charlie's sister, Kathy Greppi Vadon, has approved of this post 100%.

Remembering

Congratulation class of 1965! Wow, 50 years―it seems like yesterday Mike Shannon and I escorted your class out onto the football field for graduation. My how time flies.

I want to thank your class for all your support in my junior year. I don’t think I’d have made it if not for everyone taking over for my brother. Charles to some, Charlie to others. “Me” I was just called “dumb shit.” I have fond memories of him as I hope you do too. The tug of war in your junior year? How could any of us forget that? Ha! The football games, the wrestling matches, basketball, baseball, dances, prom. Isn’t that what school was about? Wishing you a wonderful 50-year reunion. Hoping to see everyone on June 27th.

Love,
Kathy Greppi

With us in Spirit

Of the 56 classmates who are listed in our Senior Yearbook, The Spectator, we have contact information on 46. Nikki Ferrari, Bob Goates, Christine Grist, Mark Haehl, Arnold Mendoza and Danny Wallace have transitioned to another realm but have left us with many fond memories. At this time (January 2015) we have no contact information on Glen Brunner, Joe Giacolini, Terry Williams and Alice Yip.

Everyone who was ever a member of our class is invited to this reunion, which approximately doubles our 56. Of this second wave we are "challenged" as we have no contact information on about half of this group. A list of "unknown" is forthcoming in hopes the knowns will know an unknown ~ know what I mean?

Ultimate Shockwaves

Juniors

Sophomores

Freshmen

Unsure of ourselves in many ways, we set sail in September, 1961, on our adventure through high school. Our class was blessed with several high performance academics. Delores Andreini, Susan Beck, Glen Brunner, Nikki Ferrari, Nancy Foster, Rebecca Quarnstrom, Connie Erickson, John Greenhalgh and Bill Walton knew how to deal most effectively with books.

There was band and chorus taught over four decades by the legendary Mr. Connelly. Nancy Foster and Bill Fredericks are standouts in this division.

There were several clubs, organizations and groups to join. Shining the spotlight on our class as a whole, one eagle stands out as having accomplished a rare feat. Frank Davis played varsity baseball as a freshman. This places Frank among Eagle folklore with baseball legends John Santana (1930s), Tom Caterelli (1950s), and modern time’s Gene Lile and the Rolands. After graduation in June, 1965, Frank served in the Air Force. Fulfilling his military obligation, he returned to Cloverdale and one of the activities he was born to love—baseball.

As rare a find as freshmen on varsity teams, Frank is one of those who everybody always liked—a male Annette Funicello. How fitting is it that he lives across the street from Cloverdale’s city park baseball field? He can rerun memories that he has been part of for sixty years.

With the final pitch of the 1961 baseball season, our class has navigated the waters of our most challenging high school year in many ways and moves to the next level—sophomores.

There is a good chance Delores, Susan, Nancy, Rebecca, Connie, Bill and Frank will cruise Main Street Cloverdale the night of June 27th, our 50th High School Reunion.

Transitioning from Grade School to High School

For the most part, our travels through the valleys and over the mountains, from kindergarten to graduation from eighth grade in 1961, were rewarding and had shaped us into who we were going to be, to a degree.

Upon beginning our freshman year, many of our Class of ’65 members had carved out their niche. Delores Andreini Woicicki, Nikki Ferrari Johnson, John Greenhalgh and Glen Brunner were the academic giants in our class. Ron Bandiera, Ted Emmel, Dan Braccialini, and Marc Black made careers using their vocational skills. Jeanie Farrell Barnett, Mark Haehl, Bob Goates, and Larry Wolfe live highly developed spiritual lives. Highly successful in the business world, we have Darla Laier Ferronato, Gary Poovey, Richard Savala and Nick Stameroff. We have our share of teachers: Dixie Griffith Kemper, Karen Bogner Wallaert, Nancy Foster Colter, and Audrey Haczela Kunkle, to name a few.

As a unit our class has been highly successful each in our own way. The road ahead will present challenges we have yet to face, but for now, life is great and one of the top ten memories of the past fifty years will include our June 27th reunion.

Mrs. Valentine

Mrs. Valentine is my all-time favorite teacher.  Every time I write a note, a card, a letter, I hear her voice.  Whenever I tell my friends or my family to “drive safely” not “drive safe” (Mrs. Valentine—I hear you. It is “safely”, an adverb) I always correct those who do not use the adverb.

Mrs. Valentine was fond of teaching her students with books.  We had to read several books during the course of a school year.  And we had to do book reports.  Oh those blasted book reports.  I remember how I tried to get out of doing a book report on this particular book I disliked.  Yuck!  So, I waited until the classroom cleared out and went up to talk to Mrs. Valentine (it was a Monday).  I told her I had read the book. She asked me enough questions to satisfy herself that I had indeed read the book.  I then went on to say that I was very sorry, however, I had a lot going on at home and would not be able to do the report.  She just smiled and nodded.  (Whew, that was easy.)
Yea, it’s Friday, hello weekend.  Mrs. Valentine always gave us a send off with “have a wonderful weekend class”.  This Friday I was summoned to her desk after class was dismissed (uh-oh).   “Yes Mrs. Valentine?”  About your book report, dear, you will do your report this weekend and you will bring your report to my home this Sunday at 5:00pm sharp.  Not one minute after, precisely 5:00pm.  Yes, Mrs. Valentine.

Thank you Mrs. Valentine, you knew exactly how to handle me.

Fondly,
Rhonda Wright-Smart

Asti School