Providence High School Class of 1959: January 2009

THE PIONEERS

THE PIONEERS

We are the Pioneers because we were the first. We started school in tents due to the steel strike in 1955. We were the only class - all freshmen, then in the following years, always the upperclassmen. Because we were such a small class, we all knew one another. We chose the school colors, uniform, and wrote our alma matter. We published the first yearbook and named it "Esprit" for our sense of spirit. And we were the first class to celebrate a 50th reunion - still the Pioneers. How wonderful to reminisce and reconnect with one another!

PHS 50 YEAR SCHOLARSHIP FUND

PHS 50-YEAR CLUB SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Following our 50-year class reunion in March 2009, the class of '59 gifted Providence High School with a special scholarship fund to be used for financially-needy students. This fund is called: PHS 50-Year Club Scholarship Fund. This fund will last in perpetuity as long as we, and other classes as they reach the 50-year anniversary of their graduations, continue to contribute to it. If you are able and willing to contribute to our alma mater, will you please designate "PHS 50-Year Scholarship Fund" as the payee on your check or credit card gift. With our assistance the scholarship will go on forever -- and the Class of 1959 will always be remembered.

Saturday, January 31, 2009

An Inteview with Beverly Hoeschen Holtzman

In 1959, Beverly was interested in studying interior design, and was awarded a scholarship to the prestigious Art Center School in Los Angeles. However, her mother determined that she should have a liberal arts education. Consequently, she attended Glendale College and Univ of San Diego. Returning to Los Angeles, she became an editorial writer for a local newspaper. Her writing career included ghost and technical writing for several national trade publications. As she became more involved in editing, she liked the art aspect of printing, and worked for several advertising agencies in New York and LA . She was the print production manager for several companies, including the Capitol Record Club and the Hollywood Reporter. In her mid 40's she married Marvin Holtzman, who was also in the printing business. Marvin was an aficionado of the "Old West" and they retired to Las Cruces NM. Martin succumbed to cancer about five years ago. Beverly has successfully combatted one bout of cancer, but has some other health issues. With that caveat, she hopes to be able to attend the Reunion.

POSTED BY THE REUNION COMMITTEE

Rose-Marie Alcocer Bearden

...I guess it time to do my bio.
Rose-Marie (Alcocer) Bearden - Born 9/29/41, left my mother in 1960 and went to my "other mother", Max Tracy Bearden, on 9/24/60. Max is a good man and we're still together. We have 4 children: Robert ('62), wife Renata, Cristina ('64) husband Brian, Rebecca ('66) husband Gary and Taft ('69) wife Kim. Our grandchildren number 5: Erin (25 - Robert's), Carmelina (11) & Maya (7) - Cristina's), Elizabeth (7) & Max (4) - Taft's). Our children and "in-laws" are good people, don't ask for money (not often anyway) and enjoy our company. Our grandchildren are all good looking and all are "above average".
Max retired from Continental Telephone Company and the Nevada National Guard 10 years ago and I retired 5 years ago. When we were living in Yerington, Nevada (for about 15 years) Max came home one day and asked if I wanted a job, I say "what the heck, I have 4 kids and I need something to do". Then began my life in escrow, a real estate agent's worst nightmare! I worked in escrow in Nevada, Washington and back to Nevada for a total of about 25 years (more or less). I retired as an escrow officer, some ask if I miss the work - in a word "Hell No!" Max and I moved to Boise, Idaho, after retirement.
Our sons live in Boise and thought it would be a good idea if we moved to Boise too, be careful for what you wish, I said. Boise has been wonderful. Max plays french horn and has been playing his little heart out. I'm having fun with new friends, book club, volunteering at the museum, traveling around with friends (and sometimes Max), planning Max's annual Mozart's birthday party, and having Elizabeth and Max for "sleep over's". We visit Carm and Maya in Denver 2 or 3 times a year and have a great time. Our lives have been filled with family and friends, we have been very fortunate.
I think, now and then, of the things Providence High School has given me. I did not go to college but my love of the written word was given to me by Sister Esther, some of my love of music from Sister Cecilia Mary, Sister Marie Therese gave me "social oil", I am most grateful to them. Thanks to the sisters, I do not apply make-up in public and NEVER chew gum in public! Best regards and see you in March!

POSTED BY ROSE-MARIE ALCOCER BEARDEN

Kathy Thesing Ramdin

After graduation Paula Powell and I boarded the train north to begin our college adventure and briefly became Spartans at San Jose State. Our paths separated and I went to Mexico City College and Seattle U. (a Jesuit co-ed school---I think I was looking for someplace safe) leaving with a BA in English and a teaching certificate. I became a "Valley Girl" again, attempting to teach 8th graders in Woodland Hills. In 1965 I married Ken Ramdin who I met in college from Trinidad in the West Indies (I think I was looking for someone exotic). We moved to Saint Louis MO. I taught high school while Ken got a Master's Degree in Social Work. In the 70's we settled in suburbia (Rancho Bernardo, a planned community in San Diego). We raised our children, Peter and Leela, and did the usual----coached sports teams, forced the children to go to CCD and went to lots of neighborhood parties. A plus was my parents' move to nearby Escondido. I returned to school and became a landscape designer. We have four grandsons---ages 7 to 3, who we enjoy for limited periods of time. Since Ken's retirement (much too early) we have been semi- vagabonding. We backpacked through Europe with Eurorail passes (about 30 years later than most people) for two and a half months. We toured around the US for five months. Liking the Desert Southwest, we moved to Chandler AZ (We were looking for something different......but it's a dry heat)! We experimented with the "simple" life for nine months (without electricity or paved roads) living in our one room cabin on the Sea of Cortez, south of San Felipe in Baja CA ,and recently wandered around the Southern Hemisphere visiting some beautiful South Pacific Islands, New Zealand and Australia . Returning to San Diego, we try to maintain. I still love to take classes: French 101, Ceramics 100 (both 3 times) and Yoga for years. I've discarded macrame for my new hobby---making friends in the wine aisle @ Trader Joe's and getting advice on value oriented (cheap) wines. I'm very grateful for my family, friends and all these healthy years...looking forward to our reunion. With the words of the Spanish toast, I wish you "Salud, dinero y amor, y tiempo para gustarlos". (Health, money and love, and time to enjoy them)

POSTED BY KATHY THESING RAMDIN

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Mary Jo Livingston Kinney

As a committee member for planning our 50^th reunion, lots of good memories are being recalled. I remember our graduation ceremony at the Starlight Bowl, feeling elated, and thinking I was on top of the world !

That fall, I enrolled at San Diego State College as a Home Economics major. After a year, I returned home and worked as a bookkeeper for Security Pacific Bank while I planned my April, 1961 wedding to Mike Kinney. We honeymooned in Yorktown, VA for six months, while Uncle Sam stationed Mike at Ft. Eustis. Then, JFK extended Mike's duty for one year because of the Berlin Crisis……..

Son Jim was born in 1962 and daughter Peggy was born the next year. We bought the house next door to my parents, and really appreciated the love and helpfulness of my mom and dad. After five years, we out grew the house and moved from North Hollywood to Sierra Madre. (adjacent to east Pasadena) This is a unique little town of 12,000 people, nestled in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. Mike and I have volunteered with many organizations.

I took classes at Pasadena City College, and finally got my AA degree at the age of 43. In addition, I managed the small office for Mike's electrical, motor control business. After 13 years of "work place togetherness", I found an accounting position at Santa Anita Race Track.

Since I was still yearning to get my college degree, I enrolled in the University of Redlands' satellite program for working adults. Finally, at the age of 51, I got my BA in Business Management. Yeah !

My career at Santa Anita made 20 years fly by. I retired last year to spend more time with family and friends. For enjoyment, I like photography, reading, and 7 a.m. lap swimming.

Son Jim (46) lives in San Diego, and Peggy (45) lives in Agoura Hills. My three grand sons (15, 5 and 3) make me a very "gooey grandma". Camp Kinney sessions at our house are a tradition and exhaustingly fun !

I value my Providence friendships, and look forward to our reunion when we can weave together our memories of more than 50 years!

See you in March----

Mary Jo Livingston Kinney

POSTED BY MARY JO LIVINGSTON KINNEY

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Margarita Acosta

I remember that Margarita was a National Merit Scholarship Winner and I was very impressed when I found out later that she was in the top 1% of tested Seniors.

I also have a funny memory. Margarita convinced me to join a group called THE FIGHTING 69ers. It was for young women who would pledge to uphold the principles of the 6th and 9th commandments. Joiner that I am, I signed on and became a card carrying member until Tom Wright found the card in my wallet and MADE me REMOVE it IMMEDIATELY. I had to wait for the reason why. I don't want to offend anyone, but that is a true story. Does anyone else remember or admit to being a member of that little organization?--- Devi Savitt Bellows

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Margarita was one of six who entered the order of the Sisters of Charity of Providence a few months after high school graduation, and she was the only one who did not eventually leave the order. In 1963, before she finished college, she was called to teach biology, chemistry and Latin at Providence Academy in Vancouver. The following year she returned to Providence Heights College of Sister Formation to finish her BA and obtain grade and high school teacher certification. During the next 10 years she taught at schools in Washington and Burbank, California. In 1975 she chose to explore her writing abilities by joining the Public Relations Office of the Sisters of Providence health care corporations. She eventually became a writer and photographer for the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Seattle, all the while developing a growing interest in health planning and administration. In the early 80s Sr. Margarita received a Master’s degree in public health from Yale University, with a specialty in hospital administration, planning, marketing and finance. She was always interested in current events and the plight of the poor. In the mid '90s Sr. Margarita was diagnosed with leukemia and eventually underwent a stem cell transplant. She passed away about 2 months after the procedure. Her funeral service was at the same facility where she entered the novitiate a few decades before, and her pall bearers were 6 other Sisters of Providence.--- Carol Lex Tanner

Marcia Adams Henry

Marcia was the third of five children in her family. Her brother, Michael, who became a priest, was the only boy. She came to PHS from St. Robert Bellarmine Parish in Burbank. After graduation she became a stewardess with United Airlines, based in San Francisco.
Marcia married Hal Urban, who was a basketball star at USF. They had three boys: Daniel, Mark and Michael. After a divorce, she continued to live in the Bay Area and married Larry Henry. She was the Executive Secretary for the Director of the SF Bay Area March of Dimes Foundation. She died on New Year's Eve of a massive coronary while driving a car.

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Marcia's mother's nickname, "Sunny" could easily apply to her, also....the outgoing, friendly manner, often with her cohort, Mary Baedeker.... with twinkly eyes and ready for fun! --- Kathy Thesing Ramdin

Patt Collette Scannell

I am blessed to have had Patt for my close friend for almost 50 years. We met the first day of school at PHS and our friendship continued until she died.
Patt was one of the most positive people I have ever known. She was very smart though she did poorly in school, but she worked hard and never gave up. She used to tell me that she had trouble reading, that things did not make sense to her; she found out many years later that she was dyslexic.
She raised three wonderful children pretty much single-handedly, and suffered poor health for many years. In spite of her hardships, Patt always found the silver lining. When she was going through chemo for her cancer, she told me she looked forward to chemo days, because she met many nice people and it gave her a chance to socialize; she thought maybe she even helped cheer people up sometimes. I am sure she did - MANY times. She was a person of great faith and it never waivered. She smiled far more than she frowned and she loved to laugh. She also loved Providence. Often she told me that her 4 years at PHS were among her happiest memories. How she loved to reminisce!
About 5 months before she died, she called us. We had moved to Alaska by that time. She called to say goodbye. She was very close to my husband, Peter, as well, and she wanted to talk with both of us. She told us that she thought she would not make it through the night and she wanted us to know that she was ready and that it was ok, and that she loved us and we were not supposed to be sad; she was going to a better place and she'd always "be around" watching us. It was very hard to hang up the phone, and of course, we cried.... the next day, we received another phone call. It was Patt. Her opening words "I'm back!" and she was laughing. It seems that there was an insulin problem and she was in fact, dying. Fortunately they discovered what went wrong and brought her back. That gave us an opportunity to see her one more time and talk with her on the phone often; we "heard" the smiles in her voice. I know she will be with us for our reunion; she wouldn't miss it!
These photos reflect her wonderful smile. The last one was taken at our final visit with her, less than four months before she died. We had a wonderful visit, filled with laughter and those reminiscences---Carol Rando Irsfeld

Dianne Dvorak

Dianne Marie Dvorak was born October 21 1941 in Cleveland Ohio. Beginning in grade school, Roller-skating developed into a lifelong passion. Dianne won many competitions and awards figure skating and dancing with a partner. The Dvorak family relocated to Southern California during Dianne's High School years.
After graduation from Providence H.S. Dianne started a family. Always a working mother, she sought out paid work that could be done from home until her children, Cheyenne and Brian reached school age. After twelve years of employment at United Recording Electronics Industries, Dianne moved with her family to Pollock Pines in the Sierra Nevada Foothills of Northern California.
After a divorce and a second marriage, Dianne embraced a rural lifestyle. At one point, using the telephone required driving down an unpaved road and climbing a telephone to get onto a party line ala the television sitcom Green Acres. While helping her husband to run his construction business, she and the family raised pigs on their land.
After a second divorce, Dianne continued to enjoy an outdoor lifestyle when she acquired her own ten acre property. After seeing a flyer advertising a fund raising bike ride for breast cancer, Dianne participated in a ride that sparked a love for cycling. She enjoyed dating, taking weekend road trips and took great pleasure in making many beautiful quilts that she intended to be her loving legacy to her family.
After a mastectomy in 1988, Dianne continued to live with cancer, going into and out of remission until her death in May 1994.

Frances Nairn Hansen

Soon after graduation, Frances married, had a son and moved to Philadelphia. After a short, unhappy time, she divorced and returned to North Hollywood CA, her former home, and worked as a supermarket checker. Her husband, Raymond, tells the following story: After a stint in the Navy, Raymond was hired as a box boy at the same market as Frances. When he was being shown around the store, he saw Frances coming down the stairs. He said to himself: that's the girl for me!.....He found his soul mate. They married, raised three boys and had 37 years together. She developed a brain tumor, battled for a year before the end on November 17, 2003. She will be rememered fondly for her quiet manner and sweet smile.

Janet Opperman Correa

Obituary from Lancaster Eagle Gazette (Ohio)

Janet Esther Opperman Correa, age 74, went home to be with the Lord on December 12, 2016. She is preceded in death by her loving husband, Arthur Correa and grandson, John Joseph. She is survived by her children, Dean, Melanie, Darren, and Terah; grandchildren, Avree, Skylar, Riley, Lucas; and siblings, Jack and Jean. Janet was a lover of genealogy, photography and most importantly her family. She was the greatest wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend who will be deeply missed.

THE PIONEERS

50TH REUNION

PHS 50 YEAR SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Saturday, January 31, 2009

An Inteview with Beverly Hoeschen Holtzman

Rose-Marie Alcocer Bearden

Kathy Thesing Ramdin

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Mary Jo Livingston Kinney