Steve Larsen (1968)

1:Most memorable:  The so many good friends that we went to school with.  They were Happy Days for sure. The class of 1968 winning Spirit Week all three years of high school.  Paul and Elmers ranks right up there, oh but that wasn't high school was it?

2:Favorite Teacher:  Miss Patricia Ball, History Social Studies.  This quite, unassuming teacher, got me so engaged in History that I even did my homework and  that further to this day I still study history.  God knows we have lived through a lot, the assianation of JFK, the Vietnam War and others since,  The  man on the moon, the destruction of the Berlin Wall, The internet , the attack on the World Trade Center. 
 
3. The stupidest thing.  There were many to say the least, there are two that stand out,  climbing on top of San Leandro High school with fellow classmates,Ken Savino, Tim Musch and Greg Goodhart, in the middle of the night to hang a huge  letter P down from the front entrance, (see page 126 Valllaha 1968).  The other was letting geese loose on the strip and watching SLPD trying to catch them.

Ralph Martin (1967)

.. ...Hey Steve...Paul & Elmers...cruising the Strip on Friday nights (our very own America Graffiti)  most certainly was part of school and maybe the most important part..

Diana Carlton (Smith) (1974)

Question # 1=Favorite Memory 

School Dances

Bill Ross (1974)

#1: Favorite Memory:

In my senior year I had to transfer into Mr. Gustafson's Advanced Algebra and Trig class half way through the school year.  The way the class was supposed to work was that the first semester was advanced algebra and the second semester was supposed to be trig.  Gus blew that off though and spent the entire year on trig so when I transferred in, everyone in the class was already a semester deep into the subject and I was completely lost.  In desperation, I copied Bob Haines' homework everyday so I had something to turn in.  Fortunately, Gus never had a test the entire semester except for the final exam.  That final was the only class I ever cut in high school.  Gus asked Bob where I was and Bob covered for me saying that I had a family emergency.  When we got our grades, Bob got a B and I got an A!  

Don't feel too bad for Bob.  He ended up being a supervising engineer for Lockheed and was assigned to work for NASA at the Goddard Space Center.  I guess I should have learned trig....

#2: Favorite Teacher:

That's a tough one, but of all the great teachers I had at Pacific, I would have to say Mr. Rhodes.  I never had much interest in History or Economics before taking his classes but have been interested in both ever since.

#3 Stupidest Thing:

Not learning trig?  No, I would say not being more involved in social events and quitting sports in my senior year to work part time jobs.  Gunnari told me I was being stupid and I guess he was right.

Bob Booth (1975)

Here are mine Sue:

#1: I really don’t have just one, but all those times with the wrestling team with Mike Remer were good times as I had some good friends there... I actually kept up with wrestling while in the Air Force and for a number of months my job was training for the PAN AM games at Travis Air Force base. Unfortunately I never made it to the Games as I broke my neck on my first day of vacation that year and ended up in the hospital for a month (70 stiches in my head as well, as I fell off into a waterfall near Yosemite, 25 feet down to a flat rock just an inch below water level on the Tualomne river -- a place called Rainbow pools and falls.) But that's another story... Especially about the celebrating I did wth Vic Rogers after I got out of the hospital... :)

#2: Ed (Señor) Urquides... He was such a good teacher and made it fun to learn Spanish. I actually ended up being in Spanish 5 my senior year, which wasn't really a regular class. It was just me and two others that played Scrabble in Spanish, listened to radio broadcasts in Spanish and translated them, and lots of other interesting exercises.

Those lessons paid off as I challenged the Spanish course at Cal State Hayward (now East Bay) and didn't have to take the class after passing the written and oral exams.

To this day I use my Spanish as I manage a sales team in Latin America (I also now speak Portuguese since I need it for Brazil).

#3: Streaking with a big group in my 68 VW Bug… There were a number of us (at least seven of us -- luckily just one other guy and the rest girls) that streaked a steakhouse (I forgot the name -- near Merced St./Wicks Blvd.) and the El Torito (I think back then it was called Tia Maria or something like that...).

When we streaked the Mexican restataurant two girls and I ran up the stairs to the upper balcony overlooking the dining area and raised up our arms and yelled "streakers" while the rest were down below near the entrance doing the same. We then all ran out, but as soon as I got to the car with everyone else in the parking lot I realized I had dropped the car keys and I had to run back inside and up to the balcony again to retrieve them. Talk about embarrassing  :)

Sue Ferreira (Nunes) (1967)

Question # 3   Well I can think of a few but since I can verify this one I tell you about it.. I believe it started with spending the night with a girl friend so we talked all night and then went to Bay Fair Bowling for the Senior Breakfast which wasnt much fun so a bunch of us went over to Prings and then to school,, Well I stayed awake till 5th period Shorthand which I wasnt good at anyway and decided to take a nap

Sue Ferreira (Nunes) (1967)

It's Wednesday time for Question # 4,,,

Whats one thing you know now that you wish you knew in High School ???

Tom Brody (1969)

WHAT I WISH I KNEW IN HIGH SCHOOL.   This is to answer Question #4 from Sue Ferreira:  "What's one thing that you know now that you wish you knew in high school???"

First answer:  Dear Tom belonging to the years 1967 to 1969, it is a fine thing to be interested in a biochemistry major, but it will be a bad idea to have a biochem major, and an even worse thing to do your senior undergraduate project on vitamin biochemistry, and it will be a disasterous idea to do your graduate school work in vitamin biochemistry.   Don't do that, Mister Thommy-Whommy, because the field of vitamin biochemistry research will almost totally vanish soon.  It will vanish for three reasons.  First, by 1980, all of the vitamins will have been discovered and all of their functions will have been discovered, and so there won't be any jobs for you.  Second, during the 1980's, most fields of biochemistry will have been replaced by molecular biology.  And third, your graduate school (Dept. of Nutrition at U.C. Berkeley) will have failed to provide you with any job skills.  And so, don't do it, no, no, no."

Second answer:  Dear Mister Thommy-Whommy of the years 1967-1969, well it is fine and dandy to think of a biochemistry major, but if you persue this major and eventually get a job in a pharmaceutical company, you will be faced with frequent lay-offs.  That is what will happen to you a few times in the years 1985 to 2019.  Pharma companies have lay-offs or they just shut down completely, whenever they are not able to acquire funding or when the FDA refuses to approve one of their drugs.  And so, you should major in mechanical engineering or perhaps materials science.  Companies that need mechanical engineers or materials science majors never have layoffs whenever their drugs are refused by the FDA, because this type of company does not develop new drugs.

Bill Statler (1969)

FAVORITE TEACHER

Totally agree with Tom Brody about Robert Shayler. I struggled with math for virtually all my school career. But I had Mr. Shayler for advanced algebra my junior year, and actually got an A in the last semester. This was the last math class I ever took (high school or college); but it must have served me well, because my career as city finance director for over 30 years and now 10 years as a consultant, kinda use a lot of numbers. :)  Stated simply, he was an engaging teacher in a subject that many (including me) did/do not find engaging.      

And of course, while I didn't make the Mendocino trip, I totally remember our excursion to the GG Park panhandle and James Mackenzie's apartment in the Haight Ashbury. He also got me involved in Eugene McCarthy's presidential campaign. So, in many ways, a big, positive influence in my life.

But I would be remiss if I didn't mention two other outstanding teachers:

Carolyn Federighi: While numbers were/are a big part of my career, so is being able to write about them for elected officials, community and staff in an understandable way. And for that skill, I largely credit her. (Interestingly enough, we both we went on to public service: she was a planning commissioner, council member and mayor in Lafayette.)

Ward Bond: I had the pleasure of being in a number of shows at PHS, including the The Mouse that Roared (my first show as a Sophomore at PHS), the Curious Savage, The Music Man and the Male Animal. Mr Bond made this both a disciplined (he was a former Marine!) and fun experience. And believe it or not, the experience went onto be a big part of my career as well, in being able to present numbers in an understandable (and perhaps entertaining) way.

Lastly, while I learned skills that held me in good stead, I think the thing that also links these three together is that they also built character and values.

In short, all three of these teachers (as many did and still do) made a difference in my life and I'm sure on many others.

- Bill

Clifford Nannini (1967)

Bill, If any of us need to convince our grand kids of the values to be gained in high school, your post should be most helpful. I'm happy to hear the seeds planted in PHS bore such a fruitful career. Thanks for sharing your story.

Sue Ferreira (Nunes) (1967)

It's Wednesday time for Question # 5 

What do you miss most about San Leandro, thats not there any more  besides Pacific High??

Joseph Bustos (1962)

mario polvarosa

David M. Bunday (1965)

Castro brothers pool hall, it was on Washington Ave, across the street from Pelton center. 

Floyd Michaelson (1967)

I really miss cruising the Strip on Friday and Saturday nights. Anyone else? 

Me !!! 

Sue Ferreira Nunes

Diana Carlton (Smith) (1974)

The Mutt Hut, Piper's, Redbarn and Mings were places I ate.  I also remember JC Penny's and shoe store next to it I think it was Thom McAn's, Use to go shopping and eat out when I was just a kid becase my mom owned Carlton's beauty shop on East 14th and Juana, And everyone must remembers Prings. And Bayfair Mall was outdoors mall and right next to it was the skating rink where I took lessons for 6 years and they even had a swimming pool in the back. Does anyone remember that? Oh yes, What about Bayfair drive in movies?  Who went there? Cardinal Lounge which then changed to Boggies was a hot spot with live bands.

Tom Brody (1969)

This is to respond to the question from  Sue Ferreira, "It's Wednesday time for Question #5.  What do you miss most about San Leandro, that's not there any more, besides Pacific High??"    That is a perfect question because I regularly take fond nostalgic drives on East 14th Street.   Every month my wife and I drive from Alameda to Chabot Park, and we always park on Lake Chabot Road near the marina.  After doing our ten mile walk around the lake, I drive back home by way of East 14th Street, and I always say, "This is the land that time forgot."   I say this because I'm glad that it is still substantially the same as during the 1960's (Music Unlimited is still there, hey ! hey ! hey !).   The East 14th Street that we grew up with is much the same (and not overrun with Staryucks and not overrun with Apple computer stores). 

What do I miss? 

(1)  Pring's; 

(2) The house where I first kissed a girl. This house was on Davis Street near the intersection with Orchard Avenue.  Her initials are A.A.  The house was torn down and replaced with a Boy Scouts of America building; 

(3) The building on Estudillo where my father had his medical practice.  The building has been converted to an apartment house; 

(4) The fast food place (Jack In The Box, or Wendy's, or Burger King, or Red Barn, can't remember) on East 14th Street, where my rock'n'roll band played, during a battle of the bands concert.  For this event, the judges pulled up an automobile, and listened to each band.  We played a song by Moby Grape. The place was somewhere between O'Reilly Auto and Harry's Hofbrau.  But this particular fast-food place is gone; 

(5)  BAL THEATER.   I think that it now used for live events, and not much for movies.  At the BAL MOVIE THEATER, I saw these movies:  Spy Who Came In From the Cold; Thunderball; and John Goldfarb Please Come Home.  I went to one or two of these movies with a boy from my rock'n'roll band, Jerry Brown.

(6)  OUTDOOR DRIVE-IN MOVIE THEATER at BAYFAIR MALL.  At this movie theater, I saw the Dumbo cartoon.  I remember my girlfriend in the passenger seat, shedding some tears when Dumbo was taken away from his mother.  Also, at this drive-in, I saw The Jungle Book cartoon.  Also, at this drive-in I saw a movie "MAYA" starring Jay North.  

(7)  SLOT CAR TRACK.  There was a slot car track in the Bonaire district, probably on Farnsworth Street.   Fellow student, Bruce Williams (1963) mentioned a slot car track on East 14th Street.  I have no idea if the slot car track in the Bonaire district is really gone (since I didn't check), but I did race my slot car there, and I have no doubt that this track is gone.

(8)  The shopping center at Marina Faire.  We lived in Marina Faire during my years at John Muir Jr. High School and at Pacific High. The biggest store in that shopping center was Safeway.  But now we find, NEW SANG CHONG MARKET, Pearl Bay Tea House, TUT TAI TAKOUT,  Ming's Donuts, HANOI CHICKEN NOODLE, and Wei Asian Cultural dance company.   Last year, I went into New Sang Chong Market (it used to be Safeway).  As I wandered around the aisles (and hearing various languages spoken by the customers, but not English or Spanish), I realized that something small had been taken away from me.  Perhaps, this explains the fact that, in the past couple of months, I've watched Clint Eastwood's GRAN TORINO at least twenty times.  Well, at least the Monument to the Portuguese Immigant is still in downtown San Leandro.

Bruce Williams (1963)

#5 answers...

WOW! What a huge question. Being as old as the dirt in San Leandro allows me ancient memories. I miss the uncrowded, less developed San Leandro.

The empty field where the shepherd grazed his sheep (became a Westinghouse plant).

The tomato field on Doolittle drive (they allowed the locals to gleen when they finished their harvesting).

Exploring the creeks and waterways.

Walking to the Marina @ night in the dense fog - almost eerie.

Summer Music Workshop at Bancroft Jr. High. And walking from there to the drug store for a vanilla coke, or some other treat (Woolworths I think).

The race track where BayFair went in.

The slot car track on E14th.

Piper's smorgasboard restaurant and the pull apart "mokey bread" they served.

Pring's of course, and cruising E14th.

The Del Mar theater.

Many more locked in my memories.

A GREAT place to grow up!

I apoligize if some of the names are wrong - did I mention being old.

Donna Bohrer-Abbott (Mayfield) (1963)

Miss the Del Mar and Bal Theatres, The Drive-In Movies and cruising the Strip on Friday and Saturday nights.

Bill Aimonetti (1974)

What do I miss most about San Leandro?  Great question.

I remember the little Mom & Pop store next to Thrasher Park, Peruchina's.  Mr. Peruchina was a really nice guy and I thought his wife was so beautiful (major kid-crush).  We stopped by there often walking home from St. Leander's school or after playing at Thrasher Park.

Also, I miss San Leandro Bowl.  It was a little 8 lane place on East 14th St. near Davis.  My friends and I used to go there often.  I remember being there at open bowling when somebody came to our lane and asked us to stop bowling for a while because the guy two lanes over was one frame away from a perfect game.  He ended up getting the 300 game.  Needless to say he was really excited.

Rick Webb (1976)

This is to answer question number 5, What do I miss about San Leandro that is no longer there?

I miss the ability to live in town I grew up in and feel my wife and I would be safe from crime.  I miss that my kid, if she wanted to, could live there and have a child of her own, and send her little one to the schools of San Leandro and feel that she would get a good education, as we once did.

And a bit less serious but still worthwhile: I miss holidays in Marina Faire.  At Halloween, the streets there would be full of kids coming and going for trick-or-treat - and the candy and the costumes were awesome.  I lived on a corner lot there, and I recall looking out my bedroom window down Santiago Road, and seeing every home lit up for Christmas.

Ralph Martin (1967)

By golly gee...reading all them there responses made me feel all warm and fuzzy insiding.... bringing tears of joy to my eyes...Living in Arizona I miss my Family & Friends that I shared growing up with in San Leandro Kalifornia..Pacific High was & is the glue that keeps us together...Lil Ralphie Martin

John Michael Benavidez (1968)

Ralph Martin (1967)

I also can remember Rock & Roll at the Roller Skating Rink on the strip as well as the 2 places in Hayward that was popular with the H.S. crowd,,,one was above a tire/muffler shop & the other somewhere downtown Hayward....

what was the name of the Band that played above the tire shop?

Leslie Lamata (Costa) (1970)

Yes, miss the strip. Paul & Elmers burgers etc. Quarter Pound hamburgers. How about the 5th Wheel?

Ralph Martin (1967)

..Waving my hand to Janice Calderia thanking you for reminding me of the "Penthouse & Cisiro's" in Hayward where Rock & Roll was happening Wall to Wall upstairs above the Tire Shop...there also was "Frenchy" I think located the other side of Hayward...Bruce Holmes/Bruce McDonald/Mark.  & one other Viking  played there .