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Dale Pooley (1978)
Debbie! Oh my goodness ... haven't seen or heard your name in many, many years (probably since you were still in High School or very recently graduated (and I was but an adolescent schoolboy/early teenager maybe starting at John Muir Jr. High (back when they were still called "Junior Highs" and not "Middle Schools" as they typically are today ... but have thought of you and Rick often over the years all the same. You had the cutest face of freckles around. Cute as a bug, you were ... and from your photos posted here I see you remain a stunningly lovely lady. I rememeber the both of you vividly, as I do your wonderful parents. I lived down the street from you and Rick and your folks on Elm Street, and I think you probably babysat for us for a spell when me and my brother were very young. My mom, Anita Pooley —the nurse on the block—even helped you when your waters unexpectedly broke. How's that for a blast from the past? I remember Rick always working on his car on the street in front of your house, and how one time the younger kids on the block rode up to me on their bikes and said there was a "werewolf" working with Rick on his care that day, so I ran down to see what they were talking about: kind of squinted my eyes and looked sideways at this "werewolf" character, and asked him, "Are you Scott Stoner?", and he responded, "Yeah, I'm Scott." And the three of us just laughed. I knew who he was because he was the big brother of my one-time best friend Brett Stoner, whose family had all moved away to Fresno (I believe it was), and I missed them dearly. Anyway ... little bit of reminiscence there.
But I am truly sad to learn of Rick's passing as of today. I remember him fondly, of course, as I do you. I always pointed out the portrait (baseball? foolball? can't remember which it was) of him above the PHS gym doors and proudly declared to my cohorts, "Hey—I KNOW that guy! He's my neighbor down the street! Great guy!"
He likely lived a good life (only you and all those close to him would know; regrettably, I cannot), but nevertheless surely still taken too soon, as so many we know are. I know only that in the brief time that I knew him when I was just a kid down the block, he was a really nice and pleasant fellow. And handsome to boot. I pray he is at peace. And I wish you and your family comfort and all the best. —Dale Pooley
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My brother, Rick Ludwigsen (class of ‘70), passed away on Tuesday, July 19 after a 10 month valiant battle against cancer. He was a loving brother, Uncle, husband, and a great friend. He will be missed by many but is now at rest. Another Viking gone too soon.
Thank you, Johan, for remembering my brother and the special reminders. Alumni from Madison is almost as special as PHS. 
