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PANTHERS ‘70Issue #6, Winter 2012

The Vista High School Class of 1970 Newsletter

Join your classmates for a Team Panther event, a tour of the Aircraft Carrier USS Midway led by one of our own, Greg Stearns.

The USS Midway is a World War II era ship that, thanks to upgrades, stayed in service for 47 years. Sheʼs been a museum since 2004. This is your chance to go to sea without leaving port. The ship now features over 60 exhibits and 27 aircraft.

Your tour guide for the day will be Greg Stearns. Greg had the honor of serving aboard Midway, not once, but twice during his 20 year Navy career. As a Junior Officer Greg served from 1976 to 1979 with VA-56 “Champions” as a Maintenance Division Officer flying the A-7 Corsair II, a light attack jet. In 1986 Greg returned to Midway as the Operations Officer of Carrier Air Wing Five flying the FA-18A Hornet. During these two tours he amassed over 1400 flight hours and 400 arrested landings (“traps”). Gregʼs unique perspective and his gift for story telling will add color the average visitor to Midway doesnʼt get.

The cost for this is just your admission to the museum ($18 general admission with discounts for 62+, retired military and under 18). You can linger aboard Midway as long as you like to enjoy the self guided tour, flight simulators, short films or just to stand on her flight deck and soak in the view of the San Diego skyline. While there you can enjoy more of the cityʼs downtown attractions. Dining, shopping and other sightseeing opportunities abound in the area.

Space with Greg is limited. If you are interested contact me as soon as possible at HermanSM@aol.com. Iʼll add you to the list and keep you up to date as the event approaches.

USS Midway & San Diego’s skyline

USS Midway TourSaturday, March 17, 2012

10 AM

guided by Greg Stearns

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Meet the Committee

Scott Committee position: Membership! Thinking about one’s life is an interesting exercise. Writing it down for all to see is agonizing. I’m a math guy who possesses only basic writing skills (thank goodness for spell and grammar checks). I’m referred to as an uber-Virgo by a co-worker for my propensity to over organize. I’ve always hidden behind humor. I am comfortable with my friends and uncomfortable in crowds. I tell good stories because I see them in my mind as I talk. I am ferociously loyal, fiercely tenacious and methodical about every task I do. I am a textbook type A personality. In my youth I was sure I was right about everything because it was all black and white. The older I get the more shades of gray I see. That describes me but not my life. How does one best describe a life? Relationships? I’ve been a son, a man and, just recently, a father. I’ve been a brother, a friend and a husband. Perhaps work best defines life? Pilot…wow that was as short list! How about places I’ve lived? Washington, Oceanside, Hawaii, Vista, Hawaii, Vista, Los Angeles, Florida, Texas, The Bay Area, Japan, Bay Area, Oceanside, Fallbrook! Hobbies...models, collecting, theater, golf….what kind of story does this tell? Favorite things: popcorn, Star Trek, Christmas, College football, pets! Music: pop, disco, show tunes, country, oldies! Influences: Dad, Mom, wives, friends, teachers, daughter! This all says something. Let’s see what I can put together in the room I have left. I was born in Bremerton, WA to enlisted parents, a Marine Dad and a Navy Mom. Mom gave up work. My sister came along 2 years later just before we moved to North County the first time. Being a Marine brat meant we changed bases every 3 years. I lived in eight houses before I started high school. I made friends and then we’d move. I became introverted. I became the class clown to hide this and my insecurities. After VHS I went to USC on a Navy ROTC scholarship with another VHS grad, Greg Stearns. Four years later I graduated with a BA in Math, got married and headed off to Navy Flight Training. That took me to both Florida and Texas. Navy flight school is the equivalent of a PhD in flying all compressed into 14 months. Whew! After training I chose to fly the P-3C Orion submarine hunter. I was based in the Bay Area and deployed to Alaska and both Northern and Southern Japan. My final assignment was in Corpus Christi, TX. My six years in the Navy ended when I resigned my commission in 1980 and returned to the Bay Area. The recession made it hard to find work. Eventually I landed a job flying for a trucking company but that wasn’t full time until I’d been out of the Navy for 18 months. Eventually I worked my way up to Chief Pilot. The job was good enough that I actually considered not taking the position with United Airlines when it was offered to me in 1987. I’ve been working for UAL since then. United’s training is in Denver so I began with six weeks there. I’ve flown only Boeing aircraft for United; the Boeing 727-200 (2nd Officer only), B737-300/500 (First Officer only), B757-200 (Captain & FO), B767-200/300 (Capt & FO) and B747-400 (FO only). It’s an odd job and difficult to explain. I’ve seen a lot of amazing places and sights by myself or with people I don’t really know or care about. The schedules can be physically

grueling. But I am happy. Somebody is paying me to do what I love to do, fly airplanes. While still in the Navy I got involved in theater. I’ve performed in over a dozen productions, including 10 musicals. That led to my doing some professional modeling and acting in the Bay Area. For a while I did all Apple technician training videos. That was before I bought my first Mac in ’89. It became difficult to continue this part of my life after I was hired by United. The theater work ended immediately. The rest ended with my move back to North County in ’93. The nearly 8-year span from ’86 to ‘93 was a tumultuous time for me. I changed jobs, swapped hobbies (acting for golf), divorced and met my future wife, Molly. The end of that run was my move back to North County. I moved here mostly to be with my family. My parents still lived in the house off Monte Vista they bought in 1960. That was the house I’d always considered home. My sister and her family lived just a mile from the house I bought in Oceanside. My longest friends, a couple of VHS classmates, Thom Holland and Bruce Wygal lived nearby. Once here, Molly and I began to build our life together. Molly was a flight attendant for Untied I’d met a few years earlier. It took us a while before we dated. Even after moving here it took Molly 5 years before she married me! Molly is the one who got me interested in golf, something that became my passion for 15 years. You can learn a lot about yourself playing golf. Much of what I learned I didn’t like. But the game helped make me better. Molly and I got married almost 14 years ago. We were married where she grew up, Batavia, IL, about 50 miles west of Chicago. Our honeymoon was 2 weeks during which we played 11 different golf courses! In 2000 we bought the home of our dreams, the home where we could raise a family. Two months later all that came crashing down when I had a heart attack. It was mild. If I had any other job I would have returned to work within a week. But as a pilot I was suddenly facing losing my job and never flying again. We put our plans for a family on hold. It took 3 ½ years and 9 angio procedures to get my medical back so I could fly again. In May 2004 I flew my first revenue flight as a Boeing 757/767 Captain for United Airlines. It was from San Diego to Denver. Molly and my Dad sat in First Class, seats 1A & 1B. The rest should be history. But the best was yet to come for me. October 2007 Molly said she was ready to have kids. 9 months later we were the proud parents of a premature, but healthy baby girl, Ruth Louise. I call her ‘Teddy’ as a tribute to my Mom who had passed away just 21 months before. It had been her nickname. I got permission from my Dad to do it. He never got to meet Teddy as he was living in Wisconsin and died just 2 ½ months after her birth. Right now I am as happy as I’ve ever been. Teddy and Molly make each day an adventure. I’ve been involved with this reunion committee since the beginning because Thom organized it. Helping bring our class together is very gratifying. Even though we may not have known each other and a lot of water has passed beneath the bridges of our lives, we all share so very much. Living in that time, in that place bonds us. To a degree, we are all soul mates!

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Introducing Our New Committee MembersYour Reunion Committee has welcomed two new members, Karen McKelvey Ortega

and Frank Smith. The two attended their first meeting February 3rd. That was a dinner meeting held at the new Vista Village restaurant, Mortony’s (the previous home of California Pizza Kitchen).

The meeting was light on business and heavy on chat. Considering the post dinner ice cream at Pepper Tree Frosty, all in all it was a soft (serve) introduction for the new members.

Both Karen and Frank are looking forward to helping with the various duties the committee performs. The rest of us are happy to have them on the team.

New Committee Members

Frank Smith

Karen McKelvey Ortega

Family History, help preserve it for your kids and grandkidsWe are all at that age where we are soon going to be the oldest generation in the family.

Either our parents have already passed or will in the next few years. It is inevitable. All too soon our children will be looking at us the same way. As each generation passes chunks of family history die with them. With the right tools you can preserve at least some of these chunks. Here are a few things to think about.

1) If your parents survive, sit them down in front of a video camera and ask them to tell you all the stories they used to tell you as a kid. You remember, the ones that amazed you, made you laugh or made you sad. The stories that had an impact on you. Have them tell you about their parents and grandparents, what it was like growing up, all the jobs they held and advice they have. Remind them if they need it. Make a list of things you want to hear about before you set them down.

2) Do the same thing with yourselves. Maybe get your kids to write their list of what they want to hear about. Be sure to include stories about them. Take these videos and get someone to burn them to discs for everyone in the family. Don’t forget to save the original file and back it up.

3) If you have or expect to have grandkids...think about giving them a gift they will treasure forever (maybe not when they first get it). I recommend the books “Grandmother Remembers” ($7.98 at Amazon.com) and “Grandfather Remembers” ($13.49 Amazong.com....this is not an endorsement of Amazon and there are other books like these). Each has pages of question about you, your parents and your grandchild’s parent. These would make an excellent gift for Christmas. It will become a priceless heirloom. BTW, if you still have your parents...get them to fill them out also.

Help your children remember their grandparents. Help your grandchildren remember you. You and your parents, your families stories are worth remembering. If you have questions, send me an email.

Kim Hunter Krewson passed away December 20, 2012Classmate Kim Krewson had a heart attack and passed away on December 20, 2011. He is survived by his wife, Cathi, children Kim Jr., Alex and Christie, 9 grandchildren and 6 siblings.

Kim loved his children and adored his grandchildren. They were his life and they made him happy. He was a loving and caring person who tried to help whomever he could. Kim was a happy man, always laughing especially when the kids and grandkids were around. “Grandpa” also kept others laughing by telling the thousands of jokes and stories he had. He enjoyed video games and western movies. He enjoyed most foods although not a big fan of fish. He didn’t do liver at all.

Before coming to Vista Kim lived in different parts of the country because his father was a SgtMaj in the Marine Corps. Kim was the third of eight children, five of them boys and 3 were girls. He is the second of his siblings to pass away, his sister Kevin going before him.

Kim was very athletic growing up. He was into a lot of sports, especially football, basketball & track. When he was 18 Kim was awarded “Boy of the Year” at the Boys and Girls Club of Vista. Later he got into motorcycles. As a Science Fiction and Fantasy fan he eventually he got into collecting wolves, knives, swords and dragons. Ken developed diabetes late in life. As a young man had issues with alcohol and drugs. Christmas Day he would have celebrated 20 years clean and sober. Kim worked in construction.

Kim Krewson & Nova

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2nd Annual 59th Birthday PartySaturday, July 28, 2012

The next reunion event is scheduled for July 28, 2012. This will again be at the home of Joe Free and Kris Petersen. That’s at 960 Quails Trail Road, Vista. It’s the same place our party was last August and the casual night for our 40th. The committee has not yet decided on food and beverage. Because of that, the cost per attendee has not been set.

Woodstock IV Summer Jam setThe annual all year VHS reunion is set for Saturday, July 21, 2012, just a week before our Birthday Party. If you are in town you just might enjoy stopping by. $40/person before April 15th, $50 after. Camping is available. Bands have not yet been announced. For more info check out this Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/events/137670172979333/

Team PantherTeam Panther is all about encouraging classmates to get together. What we share, our home, city and school experience in that time, principally High School, is a strong bond. If you and a classmate or classmates get together for something, whether ordinary or not, please let us know. Just send me a description of the event, the location, who attended along with a brief narrative and I’ll get it into the next newsletter. If you can provide pictures, well, that’s even better. Something like the above Midway tour qualifies.

Interviews on VideoThe interviews conducted for the VHS ’70 Birthday Party live web cam were recorded. 28 classmates participated. Each interview will be edited and published. So far those for Thom Holland and the Schuylers (Susan Hollman & Gary) have been completed. They are available for viewing at our Facebook group, Vista High School - Class of ’70. You can find them with the photos. Each of them is about four minutes long. More will be published in the coming weeks. Keep your eyes open.

Live Web CastWe are planning another streaming webcast of our next reunion event. The coming reunion will be our third year. We expect it to be even better. If you can’t make the party, plan on tuning in and watching the live broadcast of the event. The event page will be http://www.ustream.tv/channel/pantherparty.

159days

that’s 22 weeks or 5 months until the next reunion event: The 2nd Annual 59th Birthday Party for the Vista High School Class of

1970as of February 20, 2012 (event date: July 28, 2012)

Greg Stearns: Treasurer

Aleta Dirdo: Memories Coordinator

Susan Hollman Schuyler: Secretary

Thom Holland: Chairman

Your Reunion Committee

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148 still missing

We are still missing contact information for almost 150 of our classmates. If you know classmates, please talk to them, and see if they are on our mailing list. If not, have them contact me. We want to reach everyone. All information we get is confidential.

Contributors WelcomeThis is your newsletter. Let me know

what you want it to include. If you have an article you think appropriate or a continuing column you would like to see, please let me know.

PANTHERS ‘70Published quarterly. The next one

should be out the end of May 2012.

Scott HermanHermanSM@aol.com

Deceased The following is the complete list of

the 47 members of our class that we have confirmed as no longer with us:

Jay AdamsDavid AllenDiane BonneyMarcel CarbonneauLynne ChamberlainMichael ClinesTom CovingtonFred CraftAlan EstesDeborah FergusonLarry GagnonMichele Garrett DvorchekWanita Godin WellsBobbie Gregory HarveyDeborah HarrisVictoria Hart Harriman

Laurie HaugeDavid HendleyDeborah HowardJimmy HumphriesBrian JepsenMark JepsenDeborah JohnsonGary KimKim KrewsonMargaret LaBarreareBill LowerAnna Lump BridgemanMichael McDonaldThomas MersyJoan Middaugh LindeSteve MixDavid MocnyPamela Monroe McDonaldSteven MuellerCliff NorthwayBarbara OrtegaLynn Parker

Jerry PlunkettIngrid Schroeter CarmichaelLaura ShepardBill SmithJohn SoleAnthony StodgillDavid TaylorChris WeaverPatti Zwierstra Paine

NOTESUpdate Your Contact Info

If you have a change in your contact information, please remember to update your Reunion Committee.

As the Membership guy, you can send any changes in your mailing address, phone number or email address to me directly at HermanSM@aol.com.

Class Web Site & Email Vistahigh70.org has been up for ten

months. Aleta Dirdo designed, executed and is also the administrator for the site.

You’ll find a photo gallery, biographies, a memorial page, the newsletters and a guest book.

Only a handful of you have taken advantage of a @vistahigh70.org email address. I’ve had since the beginning. It’s Scott.Herman@vistahigh70.org. They all use this format. Request yours from me or webmaster@vistahigh70.org.

We continue to add content as we get it. One ongoing project is to locate those class picture pages we used to get in school. You know, the ones with everyone’s picture and one of the teacher on a single page. So far we have eleven. We’d like to get everyone from every class, every school in Vista that our classmates were in. If you have any, please take a look at the site to see if we have it. If we don’t, scan it and send it to us or contact Aleta or myself.

We need more biographies too. 41 classmate bios are posted, 5 posthumously. Please write a short one for yourself.

If you knew any of our deceased and wish to share a story or your thoughts, we would also like to publish them as well.

FacebookWe have a very active group of 170

classmates on Facebook. If you aren’t on Facebook yet or are on and don’t know where to start, try our class Facebook page by searching for “Vista High School - Class of ’70”. There are 99 members of that group, 90 of which are classmates. It is a closed group which means you have to join. Simply “ask to join” and an administrator will authorize it shortly.

We also have a class memorial group (also closed) at “Vista High School, Class of ’70- “Memorial Page.” This group has 84 members, most are classmates.