SANTA CRUZ HIGH ALUM ANNOUNCEMENT

SANTA CRUZ HIGH PEP BAND '54-'55

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IVANO SAYS: Bring on the Band! Len Klempnauer, SCHS Class of '54, makes the following announcement:

KTEH-TV, the PBS channel in San Jose, will spotlight the Santa Cruz High School Class of 1954 in its next edition of "This Is Us," a show featuring interesting people within the station's viewing area.The Class of ‘54 segment will be telecast on Sunday, May 31, at 6 p.m. Since January 2000, the ‘54ers have been getting together every month for dinner or lunch, and KTEH was interested in finding out why they have remained so close for more than five decades.KTEH sent a four-person crew to interview the local grads on Feb. 25 at the DeLaveaga Park Golf Lodge restaurant. The TV staff circulated among the diners to “eavesdrop” on their conversations during the lunch and interviewed seven individually who had varying interests while teenagers:o Nick Pagnini of Zayante, one of two Class of ’54 board surfers before the days of wetsuits and fiberglass boards.o Nancy Jellison of Santa Cruz, a teenage carhop at the Cross Roads, a local drive-in diner in the Fifties, who married after her junior year but remained in school to earn her diploma.o Chuck Filice of Salinas, a three-sport letterman and All-Coast Counties Athletic League (CCAL) selection in football and baseball.o Ruth Mitchell of Santa Cruz, a topnotch female beach volleyball player when the sport was virtually unknown outside Hawaii and Southern California.o Dick Lippert of Carmichael, a hot rod enthusiast noted for his lead foot and outracing local gendarmes.o Cookie Ruschin of San Jose, an outstanding actress who was invited to the Pasadena Playhouse high school drama tournament in her senior year.o Len Klempnauer of Capitola, class president who was instrumental in getting the monthly get-togethers started.Also scheduled to be interviewed but unable to attend were Lorraine Voight of Santa Cruz, a ‘54 cheerleader, who was ill, and Rod Jensen of Aptos, a top scholar and recipient of a full-ride NROTC scholarship, who was away on business.In addition to the seven interviewed, 40 more classmates, spouses, guests and members of other SCHS classes attended the February lunch.A total of 118 different members of a class numbering about 265 have attended one or more of the informal monthly affairs over the years.*****Of course Chuck Filice and Nick Pagnini are Italian-Americans. Chuck's uncle owned and operated the Anchor Bar on Pacific Avenue and Nick's father owned and operated Roy's Market in Felton for years.I received a preview DVD of our part of the one-hour show (we're on for seven minutes), and a lot of still photographs are used as backgound shots, including the one attached of the SCHS Pep Band that was published in our '54 Cardinal yearbook. Most of Pep Band members were in your Class of '55.

-Len-

LA NOSTRA COSTA STORY CONTINUES - ANDREW ROUBAL

Andrew Roubal

Andrew and Ivano at the Capitola Bookstore and Cafe (2007)

BTW: Andrew is wearing his Great-Grandfather Bronco's hat. Nice fit Andrew.

THE PRESIDENT AND FACULTY

OF

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, FULLERTON

ANNOUNCE THAT

ANDREW JOHN ROUBAL

IS A CANDIDATE FOR THE DEGREE OF

BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS

IN MUSICAL THEATRE

AT THE

UNIVERSITY COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES

SATURDAY, MAY TWENTY-THIRD, TWO THOUSAND AND NINE

EIGHT O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING

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Ivano says: Andrew is the Great Grandson of Bronco and Valentina and Louie and Enes Moro. He is the son of Christine and Louie Roubal and the Grandson of Giovanni (John) Primo and Donna Comelli. And of course, he is my Great Nephew.

Andrew is doing Summer Stock Theatre at Cabrillo this summer. He plans to leave shortly thereafter, for The Big Apple, New York. Appearing on Broadway is in his plans for the future. Congratulations and Buona Fortuna, Andrew. Bronco and Valentina would have been most proud of you. Sempre Avanti. Ivano

A GHOST STORY BY ANON FURLANA

In a little Friulian Village, circa 1920 (when poor people did not have electricity), something spooky was going on in the family home. In the attic of their house a frightful noise was heard late at night. Because it was very dark up there, no one had the courage to into the attic to check out the noise. In the daytime they did check it out by climbing a wooden ladder that led to the ceiling attic door. They looked around and found everything in perfect order. The corn, potatoes, beans and many other things that the family kept in storage were still there. Nothing was stolen. This frightened them to no ends. They began thinking that demonic spirits had inhabited their attic.

The Reverend Monsignor from a neighboring village was called upon to perform a special ritual to bless the house and to clear it of the demons. This did not help. Late at night the demons continued to do their thing in the attic.

Sadly, the family decided that they had enough of the late night noises. They put the house up for sale. Thinking that they would have a hard time selling the place because of the ghosts in their attic, they listed it for sale at a very reasonable price.

To their surprise a person from their village met their price and bought the house. The family moved out and (surprise-surprise) the demons in the attic were never heard of again.

The question in the village then was: were there actually ghosts up in that there attic or was it "he who had bought the house" the mischief maker?

Many believed that the wise guy buyer had snuck into the house after dark and made all those rattling sounds in the attic. Thus, they said, he bought himself a very nice Friulian house at a very reasonable price.

"Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!"

Anon Furlana

AMICA DELLA COSTA DOLLY GREGORY - REMEMBERED

Services will be Monday and Tuesday for Dolly Gregory who passed away peacefully on May 11, 2009 surrounded by her loving family.
Dolly was born in San Francisco, CA on February 9, 1920, the daughter of Anita and Dan Demos. She grew up in Davenport. After graduating from Santa Cruz High School, Dolly Demos married her childhood friend, Alvin Gregory on December 1, 1940. Together they created a loving home for their children, Leon and Eleanor. Dolly and her late husband Alvin, together with Alvin's brother, Francis and his wife, Hazel owned and operated Gregory's Country Store for 30 years.
Dolly was an active member of the Davenport community. In her earlier years she participated in the 4-H sewing and cooking classes led by Mrs. Elsie Collins, a beloved native Hawaiian teacher. She was a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Altar Society and the Sewing Club and she created countless mouth watering desserts for the numerous Improvement Club card parties and the Davenport Volunteer Fire Department Dances.
Dolly took special pride in creating a warm and friendly atmosphere in her home. She designed and made drapes, cushions, flower arrangements and other decorative items. Dolly and Alvin shared a special and loving marriage for 66 years. They enjoyed a rich array of activities including folk and square dancing, travel abroad, church events and working on the Davenport/Coast Road Reunion Committee. They were very proud to have been interviewed for the Davenport Coast Road History Project, which was organized by Alverda Orlando.
Art and all things creative defined the soul of Dolly's world. She especially loved oil painting, had a one woman show and was elected to a lifetime membership in the Santa Cruz Art League. Whatever she touched became special and unique: from planting a garden, to cooking for the family, to frosting a cake; she had a special artistic way of swirling the icing.
Dolly is survived by her son, Leon D. Gregory of Santa Cruz, daughter Eleanor O'Connor and her husband, Jack of Petaluma and her grandson, Matthew Schmitka of Petaluma. She is also survived by her loving brother Alvin Demos and his wife, Mary of Hollister. She was preceded in death by her husband, Alvin V. Gregory in 2007 and her brothers, Mike, Andy and Anthony. She will be missed by her many nieces, nephews and cousins.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 126 High St., Santa Cruz, CA Tuesday May 19, 2009 at 11:00 am. A vigil prayer service will be held at Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel, 1050 Cayuga St, Santa Cruz, CA Monday May 18, 2009 at 7:00 pm. Visitation will be at the chapel on Monday from 1:00 pm until service time. Entombment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, 2271 7th Ave, Santa Cruz, CA.

Remembrance first published in the Santa Cruz Sentinel: www.santacruzsentinel.com

FIGLIO DELLA COSTA RICHARD RAFFIN REMEMBERED

THE LNOSTRA-COSTA BLOG IS A WONDERFUL THING. THROUGH IT I HAVE MADE CONTACT WITH JENNIFER RAFFIN FOUST, THE DAUGHTER OF RICHARD RAFFIN. IT WAS JENNIFER WHO SENT ME RICHARD'S REMEMBRANCE PUBLISHED BELOW.

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RICHARD F. RAFFIN

Winfield Daily Courier
SAN DIEGO –Richard F.Raffin , 59, longtime resident of San Diego, died unexpectedly Aug. 14, 2003.
A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Sacred Heart Church, 655 C Ave., Coronado, Calif. Cremation has taken place. A private family service will be held later.
A memorial has been established with Sherman Heights Community Center, 2260 Island Ave., San Diego, CA 92102.
Raffin was born Aug. 18, 1943, in Santa Cruz, Calif., to Norma (Rocchi) and Federico Raffin. He attended schools in the Santa Cruz area.
In 1961 he moved to San Diego when he joined the U.S. Navy. After eight years of service, he settled permanently in San Diego. He was employed in dining services at the University of California.
Survivors include two daughters, Janell Maria Tatum, Burden, Ks, and Jennifer Renee Foust, Winfield, Ks ; their mother, Judy Patterson, Winfield Ks; a brother, Peter Raffin, San Jose, Calif; and six grandchildren.

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IVANO SAYS: As I write in my book, (LNC: P. 290), Richard was just three years old in 1947, when one of the most tragic incidents in the LA Nostra Costa Story occurred. Richard's father, Federico Raffin, shot and killed his wife (Richard's mother), Norma (Rocchi) Raffin. Richard's older brother Peter, who is still living, was just 10 years old at the time. Jennifer has agreed to partner with me in writing follow-up articles about this tragic event. The articles will be published on the LNostra-Costa Blog. Thanks, Jennifer.

TOM SILVA REMEMBERED

Thomas F. Silva
Entered into rest on May 4, 2009 at the age of 71. Loving husband of 43 years to Filomena Silva of Newark. Beloved father to Ron Silva of Newark, Ken Silva of Eugene, OR, and Wayne Silva and his wife, Stacy, of Valley Glen. Cherished grandfather to Carissa, Kaitlin, and Jeremy. Treasured brother to Amelia Della Mora of Santa Cruz, Catherine Rego of Santa Cruz, Alvin Silva and his wife, Delores, of Novato, and Nelson Silva and his wife, Gloria, of Napa. Dear brother-in-law to Otilia Simas-Silva of Riverbank, and Cris Silva of Santa Cruz. Also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Born September 24, 1937 in Santa Cruz, Tom was very proud of serving in the U.S. Air Force for 20 years. He was a Vietnam Veteran. He retired from Applied Materials in Santa Clara after 20 years. Tom loved sports. He was involved in football, baseball, and track at Santa Cruz High and Monterey Peninsula College. He was a Santa Cruz High Alumni. He was a member of AARP. He loved to watch sports, he especially loved watching his children play. He adored his grandchildren. He loved to travel.
Visitation Thursday, May 7, 5-8pm with a vigil at 7pm at Fremont Chapel of the Roses, 1940 Peralta Blvd., Fremont, 94536. Funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday, May 8, 10:30am at St. Edward's Church, 5788 Thornton Avenue, Newark, 94560. Burial will follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Hayward.
Fremont Chapel of the Roses
510 797-1900

Published in the Santa Cruz Sentinel http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/

TOM SILVA WAS A MEMBER OF THE SANTA CRUZ CARDINAL FOOTBALL TEAM 1954-55. I WAS PRIVILEGED TO PLAY WITH TOM ON THAT TEAM ALONG WITH: RICHARD HAWKINS, RICHARD HAGLER, LARRY PARR, JAY DEBENEDETTI, DON AUSBURY, ED FERRELL, LANCE BEI, JERRILL KERRICK, MIKE KUFFEL, JACK SPURLOCK AND STEVE TRAYLOR. (THERE WERE OTHERS OF COURSE AND I INVITE THEM TO ADD THEIR NAMES)*. AS I RECALL ,TOM WAS NAMED SCHS CLASS OF 1955, FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR.

THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES TOM. UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN

ACROSS 'IL ULTIMO PONTE'.

*Other seniors that I remember who were on your '54-'55 football team: Al Fehn, Jim Davis, Dave York, Bert Wagner, John Knox, Harold Barber, Larry Jones, Tom Palmer and Gary Bryan.

Len