March 2024

Save the Date!

PHS Class of 1962 Reunion

Saturday, August 17th, 2024

1-4 PM

We're making plans for a catered lunch on Maryly Snow's beautiful patio in Oakland.

Details to follow - Stay tuned!

November 2022

Hello everyone! Classmate Maryly Snow is inviting everyone to her open art studio! The studio will be available between the dates of November 5-6th and 12-13th, at 5 PM or by appointment.

The studio is located at 3016 Filbert Studio #14, Oakland, CA 94618.

For more information, contact Maryly at maryly@snowstudios.com or call her at (510) 697-1944

September 2022

Hello everyone! The PHS Class of '62 Reunion Luncheon went off without a hitch! If you'd like to check out some of the photos from the event, check out the new gallery at the link below! (Or just click on "Photo Bulletin Board" in the sidebar to see all the galleries.)

https://www.classcreator.com/Piedmont-California-1962/class_gallery.cfm?gallery_id=70319

If you see any errors, mistakes, or need any changes made, feel free to message our moderator Mckenna at mckenna@clickamericana.com

February 2022

PHS Class of '62 60th Reunion Luncheon!

Date: Thursday, August 18, 2022

Time: 11:30 am to 3:30 pm

Where: Trader Vics, 9 Anchor Dr, Emeryville, CA

Cost: $100.00 per person

Luncheon: Three-course sit down with a choice of entree (Hulu Huli chicken, Island salmon, or Vegetarian Thai coconut risotto)

No Host Bar

Trader Vic’s requires proof of vaccination and ID upon entry.

Email kdbarrett1@mac.com to confirm whether you'll be coming or not. Simply say "yes" or "no, and indicate the number of people coming.

Go Highlanders!

November 2021

    It has been nine years since our 50th reunion.  Many of us have or will turn 77 this year.  It seems like only yesterday we were the youth of the world.  Those days are long behind us as time races on.  We try to age gracefully and watch as our children have children and grandchildren.  And we begin to plan our 60th reunion.

    We hope you all will find time to add a line or two to your information to update your classmates as to what you have been up to.  Please also be sure that your contact information is up to date.  And add photos!

    We are finally making progress in our battle with Covid-19.  At the end of December last year, the FDA gave emergency approval for the Pfizer vaccine, followed by Moderna and Johnson & Johnson.  On June 15, California reopened only to have mask mandates reinstated, particularly for indoor activities.   We still practice social distancing and wear a mask when indoors.  Recently booster shots for Covid-19 were approved, and many of us rushed to get them, hoping to slow the spread of the Delta variant.  America is finally reopening.  Stores and businesses are open, many are returning to their offices, but some jobs will be remote for the foreseeable future.  We are free to travel again, though we still must wear masks when flying or traveling by train or bus.  We can shop again for anything we want, but there are many shortages.  Many jobs go unfilled, and workers everywhere are demanding higher salaries and improved working conditions.  Our ports are struggling to unload containers of imported goods.  Finally, after a year and a half, we can look forward to an improving economy.       

    Last winter brought us less than half of normal rainfall, so we must cut back our use of water.  Much of California remains in exceptional drought.  There were severe wildfires this summer and fall which burned several million acres.  Some of us face the possibility of losing electric power as PG&E shuts down utility lines passing through back country where heavy winds are blowing.   Real estate markets continue to boom in the San Francisco Bay Area.  Rents are rising again.  In San Francisco and San Jose, the average home sells for well over a million dollars, and nearby prices are nearly as high.  People are buying new cars again, but shortages are slowing deliveries.  The Giants unexpectedly made it to the playoffs, only to lose to the Dodgers.  The 49ers are having a difficult year.  But the fans are back in the stands and glad to be there.  

-- Earl Sawyer

Moderators Note: Some people have reported having sign-in issues/password warning notices. This seems to be a general warning from Google based on a list of compromised passwords, and not specifically related to this site. You can find out more here: https://forums.classcreator.com/messages.cfm?threadid=89B576E7-06A9-C121-80420D3F7F9B0A6D

August 2020

    It has been eight years since our 50th reunion.  Many of us have or will turn 76 this year.  It seems like only yesterday we were the youth of the world.  Those days are long behind us as time races on.  We try to age gracefully and watch as our children have children and grandchildren.

    We hope you all will find time to add a line or two to your information to update your classmates as to what you have been up to.  Please also be sure that your contact information is up to date.  And add photos!

    We have had a challenging year.  In mid-March, our lives were pre-empted by the onslaught of coronavirus, which has taken a fearful toll.  We practice social distancing and wear a mask when leaving the house.  Many states including California shut down everything deemed non-essential, so while we could still get groceries and gasoline, most other businesses closed, along with beaches and parks.  We were told to shelter in place, and most of us did so until June, when restrictions began to ease.  The virus raged again with the number of cases increasing nationally by thousands every day, and deaths up by hundreds.  The re-imposition of a partial shutdown has brought devastation to our economy with many businesses closing and many millions out of work.  Perhaps one or more of the many vaccines under development to protect against the virus will prove safe and effective by the end of the year.  Improved treatments and drugs are lowering the death toll.       

    Last winter brought us about half of normal rainfall, so we worry less about water, but the danger of drought is ever present.  Already, there have been several serious wildfires, but fire season is still ahead.  Many of us face the possibility of losing electric power as PG&E shuts down utility lines passing through back country where heavy winds are blowing.   Real estate markets continue to do well in the San Francisco Bay Area.  Rents have begun to fall as many companies allow some or all their workers to work remotely from home.  In San Francisco and San Jose, the average home still sells for over a million dollars, and nearby prices are nearly as high.  The virus has dampened new car sales.  The 49ers lost the Super Bowl to Kansas City, and then the virus shut down all sports until a few weeks ago.  

    The economy had produced a record number of jobs and low employment, but coronavirus have driven up unemployment rates to levels not seen since the depression of the thirties.  Despite the virus, the stock market is near record highs.  While many people are still well off, increasing homelessness and drug addiction make news daily.  Police violence against blacks and minorities has rekindled the Black Lives Matter movement with unprecedented vigor.  As a nation, we are beginning to confront racism in our society.  Our democratic institutions remain strong and afford us great freedom.  In November we will choose a President.

-- Earl Sawyer

July 2020

Hello, all!

We are McKenna and Nancy Price, granddaughter and daughter of Vickie Graham Robinson, and new administrators of the class website.

The site has just been updated, including contact information and memorials for Jean Blair, Dick Jones and Helen Hotle Ferris. If changes are needed, please let us know.

We look to classmates to update their contact information and to add photos etc. You can do it easily right on the site.

If you need help navigating the site, assistance with changing your contact information, or want to update anything else, let us know and we will be happy to help. 

Mckenna Price -- mckenna@clickamericana.com

September 2019

    It has been seven years since our 50th reunion.  Many of us have or will turn 75 this year.  It seems like yesterday we were the youth of the world.  Yet those days are behind us as time races on.  We try to age gracefully and watch as our children have children and grandchildren.

    We hope you all will find time to add a line or two to your information to update your classmates as to what you have been up to.  Please also be sure that your contact information is up to date.  And add photos!

    We have had an eventful year.  The San Francisco Giants have done better this year and may play 500 ball, and the Oakland Athletics caught fire and are fighting for a wildcard spot in the American League playoffs.  The Warriors dominated much of the season, had key players injured, and lost in the NBA championship 4 games to 2 to the Toronto Raptors.  The 49ers did well last year until Jimmy Garoppolo got injured and the team struggled.  The Raiders look promising with John Gruden again head coach, but in 2020 they’ll be playing in Las Vegas. 

President Donald Trump continues to be a chaotic leader, and every day he offers one or more outrageous tweets.  He continues to wage trade war with China with the outcome uncertain.  He withdrew from our deal with Iran and placed crippling sanctions on them.  He continues to talk nice to Kim Jong-un while every week the North Koreans develop more offensive weapons.  Wars continue in the middle east and in Afghanistan, with little prospect of peace.  And California is being led a new governor, Gavin Newsom.

    Last winter brought us abundant rain so we think less about water.  So far, we have avoided the devastating fires we had last fall accompanied by days of choking smoke.  Real estate markets continue to boom in the San Francisco Bay Area.  Rents continue to soar and homelessness is an ever-worsening problem.  In San Francisco and San Jose, the average home sells for over a million dollars, and nearby prices are nearly as high.  New cars continue to sell well, despite ever rising prices, and buyers increasingly favor SUVs and trucks, forsaking the traditional sedan.  

    The economy has produced a record number of jobs and low employment, but salaries have not caught up with the cost of living.  The stock market is near record highs but ongoing trade wars and an economic slowdown in Europe, are adding to increased volatility.  While most people are well off, homelessness and drug addiction make news daily.  Our democratic institutions remain strong and afford us great freedom, and most Americans are well off.  Next year we will choose a new President.

-- Earl Sawyer

September 2018

            It has been six years our 50th reunion.  Many of us have or will turn 74 this year.  Not long ago we were the youth of the world.  Yet those days are behind us.  As the years continue, we try to age gracefully.  We watch as our children have children and grandchildren.

            We hope you all will find time to add a line or two to your information to update your classmates as to what you have been up to.  Please also be sure that your contact information is up to date.  And add photos!

            We have had an eventful year.  The San Francisco Giants have done better this year and may play 500 ball, and the Oakland Athletics caught fire and are now challenging Houston for the lead in the American League west.  The Warriors dominated all season and NBA champs for the third time in four years.  The 49ers floundered until they got Jimmy Garoppolo to quarterback the team.  The Raiders look promising with John Gruden again head coach.  President Donald Trump continues to be a chaotic leader, and every day he offers one or more outrageous tweets.  Two of Trump’s people, Paul Manafort, his former campaign manager, and Michael Cohen, his former personal attorney, appear to be headed to jail for a series of crimes and misdeeds.  Wars continue in the middle east and in Afghanistan, with little prospect of peace.  And California will choose a new governor in November.

            Last winter brought us enough rain so we don’t have to ration water, but continued heat and below normal rainfall has led to a frightful fire season.  Real estate markets continue to do well in the in the San Francisco Bay Area.  Rents are soaring and homelessness is an ever-worsening problem.  In San Francisco and San Jose, the average home sells for over a million dollars, and nearby prices are nearly as high.  Several recent local news stories have featured sales of dilapidated houses for over a million dollars, and the buyer wrecks the house and builds a mansion. New cars continue to sell well, despite ever rising prices, and buyers increasingly favor SUVs and trucks, forsaking the traditional sedan. 

            The Islamic world is dominated by a religious conflict between two Islamic sects in Iraq and Syria.  ISIS has been largely defeated militarily in Syria and Iraq.  North Korea has recently developed ICBMs capable of striking all of the United States.  President Trump met with Kim Jong-un in Singapore and tried to him to agree to de-nuclearization.   The economy has produced a record number of jobs and low employment, but salaries have not caught up with the cost of living.  The stock market is near record highs and most people are well off, but homelessness and drug addiction make news daily.  Our democratic institutions remain strong and afford us great freedom, and most Americans are well off.

August 2017

            It has been five years our 50th reunion.  Many of us have or will turn 73 this year.  And it was not long ago that we were the youth of the world.  Now we continue to ask ourselves and each other if we ever thought we would be this old.  About 30 of us met at The Cooperage in Lafayette for a mini-reunion lunch on Wednesday, June 14.  We had a grand time visiting with each other.

            We hope you all will find time to add a line or two to your information to update your classmates as to what you have been up to since the reunion.  Please also be sure that your contact information is up to date.  And add photos!

            We have had an eventful year.  The San Francisco Giants have floundered all season and will be lucky if they do not lose 100 games this season, and the Oakland Athletics also have a losing record.  The Warriors dominated all season.  In the playoffs, they only lost one game in the championship series with Cleveland, and are NBA champs for the second time in three years.  The 49ers floundered but the Raiders did well enough to return to the playoffs for the first time in years. The campaign for President ended with the surprise victory of Donald Trump.  He is off to a chaotic start, and every day he offers a new, outrageous tweet.  

            California voted for Hillary Clinton and she received 60 percent of the vote here.  El Nino departed but winter brought us enough rain to break the drought in most areas of the state.  The summer has brought record heat to the far west.  Real estate markets have recovered in many places in the country, but there are few sellers and many buyers, driving up prices.  In the San Francisco Bay Area, rents are soaring and homelessness is an ever-worsening problem.  In San Francisco and San Jose, the average home sells for over a million dollars, and nearby prices are nearly as high.  New cars continue to sell well but sales are off last year’s peak. 

            The Islamic world is dominated by a religious conflict between two Islamic sects in Iraq and Syria.  The grip of ISIS on territory in Syria and northern Iraq is loosening, as Mosul has been recaptured by the Iraqi army and their capital, Raqqa, is under siege.  North Korea has recently developed ICBMs capable of striking the west coast of the United States while the rest of the world tries to figure out how to stop them, short of war or a pre-emptive attack.  The economy has produced a record number of jobs and low employment.  The stock market is at record highs, the Dow having gained over 4,000 points since Trump’s victory.  Our democratic institutions remain strong and afford us great freedom, and most Americans are well off.

Announcing the upcoming Piedmont Wall of Honor commemorating the women and men who have Achieved the Honorable by serving our Country.

The Wall of Honor (WoH) committee has worked for 18 months successfully seeking approval from the school system, City administrators and community. The WoH exhibit will be in the school library with access by a touch screen interactive Kiosk for the students and visitors. It will also be available to your mobile device or home computer. You will be able to submit additional names, details, stories and photos to help the list grow.

The cornerstone of the WoH will be a robust website and a digital repository of service member names & information of those from Piedmont who have served in any one of the uniformed nine branches of service:  Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, National Guard, Public Health Service, US NOAA, Nurses or in the U.S. Foreign Service.

The Members List will include the names, branch of service, PHS graduation year and special remarks. Visitors to the website and the interactive kiosk will have access to a submission form for friends and family members to contribute new entries, stories and photos to add to the list. Examples are:

Egbert W. Beach KIA, 1918, Army, WW I (Grammar School); David Waybur KIA, 1938, Army, WW II (Congressional Medal of Honor, Silver Star); Jean Witter Jr KIA, 1938, Navy, WW II (Witter Football Field).

To build a professional exhibit that honors our service members and a robust website & databank suitable for use by students in a school setting, by the alumni and community at large is expensive.   Please consider a Donation (tax deductible) of any amount to speed our Wall of Honor to be completed.

Donors that contribute by May 15 will be designated as Founders and receive recognition on the Wall of Honor website. Founding Donors in the Honor, Pride and Courage categories will be included as part of the permanent Wall of Honor exhibit in the library.

Please visit the website for complete details:    http://www.phswallofhonor.org/

Clicking the Donation tab will explain the fast way to contribute by email or USPS letter.

Donations will be used to hire an affordable, experienced, local professional web development company and to design, purchase and install all components of the Wall of Honor inside the PHS Ambassador Christopher Stevens Memorial library.

The community and alumni are invited to attend the Wall of Honor Groundbreaking Ceremony on Thursday, May 18, 2017 at 4PM in the Ambassador Christopher Stevens Memorial Library at Piedmont High School

Click on the website Contact tab and complete the form on the bottom for any questions.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

September 2016

            It has been four years our 50th reunion.  Many of us have or will turn 72 this year.  And it seems just yesterday that we were the youth of the world.  Now we continue to ask ourselves and each other if we ever thought we would be this old.

            Since last summer, we have lost one more classmate -- Ginny McLeod Meisenbach.  Much else has happened in our lives and in our world.  We are grateful for the memories of our deceased shared by some classmates.  Some of us have updated our information on the class website, others have not.  We hope you all will find time to add a line or two to your information to update your classmates as to what you have been up to since the reunion.  Please also be sure that your contact information is up to date.  And add photos!

            Should we have a mini-reunion in 2017?  This would be our 55th reunion.  If you wish us to go forward with plans for a get-together, please let Earl or Vickie know.  With your support, we can make it happen.

            We have had an eventful year.  After a brilliant start, the San Francisco Giants have suffered from a drought of run production, while the Oakland Athletics have lost more games than they've won.  A dominant Warrior team continued to dominate until the championship series, finally losing to Cleveland.  The campaign for President has started with two unpopular candidates running, yet we retain our right to vote.  In California, the return of El Nino brought us a year of near average rainfall, and the drought in the west continues for a fifth year.  Real estate markets have recovered in many places in the country, but there seem to be few sellers and many buyers, driving up prices.  In the San Francisco Bay Area, rents are soaring and homelessness is an ever worsening problem.  In San Francisco and San Jose, the average home sells for over a million dollars.  New cars continue to sell well.  The Islamic world is dominated by a religious conflict between two Islamic sects in Iraq and Syria.  The grip of ISIS on territory in Syria and northern Iraq, is being challenged and increasingly pushed back, while Islamic extremists spread terror in America and Europe with more frequent mass murders.  California and the far west suffer from wildfires while the rest of the country experiences severe storms and drowns in record rainfall.  In spite of our problems, the economy seems to be improving, the stock market is near record highs, the job market and employment are strong, our democratic institutions afford us great freedom, and most Americans are well off.

September 2015

            It has been three years our 50th reunion.  Many of us have or will turn 71 this year.  And it seems just yesterday that we were the youth of the world.  Now we continue to ask ourselves and each other if we ever thought we would be this old.

            Since the start of 2015, we have lost two more classmates -- Steve Arlett and Wade Breuer.  Much else has happened in our lives and in our world.  We are grateful for the memories of our deceased shared by some classmates.  Some of us have updated our information on the class website, others have not.  We hope you all will find time to add a line or two to your information to update your classmates as to what you have been up to since the reunion.  Please also be sure that your contact information is up to date.  And add photos!

            We have had an eventful year.  The San Francisco Giants stumbled a bit and now cannot quite seem to catch the Dodgers, while the Oakland Athletics have had difficulty all year.  The 49ers and Raiders had seasons best forgotten.  A dominant Warrior team took the NBA championship.  The economy seems to limp along and the stock market trembles on fears of a Fed rate hike, worsening weakness in China, and a third Greek bailout.  Winter weather froze and flooded the eastern part of the country while the west suffered worsening drought.  In California, the return of El Nino may herald the end of our four year drought.  Unemployment continues to  decline, but there is little improvement in take home pay, and many settle for part time jobs.  Real estate markets have recovered in many places in the country, but there seem to be few sellers and many buyers, driving up prices.  New cars are selling well because after 11 years on the road, the old one is worn out.  The Islamic world is dominated by a religious conflict between two Islamic sects in Iraq and Syria.  ISIS continues to hold much of Syria and northern Iraq.  A promising start to the rainy season dried up in California as January produced not a drop of rain and spring was also dry.  There are fires all over the far west while the rest of the country experiences severe storms and drowns in record rainfall.

September 2014

            It has been two years since the reunion.  Many of us have or will turn 70 this year.  And it seems just yesterday that we were the youth of the world.  Now we ask ourselves and each other if we ever thought we would be this old.

            Since the start of 2014, we have lost five more classmates -- Lynda King Huff, Marilyn Milligan Moore, Heidi Ledford Hill, Patty Hinch Simpson and Bill Blagborne.  Much else has happened in our lives and in our world.  We are grateful for the memories of our deceased shared by some classmates.  Some of us have updated our information on the class website, others have not.  We hope you all will find time to add a line or two to your information to update your classmates as to what you have been up to since the reunion.  Please also be sure that your contact information is up to date.  And add photos!

            We have had an eventful year.  The San Francisco Giants got off to a great start but went into their June swoon, while the Oakland Athletics rolled along until August.  The 49ers got to the NFC Championship game but could not beat Seattle.  The economy seems to be a little better, after winter weather froze the eastern part of the country, with more substantial improvement in the unemployment rate, but much less improvement in take home pay, and many settling for part time jobs.  The stock market took off like a skyrocket for the first six months of the year, only to have a late summer stumble in August.  Real estate markets have recovered in many places in the country, but there seem to be few sellers and many buyers, driving up prices.  The world scene seems to be dominated by unrest in Ukraine and a religious conflict between two Islamic sects in Iraq and Syria.  A new militant group, ISIS, has taken over eastern Syria and much of northern Iraq.  California had virtually no rain in 2013, and a few late storms in February and March helped slightly in alleviating an exceptional drought.  There are fires all over the far west while the rest of the country experiences severe storms and drowns in record rainfall.

August 2013

A Note from Earl and Vickie

Nearly a year has passed since we celebrated our 50th Reunion at the Courtyard by Marriott in downtown San Francisco.  We all had time to visit at the reunion, and over 120 classmates, spouses and others attended, including two teachers.  During the day, a number of us joined for various activities.  We most appreciated the opportunity to see each other.  It had been a long time.

            Since we saw each other, we lost Mike Herbert in early June.  He attended the reunion and was fine then.  And much else has happened in our lives and in our world.  Some of us have updated our information on the class website, others have not.  We hope you all will find time to add a line or two to your information to update your classmates as to what you have been up to since the reunion. Please also be sure that your contact information is up to date. And add photos!

            We have had an eventful year.  The San Francisco Giants went on to win the World Series, but their play this season makes some of us wonder how they got there.  The 49ers got into the Super Bowl, but lost a close game.  The economy seems to run in fits and starts with some improvement in the unemployment rate, but much less improvement in take home pay, and many settling for part time jobs.  The stock market took off like a skyrocket in the first seven months of the year, only to have a late summer stumble in August.  Real estate markets have recovered in many places in the country, but there seem to be few sellers and many buyers, driving up prices.  The world scene seems to be dominated by continuing unrest in many countries in the middle east.  California had a wet fall and early winter, but the rain stopped in January.  In August, there are fires all over the far west while the southeast drowns in record rainfall. What’s happening in your part of the world?

November 2012 

A note from Vickie:

What a splendid reunion weekend we had! In the words of Cole Porter, it was a swell party!

Thanks go to….

*Everyone who attended: your presence enhanced the event. Yokiko came from Japan, David (Appleby) Laffie , recently from Macau, Chuck Meyers from Georgia, Chuck Johnston from Canada…and others from near and far.

*The committee (Ron Rubenstein, treasurer, Earl Sawyer, Clan o Log and email guru, Bruce Beebe, Peter Berger, Phyllis Berger Rosenberg, Dorothy Carter Paige, Claire Cochran Cunningham, Mimi Peterson Collier, Darlene Epstein Jurow and honorary members Carol Crist Thom and Sharon Young Stehr) who spent 13 months planning the event—putting careful thought into the many decisions to be made, with the goal of making it the best possible event.

*Sharon Farrell Jurgensen and Susan Korb Johnston who made the nametags, keeping up as new people were added even at the last minute.

*Shoshanna Love (Sue Werfel) who created festive table decorations – on a limited budget – which made the room look lovely.

* Susan Harris Parsons , Ann Hatoff Rapp, Midge Lindsay Hunt, and Carolyn Sanford Kortge, our official greeters

*Phyllis Berger Rosenberg who bought the purple PHS cocktail napkins

*Dorothy Carter Paige who suggested weekend plans, wrote many of the emails and served as a sounding board when I needed it most.

*Jim Livingstone, PHS ‘60 who created our website and served as Sherlock Holmes, locating many “lost” classmates.

Thanks to all!

Vickie Graham Robinson

If you did not attend but would like a 50th Reunion Clan-O-Log, please send $12.00 to Ron and a copy will be sent to you by first class mail.