This section includes information that is not only of archival interest to the Carmel Padre family-nation but represents the varied and rich alumni legacy of Carmel High School. Contributions and responses to material posted here will be greatly appreciated. As with all the content presented on this website consider these pages your pages and feel free to forward your Memory Lane anecdotes, recollections, remembrances, and memoriams-memorializations.
?As you walk the halls, stand and be silent and listen to the whispers of past classes, and think ahead to the legacy you will leave behind, at Carmel High and in this world. Yes, there are generations of Carmel High School students who have come before you with similar ambitions and goals. They have been waiting for you. Walk the Walk and you?ll see what I mean."*
*Paraphrased from remarks by Julie C. Lythcott-Haims, Stanford University, Class of ?89
In Our Memories
From: "Mike McCormick" Mike.McCormick@racquetclubofmemphis.com
Date: Mon Jan 13, 2003 01:00:07 PM US/Pacific
To: MichaelGahagan@CarmelHighAlumni.org
Subject: Robert E. McCormick - CHS '58
Dear Mike,
It is with a very heavy heart that I inform you of the recent tragic death of my beloved brother and your CHS classmate, Bob McCormick. I'm attaching an article about Bob that appeared in the San Antonio newspaper. Also, via separate email, I'm forwarding his obituary which includes a recent photo of Bob.
Would you kindly inform Bob's fellow classmates of his death.
Many thanks for your help!
Mike McCormick
CHS '57
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Bob McCormick '58
Insurance man McCormick led chorus tours
By Carmina Danini
San Antonio Express-News
Web Posted : 01/03/2003
His business was insurance, but his pleasure was serving as tour director of the Children's Chorus of San Antonio.
A scripture service is slated for later today for Robert Elliott McCormick, 61, a retired insurance executive who died Monday of a severe head injury he sustained in a fall at home.
| At the time of his death, McCormick was manager of the standardized patient program at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Prior to his job with the health science center, McCormick had spent most of his professional career ? 37 years ? with Aetna Inc. He was group claims manager in San Antonio, St. Louis and Fort Worth. His ability to speak Spanish, which he learned while living in Guatemala, took him to the Philippines, Argentina and Mexico on behalf of Aetna.
Another large part of his life was his work with the Children's Chorus of San Antonio, founded by his wife, Marguerite, 20 years ago. As tour director, McCormick was in charge of shepherding 40 to 50 youngsters and chaperones to children's festivals in Iowa and concerts in Denmark, Ireland, Canada and Italy. "His role was to administer the trip so that I could do the musical part," said his wife, who is the chorus artistic director. "They were not his children, but he did it because he loved me."
Another reason for his participation was to introduce San Antonio children to other parts of the world. "He'd lived abroad because his father had been in the military and he wanted to show the rest of the world to the kids," Marguerite McCormick said.
Married 38 years, the couple worked together to nurture the chorus. "He knew it was a dream of mine to start this chorus, and he was thrilled it's a success," Marguerite McCormick said. "He always was supportive and took a real interest in the group."
Born on Feb. 25, 1941, in Fort Benning, Ga., McCormick graduated from San Antonio's Jefferson High School. In 1962, he received a degree in psychology from the University of Texas at Austin.In addition to his wife, he is survived by three sons, Matthew McCormick of Moraga, Calif., Kevin McCormick of Kerrville and Colin McCormick of Austin; parents, Aloysius and Madeline McCormick of San Antonio; a sister, Maureen Ekelund of Washburn, Wash.; two brothers, Mike McCormick of Memphis, Tenn., and Mark McCormick of Maple Grove, Minn.; and five grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be sent to the Children's Chorus of San Antonio, P.O. Box 460042, San Antonio, TX 78246-0042.
Cremation is planned.
The scripture service will be held at 7 p.m. today at the Angelus Funeral Home, 1119 N. St. Mary's St.
There will be a memorial Mass at 2 p.m. Saturday at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 103 Lorenz St.
The Last Toast
May 29, 2002
El Padre Press
P.O. Box 222700
Carmel, CA 93922
Class of 1944 Bottle
Before our class of '44 graduated we decided that the last living member should drink a toast to the rest of the class. Our class advisor bought us a bottle and we put it into storage. I have had that bottle all of these years and being that time is running out I want all of the class to know where it is. It is in my pantry at:
131 Vendola Drive,
Santa Venteia, California.
My sister, Alyice Whitcomb (831.624.7893), will have the key. I do not remember what is in the bottle as it is in a sealed box and it has not seen light for 58 years.
Bob Holm '44
Santa Venetia, California
Memory Lane Editor's Note: At last mailing label count there are 31 living members of the Class of 1944. There are seven unconfirmed missing: Rozelle Bolton, Clara Joy Hitchcock Haola, Everett Locke, Sam Metcalf, Virginia Shone, Elizabeth Stanley Williams and Vivian Ohm Zimmerman.
There have been 20 reported as deceased: Ann Casati, Jack Fremont, Jack Gensel, Rose Gossler, Lillis Harris, Edward (Sandy) Hook, Warren Johnson, Noreen Kelsey, Louis Levinson, Mary Jean Matthews, Ann McElroy, Dick Miller, George Moller, Arnold Pilling, Lucretia Royse, Dick Uzzell, John Weigold, Walter Wiese, Norvell Yerkes, and Don Young.
May they rest in peace and remain in our memories.
The Mystery of the Original Artist
Editor's Note: The following three emails responded to my search for the original artist of the smiling, happy Padre face which I originated in a column "The Editor's Chair" in the Fall, 2002 edition of "El Padre Press" which was sent to Carmel High School Alumni Association members only. The column is reprinted below.
Leave Carmel?
"But wherever fate may lead us
We are true to thee ?Carmel"
How many of you know that those lyrics are the last two lines of the CHS Alma Mater? At a reunion a while back, Alan Eaker ?59, commented that "you can take the boy out of Carmel but you can?t take Carmel out of the boy." With the All-Alumni reunion coming up shortly, I have been bitten by the nostalgia bug. There are 55 years of history associated with the "Shoe Game" and the reconstruction of how the football game between Pacific Grove and Carmel became known as the "Shoe Game" has taken me, from accounts of alumni who claim a player from the Class of 1948 actually wore The Shoe, to a wonderful, and I am sure more accurate, version sent to me by Diane Miller Commendatore ?60, the daughter of the late Lloyd Miller ?51, CHS teacher and Athletic Director.
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There is an untapped and rich source of Carmel High School history amongst some 9,000 estimated graduates from 1941 to 2002. In the process of finding alumni to add to class mailing lists, I often run across facinating tales of yesteryear. For instance just the other day, Tracy Trotter Collard ?82, told me that her family, original pioneers of Big Sur, cut and donated the huge redwood rounds for the old Highway One Carmel High School sign in front of the high school. I have also been trying to find out who first drew the happy Padre face we use for our logo. I am trying to confirm that it was Bob Barry ?48 and not the late Joan Engle ?58 nor Carla Budd Kramer ?59, who many have claimed was the original artist c even though Carla has said she wasn?t.
| With major rennovations to the school coming to completion on campus, I recall, while an apprentice draftsman at Hugh Comstock and Associates, hearing that the high school was the first school or maybe even public building in the State of California that was built with post-adobe construction? Anybody know for sure? The original buildings were built around 1940-41.
The Alumni Association is considering funding the digital photographic archiving of the class photos now on display in the administration building to add historical legacy that we can insure for future generations. I could be way off but I don?t think current students have much of a traditional base or appreciation of the magic, former Carmel Padre footprints of alumni left on those covered walkways over the past 62 years.
The upcoming reunion of alumni from all classes will evoke memories of some 60 years that should be recorded or send me your historic perspectives and anecdotal slices of Carmel High life. We will generate a Memory Lane section on our new website and in this newsletter. Does anybody know who the oldest living CHS male and female graduates are? They would be about 80-81 right now.
By Michael Gahagan '58
The Artist Gerald Ray '41?
From: Baird & Peggy Bardarson bairdpeg@whidbey.com
Date: Mon Oct 28, 2002 07:12:40 AM US/Pacific
To: MichaelGahagan@CarmelHighAlumni.org
Subject: Alumni Matters
Hi Michael
You need to be complimented for the great job you are doing for the Carmel High Alumni Association. I always thought that the artist who did the comic depiction of El Padre was Gerald Ray, class of 1941.
Michael, would you see that my last name is spelled correctly on the mailing label? Thanks.
Also. Is the football field still named after my dad? Is the commemorative stone noting his death in 1942 still extant? And is there still a scholarship fund in his name? It helped me get through Medical School and I would like to contribute to it if it still exists.
It sounds like there will be a great party on November 16. With a little more lead time maybe I can make the one for next year if it is to become an annual affair.
Thanks so much.
Baird Bardarson, Class of 1944
Seattle, Washington
The Artist Joan Engle '58?
Date: 06:21 AM PDT, 05/31/2002
From: "Chris Engle" cengle516@hotmail.com
To: michael.gahagan@stanfordalumni.org
Subject: Joan Engle, class of '58
May 28, 2002
Hi Mike,
My name is Chris Engle, class of ?62. I?m writing today in regard to my sister Joan Engle, class of ?58. I was looking at the CHS website yesterday and noticed that her name wasn?t included with her class list. I would appreciate it if you would please add it in.
I have a question for you. Do you know who drew the original artwork of the Carmel Padre logo, the one in the top right corner of the El Padre Press? The reason I ask is that I remember Joan painting the artwork on the cheerleading megaphone while still in school. I don?t know whether she copied it or created it. She was a very good artist and after school she did graphic arts for a living until her death in 1980 from an automobile accident.
I want to thank you for putting out the El Padre Press, I enjoy reading it and I definitely feel reconnected to my class and school.
Regards,
Chris Engle '62
P.S. I am starting a new adventure in my life as of the latter part of June. My wife Ginna and I are moving to the Boise area of Idaho to be closer to her son and family and hopefully to semi retire. I have lived on the Peninsula since 1950 and have been a self-employed custom cabinetmaker since 1974. In 1995, my wife and I started an internet business in which we manufacture and ship pedestals for displaying sculpture and anything else. The business is called Pacific Pedestal Mfg. Company and the web address is www.pacificpedestals.com. We will take this business with us since it can operate from anywhere.
Getting Warmer?
From: BOOBBARRY@aol.com
Date: Sun Jan 05, 2003 08:29:16 PM US/Pacific
To: MichaelGahagan@CarmelHighAlumni.org
Subject: (no subject)
Michael Gahagan:
Your recent "Editor's Chair" triggered a few memories and with the condition my memory's in, that's something! The "Shoe Game" was, I believe, the only game in which I scored a touchdown during the years I played for CHS. I remember nothing about a shoe, but would suggest you check with Owen Greenan '48 as he's usually the one up on those things.
Also, about your happy face. I drew a little character in 1947 (I think) and we began to use him for want of something better. As I recall, originally he was drawn for a men's shop above Abernathy's music store at Monte Verde and Ocean. Some decals were made for student use by the store. Again, Owen Greenan would have a better recollection of this.
Am enjoying your publication. Only took out the five-year subscription so am looking forward to being able to renew.
My best to you.
Bob Barry '48
San Jose, California
He Watched Out for Us
From:"H. T. MORGAN" htice@juno.com
To: MichaelGahagan@CarmelHighAlumni.org
Subject: El Padre Press
Date: Sat, 9 Jun 2001 22:58:07 -0700
Dear Michael,
Really must commend you and whomever else is helps with this newsy little paper you've all put together. It's really nice to hear about the old school and people connected to it. Of course I haven't a clue who most are, but Clyde keeps up and fills some of our classmates in on what's going on.
Mainly, though, I'm writing because of your editorial in the 2002 winter issue. Your kind remarks about Clyde's father and your funny incident, reminded me of my own "run in" with Chief Klaumann. Thought you would get a chuckle out of the story.
My junior summer I took a marine biology class at P.G.High. We had several very early morning field trips in order to take advantage of morning low tides and the critters abiding there. One very early morning (4:00 a.m.), while driving past Carmel on my way to P.G., Chief Klaumann, who knew my car and every other Carmel teenager's vehicle, flashes his lights behind me to pull over. I remember thinking that maybe I was speeding or something, and going through an Alfred Hitchcock-like panic attack, when the chief asks me what the heck am I doing cruising around at that time of night (it was dark, ok?). Now I realize he thinks I'm breaking the curfew or something...(did we have a curfew?)...and laugh nervously, pointing to the wading boots and flashlight, explaining where I was going. I think he apologized for scaring me, but gruffly warned me to be careful or something like that.
He did watch out for us, didn't he?
Keep up the good work, and thanks for doing this! Hope to get back to one of the reunions. As we get older, we might start combining some of the class reunions. I live in Albuquerque now, but that probably won't be forever, just a fun adventure I'm having.
Hazel Tice Morgan '57
Albuquerque, New Mexico
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