Tom Zaradich, a Colony resident who works in the entertainment industry, was inspired to write his book Anaheim’s Dead: Ghostly Encounters with the Passed after hearing about the many homes and in Anaheim whose owners claim to be haunted. Anaheim High is rumored to have its own ghosts and Zaradich includes a chapter in his book about the haunted campus with interviews of alumni and school staff members. He is a popular public speaker and is appearing in the Celebrating Anaheim High Authors & Colony Inspired Literature Authors’ Forum.
Search Results for: zaradich
Tom Zaradich
January 26, 2016 by
Celebration of Anaheim Authors Highlighted by Hall of Fame Inductions of Two Long-Time Educators
March 5, 2016 by
Two long-time educators, Louise (Hitt) Booth and Minard Duncan were inducted into the Anaheim High Hall of Fame during a reception held Friday, March 4, at the AHS Library as part of a Read Across America “Celebration of Anaheim High Authors & Colony Inspired Literacy.”
Barbara Mahaffie ’58 with AHS President Gerald Woodward ’59 and the Booth Family, husband Donald and son David.
Booth, a English, drama and speech teacher at Anaheim High for two decades, was a noted author who left behind a literary legacy upon her passing at age 95 in 2012. Her husband of 68 years, Donald Booth, and son David attended the event, along with her close friends Barbara Mahaffie from Class of ’58, a long-time English teacher at AHS, and Marion (Caracasa) Thompkins from Class of 1953, who taught drama at AHS for several years and is still working as a drama teacher in Pasadena. Many of Booth’s former students were in the audience, including AHSAA President Gerald Woodward from Class of ’59, who had the honor of inducting Mrs. Booth in the Hall of Fame. Click here to see more photos from her induction.
Many family members, friends and classmates were on hand for the induction of Minard Duncan into the
Minard and his classmates and life-long friends.
AHS Hall of Fame. Duncan has been highly involved in the North Orange County community for more than 58 years serving children in the Fullerton School District, as well as his country and his 1950 classmates. Click here to see a collection of his induction photos.
Prior to the reception, an Authors’ Forum was held in Cook Auditorum from 2 to 5 p.m. featuring Anaheim authors Sheila Lowe ‘67, Dennis Bateman ’89, Gustavo Arellano ‘97, and Tom Zaradich.
Monica Ortez was also on hand to share her co-authored book on the Mexican American Baseball Leagues featuring her father Ray Ortez from Anaheim High Class of 1937.
As part of the celebration, the AHS Alumni Association identified 20 graduates who have published books, three books written about Anaheim High alumni and a batch of books that include references to Anaheim High. To read more about Anaheim High’s rich literary legacy, click here.
Enjoy these additional photos from the event:
-
- Display of alumni books in AHS Library.
-
- An Authors’ Forum was part of the celebration.
-
- Author and forensic handwriting expert Sheila Lowe in the Anaheim High Library next to a display of her books.
-
- OC Weekly editor from Class of ”97 encouraged students to read, read, read!
-
- Tom and Dennis Bateman from Class of ’89.
-
- Dennis Bateman with his book on the history of football in Orange County.
-
- Dennis Bateman is also the author of “A History of Anaheim High Football – A Century of Tradition.”
-
- Ray Ortez from Class of ’37 is featured in a series of books on the history of the Mexican American Baseball leagues.
-
- Daughter Monica Ortez co-authored a book in the series highlight her father and other top Colonist players.
-
- Longtime AHS teacher Louise Hitt Booth was honored for her literary legacy.
-
- Mrs. Booth’s history of the AUHSD.
-
- AHS Librarian Tommy Kovac accepts a gift of Mrs. Booth’s books from her family.
-
- Colony resident Tom Zaradich talked to AHS students about his “Anaheim’s Dead: Ghostly Encounters with the Passed.”
-
- Event included book signings .
-
- The 150th anniversary of the classic “Alice In Wonderful” inspired the Library reception decor.
-
- A tea was cateered by the Cypress H.S. culinary program.
-
- Guests were treated to a Mad Hatter tea in the AHS Library.
-
- Barbara Allee, mother of AHS Librarian Tommy Kov ac, was honored for her work as a Library volunteer.
-
- Jeanette was honored for her 28 years of service as treasurer for Friends of the Anaheim Library.
Invitation to March 4 Celebration of Anaheim High Authors & Colony-Inspired Literature
February 19, 2016 by
Anaheim High, with support from the school’s Alumni Association, is staging a Read Across America celebration highlighting Anaheim High authors, as well as books that feature Anaheim High and its graduates. Student activities promoting literacy are also part of the week-long celebration that kicks off Feb. 29 and runs through March 4.
Appearances on the stage of Cook Auditorium by four authors, including OC Weekly editor and AHS Class of ’97 graduate Gustavo Arellano, student activities, an Alice In Wonderland-themed reception in the school’s library and a Hall of Fame induction are among activities that will take place during the week. All the events are free and open to the public.
Throughout the week the AHS Library will serve as the event hub and site of a display featuring Anaheim High authors, including Lois Battle, a Class of ’56 graduate who achieved success in the literary world with seven bestselling novels. The display will also spotlight books about famous alumni, including Charles Walters (’30), an MGM director and choreographer during Hollywood’s Golden Age, and Marie Wilson (’33) of My Friend Irma fame who earned three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her work in radio, TV and film.
The celebration will culminate Friday, March 4, with an Anaheim High Authors’ Forum, 3 to 5 p.m. in Cook Auditorium, featuring a graduate who has become a celebrated voice in the Latino community, a Colony writer who published a book featuring Anaheim High haunts, an alumnae who has authored of a popular mystery series based on her experience as a forensic handwriting analyst, and writer and historiam Dennis Bateman, Class of ’89, who will talk about his book Anaheim Colonists Football – A Century of Tradition and The Orange County Football Book.
Returning to his alma mater for the first time since graduating in 1997, Gustavo Arellano, editor of OC Weekly, is also the author of several books and a nationally syndicated column Ask A Mexican. He will speak about his evolution from an Anaheim High student leader to an award-winning writer.
Like her fictional character Claudia Rose in the award-winning forensic handwriting mystery series, Sheila Lowe from Class of ’67 is a practicing forensic handwriting expert. Also the author of the acclaimed The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Handwriting Analysis, Handwriting of the Famous & Infamous, and Handwriting Analyzer software, she is president of the American Handwriting Analysis Foundation, a nonprofit organization that promotes education in the area of handwriting. Sheila holds a master’s degree in psychology and lectures around the country and in Canada and the UK. Her analyses of celebrity handwritings are seen throughout the media.
Lowe and Suspense Publishing have made her book 
Inkslingers Ball available to Anaheim High students to read as part of the celebration.
A popular subject among Anaheim High students is the rumor of ghosts that haunt the high school. It’s also a favorite subject of Tom Zaradich, author of Anaheim’s Dead – Ghostly Encounters With the Passed, which includes a chapter on Anaheim High and interviews with several AHS graduates and staff members.
After the authors’ forum, attendees will be invited to the AHS Library for a reception celebrating Anaheim High authors and supporters of literacy in the Colony community. A special mention will be given the school’s SkillsUSA program for its creation of free little libraries being placed throughout the Colony community.
June Glenn’55 and Susan Faessel ’67 will also be recognized for their support of literacy in the Anaheim community. Another event highlight will be the induction of long-time Anaheim High teacher, writer and historian Louise Booth in the school’s Hall of Fame.
Thanks to a sponsorship by the AHS Alumni Association, all activities are free but donations of books are encouraged. For a list of titles requested by the AHS Library, visit: https://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/?ie=UTF8&cid=A1SDJXD5BSLQVG
Books may also be brought to the Friday event to be donated to the school library or the little free libraries.
The AHSAA has identified 19 alumni authors who will be recognized as part of A Celebration of Anaheim High Authors and Colony-Inspired Literature. Biographies, with photos, on each of these individuals, as well as information on books written about Anaheim High alumni, literature that includes photos or information on Anaheim High, are available at https://anaheimcolonists.com/celebration-of-anaheim-authors/
To RSVP for the reception or to inform the AHSAA of additional authors, please contact Janet Brown at anaheimalumni@yahoo.com or 714-726-4372.
Colony-Inspired Literature
January 26, 2016 by
Anaheim High, the third oldest high school in Orange County, has a rich history that inspired writers to include “Old AU” in their books, including Tom Zaradich’s book Anaheim’s Dead – Ghostly Encounters With the Passed, which includes a chapter on Anaheim High and interviews with several AHS graduates and staff members.
The history of the Anaheim Union High School District and Anaheim High, established in 1898, is documented in Louise Booth’s book One to Twenty-Eight. Booth is a member of the Anaheim High Hall of Fame for her dedication as a teacher and her literary legacy.
Anaheim author and historian Stephen Faessel has included facts and photos about Anaheim High in his popular books documenting the history of the City of Anaheim. His wife Susan (Warden) Faessel from Class of 1967 is a major supporter of Anaheim organizations and service groups, including the Anaheim Public Library.
If you know of any other books featuring Anaheim High, please contact the AHSAA at anaheimalumni@yahoo.com.
