Oscar Gonzalez Brings Heart Back Home to AHS

Home is where the heart is and, for Class of 2001 Colonist Oscar Gonzalez, his heart is back home in Room 66 on the Anaheim High campus, where he is starting a new role as dance director for the 2019-20 class year and beyond.

Oscar began dancing at Anaheim High under instructor Meg Elder, who recently retired after a 35-year career.

His Anaheim dance experience also includes performing with the Anaheim Ballet and at Disneyland in “Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular.”

His horizons expanded when he moved to New York to study at the prestigious Joffrey Ballet School. While in New York, Oscar also trained a summer with the American Ballet Theater, which is considered one of the greatest dance companies in the world.

His ballet credits include, Cinderella, Napoli, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the Nutcracker and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

In addition to ballet, Oscar is formally trained in jazz, lyrical, modern and contemporary dance styles. He has displayed his talents in numerous professional musical theater productions, including Hello Dolly, West Side Story, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, A Chorus Line, Evita and has been a principal in The Glory of Christmas at the Crystal Cathedral.

His dancing has also taken him across the globe to perform for the grand opening of the King Abdulah University of Science and Technology in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

His passion for teaching and sharing his art with young people led him to working internationally as a dance coach and choreographer, including a stop in Cape Town, South Africa, where he created a dance intensive for students from age 6 to 25.

Back home in Anaheim, he taught dance at Anaheim High for several years as a walk-on coach. He also gained extensive experience as the ballet director at McCoy Rigby Conservatory of the Arts in La Mirada, and at Smitty’s Performing Arts Center in Omaha, Nebraska.

Throughout his travels and adventures, Oscar continued his education to earn his bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from St. Mary’s College of California.  He is currently working on his master’s degree in education.

Oscar said he is “beyond grateful” for the opportunity to teach dance at Anaheim High. “To go back to my roots and to be able to give back to Anaheim High has so much meaning for me,” he said. “Room 66 has been a home for so many, and now I get the chance to make it my home and a new home to many more artists.”

Anaheim High’s Shigekawa Family

The Shigekawa family is a Japanese American pioneer family from Anaheim.

Kiyoshi Shigekawa was a 1930 graduate of Anaheim High School.

Marlene graduated in 1962 and her older brother and younger sister are also graduates of Anaheim High.

Marlene is project manager of the Poston Community Alliance and a Board Member of the Poston Preservation Project. She is also an author and documentary film maker.

She was born in the Poston, Arizona Japanese American incarceration camp during WWII and her baby bracelet is now a part of the Japanese American collection at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.

 

Joaquin Valdepeñas ’73 Receives CSUF Distinguished Alumnus Award

Joaquin Valdepeñas, a Class of ’73 Colonist alumnus, received a Distinguished Alumnus Award from CSU Fullerton, where he graduated in 1978 with a bachelor’s degree in music performance.

Principal clarinetist with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Valdepeñas is considered one of the most distinguished clarinetists of his generation. As a soloist and recitalist, he has been principal clarinetist in the Toronto Symphony Orchestra since 1980. He also is a founding member of the Grammy-nominated Amici Chamber Ensemble. He recently returned to CSUF to teach classes for maturing clarinetists.

His dozens of recordings have earned two JUNO awards and three Grammy nominations. He has performed with Yo-Yo Ma, Joshua Bell, Leif Ove Andsnes and Kathleen Battle, as well as the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and the Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio.

A native of Torreon, Mexico, Valdepeñas grew up in Anaheim, where he began studying the clarinet with the Anaheim High school band at 13, using a borrowed instrument. After completing his studies at CSUF, he was admitted to the prestigious music performance program at Yale University, where he earned his master’s degree.

Established in 1994, the Vision & Visionaries awards are the highest honors that the university bestows on alumni and community supporters.

Super Bowl Coaches to Join Golfers at AHS Alumni Association Golf Classic & Auction

In Classic Colonist style, New York Giants Super Bowl Coach Jim Fassel ’67 and his son, John, the LA Rams Special Teams Coach who recently made his Super Bowl debut, will be among participants at the 10th Annual ASHAA Golf Classic & Auction, Monday, Feb. 18, at Western Hills Country Club.

Jim Fassel ‘ 67 holds the NFL Golden Football sent to AHS for his contribution to Super Bowl history. His son, John, is Special Teams Coach for the LA Rams.

The tournament’s Hall-of-Fame lineup will include many other outstanding Colonist athletes like football legend Mickey Flynn ’57. AHS Coaches, many of whom are Anaheim alumni, are forming golf foursomes, and will be joined by Dan Miller, former athletic director and head basketball coach.

A day of sunshine is predicted for the President’s Day tournament that will raise funds for the AHSAA’s Spirit Scholarships and the Athletic Department’s facilities improvement campaign.

Along with a day of golf, the event includes a 2 p.m. lunch, awards, and an auction and opportunity drawing, both featuring an array of donated prizes. All are welcome to attend, with lunch tickets available for $30. To signup, click here or contact the AHSAA at anaheimalumni@yahoo.com.

A big thank you to the sponsors and donors who make this top fundraiser possible!

The AHS Alumni Association is pleased to welcome first-time GOLD sponsor Selman Chevrolet.

Thanks also to Pride Sponsor Al Rodriguez and his AHS Foursome; and Blue Sponsors Boydstun Realty & Property Management, owner Reon Boystun Howard ’74; Gerald Woodward ’59, Michael La Torre ’65.

Colonist cheers to our beverage sponsor Jerry Zomordian from Anaheim ARCO, as well as to Ron Davini ’65, an AHS Hall of Famer who has sponsored lunch for several years to feed our event volunteers.

Tee-signs will be displayed through course, thanks to sponsors such as Jeff Morris ’67 in member of his classmate Mark Uhlich ‘67.

Questions may be directed to anaheimalumni@yahoo.com or by calling AHSAA Events Director Debbie Vidana, 714-883-2389.

AHS Holds Record for Alumni Super Bowl Appearances!

Anaheim High alumni have made history as players or coaches in the Super Bowl. In fact, Anaheim High holds the record for the most grads from  an Orange County high school to participate in pro football’s ultimate game.

Now  let’s put the icing on the cake by adding that Anaheim High’s 1967 Drill Team made an appearance in the first Superbowl! Hard to top!

But first let’s talk about the players.

Anaheim’s Reuben Droughns, Class of 1996, played on special teams for the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII. The most prolific running back in Anaheim Colonists football history, Droughns is the only Anaheim running back to surpass 1,000 yards rushing three times, and ended his career with 4,958 yards, the second highest total in Orange County history up to that time. Check out the Hall of Fame listing on this website to learn more about his pro career and what’s he’s doing now.

Gerry “Moon” Mullins, Class of 1967, is the main man when it comes to playing in Super Bowls. He played in Pittsburgh’s first four Super Bowl champions (IX, X, XIII, XIV). Playing under Chuck Noll, Mullins established himself at left guard, and was an integral part of the Steelers’ dynasty of the 1970s. He started in all four of Pittsburgh’s Super Bowl victories, blocking for the Pro Football Hall of Fame backfield duo of Terry Bradshaw and Franco Harris. Mullins spent his entire eight-year career with the Steelers, retiring after Pittsburgh’s victory in Super Bowl XIV. Read more about this Anaheim High great in the Hall of Fame list on this website.

Jim Fassel, Class of ’67, was named NFL Coach of the Year in his first season at the helm in New York, when he led Giants to Super Bowl XXXV.  He’s stilling winning football games as head coach of the Las Vegas Locomotives, leading the United Football League team to two back-to-back championships. You can read more about his career on this website under the Hall of Fame listing.

 Better yet, meet Jim in person at the Feb. 21 AHS Alumni Association Golf Classic and Dinner. This President’s Day event at Western Hills Country Club is not just for golfers. All alumni, family and friends are invited to enjoy a day on the course, in the club house, at a post-game reception, silent auction and dinner. Jim will lead a live auction of items he’s donating, including a Las Vegas package. Jim is a true “Blue and Gold” Colonist and donates an annual scholarship in the name of his father, Bud Fassel, also an AHS graduate who served as equipment manager and was part of the legendary Clare Van Hoorebeke football program.  

Now back to the Drill Team . . .Becky Scott, a Class of ’67 grad, well remembers the experience of performing during the half-time show for the first Super Bowl, which was played in Los Angeles. 

Green Bay and Kansas City were the opposing teams and the Arizona and Grambling University Bands were featured in the half-time ceremony, along with the AHS Drill Team. Becky remembers that the bands and AHS Drill Team formed an outline of the United States and several of the AHS girls were picked to carry NFL team flags and march onto the “map” where the teams were located.  Becky carried the San Francisco 49er’s flag. 

Anyone with photos or addtional memories of this Super Bowl appearance is encouraged to share them. Please email anaheimalumni@yahoo.com with your special memories of Anaheim High.

Happy 100th to Colonist Centurion Jeanette VanDelden

Anaheim grads joined with Jeannie’s family to celebrate her 100th birthday!

Born Dec. 21, 1918, in Shelton, Nebraska, Jeanette (Jennie) Rose Campbell Van Delden’s was 6-years-old when she moved to Anaheim with her family in 1924.

Called Jennie by her family and friends, she attended Citron Elementary School and Fremont Junior High. She graduated in 1936 from Anaheim Union High School.

In 1937, she married Henry Van Delden. They had twin daughters, Bonne Mae and Bette Lou.

One of the many memories she shares about growing up in Anaheim is being rescued by boat, along with her husband and baby daughters, from the roof of their home on Wilhelmina Street during the 1938 flood.

Jeanette and Henry were married for 61 years, until he passed away in 1998.

Jennie worked for Anaheim Laundry from 1947 to 1952. In 1952, she went to work for Northrop Aircraft in Anaheim for 19 years, retiring in 1970.

Her community activities include serving as a volunteer for 26 years with the Friends of Anaheim Library. She retired as the group’s treasurer in 2014. She is also an active member of the Anaheim High School Alumni Association and rarely misses a meeting of the month Alumni Breakfast Club.

Jeanette is an avid card player and often wins games of Rummy against her daughter, Bonne Stevens, and Bonne’s group of friends, who are 1955 Anaheim High graduates. Jeanette also keeps busy by reading novels and regularly playing solitaire on her IPad.

Jeanette said her secret to a long life is having a good sense of humor and a nightly cocktail.

Please join the AHS Alumni Association in toasting to the continued health and long life of this lovely lady, who is the quintessence of grace and elegance. May she continue to touch the lives around her with her kind spirit and gentle manners.

Everything’s Coming Up Roses for AHS Student Selected to Ride Parade Float

Anaheim High sophomore Evelyn Maldonado, 15, said she’s been practicing her wave for the millions of viewers who will be watching the 129th Rose Parade.  

Along with her love for music and singing, Evelyn was selected to be part of this year’s Rose Parade festivities because she’s a role model who inspires others.  A “Student of the Month” who’s on Anaheim High’s honor roll, Evelyn  was  18 months old when she was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, an eye cancer that claimed her vision.

Evelyn said she discovered her love of music around age 3, when she started singing along to a CD of Disney princess songs her mother brought her to listen to during her treatments.

By age 7, Evelyn started classes at the Anaheim Braille Institute. For the past nine years, she has been thriving in the school’s performing arts program, singing lead in her school musical and in the Johnny Mercer Youth Choir.

Evelyn will be joined by two other Braille Institute students on the Lions Club International  float, which celebrates the Club’s “Rocking the Vest” rap video, which Lions International  created so younger potential members can view Lions in a new and fun way. The rap lyrics focus on what wearing the yellow Lions Club vest means: “Whenever a Lions Club gets together, problems get smaller and communities get better.”

The Lions Club has been supporting the Braille Institute since 1925, when Helen Keller named the Lions “Knights of the Blind” for their good work to prevent blindness and help those with vision loss. For the Braille Institute’s students, riding on a float that’s in keeping with the Rose Parade theme, “The Melody of Life,” is also symbolic of their journey.

Braille Institute President Peter Mindich points out in an article on the Institute’s website (www.brailleinstitute.org/anaheim) that for these young students, vision loss doesn’t mean loss of doing what you love, adding that his three students inspire others through their “positivity and confidence through their musical and singing talents.”

The Rose Parade appearance of these young ambassadors is also serving as a special kick off for the Braille Institute’s centennial celebration.  The Los Angeles-based nonprofit was founded in 1919 and began offering free programs and services to blind and vision-impaired Orange County residents in 1934. 

Other activities marking the 100th anniversary will take place throughout the year, including the Feb. 28 grand opening of a completely made over Anaheim Center at 527 North Dale Ave. The new 14,000-square-foot center will support more than 37,000 people with vision loss through 300 classes and programs.

Evelyn’s mother and older sister plan to be among the thousands of parade-goers cheering for all the Lion’s Club float, as it proceeds down Colorado Boulevard. The Colonist community will also be applauding Evelyn for her courage and Anaheim High spirit and pride as she rides with her head held high in the 2019 Rose Parade.

(Photo courtesy of the Braille Institute)

 

AHS Connection to the Japanese-American WWII Experience Comes Full-Circle

Sharing Her Family’s Unique History Becomes Life Work for AHS Alumna

George Hirahara’s softball seen at Smithsonian during AHSAA visit.

Anaheim High Class of 1973 graduate Patti Hirahara, whose family came to Anaheim as part of the Japanese-American resettlement after WWII,  is carrying her family’s story forward by sharing an acclaimed photo collection and other ephemerae preserved from their incarceration in a WWII Japanese relocation camp.

Her work is also helping illuminate Anaheim High’s connection to the Japanese-American WWII experience.

Patti’s father, grandparents and great-grandparents were moved from Yakima, Washington, to Wyoming’s Heart Mountain Relocation Center. From a secret darkroom underneath a camp barracks, Patti’s father, Frank, and grandfather, George, developed and printed 2000 photographs that chronicled the lives of the 10,000-population Heart Mountain camp.

(There were nine other camps built under the direction of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Executive Order 9066, which authorized the incarceration of 120,000 Japanese-Americans, including infants and children. Over two-thirds of them were U.S. citizens. Signed Feb. 19, 1942, the order was later called America’s “worst wartime mistake.”)

As a citizen of Japan, her grandfather George was not allowed to possess camera equipment. But Patti’s father Frank C. Hirahara, then a high school teenager, was a U.S. citizen and allowed to take photos with the family camera purchased from the Sears, Roebuck and Montgomery Ward catalogs.

While Frank was incarcerated, he played trumpet in the famous Heart Mountain George Igawa Dance Band and was photo editor of the Heart Mountain High School “Tempo” annual during his senior year in 1944.

When Frank passed away in 2006, he could not have imagined that his family’s history would allow historians and museums to create photographic collections and exhibits across the U.S. that would tell the tale of the Japanese immigration into the United States, their history in America, and the incarceration of Japanese Americans during WWII.

Thanks to Patti’s diligence, her ancestors’ experience became the subject of an Emmy-award winning documentary, “The Legacy of Heart Mountain,” and used as background historical material for the world premiere of the musical “Allegiance” at the Old Globe Theater in San Diego.

In addition, the family’s photo collection has been displayed in numerous exhibits, including  being shown at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History and the FDR Presidential Library and Museum.

After he was released from the camp in 1945, he continued his education at Washington State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 1948.

In 2010, Patti donated the original negatives and photos to WSU. Funding from the National Park Service’s Japanese American Confinement Sites Grant Program allowed the University to preserve, clean and digitize the negatives for future generations. Click this link to access the collection.

Patti Hirahara named honorary WSU alumna

For her work, Patti has received numerous awards and recognitions, including being named a WSU honorary alumna. Receiving the award was especially significant for her, as this year marks the 75th anniversary of when her father began taking photos in the camp.

“WSU’s history is unknown to many people, especially the fact that the university allowed Japanese-American students to continue their education during WWII,” she said. “It is an extreme honor to be recognized by my father’s alma mater and it has been a wonderful partnership with WSU over the last eight years.” She is the first Japanese American to receive the award since 1966.

Patti has worked more than six years locating many of the people in the photos. By sharing them with family descendants, she offered them a piece of history that they never knew existed. In addition, she’s spearheaded workshops, films and presentations during which she shared her family’s story and photo collection with hundreds of students and community members, as well as being a featured speaker at the FDR Presidential Library.

In 2009, the Anaheim Library’s Heritage Center  held its first museum without walls  exhibit documenting the Hirahara family’s legacy to the City.

Most recently, Patti’s has joined efforts with the  Anaheim Library Heritage Center to identify and interview the 50 students of Japanese descent whose educations at Anaheim High were interruped when their families were forced to relocate to camps.

A particularly poignant part of the Anaheim High story is that the principal at this time, Dr. Paul Demaree, was born in Japan to missionary parents. He was especially vocal in speaking out against discrimination toward Japanese-Americans, a courageous position to take considering the war fervor at the time. Principal Demaree, who also served as the District’s superintendent, kept in touch with his Japanese-American students and encouraged them to continue their studies.

Ironically, the parents of today’s AUHSD Superintendent, Mike Matsuda, were both incarcerated in the same internment camp; his mother, Ruth Ikeda, was one of the students who had to leave Anaheim High during her freshman year.

 

1966 Grad Evolves from Art Curator to Historic Character

Steve Clugston as George Washington

Anaheim High Class of 1966 graduate Steve Clugston has spent his life in the art world, and now he’s bringing art to life with his living history portrayals.

Spectators at the June 10 Anaheim Flag Day Celebration will get to see Clugston in action when he dons his tri-corner hat to portray America’s Founding Father George Washington.

This will be a homecoming for Clugston whose mother still lives in the house he grew up in on Briardale. His siblings are all AHS alumni. Brother Greg lives in Arizona, Gail lives in Artesia, and Yvonne passed four years ago.

After his studies at Fullerton College, CSU Fullerton and Long Beach, Clugston became an exhibition designer for Laguna Art Museum, Laband Art Gallery and the California Museum of Photography. His last gig was curating the March Field Air Museum.

Upon retiring in 2006, Clugston developed an educational program performing living history characters, including George Washington, Mark Twain, Galileo, Glenn Curtiss and Admiral Chester Nimitz.  His resume also includes teaching music lessons in San Diego County’s historian town of Julian, where he lives with his wife Vickie.

Saldivar is Anaheim’s First Alumnus Principal

2017 – Robert Saldivar – Class of 1996

Roberto Saldivar, a Class of ’96 graduate  is now serving as Anaheim High’s newest principal and the first alumnus to serve in that position. He  previously was at Orange View Junior High as principal.

Saldivar began his teaching career at Anaheim in 2001, after earning his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology with a minor in health from Cal State Fullerton. He later earned his master’s in education from Azusa Pacific University.

At Anaheim High he taught AVID, health science and coached baseball, football, and basketball. He began his administrative career as an assistant principal at Ball Junior High, then returned to Anaheim as an AP before becoming the principal of Orangeview Junior High, also an AUHSD school.

Saldivar with his family of junior Colonists

Saldivar, whose wife Liliana Hernandez is also an AHS graduate from Class of 1999, said he is grateful for the opportunity to lead his alma mater. “The saying really does ring true in my case: ‘Once a Colonist, always a Colonist.’ ”