Headlines

1. The Unnamed Analy Girl in Blue
2. Profile of A Classmate - Dennis Farmer
3. Memorial Pages
4. Web Site Volunteers
5. Web Site Sponsorship
6. Staying Young

Did all of you figure out who the ladies are in the picture on the Announcements page? From left to right, they are Suzy Travaglini, Holly Silveira, Karen Valentine, Cathi Marshall (the girl in blue) and Donna Fisher. Don’t they look great?! In fact, judging from the current individual photos that have been submitted by many classmates, the whole class looks great.

If you haven’t submitted a recent photo to Charlie yet, please do so soon. Anything in the last ten years or so is considered recent considering we graduated almost 40(!) years ago. Submitting an updated bio along with the photo(s) is even better. While photos are encouraged, submit just a bio if you don’t have any pictures available. As Charlie says on the first page of the web site, ‘Every life is an interesting story.’ Those of you who haven’t yet logged into the computer world (we know you have heard about the site via word of mouth!) are encouraged to share your life with the class, too, by mailing pictures and your bio to Charlie. top

Profile of a Classmate - Dennis Farmer

The profile of at least one classmate, with his or her permission, will be featured in each newsletter. Following is the profile Dennis Farmer submitted for the newsletter. He has had an interesting life. We’re hoping Casey makes it to the Big Leagues, too!

Where to start? After High School, I spent a couple of foundering years at SRJC until I got the expected draft notice. Figured four years in the Navy was better than a year in the jungle so I enlisted in late 1967. Spent some time in Memphis Tenn going to Electronics School prior to being assigned to VA 23, an A4 Squadron based in Lemoore Ca. Dan McNamee and I were there together for about 6 months before I shipped out on the USS Oriskany for my first tour on Yankee Station in the Tonkin Gulf in April 1969.

Back home and married a girl I'd met in Tennessee. VA 23 was disbanded and I headed up to another school in Whidby Island for training on A6 equipment. Another tour as ships company on the USS Midway for my second tour in Viet Nam. Spent too much time on both tours in the Philippines, Japan and Hong Kong trying to drink all the beer in sight. I thought I had enough of the far east but did go back one more time much later.

After getting out of the Navy in 1971, I went back to SRJC to finish what I'd should have after high school. Funny how the grades got better after a tour with Uncle Sam. AA degree in hand I moved to San Jose, in Jan 72 to go to San Jose State University where I took a double major: BS Aeronautical Operations and a BA in Business in 1974. Since the war ended that year every military pilot hit the job market effectively ending any chance of a flying career. I'd been working as an Electronic Technician while in school so I stayed put at my job and over 6 years worked up to Manufacturing Engineer and finally into Applications Engineering Manager with a small instrumentation house in Mountain View. My first son Shawn was born in 1973 and Kelley came along in 1976.

I jumped into Electrical Component Sales in 1978 and have been peddling parts ever since. I now work for a Manufacturers Rep firm, I Squared, since 1981.

I divorced the Lady from Tennessee in 1983 and remarried in 1988 to the current Managing Director of Standards and Practices, Angela Vasquez. She's half Mexican and half Irish (whew!).. We have Chelsea 13 and Casey 14 which keep us busy with all the usual Little League, Soccer, Piano, horseback riding, etc. Add to that my oldest, Shawn, just had his baby boy, Tyler in August putting me at Grandpa for the first time.

Those are the highlights and for the fun stuff: I'm horrible at golf but do enjoy a fine walk on a well manicured course, I have two Harley's that I don't have enough time to ride and I'm just wrapping up a 12 year project Hot Rodding a 1939 Chev. The glass, stereo and interior work need to be completed and then its final color sanding and chrome work and hopefully I'll have the kind of car I wanted in 1965.

I'm the Saratoga Little League President, (www.saratogall.org) and am hoping that Casey makes it to the Bigs so that he can take care of his doddering old Dad when the time comes. top

Memorial Pages
Don't you think it would be good to create a memorial page for each of our deceased classmates. It should include photos from throughout their lives, causes they were passionate about, their favorite things, etc. If any of you can provide photos, insights and/or information about any of the classmates or know of anyone who can, please contact Charlie. top

Web Site Volunteers
At the end of 2002, there were 22 classmates participating in our virtual reunion. As of March 31, 2003, there were 76 participants. That is a great increase in participation! Thank you to all who joined. It’s a ball keeping up with everyone's lives! It’s going to be so much fun to see as many of you as possible at our next ten year reunion. If you haven’t attended any of the past reunions, the committee that organizes them does a fabulous job.

The ultimate goal is to have all the members of the Class of ’65 participating in the virtual reunion. Volunteers who would like to contribute time and effort as well as ideas to helping grow the site (e.g., how to get the classmates participating in Classmates.com but not yet participating in the class’ free web site to ‘come on over’) are being sought. If you are interested in being on AnalyHS1965.com’s development committee, just let Charlie know. top

Web Site Sponsorship
Would you like to volunteer to sponsor the web site’s server for a year ($60)? In return for your sponsorship, your name (or your business’ name, if you prefer) will be listed in the footer on the first page of the site. Contact Charlie if you are interested. top

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. " An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, to the next county, to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

PEACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! top