Headlines

1. Introduction to some classmate profiles
2. Classmate profiles - Dave Taylor
3. Classmate profiles - Cathi Marshall Rose
4. Photographs
5. Memorial pages
6. Web site volunteers

Introduction to some classmate profiles
In this newsletter, we have the profiles of two classmates…………Dave Taylor and Cathi Marshall. Dave managed to survive the experience of adding two rooms and a deck to his home. What fortitude! Cathi is an inspiration to all of us who have dreamed of doing something but never pursued the dream. Just four years ago, she made the decision to pursue her dream and now it has become reality. Bravo, Cathi! top

Profile of a Classmate - Dave Taylor

After Analy, I went to SRJC for 2 years and then I moved to Hawaii for about 18 months. I came back to work for the family apple/trucking business. I married my wife, Pam, in 1971. She went to Analy class of ‘70. In 1975, our company opened an office in Yakima, Washington. We have been here ever since. I am retired now. Pam is an insurance agent for AAA. We have no children………just one dog and one fish. I’m still into classic cars, sports and computers.

Just recently we added on a new bedroom, bath and deck to our home. Anyone who has seen the movie, The Money Pit, can relate to our experience!

I want to thank Charlie and all you guys for this web site.

'69 El Camino

Maggie Mae

Profile of a Classmate - Cathi Marshall Rose

Four years ago, when some people in our class were dreaming of retirement, I decided to follow my dream, go back to college and get a degree in landscape architecture.

For years my husband and I had been guiding our children to follow their passion as they headed off to college. When they’d invariably ask, “What’s a passion?” we’d explain, “It’s when you are doing something for hours and it feels like only minutes have gone by.” That concept is sometimes difficult for an eighteen year-old, who doesn’t know which college meal plan to choose, let alone which path in life will make him feel most alive.

I, however, know what it feels like to be passionate. Working in my garden, designing and creating spaces in the landscape, connecting with nature and communicating ideas through art have been my passion for years. As a full-time homemaker and mother, I had many years to develop this connection with the landscape at our home but always wished I could learn more. So, when our last child began to fill out college applications, I began to dream of doing the same.

I discovered that UC Davis had a degree in landscape architecture and my heart ached to think that something so wonderful and so important to me was really out of reach. It was then that a dear friend gave me some valuable guidance. As a strategic planning consultant to large firms, Gloria showed me her techniques for decision-making could also be used by just one person.

First, I was to envision where I wanted to be in five years. I wasn’t allowed to use negative phrases like “this probably won’t happen” or “It would be wonderful, but…” Seeing myself as a landscape architect was a passionate dream so I had no trouble with that first step. Then I was to simply work backwards to plan how I was going to reach my goal. The only way I’d ever be a landscape architect was to get a college degree. Clearly, I realized that following my passion meant getting accepted to Davis’ Landscape Architecture Program.

With the blessing of my family (by then my dear husband had four of us attending college at the same time), I spent the next three years commuting to Davis, almost a two-hour drive each way. The sacrifice of time and energy was great but the experience was more than I could have imagined. Every class I attended, every project I completed, every friendship I made, fed my dream of learning more about landscape architecture.

An unexpected gift also came with my college experience. No one ever referred to my age. Many students were in their thirties and forties and one person was even older than I. Age, however, was just not an issue. It was as if for three years we became ageless, or perhaps all of us youthful again, and we thirty students saw each other only in terms of our work. At noon, nobody asked me to fix them a sandwich…after class, no one expected me to clean up the mess. It was a magical time when the pursuit of learning was all that mattered.

You’ll be pleased to know that our age also has its advantages. I was much more focused and thorough in my studies than I ever was as a youth. As a result, I got better grades than my college-age children, graduated with honors and, also, received a student award from the American Society of Landscape Architects for my designs. So you see, dear classmates, we are like fine wine…we are getting better with age.

Graduation is a day etched in my mind. Because one of our sons was also graduating that day from UC San Diego, my family cheered as I got my diploma from Davis in the morning, dashed to the Sacramento Airport, flew to San Diego, grabbed a taxi for the UC campus and jumped out just in time to see another batch of graduates filing onto the football field. I’m sure we were the only people there clutching carry-on luggage but it was worth it. The photo I’ve included shows us two graduates at the end of our special day. I think our graduation leis reflect how tired, but happy, we were by then.

After taking the summer off to recuperate, I began doing jobs for friends and relatives, was asked to design a small park in Santa Rosa (see photo) and am now interning with a wonderful firm in St. Helena. Every time I go to work I learn more about landscape architecture and feel good about my decision to go back to school.

So, next time you dream of what else the world might offer, remember your classmate who embraced a dream, followed her passion and discovered a whole new chapter waiting out there.

Good luck and happy dreaming!
Cathi Marshall Rose

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Photographs
You can’t send Charlie too many photos. He loves to get them! Send him photos of you and/or your family and/or anything that relates to you. If you have already sent photos, send updates from time to time. That way, the web site. can be kept fresh. Also, any old pictures for the ‘Old Photographs’ pages would be much appreciated.

Photos can be e-mailed to Charlie or sent by mail to 1275 4th Street, #346, Santa Rosa CA 95404. Any photos that are mailed to Charlie will be returned. top

Web Site Volunteers

Volunteers who would like to contribute some time and effort and ideas to helping grow and improve the Class of ’65 web site are continually being sought. If you would like to help, just email Charlie and let him know. Your efforts and ideas would be most welcome.

In addition, we are looking for those people who were involved with planning the last physical, 10-year reunion to participate in the web site. It could be a valuable organizing tool for the 2005 reunion. top