|
REGISTRATION
I hope no one minds that I have gone into some classmates' entries and made a few style changes so that every entry is similar. I have not changed a single word in anyone's entry. Just my graphic design obsessiveness that takes hold of me. Lynn Backman |
|
|
||
|
Pat Denhalter (Judkins)
 
August 02, 1944
Salt Lake City
UT
2nd Grade Teacher/retired
Married
5
The 60th reunion was great! I am glad to still be alive and able to come. I have been retired from teaching for 9 years. I tended 2 of my 16 grandchildren 2-3 days a week for 5 years, which kept me very busy. Now I take them swimming or somewhere else once a week in the summer, I am enjoying reading, digital scrapbooking, church activities, line dancing, family history, bridge, lunches out with family or friends, book club, and whatever erlse I can find to do, We have three of our 5 families of children and grandchildren living nearby, and we see them often. Watching their soccer, baseball, lacrosse, etc. has been lots of fun...no "greats" yet. I have given up my ticket to U of U football...too hard to walk back to the car in the dark, but will enjoy them on TV now. I have good memories of my years at East. Life is a gift....I will never take people for grantefd again after Covid.
 Send Pat a Message
|
||
|
Pete Kaiser
Consider this a draft. If any of it raises your curiosity or criticism, you know how to reach me.*** Driving my wife and daughter home from the hospital the day after my daughter was born, I suddenly knew that I was going to have to be a better person than I had been - not merely SEEM to be, but BE. I began trying. It was harder at first than it is nowadays, but I'm still trying every day to become a better person than I was yesterday. I'm not unhappy with how things are going, but I'm not done yet either. I still have something to reach for. Over the entire time we were all at East High I suffered from clinical depression; indeed it lasted over 50 years, from when I was 5 until I went for help at 56. That single fact did more to shape my life than anything outside my early family life. Gerald Bracey wrote, "Poverty is not an excuse. Poverty is a condition. It is like gravity, affecting everything you do on the planet." And - as I imagine many of us know - so is depression. Yet no one ever perceived it in me, not even up to the very end, when my life was nearly in wreckage and I thought nothing was left for me. Does this resonate with you? Have you kept it to yourself? I couldn't honestly write anything here without mentioning it. I must also mention that I'm completely cured. I did nothing to deserve being cured, when most depressed people never entirely get rid of it; I've just been very lucky. Very. Something else looms large: in early 2014 I was diagnosed with lymphoma, and since then treatment - I've had everything under the sun: chemo, antibodies, radiation - has superseded all other scheduling. Yet it hasn't re-depressed me, and oddly, I feel very lucky, happy to be alive on this beautiful planet, overjoyed to be living with the partner I love and to enjoy her love and the love of my children and my brothers and sisters; and some friendships. Again: I don't deserve this (how can we?). I'm just lucky. Lucky also that the cancer treatments haven't taken over my life, which is a full one. The two children from my first marriage to a French woman I met while working at the United Nations in Geneva in my mid-30s both happen to live in France now after living in several other countries. My daughter, the elder, has a doctorate in anthropology for which she did fieldwork in China: she speaks English, French, Chinese and some German; and has two kids of her own. Her brother, with a degree in Japanese language and literature, speaks English, French, Japanese and some German. My wife - we met on the train to work in Zürich - born in the Netherlands, speaks Dutch, two dialects of German, French, and English. I muddle along in English, French, and German with a smattering of Swedish. I have another son, born far away and placed for adoption beyond my control when I was 21. I never forgot him for an instant, and at 67 finally managed to find him and reach him. Now we enjoy close contact, and both our families know all about the story. My family has always known since the very first. I made sure of that. Everyone has met, with pleasure. Let me get to high school and the first years after. At East High I was lonely and felt apart. Maybe most of us did. I had very few friends. It felt tough to be an outsider, a nonbeliever, a leftist, taken as a Jew and (in my adolescent way) to have powerful intellectual and political concerns that seemed to interest no one else. You'd have no reason to have noticed this, but although I finished the school's entire academic curriculum by the end of my junior year, the school's administration wouldn't graduate me but insisted that to graduate I'd have to attend a senior year. I did, treading water, and simultaneously did a freshman year at the university nearby, where I first encountered computers in 1961. Computing eventually became my working career. I went off to university, left, re-entered, left again, and became a conscientious objector to the Viet Nam war drafted into several years of civilian service. I remain proud of that, and of all my political activism. I had a working career, fell in and out of love more than once, married for love at 37, had the two remarkable children, moved to France for work and then to Switzerland. My first marriage self-destructed, I met my now-wife at the lowest point of my life (she must have seen something in me anyhow, don't you think?), and lost my last full employment at 57. Now I'd simply call myself (have I mentioned this?) lucky, and generally happy. As an educated white man with enough money to live on in a highly-developed country with superb public services and medical care, I'm conscious of living a privileged life. But my greatest privilege is to have the love and respect of my wife, the best person in the universe; and of my children. They're a great gift. |
||
|
Chris Anderson
May 28, 1944
Salt Lake City
UT
Director Analytical Research, Actavis/Allergan Inc./Retired
Divorced
2
Unfortunately I was unable to attend the 60 year reunion but I was able to view the internet feed, which I enjoyed. The years that have passed since my graduation From East in 1962 have been filled for the most part with Joy and professional accomplishment. The highlight of my life was my marriage to Mary Hanson and the blessing of two sons, Tom and Lukas.After obtaining a BA degree in chemistry and a PhD in organic chemistry with specialization in natural products at the University of Utah and two years of postdoctoral research, I joined my soon-to-be wife, Mary, in Malaysia in the Peace Corps in 1974. We were married and spent a year at the National University of Malaysia (Universiti Kabangsaang) followed by almost four years at the University of Chile, where we remained until 1979. I conducted research on Antarctic Krill and Mary was involved with hematological research. When we returned to Utah, I took a position as a Research Assistant Professor in the College of Pharmacy, University of Utah for two years. I started ChemBiochem Research, Inc. with two other partners in 1981. CBR Inc. was the love of my professional life until we sold the company in 1995. For the next several years I was engaged in pharmaceutical research with a number of companies, which culminated in my retirement in 2013 from Actavis/Allergan Pharmaceutical as Director of Analytical Research and Special Projects (originally Watson Pharmaceutical). Since retirement I have traveled extensively throughout the U.S. and Canada in a travel van and spent several summers in Alaska, one of the most beautiful places on earth (a close second to southern Chile). I love classical guitar music and played most of my life, but I can no longer play due to arthritis in my hands. I have instead become a collector and have a modest collection of unique classical guitars. I love hiking and spend a great deal of time in the outdoors. I hope to continue loving life for many more years and look forward to our 70th reunion. Send Chris a Message
|
||
|
Cathy Hales (Moyer)
July 13, 1944
West Grove
PA
retired
Widowed
6
After graduating from East I attended BYU for five years, changed my major from math to nursing, and graduated in 1967. My parents moved to Valley Forge, PA area in 1965 and while visiting them I met my future husband, Jack Moyer. We married in the Salt Lake Temple right after I graduated from BYU and have spent our whole married life in southeastern Pennsylvania. I attended graduate school full time for two years receiving my Master's degree in nursing in 1969 from University of Pennsylvania.Jack and I were blessed with 6 children: 2 girls and 4 boys. Both daughters died from brain cancer--the oldest at age 16 and the younger one at age 13. That was certainly the greatest trial that I have experienced. We have four wonderful daughters-in-law and five wonderful grandchildren. I worked in various nursing jobs for a number of years, finally retiring in 2004 to serve a full time mission with my husband. We were called to the Greece Athens Mission and assigned to Nicosia, Cyprus. We loved that experience! Following that we lived in Beijing, China for two years, teaching English through the China Teachers Program at Beida, the "Harvard of Asia." That was also an amazing experience. We are currently serving a Church Service Mission with the PA Philadelphia Mission. I am the mission nurse and my husband is the housing coordinator. I also co-teach the gospel doctrine class. Other hobbies include reading and genealogy and travel. Since the last reunion: I served a 7 year church service mission as a familysearch support agent. I serve as an ordinance worker in the Philadelphia Temple. I was recently widowed. Send Cathy a Message
|
||
|
Kerry Merback
April 23, 1944
Las Vegas
NV
retired clinical social worker/therapist
Married
5
I was born in Salt Lake City, attended Bonneville Elementary, and Stewart Junior High on the UofU campus. Immediately after barely graduating from East because of a rebellious attitude I joined the USAF.I was baptized into the LDS Church during basic training and that event dramatically changed the direction of my life. I served as a motion picture photographer in the military for four years, then returned to Salt Lake and attended the U. In 1968 I married Rosemarie Garff in the Salt Lake Temple, worked as a Salt Lake City police officer, graduated from the U in sociology, and received my MSW in social work, also from the U. I worked in Alaska for the Bureau of Indian Affairs for a few years and then settled in Las Vegas where I worked for the VA in mental health, retiring in 1999. We have five children, 14 grandchildren after 54 wonderful years of marriage. I currently am an ordinance worker in the Las Vegas Temple, after having served as a bishop and in a stake presidency. I also serve in our stake and ward as stake camping specialist, ward camping specialist, Sunday School teacher, Primary Activity Boys leader, and Elders Quorum Secretary. See what I mean about a change in direction. I look back on high school with regret that I wasted so many opportunities to participate, but tried hard to make up for it at the U, served on the Union Board, and was eventually selected for Skull and Bones and Owl and Key. Send Kerry a Message
|
||
|
Susan Brinton (Brown)
July 01, 1944
Provo
UT
Married
10
10 Children + 67 grandchildren + 11 great grandchildren + numerous spouses = 107 of us! (As of July 2022). After graduation I went to BYU and earned a bachelor's degree in Human Development and Family Relations, plus an education degree including Kindergarten proficiency and Preschool certification. (I have learned more from my children and experiences over the years than I did in school!) Within days after graduation from BYU, I got my MRS degree (6 - 6 - 66) when I married Bruce Brown . He soon finished his master's degree and we moved to Montreal where he earned his doctorate degree in Psychology at McGill University. We moved back to Provo when he was hired as an Instructor until he finished his dissertation, and soon became an Assistant Professor. He has been a Professor at BYU in the Psychology Department for over 53 years. During that time we had 9 daughters and 1 son, and they and they descendants fill our lives with love and (mostly) joy. Family is a big priority for us. On their birthdays we call and visit each one and sing the Birthday Song. While several of our daughters and their families lived in Germany, over the course of 18 years, we took many opportunities to visit them and travel all over Europe (from Scotland to Turkey and from Spain to Poland) nearly every year. We've also accomplished visiting every one of the 50 United States, and other countries in the Middle East and Far East. We have enjoyed many varied callings in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and treasure our weekly assignments serving in the Provo Temple. I'm still happy when I meet graduates of East High School, from any year! Send Susan a Message
|
||
|
Shelley Ohlson (Davis)
 
February 29, 1944
West Jordan
UT
Retired
Married
5
I was born on Feb 29, 1944 So I have had only 19 Birthdays.After graduation from East high school, I attended LDS Business Collage for 2 years, and payed my tuition by working at Holy Cross Hospital as a Dietitian aide for 5 years. I married my high school sweetheart Kent Davis class of 1961, we have been married for allmost 58 years, we have 5 children, 2 boys and 3 girls and 8 grandchildren and all doing well. I played violin for Murray Orchestra for 35 years and taught violin orchestra at several elementary schools for 5 years. I worked for Jordan School District in the lunch program for 25 years. Attended SLCC for 2 years in Horticulture. |
||
|
Brent Scharman
September 10, 1944
Holladay
UT
Retired
Married
10
In the 10 years since writing my last life-sketch I have retired, lived in Holladay and been fortunate to be healthy and happy. I have spent my tme focusing on family, yardwork, travel. church-service and exercise.I review the paperwork of those desiring to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to assess mental health readiness to serve. My wife and I serve as part-time senior missionaries at Ensign College (formerly LDS Business College) where we are Student Success Coaches. It's a fun assignment. We have children living in Utah, California, Arizona, Ohio and Washington State and we attempt to maintain regular contact with them. I have been fortunate to maintain my health and enjoy daily in-house exercise and outdoor running. I participate in 5 and 10K races in the community and thoroughly enjoy it. I have learned that in order to have race times that are toward the top of your age range all you have to do is live long enough that the other runners die or stop competing. My good friend Grant Teasdale died at an age way too young. From our class, I have fairly regular contact with John Gardner and Tom Holberg. I enjoy those moments when I run into a classmate unexpectedly. Neal Maxfield and Jim Backman deserve some type of reward. Do you know of other class or school leaders who have been more faithful in continuing to keep the class united? Way to go you guys! |
||
|
Coy Wood
  Had the pleasure of serving my country in Vietnam in 1968 & 1969. Developed hotels and restaurants in Utah, Idaho, and Washington. Yes, we have moved around quite a bit, from Salt Lake to New Port Beach, CA; back to Salt Lake, Pocatello, ID; to Tacoma, WA; and now to Las Vegas, NV. During that time, we had three lovely daughters, one of which we lost to cancer. After I retired in Tacoma, WA. I was lost not having a job to go to, as I love my work. Long story short, we moved to Vegas and I took over a golf course "Las Vegas National", Even though I am a terrible golfer, I found a new home running a golf course that has brought me back into the hospitality field with Vegas Hotel managers and Casino managers. Ms. Sylvia and I will celebrate our 57th wedding anaveresy in 2022. Send Coy a Message
|
||
|
Gay Smith
October 13, 1943
Hamilton
MT
Writer, Retired Theatre Professor
Widowed
From East High's Assembly Committee, writing, directing and performing, staging Shakespeare scenes in Jack Christian (name correction please) class, creative writing with Miss Hammond (loved how she'd take her hair piece off in class); to a life in theatre. First working for a children's theatre in Hawaii and earning a Masters in drama and theatre from the University of Hawaii, then later a PhD in Theatre History and Criticism from UCLA; teaching and directing at Muskingum College, University of LaVerne, California State University Los Angeles, and finally 25 years now Professor Emerita at Wesleyan University. Writing scholarly articles, a couple of books (most recently "Lady Macbeth in America, From the Stage to the White House"), plays. Lived in France several years (not siquential). Happily married for almost twenty years to James Manifold; then to Phil Bosakowski, a writer and playwright (he wrote for Garrison Keillor) who died too young (46) of pancreatic cancer, both husbands the loves of my life. I treasure the friendshiops of East High days, especially Nancy Hewlett who befriended me, a gentile, and my gentile parents on 11th Avenue, when, until I met Aileen Strike in sixth grade at Ensign Elementary, it felt like I was the only non-Mormon there. From third grade to the present Nancy and I have stayed in touch. I wish I could say the same for the dear friends I remember so fondly that include Shirley Frobes, Tom Hecht, Diane Hatch, Dick Miller, Stan Owen (I was his campaign mgr) for starters. In retirement from academia I wanted to split my time between France and the Rocky Mountains. So I'm now in Hamilton, Montana five minutes from the Bitterroot River and in an old house (by Western standards) with views of the mountains from my remodeled kitchen, working on a couple of plays in these long northern winters and gardening in the short summer. No children of my own but lovely nieces and handsome nephews, and their fabulous and extensive prodigy. Send Gay a Message
|
||