George Washington High School - In Memory

We want to remember the good times with family and friends who are no longer with us.

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--Jerry Trainor

1938
--Harry Gershon (8/2/2007)
Served with distinction in the Army, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment of 82nd Airborne, received Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart. Successful L.A. business litigation attorney -- Errol Flynn was a client.

1939
--Marilyn Barnett (10/22/2005)
Married name Borovoy. Volunteer for many organizations. Professional registered parliamentarian and taught parliamentary law since 1975. Hall of Merit inductee.
--Maxime 'Max' Faget (10/9/2004)
pioneering NASA engineer - designed Mercury capsule
--Marjorie Gross (10/25/2005)
Marge, whose married name was Salin, was a successful writer of prose and poetry, including her memoir of the SF Beat Generation scene, "I was a Hobohemian Dilettante" (1985). One of the first organizers of the Sausalito Arts Festival and the first director of the Marin Society of Artists.

1940
--Howard Oser (4/25/2006)
Avid horticulturist, raised prize roses; member, SF Downtown Garden Club, Marin Art and Garden Center Rose Society.
--Ernest Ribera (9/25/2007)
Football and track star at Wash and SJSU. Career in education took him from history teacher and football/track coach at Jefferson High (Daly City) to Jefferson District Superintendent.
--Janice Schark (11/13/2007)
Also taught at Washington, Lowell, and 3 junior highs. Served on the Alumni Board of Directors for over two decades.

1941
--Paul Knudsen (8/5/2006)
Began his teaching career at Mission HS; Carlos Santana was one of his students
--Jeffery Meyer (6/24/2006)
Jeff served in WWII and Korea, spent his career with the family's chemical company Wilson George Meyer & Co., chaired the California Academy of Sciences, served on the S.F. Host Committee which entertained visiting dignitaries, and was knighted with the Norwegian Order of St. Olaf.

1941 and Teacher
--Hoadley Johnson (11/14/2003)

1942
--Edwin 'Ed' Hoffman (10/14/1998)
freelance photojournalist w/AP & UPI; first correspondent to cross 38th parallel 10/1950 upon outbreak of Korean War; posthumously inducted into GWHS Hall of Merit
--Michael Keropian (3/12/2007)
A masterful physical therapist, helped many top dancers and hundreds of children. His first patent was for orthopedic hand brace in 1956. Head of physical therapy at Children's Hospital S.F. 1953-1985.

1943
--Raymond Bell (5/19/2006)
Ray dedicated his life to education. He began as a coach and teacher, ascended to principal, and at the time of his retirement in 1986 was superintendent of schools. He also directed the CIF State Basketball Tournament for 15 years. Hall of Merit inductee.

1947
--Patricia Helms (June 12, 1989)
--William Sargis (5/6/2006)
"Sarge" was a legendary cabbie and dispatcher for four decades as well as exceptionally successful horse race handicapper.

1948
--Jacob Arnautoff (2/6/2007)
One of GWHS muralist Victor Arnautoff's sons, Jake also became an artist.
--George Solomon (10/7/2001)
pioneering researcher in the field of psychoneuroimmunology; GWHS Hall of Merit member

1949
--Robert Jones (3/30/2005)
Jazz pianist, R.C. Jones Trio/Quartet; rock organist, Liquid; jazz-fusion synthesizer keyboardist, Natural Wonder.

1950 and Principal
--Allan Torlakson (1995)
Served as GWHS Principal from 1976 to 1981.

1951 or 1952
--Arthur Reed (9/29/2006)

1952
--Richard Kavich (8/21/2007)
Pioneering human sexuality psychotherapist and prolific author.

1953
--Josiah Beeman (6/14/2006)
Joe was a a close political associate of Phil Burton, political campaign manager, SF Supervisor 1967–68, Democratic National Convention Executive Director 1984. Appointed by President Clinton as U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand and Western Samoa 1994-99. Hall of Merit inductee.

1954
--Arnold Mentz (12/8/2006)
--Richard Millikan (12/7/2006)
--Sarah Southerd
A dear friend. Married to Bill R. Todd for 45 years, two children. Sister lives in CA, Patricia Southerd Megel.
--Jason Yuen (5/28/2005)
Prominent architect; SF Int'l Airport's Chief Architect 1968-79 Director of Planning and Construction 1979-92; SF Children's Zoo, California Academy of Sciences Dept. of Ichthyology.

1957
--Carole Cooney (6/24/2006)
--George Parr (7/19/2006)
Former Postmaster of Stewart's Point, avid outdoorsman, active with the Russian River Watershed Protection Committee.
--Janice Schulz (11/4/2005)
Married name McGehee.

1957 and Teacher
--Effie Pandell (9/1/2005)

1959
--Donald Jin (3/30/2005)
--Ray (Ramon) MacWilliamson (Sept. 12, 1994)

1960
--Tony Ceschi (12/11/2005)
--Edward Fitzpatrick (7/21/2006)
Proud veteran of SFFD Station 6.
--Larry Johnson (11/11/2006)
USAF vet, MSEE from SJSU, careered at Bechtel and NASA Ames.
--Robert Loustalot (3/24/2003)
33 year teaching career at Lincoln High, 16 year observer of officials with PAC 10 Conference, cofounded Western States Basketball Officials Camp.
--Linda Morningstar (June 6, 2007)
http://www.claytonfuneralhomes.com/obits/index.php?s=pecot
--Judy Stewart (1/23/2005)
Married name Corse.

1961
--James Burke (4/11/2006)
--Terri Rasmussen (2/27/2002)

1963
--Robyn Hooper (11/17/2006)
Married name Aissa.

1964
--Joseph Fitzpatrick (10/9/2005)
"Dody" was a veteran of the SF Sheriffs Dept. and the SFFD.
--Jean Goyhenetche (11/27/2006)
--Robert Mendle (11/11/2006)
Bob just retired in 3/06 after 30 years of practicing medicine. He also taught at UCSF and co-founded the Rhoda Goldman Assisted Living Center.
--Nikita Scope (10/29/2004)
Died while vacationing in San Miguel D’Allende, Mexico. Born in Shanghai to a prominent and aristocratic Russian family, he and his family immigrated to San Francisco in 1948. He earned his law degree from Kennedy Law School and provided considerable pro bono services for worthy causes.

1965
--Kenneth Yee (6/29/2003)

1966
--Roger Dorfman (10/17/2006)
Radio announcer, producer, and audio archivist. Created the American Archives Radio Library that provides audio to media outlets, produced "At the Turn of the Century" for KGO-AM, and gave much time to the 1906 Earthquake Centennial Alliance. Roger had just returned to SF from LA.

1967
--Randy Firpo (10-29-1999)
My Loving Mom. Phaidra Martenson Class of '87
--Leonard Westwood (3/19/2006)

1969
--Alvin Dukes (1/11/2003)
Counterintelligence agent in the U.S. Dept. of Armed Forces Criminal Investigation Division and later Ground Operations Education Instructor with Northwest Airlines.
--Raymond Quan (3/16/2005)
--Phil Smith (7/29/2002)
The former Dons and Warriors guard, 1976 & 77 NBA All-Star, died of bone marrow cancer after fighting several other diseases.

1972
--Kevin Horridge (2006)
--Nedra Lacey (2005??)
Gone but not forgotten.
--Jerry Shilgi (5/25/1994)
Auto accident victim in Mexico, where he was coordinating an international Afro-Cuban Music Conference. Fund to benefit Music Dept. founded by the Shilgi family to honor Jerry.

1973
--Edmund Garcis (6/20/2007)
"Mundy" was a certified personal fitness trainer in London, England.
--Betty Ong (9/11/2001)
Betty Ann Ong was a flight attendant on American Airlines Flight 11 out of Boston's Logan Airport on September 11, 2001. Under the most unimaginable circumstances, she calmly and professionally contacted AA's North Carolina Reservations Center via the on-board Airphone system to report the hijacking as well as which seats the hijackers were in, enabling the FBI to identify them, and provided crucial information in her running account of the hijacking until the plane was flown into the North Tower of NYC's World Trade Center. Born and raised in SF's Chinatown and a 1973 graduate of GWHS, Betty was a caring and thoughtful person who looked after the young and elderly. She is survived by two sisters, a brother, and her parents. Then-SF Mayor Willie Brown declared Sep. 21, 2001 as BETTY ONG DAY, saying, “When 180,000 San Franciscans say their prayers, they can say the angel, Betty Ong, by name.” Betty's sister Cathie Ong-Herrera established the Betty Ann Ong Foundation to continue Betty's legacy of helping others. Please visit her site and make a contribution in Betty's honor.

1974
--Violet Lee (10/2004)
"Cookie" died of kidney failure. Thanks to her husband Henry Fong for the info.
--Diane Nakamura (9/2/2007)
Diane's mom passed along how much she enjoyed being at our group 50th birthday party in 10/2006.

1975
--Megan Van Peebles (March 13, 2006)
Megan Van Peebles - our song girl with the huge red afro! She died peacefully in her sleep. Totally unexpected - of a seizure. She leaves behind her ex-husband, Ronald Van and two sons, Ronald Van Jr. age 15 and Roman Van, age 12. Her funeral was attended by some 300 people of which at least 100 were Washington Eagles!

1976
--Angela Parks (3/10/2004)
Angela's married name was Cain.
--Lisa Washington (7/29/08)
Killed by random gunfire while watching her grandchildren play outside her Richmond home.

1979
--Dawn Fritsche (August 4, 2008)

1981
--Kenny Andres
--Marth Galvin

1986
--Gilbert Rankin (4/3/2005)

1990
--Jeff` Sanders (2008)
Jeff was heavily involved in Drama and Japanese and will be missed.

2002
--Robert Stanford (8/27/2006)

Assistant Principal
--Adolph (Al) Lubamersky (April, 1983)
GWHS Machine Shop Teacher (Shop Building is named in his honor now (A.E.Lubamersky Industrial Arts Center), Football Coach, and eventually Vice Principal of GWHS (for at least the Class of 1973 & 1974). GWHS Academic Career spanning from 1954 to 1981, and Wilson High Vice Principal at the time of his death in April, 1983. Graduate of USF, resident of Marin County, Volunteer at San Quintin Prison helping Inmates. My GWHS Homeroom Teacher (SHOP-2), and A Good Man!!

Fall 1963
--Boris (Bob) Bentley (8/3/1967)
Sgt. Bentley was killed in Kien Hoa, South Vietnam, while serving with the Army's 9th Infantry Division. He had just returned to active duty after a previous injury.

Principal
--Ralph Kauer (10/1/2007)
Although he was Principal at Washington for only one school year, 1976-77, he had a long career with SFUSD.

Spring 1962
--Isom Pettus (9/12/2001)
Former manager of the Postal Concentration Center in San Francisco, military mail's transfer point between the USPS and the DoD for all operations in the Pacific.
--Michael Remy (4/2/2003)
Died of prostate cancer. Founded law firm Remy, Thomas and Moose, specializing in environmental and land use law, and taught at CSU Sacramento. Among his many accomplishments, Mike spearheaded the successful drive to close PG&E's Rancho Seco Nuclear Power Plant. The Michael Remy Vernal Pool Preserve in Solano County, managed by the Center for Natural Lands Management, and the California State Bar's Michael Remy Environmental Law Scholarships honor Mike and his work.
--Nonna Skreitul (March 16, 1997)
Died in an automobile accident with her daughter 24 year old Stephanie Kilman.
--Ben Tuvera (1994)
Ben Tuvera, was a police dispatcher who died of a heart attack at 50, exactly 12 years before his son, S.F. Police officer Bryan Tuvera, who was shot while persuing a suspect in the Sunset District.

Teacher
--Alex Athanasopoulos (7/14/2003)
Basketball court and Scholarship named in Mr. A's honor.
--Margaret Coope (3/2/2007)
--Joe Harris (6/9/2007)
English and Drama; "moonlighted" as S.F. Opera's Dresser for 44 years.
--A. Elgin Heinz (2005)
--Leonard Lundgren (1/2007)
--Lionel Marcus (2/11/2007)
--John McGrath (3/2/2003)
Varsity Basketball coach at GWHS for many years. When Coach retired from GWHS he moved to Sonora where he was the volunteer coach at Columbia Jr. College.
--Louise McTernan (1997)
--Joan Monte (10/2000)
--Frank Power (12/17/2004)
--Gabe Raab (9/17/2000)
--John Rocky (7/25/2005)
--Vicky Silveira (9/24/2007)
--John Soares (Unknown)
He was a wonderful man and was my senior year stage crew teacher. He loved being part of the staff of GWHS and, and loved being able to work with the drama department to put on terrific productions, along with Mrs. DeMatteis.

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