MISCELLANEOUS SCHOOL MEMORIES
Longfellow Memories of David Iwawaki
At the last reunion we had six years ago, I asked the people who had graduated with me in Miss Wolfard's class from Longfellow what they remembered about the graduation No one seemed to remember anything, except Margaret Lima remembered wearing the same dress as Gloria Narimatsu. I told them I had been looking in a box in my garage and was surprised I still had this paper Miss Wolfard had written for our graduation.; She had written a two line poem for each student in her class. I read this at graduation and as I did, that particular student would stand up. I have included those poems below.
I remember seeing an obituary for Miss Wolfard in 1998. She was born in 1902; She graduated from Berkeley High in 1919 and attended San Francisco State.
The poems were as follows:
We hear a siren and know we must stop. It's Jimmy Robinson - a state traffic cop.
Marion Cannon's a singer on the Hit Parade on TV. You can hear her every Saturday on NBC.
Mike Agriesti is an aviator proud. His plane soars swiftly above the clouds.
Adelaide Brown - an air stewardess is she; on the flight from California to Mississippi.
You go to the dentist for a filling of gold.; Who's the dentist? Wayne Collins, our old friend of old.
Martha Abe, a dressmaker will be.; Her coats and dresses fit you to a T.
Digging in the yard to make his vegetable grow, Bill Boone tends his garden with rake, spade, and hoe.
Her name is Sandra Nedley and she runs a store. She sells gum and candy and gadgets galore.
Douglas Wah will spend every day asking, Where and how, and why do you do it this way?
Madeline Morse is her name --- a secretary I see, who'll run the school office as smooth as can be.
Kenny Perriliat will be on the corner stand, selling pencils and shoestrings, and old rubber bands.
An efficient trained nurse Diana Mock has become. She'll bring you a drink, or bandage your thumb.
Esther Omi will run the child care nursery and manage all the children with great efficiency.
A radio operator for the Navy Joe Robinson will be. Dots, dashes, and flashes - Oh My!; Oh Me!
A protographer for the Oakland Tribune is Charles Smith, you see. Now smile sweetly for the camera, says he.
Caroll Robinson will superintend a Sunday School and teach all the kiddies the golden rule.
Marjean Freitas is a school marm, busy as a bee, teaching small boys and girls to sing do-re-me.
Ronnie White is a store owner now. He sells everything from a clock to a cow.
Jacqueline Lucien is a famous violinist. At the San Francisco Symphony Concert, her name heads the list.
While at the piano, twinkling the keys, is Barbara Robinson -- playing with the greatest of ease.
As a television actress, Rochelle Curtis wins fame. Won't we be proud when we hear her name?
Down at the Oaks Baseball Park, Acie Turner appears, at bat, home runs, and many cheers.
Ada Singleton, an artist, now dabbles in paint.And makes ugly people seem what they ain't.
Joan Tademy, a busy housewife has become. She sweeps and she scrubs, and makes things hum.
Gloria Narimatsu you'll find at Fleishacker Zoo, tending elephants and alligators. She likes them, do you?
Camille James is an English teacher, I can tell. Correcting all pupils who say aincha and &swell;.
When you go to the circus, the first show you'll see, will be Johnny Corina --- a juggler of long pedigree.
A first class car salesman Kenneth Derr will be. He works with care and efficiency.
Gail Jyrinki will a society girl be, here to a dance, there to a tea.
Brenda Prudhomme, so sweet and shy, will spend her time selling burnt apple pie.
Guy Hancock, an arthmetic whiz will be, with numbers as large and one, two, and three.
Davis Iwawaki will spend his days, building bridges across rivers and bays.
The California football team, nothing will lack, for Charles Stacy will be their line plunging fullback.
Sharon Jacobson's a reporter for the Berkeley Gazette. And does she like her job?She does, you bet.
Elaine Keeler, a famous designer will be. She'll make coats and unders and false teeth, hee! hee!
All traffic signals Ronald Takahashi does know. He tells you when you must Stop and when you must Go.
Thomas will go out for the hundred yard dash. And when he sees some girls, he'll run like a flash.
Spike Thomas - the actor - now appears, and bows to us all amid many cheers.
Hear the music and hear the crowd! There's Gary Lampi, tooting his trumpet long and loud.
Margaret Lima is writing books --- and they're selling great. Come on, buy your copy, before it's too late.
Mark owns many hives of bees; and the honey he sells is sure to please.
At the parade we hear music so grand.; There's Jesse beating the drum for the Army Band.
(Some did not have last names listed.Anybody remember what they were????)
Longfellow Memories of Gail Jyrinki Gillis
I can remember waiting for 6 years to be in the Maypole Dance. Camille James was my partner. The day of the program, she got sick. Marjean Freitas told the teacher that she knew the dance and could fill in. She was in high heels and all the girls thought she looked "stupid". Well, on the first pass, she went "over" instead of "under" and the teacher stopped the music and the Maypole dance. Instead of starting it over again, she said we were "done". I was never so disappointed in my life! After all those weeks practicing and looking forward to it for so long --- all of us were devastated! All the parents and friends were sitting there and the whole thing took about 5 minutes, if that. And I thought the girls were going to strangle Marjean if they could get a hold of her! That was the worst experience!
To add your memories to this page, send them to Art Rodrigues