Please Send Your Photos

We are collecting digital images from the Class of 1979. Here's what we need:

• Old Senior Photo (or we'll use the annual photo)
• Current Photo
• Photos of you with your family, pets, doing something fun or whatever.
• If you have any old high school photos of yourself or your classmates please send those too.

Please make sure the photos are clear enough to see. No photos over 1mb. Please email photos to dawnlucrisia@comcast.net by August 15, 2009 with the subject line HIGH SCHOOL PHOTOS. If you cannot scan them for one reason or another, just contact me and we'll see how we can help you. Thanks!

Come as You Are, Yeah I'm Talking to YOU!

Many classmates allow themselves to miss out on a very special time because they aren't quite like they were in high school. Listen, I have gained weight since I met my husband, but I will still be there. There'll just be a little more of me to chit chat with.

Don't let your pride and ego stop you. Everyone has insecurities. What's important to us is that you're there. Whether you're overweight or skinny, bald or gray, fully abled or disabled, married or unmarried, gay or straight, have children or are childless, are a stay at home mom or stay at home dad, employed or unemployed, we still care about you and want you to share in this time.

What I learned from the 20th reunion was that everyone wasn't so interested in what I was doing as they were just glad to see me. I really enjoyed myself that evening and I think that we are fully capable of having another great evening just like that one, but we can't if any of the reasons listed above stop you from coming.

If you're still here on this earth, it's a blessing. As we get older, we find out just how precious life is. With each little ache and pain we get a reminder of how lucky we are to have lived to see this day. I can see beyond your physical appearance, the type of car you drive, whether you're a decorated general in the army, a business owner, a homeowner, a home maker, rich or poor. That is not at all what I'm interested in. What I want to see is you! Alive and with us. I'm capable of pulling back the layers and talking to you and I'm sure everyone else is too.

Because I write this blog on behalf of the CHS committee, this is my personal message to you. I really want to see you there.

Dawn Lucrisia-Johnson

Would You Like to Help?

The CHS reunion committee is very small and the reunion will be nice but simple. Based on the 20 year reunion, the committee felt that most attendees would be spending the majority of the time catching up with one another and we wanted to have minimal interruption to that since we only have 4 hours. This reunion is for all of us, so your input and assistance is important.

If you have ideas on what your ideal reunion would be like, please feel free to send your suggestions to CHS79.30yr@gmail.com. We'd love to hear your ideas and welcome anyone who would like to assist to let us know. Since we are holding it at a venue that is adequately staffed, we won't have to worry about set up or break down, but there will be a few details that we may be able to use your help with. If you'd like to attend the next reunion meeting, join us on August 16, 2009 at SAFECO Field at 6pm. Just let us know you're coming and we'll tell you where to meet.

We Need Your Assistance Finding Our Fallen Eagles

As part of the reunion, we would like to recognize and honor our "Fallen Eagles", both classmates and faculty members who have passed away. We know of the passing of our classmates Eric Waters, Johnny Nelson and most recently, Karen Miller along with faculty members Mr. Morrison and Mr. Smith, but if you have any other information that you can provide us on others we may not be aware of please send an email with the subject line "FALLEN EAGLES" to chs79.30yr@gmail.com. Our classmate Thomas Smith has stepped up to the plate and will be handling this part of the reunion and we will make sure he receives the information.

Since Karen Miller's passing was so recent, I thought I would share her obituary with all of you as posted in the Kitsap newspaper. To the many of us who knew and loved Karen dearly, there is no doubt we will miss her very much.

Karen Ann Doph of Port Orchard

Dec. 10, 1960 to April 20, 2009

Karen Doph passed away peacefully on Monday, April 20, 2009 in Bremerton. Her husband Steve surrounded her in love along with her family and friends through a prolonged illness.

Karen was born in Seattle to LaVerne (Pinky) and Joan Miller. After attending University of Washington, Karen spent 21 years working at Todd Pacific Shipyard. Karen's work in accounting was honored with recognition from the Department of the U.S. Navy. Together, Karen and Steve enjoyed trips to the Oregon Coast and Vancouver Island where they put their cameras to good use!

During her illness Karen watched many varieties of birds feed on the feeders Steve placed outside her windows. She used her laptop as a fun tool to do research and show friends precious photos of children, grandchildren, family trips, her cat and Bailey her dog.

Karen is survived by her husband Steve Doph of Port Orchard; her mother Joan Miller of Orcas Island; her brother Mark (LeJaun) Miller of Federal Way; her children Andrew Doph of Bangor, ME.; Nicholas (Pam) Doph of Sequim; Stephanie (Andy) Hines of Sequim; three grandchildren: Ashley Doph, Elliot Doph, and Jackson Hines; as well as two nephews: Glenn and Mathew Miller. Karen is preceded in death by her father, LaVerne (Pinky) Miller.

A Celebration of Karen's life was held on Saturday May 2nd, at Christ the Rock Community Church, 4100 Old Clifton Road SE, Port Orchard WA 98366.

Save-the-Date Cards Have Been Sent

Save-the-Date cards were mailed out to the 1979 graduates last week. Many of you have received them, but she did get some sent back to her as well. I'm posting the names of those whose cards were returned. If you spotted your name on the list, it means we don't have a current address for you. If you're still in contact with anyone on this list, please ask them to forward their mailing address to the email listed in the heading of this blog.

RECEIVED RETURNED CARD
Chau Nguyen
Darren Nakagawa
Jeanette Mitchell
Jeff MiyamotoKatrina Hunter

Kenji Sawada
Lilly Ng
Lourdes Franada Leano

Madeline Duntley
Marissa Escalona Polintan
Marlene Kimmons Torres
Naw Lily Khin

Nick Patterson
Tae Chin Yun
Terrence Maes
Tim Stanford
Tom Nakashima
Fred Furukawa
Wanda Ma
Wing Keung Cheung

The list below are of those that I know I have had contact with, received updates on, but for some reason the information wasn't transferred to the master list. Sorry! We'll reach out to you again, either by sending a new card or by email.

Anne Smith
Eddie Dela Cruz
Kevin McCormick
Rose Naomi Olds

Stephanie Hartfield

What the heck is going on with the reunion anyway?

Many of you have expressed your concerns and have been anxiously awaiting news on the CHS 30 Year Reunion. Be assured the committee has been actively working on planning your event.

The CHS Class of 1979 30 Year Reunion has been scheduled for Saturday, September 12, 2009 at Safeco Field from 6pm-10pm. The cost is $79.00 per person. Dinner is included and parking is complimentary. Adults only please!

Originally, Cleveland High School was the targeted location, but there are so many more intricate details involved when hosting events within the Seattle Public Schools. In order to keep the event in one place and make it simple, we made a decision to relocate.

To help with the communications aspect, going forward, this blog will be used as an easy way to disseminate information to the Class of 1979. Your assistance in spreading the word will also be greatly appreciated. We need all of the help we can get locating some of our lost classmates, so if you have classmates that you're still in contact with, tell them about the blog and ask them whether they've forwarded their contact info to anyone. If not, please have them send the following information (Name, Email Address, Mailing Address, Phone Number) to chs79.30yr@gmail.com.

Save the date and bookmark the blog to your favorites so you can check in for updates. We'll see you in September!