60 Years!

Well, it's been two years since I posted on this blog, and I'm not quite sure how to do it any more.  But it's been 60 years since we graduated; we recently celebrated those 60 years with a reunion luncheon at Val's Restaurant on Junipero Serra in Daly City, not far from where many of us had lived and attended school, even before Jefferson.  There were 39 of us to enjoy the wonderful buffet prepared by Val's, including two teachers, Angela Bellante and Bianca Ratto Caserza.  George Hinkle was scheduled to attend, but at the last minute his doctor cautioned him to slow down & stay closer to home.  Elman Rose wanted to come, but his son had to go out of town, so was not available to bring him.  More information about our teachers in a forthcoming post.  And more information and photos from the reunion also coming.

Our reunion reminded Dolly Castellano Brush of a poem written by her Uncle Frank, on the occasion of his 60th Reunion from Balboa High School (18 years ago).  Dolly says that if her parents had stayed in San Francisco, she would have gone to Balboa.  But they moved to Daly City when she was in the 5th grade, and she is very happy to be from Jefferson!

Here is her uncle's poem.  Note that his class was just about the same size as ours.  Since it was still the Depression when he graduated, jobs were scarce.  I think it was easier for us.  Still the post-war boom.  But we are equally sad about our classmates who have passed away.


Balboa Class of Fall ‘37

Sixty years out of high school, and very hard to believe,
A milestone in our lives for others to see.

How quickly the years have rolled by,
To which we often release a sad sigh.

We were a class of 251 Buccaneers,
Smallest graduation class in Balboa in years.

We voted for caps and gowns,
The other option we turned down.

How many of us still remember that march called “Pomp and Circumstance”
    played on graduation night?
I will always remember that beautiful march, the rest of my life.

One thing I will always regret, is not attending our “Senior Ball”
Heard that everyone there enjoyed it all.

We were leaving high school for the “World of the Unknown,”
Where once Balboa was like our second home.

We graduated from high school in the worst of times,
Where jobs were so few and hard to find.

Many of us have climbed the ladder of success,
Others have failed in that quest.

Class of Fall ‘37 was instrumental in starting class reunions at Balboa,
From there, it took off like wild fire all over.

Many of us are Veterans of World War II,
We heeded the signs which read “Uncle Sam wants you.”

Many of our dear classmates have passed away,
Sad, that they are not with us to enjoy this happy day.

                Frank R. Castellano