Miss Wright, 1st grade: Unlike the harpies which followed her (Catholic school), she took a gentle, compassionate approach to her teaching, one which I still channel when I am working with my own little ones. Yes had a pretty big crush on her at the time, in case you can’t tell.
Mr. Oliver, 11th grade. Nerdy, old, covered in chalkdust, about as un-stylish as it was possible to be, ridiculed by most of the student body, harder than hell–and I loved him, because he pushed me and made me think. And he was cool, once you got to know him.
Mrs. Hanna, music teacher, 6th grade. Her music classes were more of a “20th century rock 'n roll appreciation class”; she introduced me to The Beatles, The Eagles, Peter, Paul & Mary, and Sonny & Cher, to name but a few. On top of this, she herself was awesome.
Mr. Mike Healy, 6th grade, Latham Ridge Elementary: an inspiring guy with a good sense of humor; we would play knowledge games with 2 teams lined up at the blackboard, he’d call out the question and the first to write the answer wins a point; an athlete, he’d play basketball and football with us during recess; Mike made learning fun.
Mr. Tadler, 9th grade - English teacher, smart and witty, grumpy on the outside but with a heart of gold. Very encouraging to his students and a wonderful guy once you got to know him. Cast me in my first play.
Mr. Vern L. Ripley III, 11th grade American History – Introduced me to such figures as Thurlow Weed, who ended up being the subject of a paper I wrote for a history course in college. Didn’t hide his disgust for Nixon (who had resigned the presidency the summer between my freshman and sophomore high school years), but also talked before class about the Cleveland Cavaliers (who made it to the NBA’s Eastern Conference finals that '75-'76 season in only their sixth year of existence). You may have read some of Vern’s work, as he was a prolific letter writer – I saw his work in USA Today, and I believe he was also published in Time and/or Newsweek.
Mr. Pinkerton - 6th/7th/8th grade (3 grades in the same rural NorCal classroom, a la Little House on the Prairie) He would dissect roadkill racoons and such on the outdoor basketball court. He would do cider fundraisers with us by getting local homesteads with orchards to let us come pick apples. We’d use an electric grinder and a cider press. It was sooooo good but it ruined me for the rest of my life as far as that swill that passes for apple juice (though Martinelli’s gets a traditional pass). He’d help us build giant Rube Goldberg machines and human-powered kinetic sculptures. Had at least a half-dozen computers (Trash80s and Apples) in our 25 student classroom in 1984.
Joe Gerardi - My 7th grade English teacher.
Ken Seydel - college Calculus teacher; tough, demanding, an excellent instructor
Miss Wright, 1st grade: Unlike the harpies which followed her (Catholic school), she took a gentle, compassionate approach to her teaching, one which I still channel when I am working with my own little ones. Yes had a pretty big crush on her at the time, in case you can’t tell.
Mr. Oliver, 11th grade. Nerdy, old, covered in chalkdust, about as un-stylish as it was possible to be, ridiculed by most of the student body, harder than hell–and I loved him, because he pushed me and made me think. And he was cool, once you got to know him.
Mrs. Hanna, music teacher, 6th grade. Her music classes were more of a “20th century rock 'n roll appreciation class”; she introduced me to The Beatles, The Eagles, Peter, Paul & Mary, and Sonny & Cher, to name but a few. On top of this, she herself was awesome.
Mr. Mike Healy, 6th grade, Latham Ridge Elementary: an inspiring guy with a good sense of humor; we would play knowledge games with 2 teams lined up at the blackboard, he’d call out the question and the first to write the answer wins a point; an athlete, he’d play basketball and football with us during recess; Mike made learning fun.
Mr. Tadler, 9th grade - English teacher, smart and witty, grumpy on the outside but with a heart of gold. Very encouraging to his students and a wonderful guy once you got to know him. Cast me in my first play.
Mr. Vern L. Ripley III, 11th grade American History – Introduced me to such figures as Thurlow Weed, who ended up being the subject of a paper I wrote for a history course in college. Didn’t hide his disgust for Nixon (who had resigned the presidency the summer between my freshman and sophomore high school years), but also talked before class about the Cleveland Cavaliers (who made it to the NBA’s Eastern Conference finals that '75-'76 season in only their sixth year of existence). You may have read some of Vern’s work, as he was a prolific letter writer – I saw his work in USA Today, and I believe he was also published in Time and/or Newsweek.
Mr. Pinkerton - 6th/7th/8th grade (3 grades in the same rural NorCal classroom, a la Little House on the Prairie) He would dissect roadkill racoons and such on the outdoor basketball court. He would do cider fundraisers with us by getting local homesteads with orchards to let us come pick apples. We’d use an electric grinder and a cider press. It was sooooo good but it ruined me for the rest of my life as far as that swill that passes for apple juice (though Martinelli’s gets a traditional pass). He’d help us build giant Rube Goldberg machines and human-powered kinetic sculptures. Had at least a half-dozen computers (Trash80s and Apples) in our 25 student classroom in 1984.
Joe Gerardi - My 7th grade English teacher.
Ken Seydel - college Calculus teacher; tough, demanding, an excellent instructor
Mr. Felder, 12th grade math teacher - Smart, funny, engaging, and endlessly patient with students (like me) who just couldn’t quite wrap our minds around mathematical concepts the first, second or even third time he explained them.
Little Nemo, want to tell us some more about Mr. Gerardi (#8)?
Miss Wright, 1st grade: Unlike the harpies which followed her (Catholic school), she took a gentle, compassionate approach to her teaching, one which I still channel when I am working with my own little ones. Yes had a pretty big crush on her at the time, in case you can’t tell.
Mr. Oliver, 11th grade. Nerdy, old, covered in chalkdust, about as un-stylish as it was possible to be, ridiculed by most of the student body, harder than hell–and I loved him, because he pushed me and made me think. And he was cool, once you got to know him.
Mrs. Hanna, music teacher, 6th grade. Her music classes were more of a “20th century rock 'n roll appreciation class”; she introduced me to The Beatles, The Eagles, Peter, Paul & Mary, and Sonny & Cher, to name but a few. On top of this, she herself was awesome.
Mr. Mike Healy, 6th grade, Latham Ridge Elementary: an inspiring guy with a good sense of humor; we would play knowledge games with 2 teams lined up at the blackboard, he’d call out the question and the first to write the answer wins a point; an athlete, he’d play basketball and football with us during recess; Mike made learning fun.
Mr. Tadler, 9th grade - English teacher, smart and witty, grumpy on the outside but with a heart of gold. Very encouraging to his students and a wonderful guy once you got to know him. Cast me in my first play.
Mr. Vern L. Ripley III, 11th grade American History – Introduced me to such figures as Thurlow Weed, who ended up being the subject of a paper I wrote for a history course in college. Didn’t hide his disgust for Nixon (who had resigned the presidency the summer between my freshman and sophomore high school years), but also talked before class about the Cleveland Cavaliers (who made it to the NBA’s Eastern Conference finals that '75-'76 season in only their sixth year of existence). You may have read some of Vern’s work, as he was a prolific letter writer – I saw his work in USA Today, and I believe he was also published in Time and/or Newsweek.
Mr. Pinkerton - 6th/7th/8th grade (3 grades in the same rural NorCal classroom, a la Little House on the Prairie) He would dissect roadkill racoons and such on the outdoor basketball court. He would do cider fundraisers with us by getting local homesteads with orchards to let us come pick apples. We’d use an electric grinder and a cider press. It was sooooo good but it ruined me for the rest of my life as far as that swill that passes for apple juice (though Martinelli’s gets a traditional pass). He’d help us build giant Rube Goldberg machines and human-powered kinetic sculptures. Had at least a half-dozen computers (Trash80s and Apples) in our 25 student classroom in 1984.
Joe Gerardi - My 7th grade English teacher.
Ken Seydel - college Calculus teacher; tough, demanding, an excellent instructor
Mr. Felder, 12th grade math teacher - Smart, funny, engaging, and endlessly patient with students (like me) who just couldn’t quite wrap our minds around mathematical concepts the first, second or even third time he explained them.
Dr Raymond Myer Kay, MD. My teacher/mentor in the ART of medicine. A founding MD of Kaiser Permanente Southern CA. Devoted husband. Wicked gourmet. Ray had a wonderful way of making me reach higher than I thought possible. He was a massive influence on myself and countless others.
Miss Wright, 1st grade: Unlike the harpies which followed her (Catholic school), she took a gentle, compassionate approach to her teaching, one which I still channel when I am working with my own little ones. Yes had a pretty big crush on her at the time, in case you can’t tell.
Mr. Oliver, 11th grade. Nerdy, old, covered in chalkdust, about as un-stylish as it was possible to be, ridiculed by most of the student body, harder than hell–and I loved him, because he pushed me and made me think. And he was cool, once you got to know him.
Mrs. Hanna, music teacher, 6th grade. Her music classes were more of a “20th century rock 'n roll appreciation class”; she introduced me to The Beatles, The Eagles, Peter, Paul & Mary, and Sonny & Cher, to name but a few. On top of this, she herself was awesome.
Mr. Mike Healy, 6th grade, Latham Ridge Elementary: an inspiring guy with a good sense of humor; we would play knowledge games with 2 teams lined up at the blackboard, he’d call out the question and the first to write the answer wins a point; an athlete, he’d play basketball and football with us during recess; Mike made learning fun.
Mr. Tadler, 9th grade - English teacher, smart and witty, grumpy on the outside but with a heart of gold. Very encouraging to his students and a wonderful guy once you got to know him. Cast me in my first play.
Mr. Vern L. Ripley III, 11th grade American History – Introduced me to such figures as Thurlow Weed, who ended up being the subject of a paper I wrote for a history course in college. Didn’t hide his disgust for Nixon (who had resigned the presidency the summer between my freshman and sophomore high school years), but also talked before class about the Cleveland Cavaliers (who made it to the NBA’s Eastern Conference finals that '75-'76 season in only their sixth year of existence). You may have read some of Vern’s work, as he was a prolific letter writer – I saw his work in USA Today, and I believe he was also published in Time and/or Newsweek.
Mr. Pinkerton - 6th/7th/8th grade (3 grades in the same rural NorCal classroom, a la Little House on the Prairie) He would dissect roadkill racoons and such on the outdoor basketball court. He would do cider fundraisers with us by getting local homesteads with orchards to let us come pick apples. We’d use an electric grinder and a cider press. It was sooooo good but it ruined me for the rest of my life as far as that swill that passes for apple juice (though Martinelli’s gets a traditional pass). He’d help us build giant Rube Goldberg machines and human-powered kinetic sculptures. Had at least a half-dozen computers (Trash80s and Apples) in our 25 student classroom in 1984.
Joe Gerardi - My 7th grade English teacher.
Ken Seydel - college Calculus teacher; tough, demanding, an excellent instructor
Mr. Felder, 12th grade math teacher - Smart, funny, engaging, and endlessly patient with students (like me) who just couldn’t quite wrap our minds around mathematical concepts the first, second or even third time he explained them.
Dr Raymond Myer Kay, MD. My teacher/mentor in the ART of medicine. A founding MD of Kaiser Permanente Southern CA. Devoted husband. Wicked gourmet. Ray had a wonderful way of making me reach higher than I thought possible. He was a massive influence on myself and countless others.
Mr. Mohney, 12th grade AP English. Young, sarcastic, irreverent, smart as hell, and and even harder grader than Mr. Oliver (#2). Taught unconventional stuff and got away with it. I’m not sure my high school quite new what to do with him those first couple of years, but his students loved him.
Next up: Movies that influenced you heavily at a very young age, and why.
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory: (age 6) Contributed to my lifelong love for witty, sarcastic humor and the guys who purvey it.
Movies that influenced you heavily at a very young age, and why.
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory: (age 6) Contributed to my lifelong love for witty, sarcastic humor and the guys who purvey it.
The Sound of Music: life is full of songs and love, and evil gets defeated.
The Wizard of Oz: Lots of little threads, from then until now: acquiring “friends” as in positive character traits, overcoming personality faults, and the search for Home.
Movies that influenced you heavily at a very young age, and why.
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory: (age 6) Contributed to my lifelong love for witty, sarcastic humor and the guys who purvey it.
The Sound of Music: life is full of songs and love, and evil gets defeated.
The Wizard of Oz: Lots of little threads, from then until now: acquiring “friends” as in positive character traits, overcoming personality faults, and the search for Home.
Shirley Temple movies on TV at 6am Sunday mornings - I was three and I figured if she could sing and dance in public, so could I
Movies that influenced you heavily at a very young age, and why.
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory: (age 6) Contributed to my lifelong love for witty, sarcastic humor and the guys who purvey it.
The Sound of Music: life is full of songs and love, and evil gets defeated.
The Wizard of Oz: Lots of little threads, from then until now: acquiring “friends” as in positive character traits, overcoming personality faults, and the search for Home.
Shirley Temple movies on TV at 6am Sunday mornings - I was three and I figured if she could sing and dance in public, so could I.
Gone With the Wind: went with my Dad when I was about 10; influenced by Scarlett who was a woman with great strength of character who could accomplish just about anything when she put her mind to it.
ps. I was also influenced by the Shirley Temple movies and wanted to be a singer, dancer, actress; although that was squashed by my parents who wanted me to do something more practical so I ended up as a CPA. And with all the scrutiny that celebrities get, I am better off as a CPA.
Movies that influenced you heavily at a very young age, and why.
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory: (age 6) Contributed to my lifelong love for witty, sarcastic humor and the guys who purvey it.
The Sound of Music: life is full of songs and love, and evil gets defeated.
The Wizard of Oz: Lots of little threads, from then until now: acquiring “friends” as in positive character traits, overcoming personality faults, and the search for Home.
Shirley Temple movies on TV at 6am Sunday mornings - I was three and I figured if she could sing and dance in public, so could I.
Gone With the Wind: went with my Dad when I was about 10; influenced by Scarlett who was a woman with great strength of character who could accomplish just about anything when she put her mind to it.
Star Wars: A New Hope: Totally blew me away due to the action, special effects, scenery and music, and turned me on to sf for the rest of my life.
Movies that influenced you heavily at a very young age, and why.
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory: (age 6) Contributed to my lifelong love for witty, sarcastic humor and the guys who purvey it.
The Sound of Music: life is full of songs and love, and evil gets defeated.
The Wizard of Oz: Lots of little threads, from then until now: acquiring “friends” as in positive character traits, overcoming personality faults, and the search for Home.
Shirley Temple movies on TV at 6am Sunday mornings - I was three and I figured if she could sing and dance in public, so could I.
Gone With the Wind: went with my Dad when I was about 10; influenced by Scarlett who was a woman with great strength of character who could accomplish just about anything when she put her mind to it.
Star Wars: A New Hope: Totally blew me away due to the action, special effects, scenery and music, and turned me on to sf for the rest of my life.
Errol Flynn movies on Saturday morning: the swashbuckling hero!
Movies that influenced you heavily at a very young age, and why.
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory: (age 6) Contributed to my lifelong love for witty, sarcastic humor and the guys who purvey it.
The Sound of Music: life is full of songs and love, and evil gets defeated.
The Wizard of Oz: Lots of little threads, from then until now: acquiring “friends” as in positive character traits, overcoming personality faults, and the search for Home.
Shirley Temple movies on TV at 6am Sunday mornings - I was three and I figured if she could sing and dance in public, so could I.
Gone With the Wind: went with my Dad when I was about 10; influenced by Scarlett who was a woman with great strength of character who could accomplish just about anything when she put her mind to it.
Star Wars: A New Hope: Totally blew me away due to the action, special effects, scenery and music, and turned me on to sf for the rest of my life.
Errol Flynn movies on Saturday morning: the swashbuckling hero!
Escape to Witch Mountain: Sci-fi, plus the girl was totally cute to my 7yo eyes.
Movies that influenced you heavily at a very young age, and why.
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory: (age 6) Contributed to my lifelong love for witty, sarcastic humor and the guys who purvey it.
The Sound of Music: life is full of songs and love, and evil gets defeated.
The Wizard of Oz: Lots of little threads, from then until now: acquiring “friends” as in positive character traits, overcoming personality faults, and the search for Home.
Shirley Temple movies on TV at 6am Sunday mornings - I was three and I figured if she could sing and dance in public, so could I.
Gone With the Wind: went with my Dad when I was about 10; influenced by Scarlett who was a woman with great strength of character who could accomplish just about anything when she put her mind to it.
Star Wars: A New Hope: Totally blew me away due to the action, special effects, scenery and music, and turned me on to sf for the rest of my life.
Errol Flynn movies on Saturday morning: the swashbuckling hero!
Escape to Witch Mountain: Sci-fi, plus the girl was totally cute to my 7yo eyes.
Movies that influenced you heavily at a very young age, and why.
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory: (age 6) Contributed to my lifelong love for witty, sarcastic humor and the guys who purvey it.
The Sound of Music: life is full of songs and love, and evil gets defeated.
The Wizard of Oz: Lots of little threads, from then until now: acquiring “friends” as in positive character traits, overcoming personality faults, and the search for Home.
Shirley Temple movies on TV at 6am Sunday mornings - I was three and I figured if she could sing and dance in public, so could I.
Gone With the Wind: went with my Dad when I was about 10; influenced by Scarlett who was a woman with great strength of character who could accomplish just about anything when she put her mind to it.
Star Wars: A New Hope: Totally blew me away due to the action, special effects, scenery and music, and turned me on to sf for the rest of my life.
Errol Flynn movies on Saturday morning: the swashbuckling hero!
Escape to Witch Mountain: Sci-fi, plus the girl was totally cute to my 7yo eyes.
A Little Romance: one reason, Diane Lane.
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: I had no idea prior to that film that special effects could do that. It helped kick off a lifelong fascination with motion pictures and fantasy/sci-fi.
Movies that influenced you heavily at a very young age, and why.
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory: (age 6) Contributed to my lifelong love for witty, sarcastic humor and the guys who purvey it.
The Sound of Music: life is full of songs and love, and evil gets defeated.
The Wizard of Oz: Lots of little threads, from then until now: acquiring “friends” as in positive character traits, overcoming personality faults, and the search for Home.
Shirley Temple movies on TV at 6am Sunday mornings - I was three and I figured if she could sing and dance in public, so could I.
Gone With the Wind: went with my Dad when I was about 10; influenced by Scarlett who was a woman with great strength of character who could accomplish just about anything when she put her mind to it.
Star Wars: A New Hope: Totally blew me away due to the action, special effects, scenery and music, and turned me on to sf for the rest of my life.
Errol Flynn movies on Saturday morning: the swashbuckling hero!
Escape to Witch Mountain: Sci-fi, plus the girl was totally cute to my 7yo eyes.
A Little Romance: one reason, Diane Lane.
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: I had no idea prior to that film that special effects could do that. It helped kick off a lifelong fascination with motion pictures and fantasy/sci-fi.
Three Days of the Condor: Saw it when I was probably too young - a bleak, violent spy flick that I still remember very well.
Movies that influenced you heavily at a very young age, and why.
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory: (age 6) Contributed to my lifelong love for witty, sarcastic humor and the guys who purvey it.
The Sound of Music: life is full of songs and love, and evil gets defeated.
The Wizard of Oz: Lots of little threads, from then until now: acquiring “friends” as in positive character traits, overcoming personality faults, and the search for Home.
Shirley Temple movies on TV at 6am Sunday mornings - I was three and I figured if she could sing and dance in public, so could I.
Gone With the Wind: went with my Dad when I was about 10; influenced by Scarlett who was a woman with great strength of character who could accomplish just about anything when she put her mind to it.
Star Wars: A New Hope: Totally blew me away due to the action, special effects, scenery and music, and turned me on to sf for the rest of my life.
Errol Flynn movies on Saturday morning: the swashbuckling hero!
Escape to Witch Mountain: Sci-fi, plus the girl was totally cute to my 7yo eyes.
A Little Romance: one reason, Diane Lane.
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: I had no idea prior to that film that special effects could do that. It helped kick off a lifelong fascination with motion pictures and fantasy/sci-fi.
Three Days of the Condor: Saw it when I was probably too young - a bleak, violent spy flick that I still remember very well.
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid: living’ high and on the lam seemed a glorious way of life; even how they went out was glorified.
Movies that influenced you heavily at a very young age, and why.
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory: (age 6) Contributed to my lifelong love for witty, sarcastic humor and the guys who purvey it.
The Sound of Music: life is full of songs and love, and evil gets defeated.
The Wizard of Oz: Lots of little threads, from then until now: acquiring “friends” as in positive character traits, overcoming personality faults, and the search for Home.
Shirley Temple movies on TV at 6am Sunday mornings - I was three and I figured if she could sing and dance in public, so could I.
Gone With the Wind: went with my Dad when I was about 10; influenced by Scarlett who was a woman with great strength of character who could accomplish just about anything when she put her mind to it.
Star Wars: A New Hope: Totally blew me away due to the action, special effects, scenery and music, and turned me on to sf for the rest of my life.
Errol Flynn movies on Saturday morning: the swashbuckling hero!
Escape to Witch Mountain: Sci-fi, plus the girl was totally cute to my 7yo eyes.
A Little Romance: one reason, Diane Lane.
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: I had no idea prior to that film that special effects could do that. It helped kick off a lifelong fascination with motion pictures and fantasy/sci-fi.
Three Days of the Condor: Saw it when I was probably too young - a bleak, violent spy flick that I still remember very well.
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid: living’ high and on the lam seemed a glorious way of life; even how they went out was glorified.
The Aristocats: Cemented my interest in cats and got me interested in jazz. The cats lasted, the jazz didn’t.
