Alumni Hub for Bethany Lutheran School
Last Updated 1/22/2008
1953
Gary Cox: e-mail: scrapnuts@email.msn.com
1962
David Todd: My Lutheran faith and education has been a blessing over these many years. I have lived in San Antonio, Texas since 1971. Almost considered a "native". A year ago I retired from the San Antonio Fire Dept.after 30 yrs. My last seven years were spent as an instructor at the fire academy. My wife and I have been married for 32 yrs. and have 2 children and 4 grandchildren. My mother, brothers, and sisters still live in California. The Todd family attended Bethany Lutheran Church and school for many years. The Bethany teachers who helped shape my life were: Clara List, Victor Bloch, James Bode and Phillip Pholman. I hope more '62 alumni respond to this site.
1963
David Hirth: e-mail: travishirth-at-hotmail-dot-com
Jim Smith: e-mail: JSmith4694@aol.com
1965
Sandi Lee Fischer : I have been living in Fallbrook, Califonia since 2002. I attended Concordia, Seward and graduated in 1973. My husband Dan and I have taught at Lutheran schools in San Antonio, Texas; La Mesa, California; and at Hong Kong International School. I have retired from teaching, but Dan is now at Zion Lutheran in Fallbrook. We have 2 daughters, 1 son, and 1 granddaughter. I'd love to hear from anyone in the class of '65. email: skfischer18@yahoo.com
1966
Celeste Salmons Weber now lives in Fallbrook, California. I have two delightful children, Bethany and Zachary. Bethany is in the second grade and quite a "hard-charger" on the soccer field. She is also an avid reader and is always up for a challenge. Zachary is in the first grade and definitely all boy. He is into whatever is happening at the time. They both are a real blessing! For the last several years I have been raising them on my own as my husband passed away after a battle with cancer. Thank God I have my children!
I would love to hear from any of my schoolmates anytime. Please e-mail me at CelWeb@aol.com.
1967
Anita Salmons Hoag has lived in Paso Robles for the past 20+ years. Her oldest son Joey lives in Paso Robles also with his 5 year old son. She is married to Stephen Hoag. She also has three daughters and a younger son. Anita has worked for the Head Start Program in various administrative positions for over 20 years.
1970
James Verkade graduated from CSULB with a BSEE and is working for Hughes Space & Communications in El Segundo.
Kathy Massey (Rose) has been married to Skip Massey for 15 years. They have 2 boys, Landon is 14 and Cole is 9. She has been a flight attendant with Alaska Airlines for 17 years. Her husband is a captain with Alaska Airlines, also. They have lived in Temecula, CA for the past 9 years.
Cheryl Stejskal - Still a member of Bethany Church and sings in the choir. Graduated from USC with a Master's Degree in Political Science. Currently is the Technology Coordinator for Bethany Lutheran Church & School.. Lives in Bellflower with her cat. E-mail: cstejskal@bethanylutheran.org
1971
Liz Grider (Lundi) My new e-mail address is Bzlizzy@cox.net my oldest daughter, Tina (30) is married with a 1 year old baby - Jack Henry, my daughter, Amy (27) lives in New York and has a career in the fashion industry, my son, Andrew (24) works as an inspector for a construction company and my son, Bryan (21) is living in Michigan. I work out of my home doing medical billing and medical transcription and leave as much time as I can open to spend time with my precious grandson.
1972
Kathy Jones (Stejskal) - Still a member of Bethany Church. Married Gary Jones in 1979; they have two children: Mark, born 1981; Jennifer, born 1986. Both children attended Bethany School. Has been a professional secretary for 20 years. Interests: Family activities and collecting teapots.
1974
Karl Fink, a graduate of Lutheran High L.A. and Concordia College, Seward, NE, now is Minister of Parish Education at Bethany. His wife Mary, is principal at Bethany and they have two children, Ryan and Jacob.
1976
Laura M. Markel E-mail: NowinAz@hotmail.com
1979
Marlin Brandt E-mail: marlin.brandt@firstmagnus.com
1981
Kellee Ball Sluder:klb1752@aol.com
Leslee Ball-Scovel: After receiving her M.D. Degree from the University of Missouri/Kansas City in 1998, Leslee completed a residency in Internal Medicine at William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, Texas. After spending 4 years serving the troops in Germany, she, her husband Frank and daughter Carissa (born May 2004) returned to San Antonio, Texas where Major Leslee Ball-Scovel was a member of the Internal Medicine team at Brooke Army Medical Center. In January of 2007, the family (which now included daughter Lauren--December 2005) was sent to Fairbanks, Alaska on a 6 month deployment. Leslee will be leaving the military in August of 2007 and has accepted a position with a large medical group in San Antonio.
1982
Lisa (Schwarz) Harris is married and living in Phoenix, Arizona. After moving to Arizona and graduating from high school in 1986, she finally got her teaching degree at ASU West (1998) and decided it wasn't for her. Currently (April 2003) she is working in the financial services department of a large computer company. She can be reached at LisaHarris1029@aol.com She and Denise (Kemppainen) Damis have remained close friends since 2nd grade
1984
Kelly Cox e-mail: tiigger2@gte.net
John Terby e-mail: hibaba@sbcglobal.net
Ernie Blevins: I attended Bethany Lutheran from 1980-1984 before graduating in 1984. I graduated from Los Alamitos High School in 1987. I received a degree in biology at Univ. Cal., Riverside between 1987-1991 before pursuing my Ph.D. in physiology at Creighton University in Omaha, NE between 1991-1997. I finally made it back to the west coast with a postdoctoral position in nutrition at the Univ. Cal., Davis. I am now a research assistant professor studying the role of the brain in appetite and body weight regulation at the Univ. Washington, in Seattle, WA. I still have a fond interest in plants and animals, and my 9th grade teacher (1984), Mr. Fuqua, helped to encourage that interest with all of our field trips and classroom pets. I used to be known as birdman or Ernie Bird, and I am still determined to identify as many birds here in the Seattle area as possible. I still play tennis and I am a member of two recreational Seattle area soccer teams. I would love to hear from anyone about how they are doing. Email: jeblevin@u.washington.edu
1985
Andrea Lepire-Prete "I moved to San Francisco and have lived here since 1990. I graduated from SFSU with a degree in Political Science. I've been married since 1997 and have a daughter who was born in 1999. I work in the Natural Foods industry and am doing quite well. I'd love to hear from any and all of my former classmates. It would be nice to see how everyone turned out. E-mail: Andrea.Lepire-Prete@wholefoods.com.
Mark A. Marius: is married with one son. He was ordained into the Ministry of Word and Sacrament and installed as Assistant Pastor to St. Mark Lutheran Church (ELCA), Belleville, IL on Feb. 4, 2001.His wife, Kjersti, is an MD in the USAF, in the 2nd year of residency. Current address: 200 North 32nd Street, Belleville, IL 62226. E-mail: mariusteam@usa.net
Cari McLish: I am happily married with my military husband, Jeff McClish, and live in Las Vegas. He is stationed at Nellis Air Force Base. We have five children combined.( One boy and 4 girls.) The oldest is 21years and the youngest is 21 months old. Their names are Jeffrey, Megan, Katie, Taira, and Rebekah. Taira and Rebekah are my girls. Taira will be getting confirmed this year at First Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and Bekah will be two years old this December. The best years of my life was when I attended Bethany for Junior High. Believe it!! I would really like to have a weekend group retreat at Lake Arrowhead Lutheran Camp or something. That would be great!! Please email me at cari@yourvegaspa.com or cari_mcclish@yahoo.com I have grown a bit more spiritually and wish to spend time, via email, phone or in person with any one who wants to share their walk with Jesus. I thank all my teachers and fellow classmates who have ever prayed for me and had just been there in the most important growing years of my life.
1986
Andrew Hazlewood: is married and has 2 wonderful kids who both attend Bethany. E-mail: andyvmg@hotmail.com
1987
Alicia Lagana (Cox) email: john_j_lagana@email.msn.com
1988
Gina L. Adams:I graduated in 1988 (valedictorian) and attended Valley Christian High School and played basketball, tennis, and ran track for the Crusaders, as well as playing in the Crusader band and handbell choir. I graduated in 1992 and attended Milligan College in Tennessee for my undergraduate work. While there, I served as Resident Assistant and Yearbook Editor, as well as playing tennis and basketball. As a senior, I was named academic all-american and conference doubles champion in tennis. I graduated in 1996, magna cum laude, with a double major in Business and Accounting. From there, I attended Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, where I earned a master's degree in management (marketing focus) in 1998. I now work at King Pharmaceuticals (Bristol, TN) as Market Research Supervisor. (Email: gadams@kingpharm.com)
Robert Borges - I graduated from Bethany in 1988. From there I attended Bancroft Jr. High in Long Beach for one year. I then attended and graduated from Lakewood High School in 1992. I attended Long Beach City College for 1 semester and then transferred 200 miles north to College of the Sequoia's in Visalia California. I graduated in '96 with an A.A. in the Fine Arts with Music as my major. I transferred to and was accepted by Cal State Dominguez Hills to study the recording option in music. To save money to go, I went to work, but in 2001 decided to buy a house instead. I've been working at CIGNA Healthcare in Visalia for a decade now. I've been blessed to work with very wonderful people there. I've held various positions at CIGNA, but currently work as a claim processor on various computer systems. Working there has been one of my most life changing events next to buying my home, so far. Contact me at warfare@peoplepc.com
1989
John Adams, attended Bethany from K-6 (leaving BLS in 1989). He attended Valley Christian Jr. High and High School, where he played football, and ran track. He was also Senior Class President and sang in the Concert Choir and Madrigals. He graduated in 1996 from VCHS and has worked in computers and web design since that time. E-mail: jadams@jps.net
Mary Winfrey attended Bethany from pre-school through the first part of seventh grade. Graduated from Milikan High School, bachelors at Chico State in Northern California and received masters in social work at Long Beach State in 2001. Worked at Harbor Regional Center 2001-03. Currently working at Long Beach Miller Children's Hospital.. E-mail: grnjacket@yahoo.com
1993
Rachel Campos, graduated from Lakewood HS. AA, Long Beach City College and
is currently attending Cal State Long Beach majoring in Elementry Education.
Rae003@aol.com
1994
Robyn Burgess graduated Cum Laude May 2001 from Cal State Fullerton with a B.S. in Kinesiology. I will be attending Penn State for Graduate School starting in August 2001, through a research assistantship under John Challis in the department of Kinesiology - Biomechanics and Locomotion Studies. Her e-mail is: robear24@yahoo.com
Melanie Penney attends Stanford University
Elisabeth Langerud, graduated from Yucaipa HS. Attends Cal State Pomona
majoring in Biology and Chemistry. byzzo1@aol.com
1995
David Pratt attended Valley Christian High School in Cerritos and Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska. David earned degrees in both music and education while at Concordia. David married Melissa Graesser of Katy, Texas in June, 2005. He is currently teaching at Lutheran High School in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. E-mail: davepratt@mac.com
Mark Jones graduated from the University of California, Irvine in 2003.
Edward Campos II, graduated from Yucaipa HS. Attends Crafton Hills College
majoring in Business. liled@aol.com
1997
April Nelson graduated CSULB in 2007 with a double major in Child Development and Family Studies and Family Life Education with a minor in Communication Studies.
My name is Natalie Barrington and I graduated Bethany in 1997. They say high school is suppose to be the best years of your life, but I feel that Bethany holds some of my best memories from my youth! I am still very close friends with April Nelson and Kasey Platt, both of whom also graduated Bethany in 1997. I attended CSULB and graduated in December 2007 with a B.A. in Liberal Studies as well as a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. I am currently living in Rancho Cucamonga with my fiance, Jonathan, who I have been with for over 3 years. We are getting married in November of this year and I am very excited! My email is: natalie_barrington@yahoo.com if anyone from my graduation year wants to contact me!
1998
Jonathan Pratt is finishing his first semester, as a Senior, at Concordia University in Irvine, California where he serves as the principal percussionist in the Concordia Wind Ensemble. He also sings Tenor in the Concordia Choir and plays in the Concert Handbell Choir. Jon is very involved in other groups at Concordia including various chapel bands and the newly formed Pep Band. He plans to eventually graduate with a Lutheran Education degree in Music. You can contact Jon at: Jonpratt@mac.com
Meaghan Willard went to Bethany from preschool to 4th grade when we moved here to Illinois. Betty Hazlewood is still her favorite teacher!!Meaghan graduated with honors in 2002 from O'Fallon (IL) Township HighSchool and is attending Washington University in St. Louis. She hasbeen accepted into the Hewlett Program within the School of Architecture. E-mail: megs@htctech.net
1999
Alyssa Cagnolatti attended Long Beach Poly High School from 1999-2003 and graduated the PACE program with honors. I lettered in both cross-country and softball in high school as well as becoming photo editor of the school newspaper, The High Life. I was also a sports reporter and covered football and boy's basketball for the defending CIF champions. I am currently a print journalism major at USC, and I am in the Alpha Delta Pi sorority. I hope to one day become a sports reporter for the Los Angeles Times. If any current Bethany students need any advice or help regarding high school or college sports, academics, admissions, etc. feel free to e-mail me at Rusty82996@aol.com.
My name is Amber Baisz and I graduated from Bethany Lutheran in 1999. I attended Long Beach Poly High School and graduated with honors in 2003. While at Poly I was in the PACE program and played volleyball. I currently attend Westmont College in Santa Barbara. I am a double major in Chemistry with an emphasis in biochemistry and Biology, and will graduate in May 2007. I loved all my teachers at Bethany, but Mr. G was the best science teacher! Feel free to email me with any questions at abaisz@westmont.edu