Classmates from the 30s

WILSON BROWN, '30

     Besides the wonderful friendships, I'll always remember the beautiful Spanish style building that is no longer there, but it is the way I will always think about Jefferson.

DICK SPENCER, '34

     I remember those huge bonfires we used to have for the "Pep" rallies before the big game with the South City Boilermakers (Yep, that's what they were called before they became the Warriors). We must have scrounged every piece of wood in Daly City and Colma.

BOB LEE '37

    I'm proud to be reinstated in the Block "J" Society.  I recall how proud I felt walking the halls with my first Block "J" sweater.  I probably thought I was pretty hot stuff.

EDNA HOCKMAN KUMAS, '38

     In May 1937, Jefferson had western days for one week. Everyone wore western outfits to school in honor of the celebration of the opening of the Golden Gate Bridge. When I walked over the bridge on opening day with my friends, we all wore our outfits. Little did we know that we were making history as we walked over to the Marin side and had our picnic. My son, Stan, fifty years later only made it halfway when they celebrated the anniversary.

LEON FLETCHER, '38

     One of my off-beat memories of Jefferson High was of Harold Lang, '38, suffering frequent hackling as he practiced his strenuous ballet exercises during his P.E. classes. He went on to become a major theatrical star, a highly successful dancer and singer who earned many rave notices and awards. His starting roles on Broadway included the original production of Kiss Me Kate and the title role in Pal Joey, which he played for four years, then toured; and he appeared in more than a dozen other New York shows, as well as T.V., records and radio.

THE SCHULTZES--RICH AND PAT HELGESON, '38 - '40

     (Rich) I'll always remember the first day of high school in 1934. All of the baseball and football players called a strike and laid on the lawn in front of the school because they didn't want the lunch break to be changed from 45 minutes to 30. I was right there with them, but nothing ever came from our big strike. (This was known as the Sit-in of 1934.)
We lost Rich recently, but he loved his Jefferson memories, so we leave this one for you.

     (Pat) I remember living near 16th and Mission, and taking the 40 streetcar for three years to get to Jeff. Mr. Ferguson, the principal, was my grandfather. I'll always remember "The Penguins", a club the girls put together--Ruth Larson, Marge Anderson, Bette Hickey, myself and four others. Other great memories were singing with the band, being assistant Cheerleader and finding Rich who I was happily married to for over 50 years.

ALICE SANDERS WALSH, '39

      The Alumni Totem Pole always brings back more Jefferson memories of teachers and friends. First, remember Clive Saiz (Civics, US History) discussing the bold best-seller of the times…Gone with the Wind. Such risqué dialog was shocking!! Seen what's on the bookshelves lately?
     Remember Mr. Grey (Biology), and a demonstration of pulse rates before and after holding hands with the opposite sex. In our time we NEVER discussed sex in class. Or, Mr. Quirmbach (Chemistry) after classroom demonstrations always bragging "I never spilled a drop!" Who knew then that the atom bomb was in our immediate future?
     How about Mr. Volbrecht (German) taking our class to listen to his car radio. (Class radios were not in the budget and TV's were in our future.) As we listened to shouts of "Sic Heil", we didn't realize the impact this man, way off in Berlin, would have on our very near future.
     Juanita Young (Girls PE) enjoyed teaching in our new Gym & Pool. She could swim the length of the pool in six strokes. And then there was our first Aquacade in our sparkling new pool. Remember the music? That came from Dante Lembi and Jeff's first Dance Band, who not only performed for the Aquacade, but for numerous other functions. Wow, were they great entertainers! Bill Kelly- drums, Willard Mitchell-trumpet, Ruth Morris-piano, James and Joseph Vemazza- (twins)-accordion, Fern & Ruth Crawford-singing a rollicking duet of "Ragtime Cowboy Joe," and Al Marcucci-vocalist.
     It was so great to be young and then all was changed forever--7 December 1941.

Back to Memory Index