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Former Student Updates
| MAY 2009
Hi my name is Eunice Hong!
I was a former student of Redwood Christian School (would be class of 2002)!
Here is a quick update on my busy life. I work at a metro pcs store full time, got married to a great and wonderful man. On April 26, 2008 i gave birth to a healthy 6 lbs 2 oz boy! We named him Gabriel JiYong Arevalo.. He is growing too fast for me..and can't believe it has already been 12 months and a week i really enjoy working, being a wife and being a mother..it has been wonderful roller coaster ride and also a great experience being a wife and mother.. | 
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| April 2009 An update from former student Shanai Bennett (would have been class of 2002) I'm a former student of Redwood School and thought I would update you on what's been happening in my life since leaving Redwood and to thank you for giving me the foundation that you did. I graduated from college May 2008 with a degree in Business Management and Marketing. I owe it all to what you instilled in me and giving me a well grounded foundation. I will persue my Masters once I really decide what it is I want to do. Thank you Redwood and to all future and existing students, stick to it and learn all you can when you make it to college it won't be a struggle if you take what you are learning now and embrace it.
2002
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| April 2008 An update from former student Sharon (Laurel) Lovejoy says: My little baby is standing up! The day before yesterday, he wasn't - then yesterday, he was... well, for a second, before crashing to the wood floor and crying. He's not giving up, though. I think he's getting the steps out of order, because he doesn't even SIT up yet and I would think that should come before standing. I can hardly watch - I know I'm not supposed to help him too much, because he has to do his own experiments with gravity... but with the wood floors and all the wood-edged furniture we've got, it's totally traumatic to see him try. Everyone says "isn't it hard having him in day care, missing things? What if you miss his first steps?" That would be GREAT! I'd love it if someone would take him away for walking lessons and bring him back when he can walk in the door. Okay, not really. I'd miss him. But I sure wouldn't miss watching him hurt himself over and over. His head sounds like a watermelon hitting the floor. So, comfort me. Tell me how tough babies are, and that they've been going through this forever and they usually don't break their noses or pop their eyeballs out. I'll get pictures soon. Having some trouble with my camera cord. For those of you who I have been leaving hanging, I haven't forgotten you. I've been spending all my spare time painting our picket fence (next time, vinyl, I swear). At this rate, I should be done with it in a few months. :) Sharon (would have graduated 1986) |
| | January 2008 Sharon (Laurel) Lovejoy here - student through my junior year (would have been class of 1986). Last summer I did two things I've never done before - had a baby and bought a house. The baby is Alexander Pyles, six months old now and cracking me up every day. His dad Ben and I bought a ninety year old house in Woodland CA and are slowly fixing it up. I gave up firefighting to be with Alex more, since he spends 40 hours a week in day care and I find myself strangely compelled to spend all my remaining time with him. :) I help teach an EMT class at UC Davis - Alex comes with me and I'm sure he will be able to apply a traction splint to a femur fracture by the time he's four years old (that's my boy!). Moving to town meant losing the donkeys and goats, but we've got a total of about 225 pounds of dog running around in the yard. Anyone who remembers me, feel free to write to
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| | August 2007 A note from Nicole Rio (would have graduated 1991) says: Well, I'm still living in the bay area, Hayward specifically. I'm divorced and have 2 kids. Brittany is 15 and Santino is 9. |  |  |  |  |
| | August 2007 Rob Gruetzbach (1985 to 1992, Kindergarten through February of 7th grade) joined the US Air Force the Friday after 9/ll and has served in several far away parts of the world since then. His next assignment takes him to S. Korea in Dec. of 2007 for one year and then on to Germany for two additional years. Thank you for the prayers. |  |
| | August 2007 Former student John Hatton (1983 to 1985 for Freshman/Sophomore years) is serving in Chiang Mai, Thiland with his wife and 4 little ones and working with SIL/Wycliffe Bible Translators. John is the uncle of current student, Maggie. |
| | May 2007 Hi...former student Laura Daspit here. My plans are finalized and I leave for Norfolk, Va from Atlanta, GA on May 30, 2007. That's less than 3 weeks away! I'm moving to Norfolk for a new job (still in EMS) and to be with my longtime boyfriend (now fiance) Tom, who is retired Navy (now a civilian contractor-aircraft mechanic) and a musician. We plan to marry after the first of the year 2008. I'm wrapping things up in Atlanta, packing, organizing and getting ready. I have resigned my job with Priority EMS. I will continue working as an EMT after the move as I really love what I do and I'm good at it. Tom and I have been planning this for a long time but it had to be postponed when he was transferred (permanently) from Solomons, MD to Norfolk, VA a few months ago. |  |
|  |  | | March 2007 My name is Cathleen McCoy (Gruetzbach). I left Redwood in 92 when my family moved to Cincinnati, Ohio. Chris and I have been married for 10 years and have introduced Luke Christopher McCoy to the family on January 24th 2006. Brooke is now 4 and loves her baby brother.
Chris decided to follow his dream and opened up Heaven’s Roast coffee shop last January. He really enjoys roasting the beans on-site, and of course the free coffee is a plus.
We are so thankful for what the Lord is doing, and we are excited to see where He is taking us. Cathleen McCoy |
| | January 2007 We spotted Jo Welch home from Liberty for Christmas. Nice to see you, Jo! |  |
| | October 2006 Richard Lawrence Olsson Sr., age 26 died suddenly on Tuesday, October 17, 2006, in Tucson, Arizona.
A memorial service will be held in the Williams Chapel at Redwood Chapel, 19300 Redwood Road, Castro Valley, at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 11, 2006.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to one of the following organizations: New Life Center, 707 Fair Ave., Santa Cruz, CA 95060 or National Inhalant Prevention Coalition 322-A, Thompson St., Chattanooga, TN 37405.
He was born Richard Domingoes in Hayward, CA on March 15, 1980. When he was 13 months old he was taken into the loving care of Robert and Joan Olsson of Hayward where he was welcomed by three older siblings. Richard's adoption was finalized and celebrated when he was 5 years. old.
Richard attended Redwood Chapel in Castro Valley with his family throughout his life and professed his faith in Christ at his baptism when he was about 13. He also was involved at Fairhaven Bible Chapel and Faith Fellowship intermittently when he was in high school. He attended Redwood Christian School from kindergarten through ninth grade. Richard had many friends who stood by his side through good and bad times.
Richard was a hard worker, a skilled tradesman and an energetic father. He was very passionate person in everything he did. His friends and family will never forget his boisterous personality.
Richard is survived by his wife Mariah, his sons Richard L. Jr. (3), David (2) and William (1)his parents, Robert and Joan Olsson, his sister Sandy (Mark) Kientzler, his brother Philip Olsson, his sister Nancy (Shawn) Doud, his brothers Michael and Matthew, 4 nephews and 2 nieces. |  | Picture of Richard, his wife Mariah and their sons Richard, Jr. and David taken in August 2005. |
| May 2006 Hi…it’s former student Laura Daspit with the latest. I’m still living in Atlanta, GA and still working in EMS. I have been with Priority Emergency Medical Service for just over a year now (priorityems.net). However, there are some pending changes coming. I’m planning to move to Maryland in the fall of 2006. This will be a big change but it’s one that I’m looking forward to. Here’s where it gets confusing. I have applied for my Maryland EMT license. However, due to the fact that Maryland is not on the National Registry, I can only certify as an EMT-Basic, although I’m an EMT-Intermediate here in Georgia. The reason is this: Maryland goes by the I-99 certification level, something that Georgia does not recognize. I’m certified at the I-85 level. I will have to take a bridge class and then take the Maryland state exam to certify as an EMT-Intermediate/I-99. The good thing is that Maryland does not require EMTs to be firefighters to work on rescue, which is what I’m considering. Here in Georgia, if an EMT works for a fire department, they must also be certified as a firefighter which is something I’m not particularly interested in. So, my change in certification is in the works. I’m also looking at American Medical Response, which is an ambulance company and Maryland is one of their states (they are a nationwide company). I have been living in Atlanta for 8 years and I’m ready for a change. The adventurous side of me has taken flight and I’m ready to spread my wings, so to speak. Wish me luck in my coming endeavors! |
|  March 2006 Shawn and Nancy (Olsson) Doud, (Nancy attended RCS from 82-93) have a FOURTH boy! Cooper Bailey Doud arrived 5 weeks early on October 10, 2005 weighing 5 lb. 12 oz. and 17 1/2 inches long. He had to spend a week in the NICU and 3 more days in special care. When he came home he quickly showed how laid back he is and what a good eater he is. By Christmas he had already more than doubled his birth weight! His Mom, Dad and brothers love him to pieces. He completes our family! Burke will be 6 in April and is consuming chapter books like they are mini-marshmallows. He puts them away at a rate of one every other day! Tucker is 4 and in preschool and loving it and Trevor is 2 and just chugging and chattering away at home. Visit my blog! http://4littlemunkees.blogspot.com/ | 
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| December 2005
Scott Hedlund, who left RCS in 1989 after Junior High, was married to Agatha Ann G. Poje at Fort Lewis College Chapel in Durango, CO on September 24, 2005. The two met on Scott's first day working as work-study at Academic Success Program at Fort Lewis College. Aggie and I clicked right away and became best friends real fast. Things changed when we were watching the movie Nemo. We noticed that the two fish Marlon and Coral were us! My dream came true; I married my best Friend Aggie. It amazes me how God often uses a combo of events in two people's lives to bring about His Will. Scott can be reached at
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| August 2005
Beth (Beardslee) DeMore went to Redwood during the years of 1978-1980 or 81 but did not graduate with her class of 1982.
She says "I spent some time in Southern California and lost touch with all of my
classmates. I would appreciate if you would post my address to the school website now
that I am back in the Bay Area. I have also attached a picture of myself and my son Christopher (at 18 mos) taken in 2003."
You can email Beth at
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| May 2005 Former student from the Class of 1978 here, Dan Thompson. Last time I sent you an update I was working for myself creating corporate films, web sites, and doing various graphic design jobs. I was recruited by my friend Lt. General John Jackson, USAF (ret.) who is president of Fork Union Military Academy, to join the staff in January 2004 and help out with marketing and development work. So now I help raise money to keep a Christian school operating, just like Mr. J. does! I'm the Director of Communications and I produce all of the advertising/marketing materials, help with the yearbook (oh joy!), and am the webmaster for the school (www.forkunion.com). Fork Union Military Academy was founded in 1898 by a Baptist minister and it continues to have a close affiliation with the Baptist General Association of Virginia. It's a real joy to work with the young men who come here and it's just a great experience to use my skills and talents in such a good cause. |
| May 2005 My name was Sharon (Laurel) Lovejoy when I attended RCS from 3rd to 11th grades (~1976 to 1985). I got my Bachelor's degree from UC Davis and have worked for the University ever since. I live in the country near Davis with my sweetheart of seven years, three dogs, a cat, a cockatiel, two donkeys, and two goats. I am a volunteer firefighter for the rural district where we live. I have recently gotten back in touch with Susie Peck (now Sue Randrup) and Nancy Koh, and would like to hear from anyone else from that time period who remembers me. |
| | May 2005 Trina (Jones) Wallace attended RCS from K through 5th grade at the Crossroads campus and would have been in the class of 1987 She writes: I live in Brentwood, married with two children Bria 8 and Marcus 6. I reunited with Julie Heck at our kids school. It is amazing how I never forget my friends from Redwood, and neither does she. We had lots of old stories to tell about the good days at Crossroads and we cannot believe that Mr. Monk and Mr. Anderson are still there. I am also still best friends with Dena Ferreira who also attended Redwood. I would love to hear from anyone who may remember us. My new email address is
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April 2004
Anna Alway, who left Redwood during 7th grade and graduated in 1994, is now Anna Fedorova! Pavel (Pasha) Fedorov and Anna were married on June 7, 2002, in Gresham, OR. In August of that year, they went to Almaty, Kazakhstan (Pasha's hometown) and were involved in orphan ministry there. They stayed until May 2003, when Kazakhstan would no longer renew Anna's visa. They hope to return after Pasha gets his U.S. citizenship in 2007. In the Russian tradition, Anna's last name has an "a" at the end, but Pasha's does not.
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December 2003 Charlene (Taylor, '90) Marlett sent us updates on Neethi, Romesh, and Meera Ratnesar. Neethi is a pediatrician for Kaiser in Southern California. Romesh writes for TIME Magazine and is the main writer for the Man of the Year issue. He was featured on a CNN half-hour special on the Man of the Year issue last Sunday! He has also just returned from Baghdad, where the writer who was with him lost his hand in a grenade attack while they were with the troops. Meera is a calculus teacher at Collegiate Prep School in New York City, one of the top boys' prep schools. She is also getting a Masters in Education at Columbia University at the same time! |
November 2003 Shawn and Aubrey (Stubbs, '96) Johnson had their third child a year ago, giving them two girls and a boy! They have moved to their new home in Elk Grove, CA. |  |
August 2003 Carl and Julia (Comphel) Yeremian welcomed Morgan Delight into their family on January 16, 2003. Morgan weighed 10 pounds, 3 ounces, and was 22-1/2 inches long! She joins her two brothers, Graham (6) and Zach (4). Julia attended RCS from 1976 to 1985. |
August 2003 On Saturday, August 23, 2003, Allison Wilcox became the bride of David Halverson at Neighborhood Church in Castro Valley. Allison's brother, Brian, who also attended RCS, was a groomsman. Brian and Allison both attended the Crossroads campus in the 1980's. | | |  |
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August 2003 Corey Daspit attended RCS from 1978 or 1979 to 1983, when he graduated from 6th grade and switched to Palmer School in Walnut Creek. Corey graduated from Lakeside High School in Augusta, CA, in 1989, and then attended Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO, graduating with a BS in Environmental Biology in 1996. He lives in Orlando, FL, and works for the Walt Disney Company as a Guest Services Manager at the All Star Music Resort. He was married to Marisa Alexander-Daspit in November, 2001. He'd love to hear from Spencer Johnson, John Lundberg, Marcus Smith, Steven Shelley, and Ronnie Pacheco, among others! You can reach him at
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or
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| Chandra (Drury) and Tim Innes are the proud parents of Claire Moreh Innes, born May 15, 2003, at 6:42 a.m. She weighed 6 pounds, 9 ounces, and was 20-1/4 inches long at birth. Chandra would have been in the graduating class of 1993. |  |
April 2003 Alana Dease, who would have been in the Class of 1997 and attended RCS from 1985 through 1993, was married to Daniel Ruprecht of Twin Falls, Idaho, on December 28, 2002, in San Francisco. The wedding was held at the Presidio in the Main Post Chapel, and the reception was at the Golden Gate Club. Alana and Daniel met in Portland, Oregon, at Lewis & Clark College. They have been living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for the last year, as Daniel is in grad school at Carnegie Mellon, but they plan to move within the next couple of months, probably back to the West Coast. Her new e-mail address is
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March 2003 Cathleen (Gruetzbach) McCoy left Redwood in 1992, when her family moved to Cincinnati, OH, and graduated in 1994. She has been married for five years to Chris McCoy, who is a Server Analyst for International Paper. On November 7, 2002, they welcomed the birth of a baby girl, Brooke Elle. Cathleen chose to leave her position as an Executive Assistant for a local packaging company to become a stay-at-home mother. | 
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January 2003 Gregory Martinez, who attended RCS from 4th grade through 11th grade wants to let his classmates know that he's married now and has been blessed with three beautiful children (two girls and a boy). |
November 2002 Valorie (Burkhart) Leeb, who was at RCS during the 1970's, has written and published a book entitled, "My Dad, The Guardian Angel," written to restore her daughter Brittney's sense of security after 9/11. Valorie lives in Jarrettsville, Maryland, and has four children: Jennifer, Amber, Branden, and Brittney. |  |  |
NOVEMBER 2002 Eunice Hong, who attended RCS from 5th grade through 2001, graduated in 2002 from Kennedy High School. She is now attending Ohlone College. "I just wanted to say hello and I miss you and the faculty very much and God Bless you for your hard work. I pray every day that our school would be okay and have no more troubles. My prayers are with the faculty, students, and the school property. In Christ, Eunice Yuri Hong" |
September 2002 Shanai Bennett, who attended RCS from 4th grade through 11th grade, leaving us in 2001, is now a freshman in Atlanta, GA, attending Clark Atlanta University, where she is majoring in Chemistry. She placed in the top 4 freshmen in her math placement test and was placed in honors calculus. She plans to earn a degree in Pharmacy PHD. The National Guard is also pursuing her. Congratulations, Shanai! |
July 2002 We've heard from Cindy (Uher) Magnani, who was at the Crossroads campus from 1979 to 1986 with her sister Susie. Cindy graduated from Castro Valley High, received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from St. Mary's College in 1995, moved to Northern Virginia, married in 2001, and now works in Washington D.C. at the National Association of Broadcasters. Her sister, Susie (Uher) Jimenez, graduated from Castro Valley High, received a Bachelor of Music Degree from the University of the Pacific, received her Masters Degree from New England Conservatory in Boston, was married in December 2001 |  | Bride Cindy with her Bridesmaid Susie |
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February 2002 David Ivey and his wife Lori have been married almost 10 years and have 3 children: Jonathan David (8), Matthew Allen (6), and Victoria Leslie (5). The Ivey family lives in Roseville, CA. Dave has worked as a driver for UPS for almost 12 years and is also an ordained pastor! He is pastoring a new church in Roseville which is 17 weeks old--Wellspring: A Source of Word and Worship. He and Lori, who is graduating as an esthetician, purchased one of the founding homes of Roseville, built in 1895. Their church meets in an old bank building 1-1/2 blocks away and has 30-foot ceilings and fabulous acoustics! Dave's e-mail address is
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September 2001 Dena Ferreira attended the Crossroads campus in days gone by, where Mrs. White was her second grade teacher and Mr. Ball was her sixth grade teacher! It was also Mr. Ball's first year at our school! Dena has a twin brother named Danny and an older brother Mike. |
September 2001 Insook (Pack) Lim, who attended RCS for grades 5-8, from 1982-85, is married and has a 5-year-old daughter, Nicole, who is deaf but uses a cochlear implant. Insook graduated from the University of Minnesota with a BS in biology. Now she is in graduate school at Washington University in St. Louis, MO, studying audiology. In her church choir recently, she was excited to sing a song arranged by Tom Fettke, her old choir director! She'd like to know how her old friends are doing! E-mail her at
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July 2001 Janine (Lundberg) Saake brought by a photo of her sons, both of whom got to see Grandpa Runar Lundberg before he went to be with the Lord on June 29. Janine and her husband Mark live in Dublin, CA. Janine is an "unofficial" member of the RCHS Class of '82! |  | Andrew Jacob, born February 28, 2001, and John Luke, 4 years old |
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June 2001 The marriage of Kristina Mann and Michael Brilhante took place in Simi Valley on June 30, 2001. Kristina's six sisters and two brothers all took part in the wedding, and Supt. and Mrs. Bruce Johnson were in attendance! Dad Louis Mann, who performed his daughter's ceremony, was once the Director of Development at RCS! |  | Ruth Ann, Louis and Kristina Mann |
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April 2001 David and Robert Fettke, students at RCS in the 1970's, helped honor their father, former RCS music teacher Tom Fettke, at MusiCalifornia 2001 in San Diego this month. Robert is still living in the Bay Area, while David lives outside Nashville, TN, with his wife and two children. |  | David (left) and Robert Fettke |
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January 2001 Karen (Atterberry) Kinyon attended RCS for 7th, 8th, and 9th grade before moving to Arkansas. Her e-mail address is
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. She says, "As much as I protested rules when I went there.......my truest and dearest friends today I met while at Redwood.......and I wish my own children had the opportunity to go to Redwood." |
January 2001 Jeffrey Johnson, a senior during the 1978 school year who left prior to graduation, is currently in Reno, Nevada, with Neon Art, custom neon design. His Web site is located at www.neonartnv.com . |
November 2000 Stacey (Miller) and Mark Strachan attended Redwood Chapel with Stacey's parents, Glenn and Linda Miller, following their honeymoon! Stacey and Mark were married in October at Redwood Chapel, with a reception held at the Palmdale Estates in Fremont. |  |
October 2000 A.J. Ferreira, Class of 1993 visited the Castro Valley Sunrise Rotary Club, where his father is a member, and of course, Mr. Johnson was there with his camera! |
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August 2000 Jennifer (Kinzel) Harvey, who attended RCS from 1975 to 1979 is married, living in Tracy, and has one child. Her parents still live in Pleasanton and are doing well! She reports that her brother Christopher is married, lives in Kansas City and has two children, and Gretchen, who is also married, lives in Salinas. |
August 2000 Rachel (Sparks) Wilder, who attended RCS from 1989 to 1992 in 7th to 9th grade, and her husband Scott were married on May 27, 2000, at Westminster Prebyterian Church in Georgia. They live in Roswell, GA. Rachel graduated from the University of Georgia in 1999 in Business, Banking and Finance, and she works as a financial representative with 1st Investors Corporation, a Wall Street firm in business since 1930. And Stephanie Sparks, who attended 2nd through 4th grade at RCS, is now 18 years old and a graduate of Dunwoody High School with a 4.1 GPA! She is attending the University of Georgia as a freshman, majoring in French. She has been to France twice and is in third year French with graduate students and upperclassmen. |
December 1999 Former RCS student Brent Hull is now the RCS Director of Transportation! Brent was also a member of the U.S. Marine Corps. He and his wife Teresa live in Castro Valley with their three children, Trevor (4), Jenneke (2), and Katherine (7 months). |  |
November 1999 Mr. Johnson ran into former RCS student Carynn Bartle at Wolf Camera in San Lorenzo where she is a photo and video specialist! Good to see you, Carynn! |
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October 1999 Sarah Moore, now Sarah Canha, was a member of the Class of 1993. Superintendent Johnson ran into her recently at the Redwood Forest Preschool Open House. Sarah's niece, Kelsie, attends first grade at the Redwood Elementary campus. |  |
August 1999 David Arcieri and his family have moved from the Princeton, New Jersey, area back to the Bay Area, due to his wife's promotion to HR Manager of a 1400-person division located in San Jose. David is working at EMC Corporation as a Senior Systems Engineer. They are now living in Fremont with their 3-year-old daughter Paige. |
July 1999 Supt. and Mrs. Johnson ran into Don and Barbara Taylor, Sue (Taylor, Class of '81) Carlson, Cindy (Taylor, former student) Woodall, and their children at Doug's Place for Sunday Brunch! Sue and her husband Jeff live in Vancouver, Washington, and Cindy and her husband, '79 grad John Woodall, live in Memphis, Tennessee. |
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April 1999 Heidi (Frembling) Colbern and her husband Chris are the proud parents of twins! Andrew Robert and Johnathan Christopher Daniel arrived on February 21, 1999. Andrew was 6 pounds, 10 ounces, and 20 inches long, while Johnathan was 5 pounds, 4 ounces, and 19-1/4 inches long! Congratulations, Heidi and Chris! |
April 1999 On Saturday, April 24, 1999, Don Truscott took Margarita Michele to be his wife aboard the Treasure Island, docked at Mariner Square on the island of Alameda! Following the ceremony, in which live doves were released, the ship sailed through the Estuary for several hours as guests dined and danced. Don attended Redwood Christian Schools during his elementary years. |
Class of 1981
January 1999 Karyn (Lee) Gilgan and her husband Kelly live in Gresham, Oregon, with their children Katelyn (7), Kevin (6), and Karly (4-1/2). In her eighth year as a stay-at-home mom, Karyn is in her second year as a part-time student at Mount Hood Community College. |  |
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