Punahou School Class of 1959

Robin Luke retires this year as the Dean of the Marketing Department, which he created 26 years ago, at the Missouri State University College of Business Administration. Robin, however, has continued his first true passion – rock and roll – over the years. The writer and performer of “Susie Darlin’ ” (sales of 2 ½ million back then) performed again at an “oldies” concert in April in New York. He and manager/wife Mary really enjoyed the 31 acts in two days -- including The Drifters, Dodie Stevens, The Shirells, Skyliners, and many, many others. Robin notes that there is often only one original member performing, but all still remarkable. See www.ramtownlive.com/popshoppe for an interview with Robin. This is one classmate who won’t get bored in retirement (does anyone?).

Mark Leggett and his long-time companion, celebrating their 25 years together, recently moved from Florida to Palm Springs. In April Mark and Carolyn Chun Wong, Alexa Smith Maxwell, and Keith Garrison met for drinks and dinner and talk-story at Dorothy Felton Kerekes’ house in La Quinta, CA.

There have been some recent email address book piracy and privacy issues that have prompted Jon Larson to password protect the class website that he created and maintains. Jan Collins Moreno has emailed an explanation along with a common user name and password to all the email addresses that we have. Contact Jan or Karl if you didn’t get an email and want a username/password for the website.

Most of us, at least on the mainland, have had plenty of strange weather this year (and before) but Frank Young had no fun around his home in Tennessee in early May. Heavy rains, measured in feet, cascaded down the hill across from Frank finishing the timber clear-cutting of a paper company. That along with the rest of the torrent wiped out one of his two bridges and jammed two four foot drain pipes with debris, then demonstrating the power of hydraulics. Frank says they are fine but many people downslope in trailers lost everything. Cinnie Belle Ames Peterson was in Kona in early June for the wedding of her son David Ayau (’81) and then spent time visiting. She (aka “the golf nut”) then returned to the extended miserable heat of Southern Virginia to play golf in what can only be considered an act of supreme devotion – or something else! Nothing like a heat index of 110, day after day, to focus your game. By the time you read this in print it will probably be snowing, but I don’t think she plays then (?).

Libby Orrick Antone once again proved herself a great source of accurate information, keeping us updated on exactly what was happening – and not happening – during the tsunami alert following the massive Chilean earthquake. Libby was certainly way ahead of the national newscaster who breathlessly announced that a tsunami was headed for “the Hawaiian islands, where many United States citizens live”. Is it our school systems, or maybe the water supply? Libby is now a certified news source!

Interesting note in from Gay Gibbons Wagner. Years ago she was condo-shopping in South Boston with her daughter and a real estate agent named Jib Bowers. Rang no bells. In the condo where she was looking was an incredibly beautiful Hawaiian quilt which, as things turned out, was made by the real estate agent’s grand-mother – someone named Laura Bowers! Bells rang! BTW, Jib Bowers brother Andy (sister: Laura Bowers Husain who runs this publication) lives ¾ of a mile away in the same gated community in which I live in Williamsburg, VA. They are amongst us!

Keep those cards and letters coming in or I’ll go into gross detail about how we essentially rebuilt our airplane in response to an FAA advisory. First, drill out a thousand rivets, then . . .

We’ve had some news about classmates that we think ought to be shared now – but you’ll see it all again around October if you don’t look at the two class websites (Punahou’s and Jon Larson’s www.punahou59.org)!

On April 25th the largest “Oldies” Rock concert on the East Coast will be held on Long Island (Google LAR Enterprises). For the second straight year one of our classmates is featured. See the line-up below to pick out his name (you do have to do some work here)!

All Star Doo Wop Weekend Volume VIII
Kenny Vance & The Planotones - Dodie Stevens – The Jive 5 - The G-Clefs - Jack Scott - The Chiffons - Sonny Til's Orioles - Jim Stevens - Kid Kyle - Diamond Dave Somerville - Carl Dobkins Jr - The Skyliners – Charlie Thomas' Drifters - Robin Luke - Eddie Hodges & Paul Peterson - The Classics
Hosted By Bobby Jay & Cool Bobby B
Pure Gold & The Pure Gold Band
Yes, Robin Luke is still at it – a true professional. A recently published book, “Hawaii A Go-Go” by Tom Tourville included a picture of the “Susie Darlin”” 45 RPM record sleeve on the cover. “Susie Darlin’” eventually sold 2 ½ million copies and got Robin on 13 Dick Clark shows, the Perry Como show, and a lot of Rock & Roll tours. He moved on to graduate school, leaving the early glamour behind. He was asked to start the Marketing Department in the Missouri State University College of Business Administration in 1984 and has spent the last 26 years as the Department Head. At the end of this year, however, he retires from that position and moves on to a never-ending list of things to do – perhaps even more rock & roll performances!

Pattiann Graham Smith writes from a cold Chicago that she is looking forward to returning to Hawaii in June since her brother and daughter have their Punahou reunions this year and her father turns 96! Pattiann has moved on from being a stockbroker to doing part-time payroll and taxes for a friend who owns a B&B named the China Doll Guest House – a place to keep in mind for those of you who might visit Chicago.

Jan and I plan on doing periodic website updates since the printed bulletin has such a long preparation cycle (and costs a lot of money). For instance, we submit copy for the fall edition on 1 July. You’ll get that in the mail by October or later. Hopefully Punahou will eventually give us the option of viewing the whole thing on line. We also send time-sensitive items via email – which brings up a point. We typically get a 30% email rejection rate. In order to get better at this we would appreciate it if ALL of you would send us an email so we can correct our address book – Karl at jfowler120@verizon.net, and Jan at dustykitty@att.net. Punahou, BTW, will not tell us when you correct contact information with them. Mahalo!

We hope you’ve finally recovered from our incredible reunion – something that is also good for you, as Dave Moore proved. Dave normally spends that June time in a remote place in the upper Sierras hiking and stressing himself some – a long way from any hospital. This year, though, he decided that our 50^th would be fun, and so he spent his normal Sierra time with us. Upon his return to San Diego he noticed some discomfort in his chest so he checked in with his MD – who found an 80% blockage in his left main coronary artery (“the widow maker”). All is well now. Dave wrote a terrific piece about his experiences, including eight Lessons Learned (which I hope he will post on the Alumni website. The ninth lesson learned is – reunions are good for your health!

Those of us who were on the Big Island at reunion time got a practical lesson in
VOG (volcanic fog). Here’s more information from an article forwarded to us by Dianne Helbush Signes. VOG results from something like 2500 tons a day of sulfur dioxide being spewed out by a continuing eruption of Kilauea. The atmospheric effects are very noticeable and are resulting in a very significant reduction in agricultural production and an alteration of plant life (with more to come). The US Department of Agriculture has now declared the Big Island a natural disaster area. Okay Pele, we’re sorry you are irritated – ‘nuff already!

The Fall Punahou Bulletin (received in Virginia in early December) had a great article on the reunion and the presence of much loved former teacher Clara Jane Hall at the Pacific Club party. Her presence, unfortunately, was not known to all who would have liked to visit with her after all this time. She taught English but, perhaps more remembered, supervised the “Charm Club” (how things have changed!). Several, including Jan Hughes Turner, remember a middle-school visit to a slaughterhouse and the advice to douse handkerchiefs with perfume to fend off the unpleasant smells. Good going, Clara Jane!

Carri Morgan, Director of the Luke Center for Public Service, sent an email in which she describes a planned Koa tree planting on the Kualoa Ranch on January 2^nd, 2010. This is an outgrowth of the Iliahi Foundation efforts, which is now linked to the Class of 2009 by the efforts of President Scott. Our congratulations to Susan Hata O’Conner, Ron Iwamoto, Jon Larson, Jim Haley, and all the others who have worked to make the goals of the foundation a reality.

The Lion’s Club International has a variety of service objectives, but focus primarily on eliminating preventable blindness. Frank Young became heavily involved in this worthy effort starting some 15 years ago when he and wife Ann moved to Tennessee. Frank became District Governor, coordinating the efforts of 43 Lions Clubs. As an example of their service, in the 12 years that “Kidsight Outreach” has been active in their district, some 300,000 children have been screened, with about 5% referred for further examination in an effort to prevent sight-impairment or worse. Ann, following in Frank’s footsteps, will be sworn in as District Governor in July 2010 at the annual convention, held this time in Sydney, Australia. Good on ya, Frank and good on the Lions Club!

Lastly, with great regret we must announce that Vernie Hoke, retired Captain of the Honolulu Fire Department, passed from our sight on November 29, 2009 due to complications during surgery. He was preceded in death by his wife Carole in 2008. We extend are deepest condolences to his surviving family which includes sons Gregory, Kevin, and Kyle; a sister Leona; and thirteen grandchildren.

Keep those cards and letters coming in – else we will have to make up stories!

". . . those that would prefer to access the Punahou Bulletin on-line, rather than receiving a hard copy, should suggest this to Laurel Bowers Husain, Director of Communications at Punahou. Her email address is lhusain@punahou.edu. "

Our group of classmates flying from SFO to Kona for a week of pre-reunion party time knew it was going to be a special experience – we were on UAL flight #59! The Kona group, among other events, got outrigger paddling instruction from John Moore and Kelly Greenwell, in addition to a great beach house party hosted by Dick and Sandy Ednie. We also learned that VOG (volcano smog) is no joke. Another group met on Maui where, among other things, they had a great reception at John Hoxie’s and Sandy Osorio Stoner’s beautiful homes. John, by the way, is as tall as ever. All of us – all 149 plus guests who attended our 50^th anniversary reunion on O’ahu had a fantastic time retelling and exchanging our experiences in life since Punahou. The number of attendees is significant since, usual for our class, it set another record. See elsewhere in the Bulletin for class gift information.

What did we do in the six days of well-planned and scheduled events created by the 25 members of the hard-working reunion committee? Tuesday the golfers blazed away successfully on the Makaha Valley resort while the rest of us attended an extremely well received. luncheon at the Ossipoff-designed home of Bob Liljestrand’s family on Tantalus, now on the state and national historic registry. Wednesday Dana Anderson arranged a tour of Doris Duke’s Shangri-la in Kahala – an absolutely incredible experience in terms of art and scale. If you didn’t do it, you missed something! Wednesday evening was a multi-class reception on campus – lots of wine, pupus, and talk story. Thursday was a heavily attended sunset cruise on the Star of Honolulu. Friday morning was a Tek Yoon hosted catamaran cruise out of Waikiki, where talk was fueled by nicely priced Mai Tai. Friday night was the now customary, and excellent, party at the Pacific Club, organized by Harlan Cadinha. Robin Luke took the stage to give us a number of our old but unforgotten favorites – yielding the spotlight to Vicky Hollinger, her Naluhoe group, and their superb music.

Saturday activities began in mid-afternoon with a Teddi Lam Ching and crew presenting an exceptionally tasteful and well-organized Memorial service at Thurston Chapel, introduced by Andre Tatibouet. The names of our 50 departed classmates were read by Dana Anderson and Lionel Craven, while long stemmed roses were placed on the alter symbolizing our loss. After a class picture Kiki Schaefer and Linda Torres from the Alumni Relations Office guided us up to Dr. Scott’s house (which many of us still call Dr. Fox’s) where we had afternoon libations and more talk story time. Snaking down the hill to Middle Field, led by Kiki and Linda, we were received with applause from some 2400 alumni and, as the 50^th anniversary class, were served the traditional luau. The luau food is mo’ bettah (well, better than it was)!

The finale was Sunday morning at the Kalama Beach Club in Kailua where we had way too much lunch -- including a huge number of pizzas from the late John Parker’s pizzeria, and fresh Alaska salmon brought and cooked by Kathy Kangun Bohach and husband Ben -- and of course, more talk story time. One solemn moment came when Jim Haley paddled a board out in the Kailua surf and scattered the flower petals representing the departed as Vicky Hollinger played a last Aloha Oe. Then, in mid-afternoon, relaxed and pleasantly exhausted, we went our separate ways saying goodbye to a tremendous reunion once again organized by Diane Devereux Ackerson and Bob Akinaka. By the way, since Eric Herrick was a no-show, he didn’t get to collect his prize for being youngest in the class – born 24 March 1942. And afterwards -- Pauahi Judd and husband Pat Sheehy returned home just in time to head out to New York City, where Grandson Aidan Makanaakua (gift from God) was born Thursday June 18th. Jim and Pam Haley also welcomed their first mo’opuna – Evangeline Rose.

Overwhelmed by all the pre-reunion and reunion news was an article in the Pacific Business News regarding Andre Tatibouet and wife Jane. The article details Andre’s take on the current and future business positions of the hotel industry in Hawaii, his extensive hotel management background (starting before most of us could spell h-o-t-e-l) including creating the Aston Hotel brand, and the current role that he and Jane have as consultants in the business of buying and renovating hotel properties. Andre and Jane have had remarkable careers in a difficult slice of the world – and we congratulate them!

A huge number of pictures are available at our class web site maintained by Jon Larson: www . punahou59 . org

Click on View/Print/Share to see the full collection of our 50th reunion photos submitted by classmates. We plan to use both this website and the official Punahou website to post articles and notices. Happy reading!

In fifty years each of us has gone down separate paths, through separate adventures, and different circumstances, to reach our current destinations. We have made history, changed society, created newness, and overcome the odds to get where we are today. Yet, we are bonded together by the cohesiveness of Punahou, the school that gave us opportunities that we were free to take and use for the benefit of all.

If you were unable to attend the reunion, we missed you. If you were there, wasn’t it a great time?

To be published in the Winter 2009/2010 Edition

Winter Bulletin Well, here it is already the beginning of a new year – Happy New Year everyone. Can’t believe the 50^th reunion was 6 months ago, so many are still talking about what a wonderful time we all had. Thanks again to the Reunion Committee for a great party.

More reconnecting –Val Erwin ‘57 Lewis held a Bay Area Punahou reunion for those from ’57,’58, ’59. What a time we had! Val and husband Rolf opened the doors of their recently remodeled home looking out toward Mount Tamalpias. Punahou alum and their spouses enjoyed talking stories and grazing over a table of Kalua Pig, Poi, rice, lomi salmon, fresh fruit and caramel cuts! Apparently Val has adopted the class of ’59, or us her, as we were well represented. In attendance were John Cooper & Cathy, Pauahi Judd Sheehy & husband Pat, Deedee Morgan Shute, Steve Foster, Jon Larson & wife Karen, Judy Kleene Klein & husband Enrique, and Jan Collins Moreno & husband Ren. Rounding out the revelers were John’s sister, Sarah Cooper Bunji ’57, Charlotte Smith Jenkins ’57 (our Don Smith’s sister), Betty Neary Alberts ’57, Carl Spiegelberg ’57, and Karen Schoenberg ’58.
Carol Hartman Parker wrote to tell of her visiting Lindy Webster in MN along with Muffie Wall and Dorothy Felton. I think the reunion bug has really bitten everyone. Carol also informed me that Tom Chun was appearing at Duke University November 1st with the Alumni of the Yale Russian Chorus! Golly Tom what other talents have you been hiding? Haven’t been able to talk to Tom, since he and Judy accompanied Punky to China where she will be attending the University of Peking. So, as soon as Tom gets home I will be pestering him for more detail on his singing accomplishments as well as the trip to China.

At reunion I ran into Beppie Kortschak Shapiro and since then we have been corresponding. She writes, “I am planning to try living in Portland during 2011, motivated by the chance to spend time with my grand-daughter Violet while she is still a baby. Hope to get together with some of you Northwest transplants during the year and find out what the secret is to surviving those cold rainy winters!”

Overwhelmed by all the pre-reunion and reunion news was an article in the Pacific Business News regarding Andre Tatibouet and wife Jane. The article details Andre’s take on the current and future business positions of the hotel industry in Hawaii, his extensive hotel management background (starting before most of us could spell h-o-t-e-l) including creating the Aston Hotel brand, and the current role that he and Jane have as consultants in the business of buying and renovating hotel properties. Andre and Jane have had remarkable careers in a difficult slice of the world – and we congratulate them!

From Libby Orrick we hear that Vickie Hollinger was in great shape on her 39th birthday on 9/12 at the Elks Club in Waikiki. Word was OUT & she welcomed her Punahou, Kamehameha, and Beamer groups. Good music & entertainment. .. Vickie was drowning in lei!! Dana Anderson got up to perform her first hula with the sweetest smile throughout, sharing the stage with Susan Hata O’Conner.

"Unda neet da mac nut tree - after reunion" - at Libby's house - Carol Hartman Parker, Dana Anderson, Susah Hata O’Conner, Sally Viean Flynn, Midgie Wiedknecht Brooks. Kehau Kea & Audrey Dobson Salas was supposed to be honored too - but went back to the Mainland that morning. Good food & talk story.

That’s it for now but see the "new and improved" official Punahou web site - and make sure your profile is correct, if not please make corrections & add a bit more if you’d like. Also visit our ‘59 web site at www.punahou59.org that Jon has put so many hours into, "a labor of love" - he has added a lot of new stuff along with about 400 reunion pictures submitted by over 20 of us. Thanks for all the work Jon. And, don’t forget, we will need new material for the Spring edition.

Karl and Jan