Welcome to the....
CORTEZ HIGH SCHOOL
Class of 1966, Classmate Nostalgia Page

A place for classmate contributions. If you
have tidbits to share, send them to Ronda.
They can include text, pictures, etc.
If possible, we'll get them posted here.

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To kick things off, our first submittal is from fellow classmates
Danny Waltz and Mike Casetta. An awesome poem, guys!
Looking forward to seeing you both at the big reunion party.

I'll Have a Reunion Sandwich, Hold the Nostalgia
By Mike Casetta and Dan Waltz

Our high school is having our reunion over Memorial Day.
I will make it memorable for more than just myself.
It has been 40 years since any of those memories were logged
when we danced tangos and good conversations
twisted and jerked, watusied and swam off our tongues,
and there was a war a comin' into our living rooms.

It hung there, that war, like a wet scary blanket
over the window of the future, over the doorway of life.
We were born white, male and American,
the first three bullets we ever dodged,
and dropped and rolled, while moving faster to rock n' roll.

It inspired hope, which fluttered and cut in our chests,
and opened the rib cage releasing our songbird hearts
and though we knew better, we were hope's fools every time.
It is the fool inside each of us that will attend the reunion,
cuckolding nothing more than joy and the spirit to spread it.

e-mail Danny
e-mail Mike

Click on any photo to see a larger image.

Fellow classmates Danny (L) and Mike today.
Danny currently calls Denver, Colorado home,
while Mike lives in Tucson, Arizona.

This is what these two guys looked like,
back in good old 1966!

Danny

Mike

What a difference 40 years makes!
(For all of us!)

Hey Fellow Classmates....
We're happy to announce the debut of our Classmate Nostalgia Page.
Have you got some juicy tidbit you'd like to share with the class?
E-mail it to Ronda and we'll post it here, for the whole world to see.

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Our next contribution is another poem.
(Did we all become poets.... Or what!)

This one is from Linda (Woisin) Coker.
Another awesome poem, Linda!

Linda today, now known as Linda Coker.
Linda calls Dallas, Texas home.

Here's Linda as we all remember her
from good old Cortez!

Drop Linda an e-mail, and let her know how much
you enjoyed her great poem!

e-mail Linda

FORTY YEARS ALREADY?
By Linda (Woisin) Coker

Has it been forty years already?
Is that what they say?
Maybe that is why what was black, brown or blonde
Is now turning quickly to grey.....!

We each have our own story
of the road in life we chose
Some have become world renowned,
Yet others, heaven knows.

Many have gone on to build
A family tree of pride.
With sons and daughters grown now
And grandchildren by our side.

And then there are the couples
That we all watched in their courting days.
The ones that walked the halls hand in hand,
It wasn’t just “a phase”.

Some have chosen the single life
Touring the world from town to town.
Others have made a comfortable life
Staying in the valley and settling down.

We will all gather together
For a weekend of fun.
Talking about places we’ve been
And things we have done.

Remembering those moments
So many years ago.
First kisses, last dances
And the drive-in picture show.

The teachers we had
And where THEY thought we would be
Forty years later
If they could only see.

For those who are no longer with us
We will miss each one of you.
But hope you will be looking down
For you have the best view.

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Do you have a favorite "today" photo of yourself that you'd like to share with the class?
Even if you don't write poetry, send us a photo, and we'll do a "Then N Now" for you!
Just E-mail it to Ronda.

Cindy and Jack Hawkins.... Looking awfully good!
Click on this photo and Cindy and Jack
will fill up your screen!
e-mail Cindy and Jack

Here's a photo from Cindy and Jack Hawkins.
Cindy and Jack reside in Cave Creek, Arizona.

Cindy and Jack won't be attending the reunion,
due to previously made travel plans,
but wished us all a great time.

Hard to believe.... This was Jack
way back in 1966

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Hey Larry.... Are you suggesting that we're all getting old?
(Click on the picture.... It gets bigger!)

Larry also sent in an article which he wrote, about our own
Alice Cooper (aka fellow '66 Cortezian, Vince Furnier),
for the December 14, 1983 edition of City Life Magazine
Click on the graphic on the right to read the article.

e-mail Larry
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Of course you all remember that famous
Tip Sheet Slooth, Larry Samson....
Well, he's still out there, and still at it!
This little item just came in....

The Tip Sheet's "Reunion Edition"
(notice the date)

Larry
Way back then

Here's a photo sent in by Lauren (Brannock) Derry.
Lauren said the photo was taken during her Summer 2004 visit to Phoenix.

From Left: Jan (Boyer) Hall, Linda (Roberts) Cannon, Lauren (Brannock) Derry,
Loi (Kelly) Davis and Carol (Saban) Konteres
(Clicking on this picture won't make it bigger.... Sorry!)

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Here are a couple of photos
sent in by Elaine (Hall) Harrison.
Elaine reports that she and her significant
other of many years, Gary Gadd, are alive
and well, and residing here in Phoenix, AZ

Click on pictures to see larger image

e-mail Elaine

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