Volume 15, No. 2 Fall • Winter 2011 Robert Johnson for ...€¦ · Volume 15, No. 2 Fall • Winter 2011 Robert Johnson for governor “When I first went to college, I was deathly

Lincoln High School Alumni Association

Volume 15, No. 2 Fall • Winter 2011

Robert Johnson for governor“When I first went to college, I was deathly afraid of speaking,” Johnson said. “When I decided it was going to be school over basketball, I decided to focus on public speaking because that’s what I was afraid of.

“And when I found out I could break those walls down, I realized I could do anything.”

As in win student-of-the-year honors at Umpqua.

Secure a Ford Family Foundation scholarship and transfer to Portland State in 2008.

Graduate from PSU with a 3.5 GPA.

Initiate a scholarship program at Roosevelt High School for his senior capstone project.

Gain acceptance to the University of Oregon School of Law.

And roll up under the wing of Frohnmayer.

“He’s an A-plus story,” said Frohnmayer, who met Johnson through the Ford Foundation. “What you find in him is a steely determination. He’s a work in progress, someone who is remaking himself, in a whole and complete sense, and that’s a thrill to watch.

“For someone that age to be consciously working on his own philanthropy is extraordinary.”

Johnson files the effort at Roosevelt under bringing his story “full circle. I never thought I would be here. Some of the kids at Roosevelt don’t think they have it in them, either. I want to help them get a foot in the door. There’s a lot of help out there once you believe you can actually do it.”

That may be the best part of Johnson’s story.

Not just that he figured things out. Not that he names his benefactors: Robert Key at Roosevelt, Paula Usrey at Umpqua, Linda Maizels at Portland State and Frohnmayer.

Not even that self-pity is so alien to Johnson’s nature that he credits his parents for giving him the skills to evolve and adapt.The best part of this tale of redemption might be Johnson’s willingness to name his missteps so that others may benefit from his painful experience.

To not only aspire for the best in life but also to inspire others to do the same.

It’s early yet in his political career, but the man has already locked up my vote.

Steve Duin: 503-221-8597; 1320 S.W. Broadway, Portland, OR 97201 [email protected] oregonlive.com/duin. http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/steve_duin/index.ssf/2011/06/portlands_robert_johnson_for_g.html n

Robert Johnson

LHS Class of 2002

“He’s an A-plus story,” said Frohnmayer, who met Johnson through the Ford Foundation. “What you find in him is a steely determination. He’s a work in progress, someone who is remaking himself, in a whole and complete sense, and that’s a thrill to watch. –Dave Frohnmayer

Excerpted from the Oregonian.Published June 18, 2011. See link below.

IN THIS ISSUE2 Artist Profile

The Bulletin BoardWho’s on First

3 A Moment for GivingEndowment Fund

4 2011 MembershipLuncheon

5 LHSAA Author’s CornerRoy L. Lindsay

6 Reunions • VolunteersSave These Dates

From the Past

By STEVE DUIN His parents were heroin addicts. He was orphaned at 20. He graduated from Lincoln High School --”by the skin of my teeth” --with a 1.7 GPA, fourth-grade reading skills and a learning disability.

Yet this fall, Robert Johnson is bound for law school at the University of Oregon and counts former AG --and university president --Dave Frohnmayer among his mentors.

And if that isn’t impressive enough, Johnson brings one more unique variable to the equation: the ability to frame his experience so that others might learn from it.

“To quote President Obama, I want to eradicate the slander that a black youth with a book is acting white,” Johnson said Thursday. “I want to serve people who come from nothing. I want to be governor some day.

“If I can’t change the world directly, I’d like to spark the brain of the people who are going to change the world.”

Johnson, 27, had a number of legitimate excuses for struggling in high school. He had what he calls a “nomadic” childhood, largely because his father, Robert Johnson Sr., was a legendary drug dealer in the Philadelphia projects.

“It wasn’t, like, covert,” Johnson said. “He was notorious in north Philadelphia. A big fish in a big pond.”During one of his father’s sabbaticals from prison, the family moved to North Portland. Long before his parents died, three months apart, in 2004, Johnson had taken over the parenting of his brother, Daniel, but it was the lone bright spot on his resume. “School,” he admits, “was an afterthought. I was doing things I shouldn’t be doing.”

Then Johnson caught a break. An assistant coach at Umpqua Community College saw him playing basket-ball at Wallace Park in Northwest Portland and invited the 6-foot-1 guard to Roseburg.

Johnson first arranged for his brother to take over his security job at Fred Meyer, then headed south. Somewhere on the road to Roseburg, he had his Damascus moment:

“Before I ever stepped on the court for basketball,” Johnson says, “I had a serious epiphany: Maybe I could do the classroom thing.”

Hit the books. Deal with that reading disability. Engage his professors. Reward everyone who ever had faith in him.

And not halfheartedly, but a take-no-prisoners approach, especially with his own anxieties.

2

WHO’S ON FIRST?

The Bulletin Board

Lincoln High School On-line

Store! Do you need Lincoln

paraphernalia for your reunion, a family

member, or for yourself? Lincoln High

School apparel, gifts, and souvenirs can

now be purchased on-line. You can get

to the online store by visiting the alumni

website (www.lincolnalum.org) and then

clicking on the Lincoln Online Store link.

All proceeds go to LHS.

We Need Help With Finding Obituaries. If you know of a Lincoln graduate who has passed away recently, please let us know by sending us the name, date of death, and the obituary to LHSAA – PO Box 80338 – Portland, OR. 97280. Or e-mail us at [email protected]. Thank you for your help.

Come to LHSAA Board Meetings!Members are welcome to join us at our board meetings. Leadership is needed to help keep us going. 1st Thursday of each month. 5:30 P.M. Ground Floor, Room 8–just off of the Cafeteria.

Volunteer at Lincoln:

Volunteers are vital to Lincoln High School

and the community. If you are interested in

helping at the school and for a list of

volunteer opportunities please contact Mary

Ann Walker at [email protected]

All of the LHSAA projects and

events are funded by Dues and Donations

only. A big thanks to all our Members.

Alan Zell ’49 PresidentHarris Matarazzo ’75 ExecutiveVicePresident,HistorianLeslie McClung Costandi ’75 RecordingSecretaryMarjorie Roland MacQueen ’52 CorrespondenceSecretary,Website, Database

Carolyn Studenicka Jackson’55 Treasurer,EndowmentChair, LHSAlumniLiaison,RoseGarden

Renew your LHSAA Dues On-line: Renew your Lincoln Alumni Association membership or become a new member on-line. Just visit our web-site at www.lincol-nalum.org and click on Pay Online-Dues.

I’m Arne Westerman, Lincoln grad class of 44. I served in the US Army before attending Reed and graduated in 1950 from the University of Oregon.I have three children and five grandchildren. I’m an artist showing ingalleries in Portland, Oregon, Carmel, California and Rockport, Texas. I specialize in painting figures in a variety of settings. They might be dancers, street people, chefs, people working their jobs, people just sitting and waiting--whatever gets me excited, makes me want to express my feelings.I’m a Portland native, born in South Portland in 1927. I studied with artists Charles Ried, Sergei Bongardt, Milt Kobayashi and George Hamilton. My work is Included in many private and public collections and is included in the permanent collections of seventeen Museums in the US. I am the winner of many major awards, including seven Grand Prizes earned in National and International Juried Competitions.I’m widely known for watercolors but I

also paint in acrylics and oils. My gallery in Portland--the Attic Gallery, Southwest 1st and Pine, held a show of my paintings in October. You’ll find my work on my web-site--arnewesterman.com, or Attic Gallery. n

ARTIST PROFILE

Setting Tables at Jakes

Hilary Cyrus

Alan Zell ’49New LHSAA President

The Lincoln Alumni Official Website in Portland Oregon is www.Lincolnalum.org.

Roscoe Nelson ’66 DirectorJessica Faulkner ’94 DirectorMarlyce Rugroden Gholston ’54 DirectorTo contact the LHSAA Board or any of its members: Phone: 503-452-2225 E-mail: [email protected] Mail: POBox80338 Portland,OR97280 Web site: www.lincolnalum.org

3

In our Spring LHSAA newsletter we told you about the many alumni who have helped our Endowment Fund grow since the start in May 1999.

Since June of 2007, when we first put our money to work, we have presented 13 scholarship awards. At this moment we have given a total $48,200 in the name of all alumni that attended Lincoln. Just for fun, we want to let you know who benefited.

In 2007, $1,000 was given to Leah Chan for her use at the University of Oregon. In 2008, Mary Birkett was presented with a $1,500 leadership award. In 2008, we honored Anne Wearn with the first Bertha Hunter (former LHS teacher) $10,000 Language scholarship, which Anna used at Dartmouth.

In 2009, we found we were able to add additional honors. Miranda Hardy was awarded $500 to help with College expenses at the University Of Oregon. Jasmine Dickerson also used her $1,500 leadership scholarship at U of O. Gabriel Mathews, who planned to attend Occidental, was selected by the Language Department to receive the Bertha Hunter $10,000 scholarship.

Then in 2010, we took another aggressive step by adding a $100 cash award to the Marie Allen service certificate that is already in place for the “hardest working senior.” Jothika Cholan, Senior Class President used her award, you guessed it, at the U of O. Mathew Unrath took his books and the $1,500 scholarship to Oregon State University’s Honors College, while Louis Wheatly chose Dartmouth for the place to use his $10,000 so he could further his studies in Language.

- LHSAA Endowment Fund Report

Monica Gomez, ’2011. Recipient of $500 – Beau Monde Beauty School.

Sonja Ognjenovic, ’2011. Recipient of $1,500–Oregon State University.

Haley Stewart being presented the $10,000 Bertha Hunter Scholarship by Harris Martarazzo, at a small reception held in August.

2011! Very quickly another year rolled around. We continued our desire and dreams to help Lincoln students step into a better future. The Marie Allen $100 cash award went to Morgan Plew. We presented a $500 Vocational Scholarship to Monica Gomez, so she could pursue a career as a Beautician by attending Beau Monde Beauty School. This fall her $1,500 LHSAA scholarship was used by Sanja Ognjenovic at Oregon State University, while Haley Stewart, (pictured above with Executive Vice President, Harris Matarazzo receiving her award) will attend Williams College with the help of her $ 10,000 Bertha Hunter award.

In May, 1999 this account was opened with a donation of $ 250.00. Prompting our first interest payment in June of 1999, to be only .40 cents. The true interest has been paid in the lives of the students who have won the awards.

To be part of the giving you may use our PayPal account on the only official Lincoln Alumni website, www.lincolnalum.org, or mail donations, comments and questions to

A Moment for Giving

LHSAA Endowment Fund, P. O. Box 23756, Portland, OR 97281. You may always reach us at our Alumni message 24 hour telephone number, 503-452-2225. Thank you to all Alumni and a big thanks to the LHSAA Board and LHSAA Endowment Fund Committee and Scholarship Selection Committee.

As former Latin teacher, Bertha Hunter, said when she retired from Lincoln in 1952. Ave Atque Vale! For now. n

LHSAA Endowment Fund Address: LHSAA Endowment, P.O. Box 23756, Portland, OR 97281 In 1999, the stage was set for Lincoln High alumni to be able to give a tax-deductible contribution to your alumni Endowment Fund. These donations ensure that activities and programs which have made Lincoln a special place have a continuing source of support. We wanted to give all Lincoln Alumni the opportunity to be part of a Lincoln Student’s future. Funding Projects and Experiences: o Scholarships o Interactive Education o Leadership Classes

Make your check payable to: LHSAA Endowment Fund Class Challenge And mail it to: LHSAA Endowment Fund PO Box 23756 Portland, OR 97281-3756Name (Present)_____________________________________________________________________________ Class __________________

Name at Lincoln_______________________ Address_____________________________________________________________________

City___________________________________ State_______Zip____________________Phone___________________________________

Email ______________________________________Gift Amount $__________________ o My Employer will match my gift o Employer’s name____________________________________________

o My gift (Circle one) / Class of /Or in honor / memory of ____________________________________ Class of __________________ Visit our Website www.lincolnalum.org Think of Lincoln when you plan for your future. Include the endowment fund in your will with a bequeath to the LHSAA Endowment Fund. If you have questions concerning the Endowment Fund, email LHSAA [email protected] or telephone us at (503) 452-2225.

Morgan Phew, ’2011. Recipient of $100 – Marie Allen Service Award.

✁

Colleen Smyth, ’2011 & Sophia Marashrafi, ’2012, LHS Students. Read the poem “One Voice”.

“From one Dream A Celebration” Our 6th Annual Membership Luncheon, held at the Multnomah Athletic Club on May 14, 2011, turned into more of a political statement than we expected or planned. We were reminded that “Progress always involves risk” (Frederick B Wilcox). This event was to show our members how much support we lend to the Lincoln community.

We found ourselves being a positive rally to support just about all of the programs that the school and alumni association include. This event presented us in a different light. Courage!

Special featured speaker, Oregon State Treasurer Ted Wheeler, Class of 1981, delighted us with some insights on his positions as a devoted family man, aggressive politician, and spirited project innovator for our State and for Lincoln. Besides our LHSAA board members, others at the head table included, Nancy Williams Muhle, 1953, and Katrina Wheeler, wife of Ted.

Members enjoyed a delicious meal, and were entertained by current LHS students. Aaron Stern, MacGregor Hall, Elise Cramer and Brett Boston played some lovely music. Colleen Smyth, Hayden Wilcox and Sophia Mirashrafi from the LHS Drama Department read a song, “One Voice” written by Don Cook and David Malloy. This song relates that even one voice

4

or one dream can change the World. Several staff members from Lincoln spoke, including Principal Peyton Chapman and the delightfully charming emcee, Jim Peerenboom, LHS Drama teacher.

New to the membership luncheon committee this year was Jessica Faulkner, class of 1994. She took charge of the table that displayed some memorabilia from our archives. Thank you very much Jessica. Thank you to all the 2011 luncheon committee members: Violet Watt, ’53; Lydia Casey, ’58; Marcia Kelly. ‘59; Diana Dannenmann, ’55; Sue Peters, ’50, and the LHSAA board members.

Look for information for the 7th annual LHSAA Membership Luncheon on the official LHSAA Website www.lincolnalum.org and in the calendar of events located in this Newsletter. n

Jim Peerenboom, LHS Teacher. Emcee at the LHSAA Membership Luncheon.

LHS Students, From left – Brett Boston, Elise Cramer and Aaron Stern.

From left - Harris Matarazzo, ’1975, Peyton Chapman, LHS Principal and Ted Wheeler, ’1981.Jessica Faulkner ’1994. Hostess

of the LHSAA Membership Luncheon Archive Table.

2011 Membership Luncheon

Pictures & Words

Wishing You and Yours a very Happy Holiday Season!

Wishing You and Yours a very Happy Holiday Season!

LHSAA AUTHOR’S CORNER:Are you a published Author?The Author’s Corner is a new section in our newsletter devoted to Lincoln Alums who have published a book. If you would like to add a book to our newsletter please contact the Lincoln High School Alumni Association. Also, if you have written a book, please consider donating a copy to the Lincoln High School Library. The alumni association is

pleased and proud to feature these publications by Lincoln High School graduates.

Book Series: the Berry O’Shea series of legal mysteries.Written by Jerry BanksIn the first book, The Lukarilla affair, O’Shea leads the defense of an organization of prominent males

who are accused of sexual assault by three women employees of a catering company that catered their male retreat in the Oregon Coast Range, west of Portland. The second, Secret Agenda, is a tale about a mid-east cult that established its headquarters on an abandoned ranch in central Oregon. O’Shea is hired by a small local newspaper that is accused of libeling the cult and several of its members. In the third, Second District, O’Shea represents a rancher/movie star in an election contest against the congressman from eastern Oregon. And the fourth, Vital to the Defense, which is just out, involves a massive fire of a plywood plant in southern Oregon and a suit by the mill owner against a forklift manufacture for multi-millions of dollars claiming the forklift caused the fires.

All these books involve suspense, drama and hidden plots as well as extremely unexpected endings. All, but the first book are available on Amazon.Com.

Book title: JUST CALL ME Darcelle ~ A Memoir.Written by Walter Cole with Sharon KnorrCountdown to Carnegie Hall Concert“Wow, what a hell of a night for a shy

little boy from Linnton, Oregon to be on stage with Thomas Lauderdale, Storm Large, Carlos Kalmar, and the Oregon Symphony with this wonderful audience…all because I wear a dress.” - Darcelle

Before Stonewall, there was Darcelle XV… and here are the memoirs to prove it. From his childhood in the lumber mills of 1930’s Linnton, Oregon to his years of service in the Army (on the Italian Riviera, no less), from fantastic fatherhood to his founding of what is now probably the oldest and longest-running drag bar in the world … the extraordinary story of Walter Cole & Darcelle XV is a dazzlingly beautiful and optimistic portrait of a true American pioneer. Now in his 80th year, long may she reign! – Thomas M. Lauderdale, Pink Martini.

Book title: Triumphs I & II.Written by Mary Angeline Bell (formally Albrecht)

This book is brimming with uplifting poetic pieces that will tap reader’s senses, and give them a special glimpse at life, love, and everything in between. Triumphs I & II is a vivid depiction of Bell’s deep thoughts and

wonderful feelings which offers joy, relief, and strength to everyone. It reflects a unique power that overcomes trials and tribulations thrusting everyone to move forward.

Each piece in this evocative and meaningful anthology delivers a message that will comfort the reader, injecting a feeling of delight amid loneliness, a mood of contentment in solitude, and a sense of hope despite life’s seemingly overwhelming odds.

Book title: FROM DOLLAR TO COUNTERFEIT ~ The path of American Government Dishonesty.Written by Gordon Leitch, Jr.This second book by Dr. Leitch chronicles the history of the dollar. It traces and documents the dollar from its inception in the 16th century, details its adoption by the United States in 1785, and shows how it was removed from circulation in 1933, despite constitutional prohibitions.

The book includes over 15 reproductions of hand-written and printed documents from the Continental congress and other sources, plus a wealth of information never previously developed or presented.

Gordon Leitch, Jr. has also written The Monetary Errors and Deceptions of the Supreme Court. n

Roy L. Lindsay 09/22/1927–09/07/2010 To honor our treasured teacher, counselor, mentor and friend Roy Lindsay, the class of ‘56 is presenting a plaque in his memory to Lincoln High School principal, Mrs. Peyton Chapman. Everyone is welcome to attend a reception to be held on Tuesday, November 22, 2011, from 2 – 3:30 p.m. in the school library (upstairs). If you have not been contacted already by email and wish to contribute to this gift, you may either bring a donation to the reception, or mail a check to: Shirley Lehrer Bankston. Please make your check payable to Shirley Bankston at 1116 SW Stephenson St., Portland, OR 97219. Classmate John Herman arranged for this beautiful tribute to Mr. Lindsay. It will be installed on the wall near the auditorium at the school.If anyone has questions, please call Sid Blitz at 503-636-0547. n

5

Lincoln High School Alumni AssociationPost Office Box 80338Portland Oregon 97280

Return Service Requested

NON-PROFITU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPORTLAND, ORPERMIT #3449

From the Past . . .

Save These Dates!!

Current information at press time.To check for changes, go towww.lincolnalum.org and click on Reunions.1953- The class of 1953 will have a two night event July 27 and 28, 2012 at University Place SW 3rd and Lincoln in Portland. Approximate cost for both nights is $60 per person. They will send out registration forms in Feb or March 2012. If questions email: [email protected].

1947 - The 65th Reunion is in the planning stage for 2012.

1957 - The 55th Reunion is in the planning stage for 2012.

1962 - Reunion is in the planning stage.

1982 - Reunion is in the planning stage.

1992 - Reunion is in the planning stage.

2002 - Reunion is being planned for the Summer of 2012. Look for more information in the Spring • Summer newsletter and on Facebook.

Reunions For later updates on class reunions, please log onto our website at www.lincolnalum.org

March 19 – March 23, 2012 – Spring Break.

May 2012 – LHSAA 7th Annual Membership Luncheon.Don’t miss this chance to recognize our Scholarship winners and current talent at Lincoln High School.

Picture It Our Way“As students at L.H.S., we’ve seen the world from a common viewpoint. Although we’ve had similar experiences, we’ve learned to respect one another’s distinct character and background. In the classroom, we were encouraged to open our eyes to a broader outlook. From this prospective, we’ve been known to pursue traditional aspects of high school life, while creating an original flair all our own.” – Class of 1989 Yearbook

More volunteers are needed to help with our alumni adopt-a-plot area, the LHS Courtyard, and LHSAA Memorial Rose Garden.We need to thank our regular volunteers. Lydia Casey, ‘58; Joe Kordic, ‘49; Lauren Zell, ‘74. A few others as well. Jim Linman, LHS Teacher; Chris Brown, ‘89; Leslie Costandi, ‘75. A note of interest. The school has a big new large well $$$$$ funded Track and Field area. Yet! There is only one water faucet that works for the total Campus. The campus is hard to water. No watering happens most Summers. (Because of that) Please consider thanking Gene Jackson (Husband of Alumni, Carolyn Studenicka Jackson, ’55). (He is not an alumnus) For the past eight years, he has packed up his own 600 feet of hose and taken it down to the LHS Courtyard to water the LHSAA Memorial Rose garden. This garden is planted in honor and memory of all LHS Alumni and Teachers. Mostly students, teachers, and parents keep the LHS grounds cared for.

We have several working small committees that use volunteers. Weekly Archive recovery. Twice Yearly Dusting Alumni Vintage Trophies in the LHS cases. Twice Yearly Newsletter Committee. Database and Lost alumni committee. Endowment Committee.

Volunteers