Emily Powell, Alumni President
Ahoy, thar Mateys! (that’s pirate talk). Welcome to our website. How fortunate we all are to have attended beautiful Balboa High School, "San Francisco Historical Landmark No. 205". And , we are especially very fortunate that on April 16, 1970, Nick Kafkas, then sponsor of the 100 Buc's Service Society, with the help of its president John Payne (S’70), organized our current and dynamic Balboa High School Alumni Association.
On that date my life was forever changed, as it opened up an opportunity for me to do something to make a positive impact in our community, and our world—an opportunity to help our students, to help maintain Balboa’s treasured traditions, and to work on events that would bring Bucs together. The stated "Mission" in our bylaws—"to help Balboa High School" became "my personal mission".
President's Message, Fall, 2010
"In a Nutshell" No. 2.
Since I last wrote to all of you Bucs out there in cyberspace, a lot has happened, and plans are being made for more events and projects—So, Now (as a pirate captain would say:) Now, hear this:
Our May 2010 Variety Show was Super "featuring local entertainers "Top Shelf" (with Johnny Trotman (Bal grad) as lead performer.) Those who were there, not only enjoyed the show (and seemed not to want to leave), but expressed amazement at our museum, and had fun socializing in the lobby. (Next show set for April 30, 2011- see below).
And then The Picnic to end (or start) all picnics in August at Site 7 in San Bruno Park was the best ever!
Over 220 Bucs, family and friends were there, and even as we closed up shop, Bucs kept coming. Many thanks to host "barbecue" Joe Belfrey ('78) and chief barbecue Leroy Miranda (1979) and crew that did a top notch job feeding the hungry Bucs. (Alumni provides the barbecue, and loyal Bucs bring salad, snacks, desserts and more). And, as usual the Monteleone family brings chili rellenos, and their Mom's
pineapple upside down cake (mom, Vera, recently passed away, but the legend of cookery lives on with her kids and all of us.)
Your Board of Directors are now recuperating from their dedicated work in making our October 23 Hall of Fame and Hall of Merit Awards Banquet such a success. Close to 300 Bucs attended and watched as we inducted the entire 1967 Undefeated AAA Championship football team into our Hall of fame, as well as Mitsu DeBerry ('85), Willard Holman (F'57), Dave Tyree (F'55), Herb Ward ('75); and special recognition:
Coach Jerry Gerrans, Coach Don Travers, Joe Rodriguez (F'61), and Frank Ingersoll. PLUS, Hall of Merit inductees Dr. Patricia Gray, Jerry Hill (F'64) and Miguel Galarza (S-79).
IT WAS A NIGHT TO REMEMBER, and those who participated in our second Silent Auction marched out with items of great value, at little cost to them.
THEN, YES THEN, on October 30th, WE MOVED right into our Homecoming Game vs Washington (oh, gee, we lost 20-24 but it was fun anyway) in our newly renovated and gorgeous Coach Carl Mitchel Field, while sitting in the stands of the also newly renovated Coach Archie Chagonjian Stadium, enjoying the fab barbecue put on by the Bal Boosters. We again honored our 1967 team. Where were you??"
And, we've had so many class reunions this year (with many of them sharing their photos on our website): The night of the Variety show in May, F'64 took over the upstairs ballroom at the Italian American Social Club, and 1967 took over the downstairs banquet room. 1960 did a bang-up and CLASSY job at the So San Francisco Conference Center in August. (And, many thanks to that class for starting the new
Don Hofvendahl Scholarship!!) Anyone can contribute to that and it will make Don very pleased, send checks to:
Balboa Alumni
P.O. Box 31866, S.F., 94131
and indicate Hofvendahl Scholarhip.
S'55 and F'55 had standing room only reunions at the El Rancho (what spirit those classes
have!) 1990 did their 'thing' at the Patio Espanol in September with a casino game and more! Dominies at
Oyster Point rocked with the classes of 1970 and 1971 celebrating their 40th. And you can always count on the class of 1950 to do their reunion every five years - this time a delish lunch on Nov. 6 at the So. San Francisco Elks Lodge.....and there are more reunions in planning stages - so keep checking the Reunion notices on our website, and let us know if you are planning one
NOW, HEAR THIS, YE LOYAL BUCS: Your captain (oops, could that be me?) orders 'ye' to mark 'yer' calendars and logs for the following ports of call (You, know, I mean events). (But be 'ye' alerted, SOME TIMES THERE ARE STORMS AND HURRICANES OUT THERE AS WE SAIL THROUGH THE SEAS, SO FEEL FREE TO CALL 'YER' CAPTAIN TO CONFIRM dates "650-851-8101 AND ALSO CHECK OUR WEB SITE Announcement Page .)
SATURDAY, JANUARY 29 -39TH ANNUAL ALUMNI VS VARSITY BASKETBALL GAME!! In the Orron Quails (Boys) Gym at Balboa. Doors open at 5:30- $5.00 at the door.
Lobby food and merchandise sales, great spirited school entertainment.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5 -- ANNUAL FORMER BAL BASEBALL PLAYERS (AND FRIENDS) DINNER- At Sharps
Park Golf Club Restaurant in Pacific. Reservations a must.
Contact Bob Volkert 650/697-4376 650/697-4376 to get on the list.
SATURDAY, APRIL 30 - ANNUAL VARIETY SHOW at Bal's Calvin Simmons auditorium. Our telephone
committee, headed by Marie, has started making calls for advance ticket sales. Parking in the Denman Playground.
Museum and socializing in the auditorium lobby at 12:30-show time at 2:00.
(We will probably have "TOP SHELF" again—don 't miss this.)
THURSDAY May 26th -Move-Up Assembly 10:30- Seating for alums in left front of auditorium. Museum open afterwards.
WEDNESDAY, July 13. - Newly revived and reconstituted
BALBOA LEGENDS GOLF TOURNAMENT AT SHARPS PARK.
Sign up NOW.
Tournament followed by dinner.
Contact Frank Ingersoll 650-952-4480
CRUISE OR TRIP TO SOMEWHERE? We're a little slow in putting this together. Let me/us if you are interested, have traveled before with us and want to be on the "Advance Notice List". REMEMBER, call or write Emily, 650/851-8101
emilybalboa@comcast.net
108 Swett Road, Woodside CA 94062.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 6. ANNUAL PICNIC. SITE 7. SAN BRUNO PARK.
IF YOU ARE AN ALUMNI MEMBER, THE MARCH ISSUE OF 'THE GANGPLANK* WILL HAVE MORE DETAILS .
Whew, DID I CALL THIS 'IN A NUTSHELL'??? Well, it was a pretty big one to crack, 'would say! Oh, and by the way, if you haven't joined YOUR Alumni Association, please do. We don't survive through the web site (it does enhance our chances of survival — and many thanks to big guy Kip Brockman (F'67) WEB MASTER, PAR EXCELLENCE)
Make membership or 501 c3 donation checks payable to Balboa Alumni Association, P.O. Box 31866, San Francisco, Ca 94131.