From: Harlan Lau Date: Fri Mar 8, 2002 1:56 pm Subject: Encina Update (lists, homecoming, basketball, challenge, art gallery, sponsor, reunions, siblings, orozco, underwood, patitucci, bios, internet, whats new) ENCINA ALUMNI, Kathy Schroeder Hansen '73 is the sponsor of this week's update! Many thanks to Kathy for donating her 1973 yearbook to the website. Kathy is a writer and looking for a publisher or literary agent. Surely we must have some alumni in the publishing business! You can contact Kathy at kathy.a.hansen@worldnet.att.net . The Alumni Challenge will be raffling off prizes during the dinner before the game. If you would like to donate a prize, please write. If you have a local business this is an great opportunity to show your school spirit, display your generosity and get some free publicity. I know that I, given a choice between two businesses, would chose the one associated with an Encina alumni, wouldn't you??? MAILING LISTS/GROUPS The Yahoo groups were down Monday, in case you tried to post something. They claim no posts were lost and that messages were queued up. However, I noticed that the membership lists seemed to be messed up, as if they were restored from backup my recent changes were missing. So it's possible that recent additions to the class lists may have gotten lost. HOMECOMING PARTY The current date is Friday, November 1, 2002 versus San Juan. Please make a note of the date of the Homecoming 2002 party! More details later. BASKETBALL Don Bright 75 wrote: Just got back from the Championship game. Our boys played a he%& of a game. Final score Amador 65 Encina 55. For a quick run down you can pass this along. Amador was a lot bigger team , A 7'1" center and two forwards that were 6'8" or better(even though they are listed at 6'4"). The only one of our guys, Richard Nelson is listed at 6'8". The boys were down by 10 at the end of the first quater and then again at the end of the first half. They came out strong for the second half and got back to within 4 halfway through the third, but ended up back down by 10 at the end of the quarter. The fourth was very exciting and our boys tied it up at 52 with 3:50 left in the game. Unfortunately they were unable to sustain the momentum and were out scored 13 to 3 to end the game. They played a great game but Amador was just to big. The stand out of the game was Richard Nelson with 21 points and several rebounds. You might want to pass along to the Alumni team that they better bring their track shoes because these guys are FAST!!!!!!! and I would have plenty of oxygen on the sidelines because they're going to need it. Hope to be at the Alumni game. Don Bright 75' From the Bee... Division IV Boys Championship: Late rally isn't enough as Encina falls in final The Bulldogs tie the score with a 10-0 fourth-quarter run, but Amador responds. By Matt Mills -- Bee Correspondent Published 5:30 a.m. PST Sunday, Mar. 3, 2002 The Encina High School boys basketball team often faces bigger problems than a large deficit in the fourth quarter. Some of the players come from broken homes and live in rough neighborhoods. So a fourth-quarter deficit in Saturday's Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV championship game at Arco Arena was not that big of a deal. Encina rallied from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter, but fatigue an d the play of Amador senior John Meath doomed the Bulldogs. Meath hit a three-pointer from the left corner with 2:23 to play and made two big steals in the closing minutes as second-seeded Amador won its first section title with a 65-55 victory. Meath led the Buffaloes (26-6) with 17 points, 12 rebounds and four assists. The 6-foot-4 forward wears a black legband with the initials "MN" in white in honor of his friend Michael Neville, who died two years ago from a brain aneurysm. "You have to expect that out of their star," Encina guard John Coaxum said about Meath's performance. "He picked it up in the end." Trailing 52-42 entering the fourth quarter, Encina scored the first 10 points of the period. The fifth-seeded Bulldogs, however, couldn't take the lead. Encina's Richard Nelson, who will be one of the area's top recruits next season, had 23 points and eight rebounds. The lanky, 6-8 Nelson is known for his spectacular dunks, and he had one in the first half that triggered an Encina run after Amador looked as if it might run away with the game. "I never really worry about us when we are down," Encina coach Reggie Vaughn said. "We'll always make a run. We've done it all year. But tonight, fatigue was a factor." Encina's jaunt through the playoffs included victories over Hilmar on the Yellowjackets' floor and a thrilling 58-57 semifinal win over Christian Brothers, the top seed and defending section champion. The Bulldogs (23-10) will open the NorCal playoffs Wednesday on the road. The seedings will be announced today. "It doesn't bother us being on the road," Coaxum said. That's because Encina has talent. Nelson is the star, and Coaxum, who had 11 points Saturday, is an outstanding shooter. Stephen Beasley is a heady point guard, and 5-8 John Hankins is fun to watch off the bench. Tim Goode, Havis Berry, Lionel Smith and DeAndre Robinson do all the little things that make the Bulldogs go. "I think Encina basketball is back," Coaxum said of the Bulldogs, who last advanced to the state championship game in 1997. "When we were younger, we weren't working hard. Now, we are." By the way, Kim Tierney '78 ran the clock for the Encina game at the Arco Arena. Kim will also be playing for the Alumni team this year! ALUMNI CHALLENGE *** UPDATE *** Only a month to go until the Alumni Challenge! Don't miss this opportunity to watch the Alumni team battle the Encina varsity basketball team, who made it to the Division 4 championship game. Give your classmates or siblings a call and get a group together. Fun for the whole family! Sign up now! 2nd Annual Alumni Challenge Friday, April 12, 2002 4 p.m.—11 p.m. CAMPUS TOURS, 4 p.m.—6 p.m. Current students will provide alumni with guided tours of the campus, including the renowned Encina Art Gallery. DINNER, 5:30 p.m.—7:30 p.m. Dannie’s Catering will once again provide a delicious full-course meal in the school cafeteria. This year’s menu features a choice of prime rib with baked potato or smoked turkey with mashed potatoes and dressing. Included is tossed green salad, California mixed vegetables, dinner rolls, apple and peach cobbler, soda and coffee. DOOR PRIZES Each attendee will be automatically entered to win a prize during a drawing to be held at the dinner around 7 p.m. (must be present to win). NOTE: We are currently looking for donations of prizes—please contact Julie Eissinger Meador at jules95630@yahoo.com if you or someone you know can help. BASKETBALL GAME, 7:30 p.m.—9 p.m. An alumni squad will once again challenge the current Encina varsity team during a regulation-length, refereed, highly-competitive game in the Encina gym. If you are a former pre-1990 varsity player who did not play in last year’s game, contact Bob Goosmann at magusbob@hotmail.com if you want to play (note: if you have already contacted Bob, please send him another e-mail; a couple of the early e-mails were lost). Last year we received pledges totaling $250.00 per point scored by the alumni team (total points scored was 74). Please consider sponsoring this year’s team with a per-point pledge. Also funds raised will be used to support very worthwhile Encina projects and programs. POST-GAME PARTY, 9 p.m.—11 p.m. Coffee and socializing in the cafeteria with background music from the 60s, 70s and 80s. COST Before April 1, $20 per person ($10 for children under 10) April 1 and later, $25 per person ($12.50 children under 10) For more information or to volunteer to help, please contact Steve Palmer '74 at 530-676-2775 or spalmer@innotek.com, or Bob Goosmann '74 at magusbob@hotmail.com. For details about the Alumni Challenge 2002 along with the list of current RSVPs and pledges: http://www.encinahighschool.com/homecoming/challenge02.htm ALUMNI CHALLENGE PLEDGES Alice Braio Bogert '62 wrote that "our reunion committee has decided that we will pledge $1 from each of the attendees at our reunion for encina. trying to drum up support, money and bodies-wise, for the alumni challenge. from our group." Many thanks to the class of 62! I think this is a great idea! I hope you have a huge turnout at your reunion! I hope other classes with emulate the idea of pledging money to Encina and/or the website for each classmate who attends. We're currently stuck at $12/alumni point. ENCINA ART GALLERY Event: SCI-FI Show Where: Encina Art Gallery 1400 Bell St, Sacramento, CA 95825, 916-971-5881, 916-971-7538 Dates: March 14 to April 26, 2002 Opening reception: March 14, 2002 from 3:00 to 6:00 pm Awards ceremony at 4:15 pm Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. High Schools participating: Casa Roble El Camino Encina Florin Foothill Grant John F Kennedy McClatchy Mesa Verde Mira Loma Natomas Oak Ridge Rio Americano Roseville San Juan Sheldon Woodland Sponsored by The Kingsley Art Club SPONSORS NEEDED Kris Monday Dragoo '87 (jkdragoo@winfirst.com) writes: I am looking for sponsors for my competitive softball team. I have been running this team for a couple of years now and I have finally gotten a hold of some really good player and in order to hold on to them I am in search of sponsors to help with the cost of fees for tournaments. Please contact Kris if you would like to sponsor her softball team! REUNIONS CLASS OF 1961 *** UPDATE *** Alice Braio Bogert 62 asked me to tell you "that the class of l962 cordially invites them to join our alumni only no host cocktail get together at Mace's Restaurant, Fair Oaks Blvd at the Pavillions, starting at 7pm on friday, 9/27/02. this is our pre-party before the reunion the following day. thank you." You can contact Alice at ajbogert@yahoo.com*** CLASS OF 1962 Event: Alumni only pre-party Date: Friday, September 27, 2002 Place: Mace's Format: No host cocktail party Event: Golf tournament Date: Saturday, September 28, 2002 Place: Haggin Oaks Contact: Bill Corrie Event: Reunion party Date: September 28, 2002 Place: Del Paso Country Club Contact: Alice Braio Bogert 62 at ajbogert@yahoo.com CLASS OF 1967 No plans for a 35th reunion. Next reunion in 2007. Contact: Linda Goff 67 at ljgoff@csus.edu CLASS OF 1972 *** UPDATE *** Hi Everyone, I just wanted to remind you to mark your calendars for our 30th Reunion! It will start with the grads only party (location to be announced) on Friday, July 12, 2002. The committee has decided to furnish munchies, sodas, water, and ice, but please b.y.o.b. (beer, wine, etc.). The Saturday event, July 13, 2002 will be located at the Granite Bay Golf Club--a beautiful, open, airy indoor facility which includes a deck and patio outdoors over looking the golf course. We will have a no host bar, a wonderful dinner buffet including dessert passed around afterwards to nibble on, and music and dancing later into the evening. The best part of Saturday's event, it's not formal, just business casual (no blue jeans), so expect a relaxing wonderful time visiting classmates from thirty (wow) years ago. To end the reunion, we are planning a family picnic (location to be announced) Sunday, July 14, 2002, so we can see each other one more time before we say our good byes until the next time (hopefully some of us will still be around by the 35th reunion); not-to-mention to show off our children and grandchildren (I'm not a grandma yet), but I know some of you are! It is a great way to end the reunion weekend. I am also, asking you to step forward to volunteer to help with the reunion. We are all busy people, we do not have the same schedules, but to make this reunion happen, we (the reunion committee) need to cover each other when some of us can not make a meeting or two. It is fun seeing each other and planning this great event, so please join us and give us some of your energy! Our next meeting will be this Friday, March 8, 2002 at 7:30 p.m. at Simon Slak's home in Folsom. If you would like to attend please call Simon at his home telephone number at 916-351-1840 for directions. If you can't attend this meeting, please contact me, and I will let you know when and where the next meeting will be located. I look forward to seeing you all! Sue Kehoe Encina Class of 1972 30th Reunion Chairperson Event: Alumni Preparty Date: Friday, July 12, 2002 Event: Reunion Dinner & Dance Date: Saturday, July 13, 2002 Place: Granite Bay Golf Club Event: Family Picnic Date: Sunday, July 14, 2002 Contact: Sue Kehoe Jacobson '72 at jacobson41@msn.com Debbie Sprague Mitchell '72 at galsmail@c-zone.net Darrel Mitchell '72 at lynk0007@c-zone.net CLASS OF 1977 Date: August 17, 2002 Place: Doubletree Hotel (near Arden Fair and Cal Expo) Contact: John Hyland at johnthyland@hotmail.com Sue Levy Joslin at Jos964@attbi.com CLASS OF 1982 Date: August 9, 2002 Place: Croatian Hall Contact: Soames Funakoshi at alexusfr@yahoo.com CLASS OF 1987 Date: TBD Place: TBD Contact: Kris Monday Dragoo at jkdragoo@winfirst.com CLASS OF 1992 Rochelle wrote that she and Jannell are trying to schedule the 92 reunion on the same weekend as the homecoming party so that folks from out of town can attend both events. Unfortunately, the date of the homecoming party has not been set yet. They are checking out places and will be allowing alumni to purchase tickets in advance for $40 per person. Prices will increase as the date nears, so the sooner the tickets are purchased the less expensive they will be. There will be appetizers and some alcohol. The actual menu will be decided soon. If you are interested in attending or in helping organize the reunion, contact Rochelle or Jannell. Date: TBD Place: TBD Contact Rochelle Karrick Laun at RochLaun@yahoo.com or Jannell Penney at penneytax@msn.com CLASS OF 1993 *** UPDATE *** Dear Class of 1993, I am trying to decide when to do reunion. I would like to get ideas on when everyone would like to have it. And I also would like to have an idea of who is interested in attending. So please e-mail me your name, address and phone # so I will be able to get a hold of you. If I do not get enough replies, I will not have formal reunion because it will not be worth it if we do not have enough people. I hope you can make time out to give me your ideas because I would like everyone to be involved. Thank you for your guys time and cooperation. Sincerely, Laura Bui Class of 1993 smileystrouble@yahoo.com SIBLINGS Nyla Bergman 76 wrote: John Bergman 65 Nyla Bergman 76 Cheryl Boyes 83 wrote: Carol Boyes 73 Bob Boyes 75 Cheryl Boyes 83 Elizabeth Tribble 75 wrote: Elizabeth Tribble 75 Chris Tribble 77? James Tribble 83 Nancy Lucas 69 wrote: Marcia Lucas 67 Nancy Lucas 69 Paul Krieg 76 wrote: Carol Krieg 73 Paul Krieg 76 John Neff 71 wrote: Steve Neff 68 John Neff 71 Quinton Hendrix 87 wrote: Quinton Hendrix 87 Pauletta Hendrix 89 TONYA OROZCO STAFF PROFILES: Tonya Orozco Encina’s Sweetheart Who do you know who speaks impeccable Spanish, completes all assignments superbly, and has an infectious smile and laugh? Born in Riverside, California in December of 1952 to Johnnie B. Baker and Christine Baker, Tonya was the third of 5 children (Dusty, Robie, Victor, and a sister, Taria, who has been selected Sacramento Magazine’s Woman of the Year for Women in Business). Mr. Baker was originally from Florida and moved to San Bernardino, California. He was in the military and served in WWII and the Korean conflict as an aircraft mechanic. He retired from the military and became a civilian federal employee in Riverside at Norton Air Force Base and eventually was transferred to McClellan AFB in Sacramento. Tonya remembers being one of the first Afro-American families in Carmichael. One interesting story was that her dad wanted to move into the Crestview area in 1965, but knew that he would have difficulty moving into a white neighborhood. So, he had a white friend do all of the legwork, looking at the home, dealing with the owner, and completing the paper work. Then, when it came time to sign the papers he showed up, signed the papers and moved in. Of course, this created a major uprising in the neighborhood. In fact, a community meeting was called to discuss whether they would allow the Bakers to move in. A community vote was taken. The majority voted to allow them but some sold their homes and moved out of the neighborhood. Tonya never found out what process the neighborhood would have used to prevent or drive them out. Racism was an everyday occurrence for her at first. She and her brothers would be ridiculed and called racist names as they walked to and from school. After 1 ½ years, her parents got divorced, a time in Tonya ’s life that was very traumatic. Through all of this, she and her siblings grew closer together and created a very strong bond that still exists today. There were also friendships developed with some of their classmates. Their strong belief in God helped them to survive in times of despair. A few years later, her dad met and married Mary Alice who worked at Golden One Credit Union. The Baker siblings increased by three (Ritche Mary’s son from a previous marriage, Shunda and Jaye) Mr. Baker is retired now and spends most of his time supporting his children and grandchildren. “My dad was a strict disciplinarian; however, you always knew he loved you.” Tonya’s mother, Christine, was born in Indio, California. She always pushed Tonya to achieve a good education. In fact, while living in Riverside during Tonya’s sixth grade, the neighborhood she lived in experienced white flight as people left inadequate schools, poor teachers, facilities, and resources. Christine went to the new school that the white children went to and they denied her access. So, she petitioned the school board with vigor, eventually winning the right for Tonya to attend. Christine graduated from Sacramento State. She taught at Sacramento City College and was head of the tutorial center at American River College for approximately 2 ½ years. “She is a woman who worked very hard, one that knows how to survive.” Tonya went to junior high at Barrett School. She was involved in after- school sports as well as cheerleading in the 8th grade. Tonya went to Del Campo High School and was Junior Varsity and Varsity cheerleader and president of the junior class. Tonya quickly learned that as long as you were at school participating in activities you were OK, but when it came to socializing there was a marked difference. Tonya was a very good athlete mainly because she was a tomboy being the middle child in a family with older brothers. Tonya loved playing street ball with her brothers, but one day when she was around 12 years old her dad said, “It’s time to stop sports and start acting like a lady.” That was devastating! Barney Jones, one of her favorite teachers at Del Campo, taught Spanish, and was very strict. His techniques really made Tonya learn the language and provided a foundation that would help her the rest of her life. Her bosom buddy since the 11th grade is Henrietta Reed. She attended Cypress Ave Baptist Church. It inspired her to become a missionary. Through the encouragement of her high school counselor, Richard Brungraber, and her mother, she received a full scholarship to UCSB. She was, however, very unhappy. Tonya felt the calling to be a missionary in her life, and her parents finally allowed her to attend Christian in Action. When Tonya was 21, she went to Colombia, South America to be a missionary even though it was not her first choice. She wanted to go to Africa but, because of her Spanish background, the organization thought South America would be better. After 3 months of intense language study in Guatemala, she was transferred to Colombia and a miracle happened. Tonya was not aware that there was an African village just waiting for her. Just outside of Cartagena, Colombia where she lived, there was a small village called Palenque whose ancestry were slaves. It was a primitive village with huts. The children were stunned when they saw her. She looked, walked, talked like them but was different. Living in Colombia was a cultural shock and it took a lot to get used to. She loved it and lived there for 12 years. She had fallen in love with the beautiful people of Colombia. On the first day she arrived, she met her future husband, Eduardo. They worked together for seven years and became best friends. They would try to find dates for each other and they would usually not pan out. Then one day these “best friends” became lovers and that was that. They have been married for almost 23 years. They left Colombia and came to Sacramento where he worked various jobs for a lumber company; eventually he become pastor of a Church called Bilingual Christian Center in downtown Sacramento. They have three children Ketti who is 21 (working at 24hour fitness), Johnatan, 18 (who goes to American River and works at Priceless) and Daniel who is 16 and attends El Camino. She was a stay-at- home mother volunteering at her children’s schools for years. A job opportunity came up at Cowan Fundamental School and one of the secretaries said “You are always here anyway. You might as well get paid for it, and the rest is history.” Tonya has a famous brother “Dusty” Baker. Tonya’s dad always had beautiful yards. In Riverside, there was one spot in the back yard that had dirt. Christine would get Dusty ready for church but he would always find that one spot in the back yard and get all dirty. That’s how he got the nickname “Dusty” He is the oldest in the family. The Braves drafted him early; ironically his favorite sports were basketball and football. Tonya believes that Dusty signed the baseball contact in order to help his family. “Dusty signed away his life for us.” The Braves offered him a lot of money, which Dusty used to help his family save their house. Tonya’s dad was little league coach for Dusty, as well as Barry Bonds Sr. in Riverside. The Bonds family were members of the same church in Riverside and their grandmother’s good friends. When Dusty became an Atlanta Brave, Hank Aaron took him under his wing, and guided him through the prejudice and discrimination he faced in the South during his early farm league years and then later when he played in the majors. Hank Aaron was his mentor. Dusty was standing on third base when Hank Aaron broke the home run record. Tonya said that she thought maybe Dusty would change after becoming a famous player and coach, but it never happened. He always called while she was in Colombia, checking to see if she needed anything and was concerned about her health. Dusty is a loving big brother with a “giant” heart. He loves to hunt and fish and has never forgotten his roots. Tonya enjoys gardening and wants to learn how to do quilting. Tonya’s advice to students is to seek God and his wisdom. He’s the closest and best friend you’ll ever have. Belief in God has helped me and my family through many situations.” Tonya, also says, “Enjoy your high school years; they are never going to come back to you again. Get to know your classmates. Admire our differences and use that as something to help you grow.” Stephen Gatewood Vice Principal Encina, High School DAVID UNDERWOOD Staff Profiles: David Louis Underwood Gliding through the hallways with a big smile, quick wit, and warm greetings goes our own David Underwood. David was born in Greenwood, Mississippi, in 1963, to Louis and Diane Underwood. David’s uncle Curtis was the Sheriff and Justice of the Peace in Greenwood, and David’s dad was the Deputy Sheriff. The Underwoods have lived in Mississippi for generations, coming from Scotland as farmers. David is related to Andrew Jackson. Greenwood is a quaint little town that was boring for David. Everyone knew everything everyone did; you could not get away with anything. Greenwood does have one claim to fame and the Crystal Gill is famous for its southern cuisine. Elvis Presley was an acquaintance of the family, and he lived in a nearby county. David’s father, Louis, was a Navy veteran who fought in the Korean conflict. Louis was a POW and escaped to safety. David’s dad was a generous man who would give you the shirt off his back. Dave’s dad often took the boys on outdoor excursions including: fishing, hunting, backpacking--some of David’s fondest memories. David’s mother, Diane, was from San Jose, California. She met Louis when he was discharged from the Navy in Oakland. She has always been a sweet and gentle lady. Everyone loves her because she is so easy to get along with. She worked for the phone company until she retired. David attended Allendale Elementary School in Oakland, California. Mrs. Lindborg, was his kindergarten teacher, and was his favorite because she was so kind. They have kept in touch over the years and Mrs. Lindborg even attended David’s wedding in 1992. In elementary school, Cub Scouts was among David’s chief interests. As part of NASA’s Apollo project, Cub Scout names were recorded and sent into outer space—David’s name is now in space in a satellite, zooming through the galaxy. David and family lived for a short time in Baker, Oregon, a town of 9000. There, he attended Baker Middle School. He was an average student who played shortstop on a little league championship baseball team. Boy Scouts was popular in Oregon. One year, David’s Scout Troop made snow sleds that they raced in the Blue Mountains during a survival training Scout Jamboree. Mr. Lewis, an art teacher, was his favorite in middle school. In fact, David attributes his love for graphic arts to Mr. Lewis. Mr. Lewis made the class challenging and never stifled creativity. David graduated from Ygnacio Valley High School in Concord, California. While Ygnacio dominated the DVAL Athletic League in virtually every sport, his high school was overshadowed by the nationally recognized De La Salle High School football program. David participated on the track team in the mile, mile relay, long jump (18’9 3/4” best jump), 440 relay, and ran a 4.28 mile. David’s cross country team held the DVAL championship for 25 years straight. In addition to all that, David was secretary/treasure of the Ecology Club which kept the campus clean, planted trees, and backpacked in the Sierras. David was very popular with the ladies in high school. His favorite girlfriend was a blonde bombshell, Ramona King whom he took to his Senior prom at the Galleria in San Francisco. Ramona wore a hoop dress that made her look like Cinderalla. David remembers that the dress was so wide he had to pack it into his Mustang (she could barely see out the front window when the dress was finally packed in). David is still friends with Ramona who lives in Washington. One unforgettable memory is that his graduating class was about 1,000 students. Due to the vast numbers, graduation took four hours. His favorite teacher in high school was Ms. Younkin, his Classic Literature teacher. She made him work hard and pushed him to excel, and always maintained a great sense of humor. She had the class memorize the prologue to The Canterbury Tales--which helped him out in college because, one day, his English professor became aware of it and had him recite it to the entire class (much to Dave’s chagrin). David has attended numerous colleges. He started at Bethany College, a private school in Santa Cruz taking a degree in English Literature. While there, he worked on the yearbook as photo editor (junior year), Yearbook Editor (senior year), Photo Editor for Keystone Magazine, and ASB Publications Representative. After Bethany, David financed his university studies by teaching in private high schools. From Bethany, David attended Trinity Law School in Los Angeles, California. He quit law school when he found out what it was really like to be a lawyer. Next, he attended Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena where he received his masters in theological studies. David then earned his second Masters degree in Educational Administration from CSU, Sacramento. After CSUS he studied at the University of Cambridge, in England living at Gonville and Caius (pronounced “keys”), the fourth oldest college in Cambridge dating back to 1348. While at Cambridge, he studied Shakespeare in "Performance and Experimental Poetry". A major highlight was writing a paper on a production of Henry V at the new Globe Theatre in London. David is currently a student at the University of San Francisco, earning yet another Masters degree, this time a Master of Science in Information System Technology. David has a great love for learning. David met his wife, Christy (formerly Maloney) at Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church during a Bible Study. They fell in love because of their common faith and mutual attraction. David made an interesting proposal after they had dated for 6 months. They went to a romantic dinner at the Cliff House in San Francisco and afterwards they went to Vista Point overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge on an exceedingly beautiful day. David could tell she knew something was up--but what she did not know was that he had gotten two ring boxes and in one he put a gaudy cheap broach and, in the other, an engagement ring. So, when they were sitting in his car, he handed her the ring box and when she opened the first ring box (with the cheap broach) in the expression on her face was priceless. She controlled herself . She said,” This is really nice. Thank you for such a nice gift.” Ten minutes later, which seemed like an eternity, he pulled out the second box with the ring and Christy immediately said YES. Christy is a graduate of Western Oregon State with a degree in Corporate Health and Fitness. She was a PE teacher and is currently Aerobics Director at Rio Americano Racket Club. They have been married for 10 years and have one daughter, Elisha. David participated in the delivery of his daughter, and his favorite part was when he got to cut the umbilical cord. David applied for two jobs: Vice Principal at Saint John Vicanney in Sacramento and teacher in San Juan Unified District. The Vice Principal position opened first and he took it. A few months later, the Encina position came up and he took it quickly because he found that Vice Principal was not his favorite job. David’s hobbies include chess, hiking and biking in the outdoors, and photography. David’s advice to Encina students is to take advantage of every opportunity. Get a good education and follow your dreams. Trust your teachers! David is one of Encina’s newest teachers. He is kind, warm, and caring. He believes every student can learn. Whenever you call on his expertise, he always says, “I can do it.” Just like his dad, David would give you the shirt off his back! Stephen Gatewood Vice Principal Encina MEMORIES OF JOE PATITUCCI Here are more memories about Joe Patitucci courtesy of Dawn James '73. These were taken from the memory book assembled for Joe, whom many of you contributed to. KAREN WORTHEN GILBRIDE '77 I am so sorry to hear about Joe. Please keep informed. It saddened my heart. Thinking of the family in my heart. Karen Worthen Gilbride DONA LYN JONES '73 Joe was my favorite teacher at Encina and ARC I just saw him on channel six on his own TV show about a week ago. So sorry to hear this news, such a nice man.schee So sorry to hear of Joe passing. He was my favorite teacher at Encina and also ARC. We always had so much fun in Joe's class he was a spiritual guide for all us wayward students. He will always be fondly remembered in my heart and not many teachers have that status. School was not my favorite place but I always felt I fit in in the art department and had many good memories. Hugs to you and his family. Love to you Dona Lyn Jones class of 1973....... TOM SCHEELER '70 I have always remembered him as the art teacher who encouraged what art talent I had at a time in my teenage life when I didn't know where I fit in and felt so alone. A gentle, warm, human man, I always looked forward to his class and the positive direction that he gave. I regret never having told him that after I grew to recognize how special a person he was. To his family, know that I am one student that was touched by his kind and gentle manner. I have never forgotten his words of encouragement. What a wonderful legacy to leave the world! My sympathy in your time of sorrow but how blessed you were to know and live with such a man. Tom Scheeler KAY HARDEN '70 Dawn - sorry to hear about one of my favorite teachers/mentors from my Encina HS days. I still remember things he taught us in art class, and share them with students who I work with now...("light to dark, people"; referring to adding color and shading to our work). I am really out of the Sacramento scene, but I am living in Fortuna, CA, Humboldt county. Also, I am a practicing, "professional" artist, meaning that I have a studio outside of my home space and consider making my art to be my job now. I show mostly in Eureka, but looking to expand my horizons - LA, NY??. I really I wish I could have shared what I was doing currently with Joe - it would have made him proud to know his influences still run deep...I remember picking grapes, doing the crush and helping him to make wines, too. And Dawn, I still remember you from our Howe pool days...what a flash from the past. Can't make the memorial service, but I will be there in spirit. On a personal note, I have been married to the same man for almost 23 years, and have 2 sons, 18 and 20. If you are intertested give me your address and I will send you some of my art "samples". For the love of ART (& Joe), Kay Harden (class of 70) Hi Dawn - I know that I already sent you a note about Joe, but I really thought of more. When I was at Encina, he recommended me for a job illustrating a botany manual that another teacher (Ross Clover) was working on. It was doing that job, with Joe's practical suggestions for proper tools, paper, etc, that I first discovered my real passion for making line drawings and my ability to make things come to life with a pen and some ink. Well, more than 30 years later, I still have that passion - I'm a professional artist, and still make scenes come to life with just a pen and paper. Sure, I have developed more sophisticated techniques and use better tools, but I still remember Joe's enthusiasm and encouragement. I would like to tell his family that I still remember things he told me about art (I still remember his voice as he talked!) and what a positive artistic spirit he helped to instill in his students. I still feel mine growing...thanks for everything, Joe. Kay Harden, class of '70. ps. If I had an address I could send along some pictures/samples of my work. CHRISTINE REA '70 I have very fond memories of Joe. In high school he was one of my art teachers and one of the most fun. Gayle Estrada (who is no longer with us) used to flirt with Mr. Pat (as we called him) on a daily basis. I am sure he got very tired of it. Mr. Pat also taught art to my cousin, Sharon Caudle, who turned into a beautiful artist. I know before she got ill that they kept in touch. I first left Sacramento when I was 19 with Ian Jeffcock, my first husband. We often came back to Sacramento at Christmas. Christmas was never Christmas without going to see Mr. Pat and his Christmas tree lot and buying a tree. I remember one time in the summer when Ian and I went to visit the Patitucii's at their home in Carmichael. Joe was always very warm and friendly. I remember the first time that I went to Joe's Christmas tree lot and it was no longer there. It might have been after he got ill. Christmas just wasn't the same. It isn't often when someone touches your life when you are a mixed up teenager and as a middle aged adult those feelings of warmth and friendship never changed. Joe was one such person and will greatly be missed. My heart goes out deeply to his family. Christine Rea JEFF WILLIAMS '62 I remember Joe and my first art class with him in 1959. It was a beginning art class and I still have the pot that I made with his guidance. He started me on my long road in art. A road that has taken me through many facets of Advertising, Commercial Artist, Art Director and Advertising Director over the last 35 years. God Be With You! Jeff Williams JOAN SEITZ BARRETT '61 Mr. Pat was a memorable teacher. He had only been teaching a short while at El Camino when he came to Encina the first year it opened. What an introduction to his class that first day was! He roared, he paced, he expounded, he told us how hard we were going to work, he picked out the class smart mouth and scared the pants off him! He had us all wondering what in the world made us think that we wanted to take art classes. Now I find it amusing to think that he did that to every new class on the first day of school, and how it masked his real nature. He really cared about us as people and listened to what we had to say...encouraged us to say what was on our minds. I learned a great deal from him and not just about art. I considered his philosophy of life and the things he felt were important in making decisions of my own. (I didn't follow them, I just considered them). He was the first to teach me enough about herbs and using them to cook with so that I was hooked for life, and never was without at least of pot of herbs on the windowsill ever again. He and Lucille gave me an interest in wine that never really developed, but I was awakened to the idea that is was possible to appreciate wine and the relationship to food. Joe was so enthusiastic about everything about life. He was a wonderful role model for living, and surrounding oneself with the ingredients for a good life and working hard to attain it. I will always think of him as joyful. Joan Seitz Barrett (first graduating class of Encina) KELCEY HALL TABER '73 My memory of Joe is that he was a presence with such enthusiastic grace that he made living look easy. His spirit was infectious and his teaching so memorable. When I think of him, I always hear him laughing. What else could you ask for? Kelcey Hall Taber; Encina Class of '73 BARBARA GORDON FAGEN '63 He was a teacher in the truest sense of the word. Always challenging, always encouraging and always ready to be a friend. My sincere condolences to his family. Barbara (Gordon) Fagen, CGRS History Branch and Archives Manager Cleveland Public Library 833 North Ocoee Street Cleveland, TN 37311 DIANE SKALISKY '66 To Mrs. Lucille Patitucci and Family: Mr. Pat was warm, wonderful and kind. He cared for many, gave of his time, worked very hard, and brought out the best in others. Not only did he love color in Art, he loved the color of people's individuality, their personalities, and their spirits. He softly encouraged them to be themselves. Mr. Pat had great patience and love toward his students, co-workers, and much true love for his family and nature, along with of course, his true love of "Art", and the Arts. No-one will Ever, Ever, Ever, take Mr. Pat's Place!!!!!!! As we miss and revere him now, others awaiting his smile and talents, may now rejoice. WE LOVE YOU, MR. PAT! Fondly and Sincerely, Diane "Skalisky"-Marty and husband Joe Marty Encina Class of '66 and American River College and All of the "Skalisky Family" JIM SMITH Dear Lucille, I'm so sorry to hear Joe left us so early. He offered so much to so many. As you know, we all loved Joe at Encina where he was responsible for the best high school art program in the state. I had great fun as well as pride working with him and the fine department he created. His enthusiasm and passion for art and life will be alive in the thousands of students and adults he touched. It was my good fortune to work with Joe. Love, Jim Jim Smith, 2nd principal of Encina IRENE MELICHAREK BERTOLUCCI '71 The earth is missing a wonderful teacher and a very fun person. I loved that teacher! I loved going to his classes. I love is warm spirit, I loved his acceptance...He was such a fabulous inspiration...you could do anything in his presence. His passion was living his life to the fullest...loving people and touching hearts with a can do type of attitude! There needs to be more people like him on this earth! What can I say...there is a great void! Irene Melicharek-Bertolucci Class of 71 SANDY HUNT To the family of Joe Patitucci, I taught with Joe at Encina in the 60's and also lived in Carmichael. So, I knew him as a teacher and a local grocer. The greatest memory I have of Joe jumped out at me this week as I was thinking about him. He and I always teased....as he did with most....but ours was a little special....you see.....I was a budding feminist....and this drove him a bit crazy. We argued, and good naturally, poked fun at one another. The memory that caught me was that one time we decided to give the kids a real experience and we held a debate on the issue of Women's Rights.... only we took the "opposite sides" and Joe argued for the women and I argued for the men. The students were pretty shook up to have us in opposite poles like that....but Joe loved it and thought it was a great lesson for them. Every time after that when I saw Joe....for years.... he always mentioned that debate, which was his idea, by the way. I think it really gave him a safe chance to also express some latent views about his respect for women....so I was glad to give him the credit for the idea....because I also saw a bit of a convert in that situation. Please know that I will remember Joe with a fondness not accorded many people that I have not seen much over the years. My love to you, Lucille, from both Harvey and me. Sandy Hunt DR ANN SCHIRLE WILSON '68 So Mr. P, you move on to your next great adventure, this time as a student, rather than a teacher, of the universe. You were so much a part of what nurtured and sustained my universe when I was your student at Encina. You weren't merely an art teacher. You were everything to those of us who had the good fortune to spend time with you. What you never knew--and I so wish you had--was that I went on to earn my BA in art and then my Masters at the Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia. Later, I taught fine arts at a private preparatory school, The Shipley School, for 8 wonderful years. I was considered a master teacher and had the good fortune, as you did, to be loved and appreciated by my students and colleagues. It must be that a little of your magic rubbed off on me, no? You were my friend and my mentor. Bon voyage and blessings to you, Mr. P, and thank you for everything! Dr. Ann (Schirle) Wilson, Encina 1964-68 KATE GREBITUS '75 Joe Patitucci was definately an old soul and a creative angel sent by God to help his flock learn to see the world as he had created it. If we slow down so that we can see the world around us I am sure there would be many more artists and creative thinkers that could help to create beauty and peace in our world.Joe, you will be dearly missed, yet creatively remembered forever. I had the most intense need to communication with Joe in the last couple of months, as if I needed to hear him, yet WAS hearing him...the strange part was the last dream was almost identical to the message below. It was so very intense the night before. (A dear friend past away this last Spring...she visited me that night and this is what I wrote down...word for word that was said in a mutual conversation...The time on the note was early 2AM...4/22 (Her sister called me at 7:30am to tell me she had passed at that 2 am that morning.) We were floating in the mountain meadow...not really walking but just being...It was as if we were confirming our mutual thoughts as we both said the following together... "I am here with you-for we are kindred spirits-awake or asleep, in dream and in spirit-we sail together on wings of eagles - among the stars and universe-soaring high, soaring FREE ~ (then a heart was drawn)." The following was so much "Joe, the Teacher"...My brothers all experienced Joe's ways at Encina High School. By the time I arrive in 1971 Joe and Gary Prunner had moved over to American River College. My college choice was made easily on the day I found out Joe was not there. Four years later Joe came through the door in the American River College studio with a giggle in his voice and of sense of joy in his heart. He was in love with life and it was on display for all to see and experience...as long as they did as Joe asked of them, to open their eyes and take in the world around them. This was not a fast lesson, nor one that did not need courage to step forward from time to time. Joe's best attributes were his patience to help others along the way to find out who they were and where they were going...he taught empowerment like no one else I have ever meet before or since. It came in the lesson: to slow down, open your eyes, look around, go inside to feel how you are responding to your surroundings and then letting those feelings out through creative expression. I never thought I could be an artist until I was taught how to SEE by Joe Patitucci...a gift I'll treasure for my lifetime. The Journey Within The Journey is not a destination but more of a process. The "Journey Within" is a reflection of our need to focus within ourselves. It is about taking time to see, to hear and feal to enjoy who we are and experience fully where we are going. The last came to me by way of a client in 1992 on my birthday...she not knowing about my birthday made it that much more a special and a unique message from the creator. God comforts me-mind, body, and soul. COMFORT How can I best be comforted? Do I need relief from emotional or physical pain? Will I be revived by encouragement to keep on keeping on or to begin anew? Do I yearn for consolation because I am separated from loved ones? No matter what kind of comfort I need, God can and will give it to me. God within me supplies me with relief, encouragement, consolation and total well-being. God will comfort me to the degree that I let the Holy Spirit move through me to bless my mind, body, and soul. I cannot ask for more comfort than God will give me instantly and consistently. I ask for and receive the comfort I need: Love, Faith, Strength, and Assurance uphold me day and night. I am rejuvenated as the Holy Spirit ministers to me in the most loving and caring ways. I am comforted. Thou art with me- Psalms 23:4 I believe that Psalms 23:4 was at the inner base of Joe Patitucci. Through his trust in God Joe was willing to find answers to his questions. He was willing to creatively explore his surroundings. He was also willing to live life to the fullest, creating a wonderful family with Lucille by his side, most likely their most creative gift to God. Family was a word of inner strength in the Patitucci Family. If you did not have the opportunity to take art classes from Joe, you most likely ran into one or more of the Patitucci's at the Christmas tree lot each year. Thank You Joe for all the joy and courage you have shared with me. Your classes empowered me so that I might venture far beyond my comfort zone, seeing for the first time through "Artist's Eyes". Your spirit will live forever through an artist's eyes and a grateful soul. Kate Grebitus ~ American River College 1975-76 GAYLE and GAIL KERNICK Remembering Joe I, (Gayle), recall the parties in his barn, the fresh vegetables he shared, the pride of accomplishment for completing his home and most of all he was an advocate for students. I, (Gail), recall enrolling in his class at AR and ending up as his TA after he discovered I was a Fine Arts major. I truly wanted to just be a student and do all the art projects so he finally agreed I should work on one, the life mask. I thought it was darn good but he gave me an A-. When I asked why the minus, he said because no one is perfect! Experiences in his class were always meaningful and fun. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Lucille and the family. "As long as hearts remember, As long as hearts still care, We never part with those we love.. They're with us everywhere..." Gayle and Gail Kernick ELLEN PAWLOWSKI '73 Joe will always stand out. He was truly a mentor and educator. He lived life to its fullest and that life was good for a long stretch. I think he truly delighted in the fact that he built it up around the basics and with hard work it grew and flourished. My immigrant grandmother fascinated him- and though she was very hard to understand at times they spoke the same language. It was fun to watch them together talk farming. His home and gardens are a life's work left to us; enjoyed and to be enjoyed by many. So energetic- it was infectious. His bark and boom right in the ear. The wooly little head with a pencil often tucked behind the ear to be there at a moment's need to make the point or jot the scoop. Those expressive little hands that flew along with his conversation or carried sawdust or yard clippings off the top of his head. Most comfortable in a t-shirt or sweatshirt, levi's and farm boots- and hard at work on the project or task at hand. Oh the wonders created, stick by stick, stone by stone. We were always treated to a taste of the fruits- fermented and otherwise, the bounty jarred and preserved. I was the first of a big family of Encina graduates, but Joe would only have me and my sister Joanne in his classes during his tenure. "POW-lau-ski, how the hell are you?" Sometimes it was years in between the greetings but we would quickly catch up. My sister has 8 children and we brought her little towheads out with us for visits over the years, and the trips out with best friend Jenny and our own boys. He would marvel over the children and share news of his own. Many, many good times in the kitchen with Joe and Lucille. My last visit found Joe, Jack and Lucille up on the roof- cleaning out the leaves and debris. The sparkle was still in his eye and I focused on that. I knew that afternoon that it would be my last time with my good teacher. It has made me smile many times to think I had to climb a ladder to get to him. Ellen Pawlowski Encina '73 BARBARA BRENNAN '66 Mr. Pat was one of my favorite teachers, One of my favorite teachers in the whole of my student/teacher life, which I am still experiencing because I still go to school. His humor, kindness and enthusiasm touched me and I believe, called me to do better than I would have done if I hadn't been in his presence. I remember He seemed interested in His students, taking the time to ask and really listen and always having something positive to say with that sweet smile of his. I am honored to have been His student, He has touched so many lives over the years and what a Gift He is to all of us. I have no doubt that He is in the other room doing what He loves to do, teach and inspire, listen and share His knowledge. In that upward swirl of lifes evolution, Mr. Pat is doing just fine, He's smiling now and touching all our lives still from a higher perspective. Love, Barbara Brennan 66' BARBARA MCKEE CRAIG '65 Just wanted to let Mr. Pat's family know how much I enjoyed him as my art teacher. You could talk to him about anything. Years later my husband and I used to buy our Christmas trees at the Patitucci tree lot just on the chance we might see him there. Barbara Craig/Class of '65 MARGARET HEINTZ At no time can we drive by the triangle at Fair Oaks and Fulton and not think of Joe and the Patitucci Christmas Tree Lot with the freshest noble firs from Oregon and the special fir wreaths. Our family misses that yearly tradition. I met Joe for the first time when I started working at ARC as secretary in the Arts/Home Ec office. Whenever he came into the office, he always had a great smile and a friendly greeting. His caring, outgoing personality endeared him to students, faculty and staff not only in our area but the entire campus. Every Christmas season, Joe would deliver a fir tree to the Arts office to be decorated for all to enjoy. Joe's trademark in attire was blue jeans and a plaid shirt. All the nine years at ARC, at the Christmas tree lot and at the "ranch" he always wore these trademark clothes. He told how he dressed up for Lucille when they would attend a ballet performance. Joe was truly a great and good man. The love for his family and work, his philosophy on life, all his traits made us better for having known him. He will be missed but he lives on in our memories. Margaret R. Heintz and Family Former Secretary Arts/Home Ec Office LA VERNE GONZALES When I began my teaching career Joe was one of my mentors. His is ability to inspire students and his unbridled enthusiasm were traits I always tried to emulate. A former Encina collegue BIOS BRUCE KASPARI 62 Occupation: Senior Administrator - Department of Justice Bio: I married shortly after high school and was drafted into the Marine Corps before our first anniversary. I served in Viet Nam for 11 months and 28 days when I was wounded. After my return home my wife and I had a wonderful son but the marriage did not last. I decided that my future would only improve with education. I eventually graduated form Chapman University with Honors and a degree in the Administration of Justice. Twenty five years ago, I married a wonderful woman 8 years my senior. She had two pre-teenage daughters who pretty much became mine to raise. Sadly, we lost one of our girls to cancer a few years ago. The girls and my son have made me a grandfather seven times over and our great grandson lives with us and has nearly since birth. Today, I look forward to retiring from my life-long career as a public servant and hope to enter the private sector where I can continue to work in the field of child support enforcment and other children's issues. Trivia: There has been little trivia in my life. Friends: Males: Stan Bachtold - deceased, Buddy Soto, Larry Afzal and others. Female: Janet Hullin, Sue Abegellan, Pat Curtin and others. Hobbies: Family, golf on occasion and travel. Kids: Son: Todd Michael Kaspari - 34. Father of Kyle - 10 and Avery - 3 Step Daughter: Karen Alcartado (deceased). Mother of Nicole-25, Kristin-23 and Rick-15 Step Daughter: Tammy Morgan - 41. Mother of Brooke - 8, and Lauren - 6 Grade_school: Creekside Memorable_teachers: Ms. Benvenuti was a favorite. Why? Because she was pretty, why else? Favorite_memory: It was like living in the movie American Graffiti. Hot cars, beautiful girls and good times. MARCIA LUCAS 67 Occupation: Clerical / Police Dept Bio: Raised 3 boys / 1 grandchild Living In Portland, Oregon Married for 5 years to Peter Working at Police Dept for 8 years Trivia: Raised 3 boys as a single mom most of their lives Friends: Barbara Foth----Lost contact with everyone Loretta Parsons Hobbies: Learning to Golf Bowl on a league Gardening Cooking Kids: Eric-29 yrs graduate of BYU David-27 yrs graduate of BYU works for Micron in Utah - Married to kami and has 2 mo old Gavin Brent 22 yrs attends BYU/Idaho Reserve in National Guard Grade_school: Anchorage, AK and Bellevue, WA Memorable_teachers: Mr Wise --English Favorite_memory: I won 1st place for best Senior Hat Heard_about_website_from: Sister, Nancy DANA MILNER 89 Occupation: Strategic Buyer Bio: Decided to continue working as an electrician for a few years until 1992 when I found myself deep into drugs. It scared the %^*&%&*$ out of me when, so I got help. Started working at Black Angus as a cook, didn't really like it to much but did meet my future wife there (Michelle) 1996 I quit BA and went to work for Xerox as a book maker,cutter then worked my way up slowly. I was in Procurement working for Xerox at Hewlett Packard until I quit in 99 to work directly with Hewlett Packard. I am now a Strategic Buyer at Hewlett Packard in Roseville (LOVE IT) HP is the best company to work for! 1999 was a bad year, I lost my dad and my best friend's wife all in one week. Friend and Family memebers are going left and right, it's sad....Got married in 96 to my wife Michelle, at that point we were together already 4 years. Had a son (Jacob)in 96 and a daughter (Jordan) in 98. I'm now a family man, own a house in Citrus Heights and love life. Friends: Nathen Taylor,Frank Bueno, Kyle Harding, Damon Cutty Hobbies: Hobbies include model airplanes with my son and taking my wife out to dinner to a nice romantic restaurant. Relaxing- Relaxing enjoying life!!!! Kids: There's to much to say, I just try to spend as much time with them as I can... Grade_school_friends: Frank Bueno, Nathen Taylor, Kyle Harding and Damon Cutty Memorable_teachers: Figenshu (biology)- I was one of the only Freshmen in this class, the class was mostly Juniors and Seniors. Mr Figenshu was super cool! Favorite_memory: When I wrecked my car in the parking lot, dumb!!!!! INTERNET For those of you who buy things on ebay like I do, beware... March 7, 2002 Making Losers of Auction Winners By JENNIFER 8. LEE T'S hard to resist a good Internet bargain, especially when it seems too good to be true. Crystal Nordberg of Tulsa, Okla., and her fiancé, Jonathan Williams, had planned on buying a high- end digital camera for their honeymoon in Europe this May. The couple set aside money from gifts and work bonuses to buy a Sony (news/quote) Mavica. Then, in late December, Ms. Nordberg saw a Mavica offered at Yahoo (news/quote) Auctions by a seemingly trustworthy seller who went by the name McGooch2002. She cautiously bid $700, far less than the $1,000 she would have paid for a Mavica in a store. When she won, she quickly wired the money, thinking she had clinched a bargain. Instead Ms. Nordberg had become the victim of an elaborate scheme by the seller, whose trustworthiness, it turned out, was based on a record of fictitious transactions. And she was not alone: she was one of 20 people who, in the same week, bought a total of $20,000 worth of laptop computers, camcorders, cameras and hand-held organizers from McGooch2002 that were never delivered. Fraud has been a problem since the first online auctions were conducted in the mid-1990's and has expanded as auction sites like eBay (news/quote) and Yahoo have become some of the most successful sites on the Internet. Auction sites function primarily on a kind of honor system, with "feedback" — comments by each participant in a transaction about the other's behvior — playing a critical role. It is a system that can be abused, and auction sites try to ferret out criminals by using special software and other techniques to track suspicious activity like shill bidding, in which sellers inflate prices through accomplices who bid up items. Law enforcement agencies have also expanded their efforts to investigate online auction fraud. But as episodes like Ms. Nordberg's experience show, the criminals are trying just as hard to stay ahead, becoming more technologically and financially sophisticated and moving beyond garden-variety fraud like the misrepresentation and nondelivery of goods. Defrauders now switch computers so their usage patterns cannot be as easily detected and build flashy Web sites to give their businesses the sheen of legitimacy. They steal credit card numbers to set up e-mail accounts on Internet service providers like America Online and then use them to set up fraudulent auctions. Fraud has even entered the automated stage. Over the last two months, eBay says, it has seen the emergence of software "bots" that scan accounts and then try to gain access to them by systematically guessing passwords. The goal is to hijack a trusted seller's account and use it to make fraudulent transactions. "You are definitely seeing a new sophistication," said Kevin Pursglove, a spokesman for eBay. "And five years down the road they are going to be even more sophisticated." Auction fraud is now the most prevalent computer- related crime, according to the Internet Fraud Complaint Center, a joint program of the F.B.I. and the National White Collar Crime Center. Last year the center referred 7,193 complaints of auction fraud involving a total loss of $5.4 million for investigation. Yet the center estimates that less than 10 percent of victims report their losses, in some cases because they are embarrassed and often because they do not know where to turn. And many of the cases that are reported to law enforcement agencies are not pursued vigorously because the investigative costs far outweigh the victims' financial losses. The rate of complaints is gradually rising, and the assessment of the losses has sharply increased as criminals focus on high-tech, big- ticket items. The fraud complaint center says that the median dollar loss per auction fraud was $225 in the first half of 2001 but jumped to $489 in the second half of the year. While less than 1 percent of Internet auctions are fraudulent, according to the auction sites and F.B.I. statistics, that statistic offers little comfort to the victims. "It sure doesn't feel like 1 percent when you are in the middle of it," Ms. Nordberg said. Traditional offline financial fraud is being integrated into the online auction world, with a twist. Fraudulent sales were formerly dominated by hard-to-trace transactions involving cash or money orders. Now investigators say that perpetrators are increasingly using identity theft to set up bank accounts that allow wire transfers or transactions involving third-party online payment services like PayPal. Ms. Nordberg, for example, had been asked by McGooch2002 to wire money to a bank in Nashville. Another victim of McGooch2002 had been asked to send the money by PayPal. McGooch2002 told buyers that his name was Maurice Gooch and that he lived in Nashville. But when Ms. Nordberg tracked down a Maurice Gooch in Nashville, Mr. Gooch said he had never been involved in an online auction. Investigators suspect that the bank account set up in his name was a case of identity theft. Yahoo Auctions said that it did not comment on specific fraud cases but that it was doing its best to cooperate with law enforcement agencies. While fraudulent sales involve everything from handmade Apache knives to vintage motorcycles, the greatest concentration of dollar losses is in sales of high-tech items like laptop computers, video game consoles and games, cameras and camcorders. Such fraud typically runs from $1,000 to $2,000. Some of the biggest fraudulent sales to date did not involve electronics items. In 2000, an eBay user in the Netherlands bid $135,805 for a painting that the bidder believed was by Richard Diebenkorn and whose price had been inflated through a shill-bidding scheme. Two men pleaded guilty to fraud charges in connection with that auction and those of other paintings on eBay. Another defendant, Kenneth Fetterman of Placerville, Calif., is at large. In the Diebenkorn painting case, prosecutors said, the sellers created artificial feedback ratings to increase their credibility. Ms. Nordberg, too, had been reassured to learn that 12 happy customers had given McGooch feedback like "a true Santa Claus online" and "Grade A+++." But after the auction, Ms. Nordberg carefully reviewed the feedback and realized that all of it was submitted by users who created accounts around the same time and had reported no purchases other than the ones from McGooch2002. In other words, the 12 users were probably fictional creations of the person who created McGooch2002. McGooch2002 started his account six months in advance, built a clean reputation though such nonexistent auctions and then began a series of auctions of high-end merchandise in the last week of December that all ended around the same time. "It seems like it was planned out, very methodical in nature," Ms. Nordberg said. Indeed, sophisticated criminals invest months in creating believable characters. "Fifty percent of the success of the scam is information about the seller — his feedback, his purchase history," said a 24-year-old Romanian who lives in the United States and admitted taking part in auction fraud. He spoke on condition of anonymity. "These guys are smart," he said. "They know how to build a character. They have patience to make it look solid." But he said he was also struck by the level of trust that people were willing to invest in an unknown seller. "I'm amazed at the stupidity that some people show when they buy something," he said. Some criminals have turned to hijacking users' accounts and their good feedback instead of building their own identities. The way is eased by the fairly transparent passwords that many people use. Rob Chesnut, who leads fraud investigation for eBay, said: "Sometimes users have a very short password or one that is easy to guess such as `ebay,' `password' or `123.' Those are the types of things that will make an account vulnerable." Passwords can be illegally obtained by sending e-mail to users informing them that they need to provide their eBay passwords to complete a transaction. Some messages request a credit card number or even a driver's license number. Users who supply the data usually find fraudulent charges to their credit cards or discover that their accounts have been hijacked. Automated software that tries to crack user accounts by entering thousands of passwords is a common tool. EBay is trying to devise strategies to guard against such programs, like making it harder to try rapid, repeated log-ins to the same account. Last fall, Brian Murphy, an eBay user who lives outside Minneapolis, had his eBay identity stolen and used to set up fraudulent auctions. Winning bidders were told that Mr. Murphy had to leave the country on business and were asked to send the money via Western Union to the Ukraine. It was an unusual request, but bidders were reassured by Mr. Murphy's high positive feedback. "I basically believed him because of his record," said Jerry Auerbach of Englewood, N.J. "Had I looked more deeply, I would have noticed he didn't sell computers. He sells baseball cards." Mr. Murphy is not sure how his account was stolen. Making matters worse, he said, his eBay and e-mail passwords were the same, and both accounts were compromised. His case is counted among the estimated 10 percent of auction fraud cases that originate overseas and are hard for local officials to investigate. But even when the wrongdoing originates in the United States, auction fraud investigations face legal and logistical obstacles. Victims are generally scattered around the country and seldom reside in the same place as the fraudulent seller. Since individual crimes often amount to only a few hundred dollars, a local government may find that it is not worth the cost to pursue the defrauder across state lines. Many police departments are not equipped to investigate Internet crime, and federal enforcement agencies must often focus on more pressing issues. "The cost to send two police officers down to Nashville would be thousands of dollars for a crime that was $700," said James Raymond, a detective in Fitchburg, Mass., who is pursuing McGooch2002 on behalf of a victim in his area. "This is over state lines, so it leaves me personally high and dry unless we get a lot of help from the Tennessee authorities or the federal agencies." "Even $20,000 on the federal level is considered next to nothing," he added. Yet scattered complaints can be part of a pattern worth pursuing, since such criminals rarely prey on only one victim. "Often these complaints are just the tip of the iceberg," said John Kane, a research manager with the Internet fraud center. "Suddenly you don't have one victim with a $200 loss; you have 10 victims and $3,000 in losses." The Internet Fraud Complaint Center serves as a clearinghouse for complaints partly so that it can glean patterns from the reports. In aggregate, some of the cases may be significant enough to attract a federal investigation. Federal law enforcement officials began several nationwide inquiries over the last year, including one that resulted in criminal charges against 90 people and companies. Those fraud schemes, which extended beyond online auctions, bilked over 56,000 people of more than $117 million. As Ms. Nordberg helps the police try to track down McGooch2002, she says she has cooled on Internet auctions. A few weeks ago her fiancé saw a Sony Mavica camera offered on eBay, but she refused to let him bid. "After I got burned, we are only going to get it in the store," she said. The couple recently purchased the camera — at Best Buy (news/quote). March 7, 2002 Tips for Sizing Up the Invisible Seller By THE NEW YORK TIMES ome ways to avoid becoming a victim of auction fraud: Ask the seller for a phone number and call it. Use an escrow service, which holds your payment until you inspect the item. Check the seller's feedback carefully. Scrutinize the users who have provided feedback on the seller and what they say they purchased. Be wary of sellers who ask you to wire money overseas, especially to Eastern Europe, and of those who request that payment be mailed to post office boxes. Use a credit card. It can be safer to pay this way because of the extra protection many credit card companies offer. Some online payment services also provide such coverage. Be wary of a combination of suspicious elements, like several short simultaneous auctions of expensive items by one seller who does not list reserve prices; opening prices that seem irregularly low; offers to pay shipping; and little or no feedback. WHAT'S NEW 3/6/02: Karen Dellinger 76 update, Randy Headrick 64, Michelle Bliss 62 3/5/02: Jannell Penney 92 update, John Neff 71, Steve Neff 68, Ken Bell 62, Carol Krieg 73 3/3/02: Dana Milner 89/bio update, Marcia Lucas 67 bio, Lance Ballance 85 update 3/2/02: Darby Rust 62, Paul Krieg 76, Carol Krieg 73, Elizabeth Tribble 75, James Tribble 83, Chris Tribble 77, Yvonne Altstatt 89 update, Nate Stewart 74, Nancy Jonas 67, Gordon Jonas 68, Susan Jonas 62, Nancy Lucas 69, Marcia Lucas 67, Frank Inlow 64 update, Christina Foncree 98 classmates.com: Charlene Jacinto 69, Doreen Ryan 86, Alicia Condon 87, Heidi Broyes 88, Chad Crowder 93, Wes Baggs 99 2/28/02: Elizabeth Rountree 79 update, Karen Holstein 61 update, Teddy Levea 82, Rick Larson 62 bio, Nyla Bergman 76, John Bergman 65, Cheryl Boyes 83, Carol Boyes 73, Bob Boyes 75, Leslie Moe 84 update 2/27/02: Candy Waggoner 70/bio update Don't forget to submit your contact information or bio: contact: www.encinahighschool.com/directory/submit_contact.htm bio: www.encinahighschool.com/submit_bio.htm Harlan Lau '73 Encina HS alumni webmaster www.encinahighschool.com