Susan Morse

Susan Morse

I went to nursing school in the late 60's then worked six years in Adult ICU, followed by 22 years in three different emergency departments in CA.  I left the acute hospital setting in 1998 and worked for a telephone triage company, taking after hours calls for large insurance groups and large groups of physicians.  Five of those years, I taught nurses how to use the software program for telephone triage.  I retired from nursing employment in 2004 yet have continued to stay active with volunteer activities with the San Diego Medical Reserve Corps, Disaster Preparedness section.

In 1990, I met my husband, an LAPD cop, on a fishing boat, in Mexico.  Deep sea fishing, travelling with friends on their sailboats took me to new adventures, scuba diving and kayaking. I actually steered a 56'sailboat through the Panama Canal, with two other boats "rafted" to us.  My local passions include being active in the San Diego Horticultural Society and the plant smart friends I have made there. 

I am blessed to still have friends from kindergarten, Bird Rock Elementary.  We get together a few times a year and tell the same old stories, since we've forgotten we've already heard them.  It is incredible that we are having our 50th.  Where has the time gone?  I know that the Reunion Committee meetings have been a hoot!  I look forward to reading through the Reunion Booklet to catch up.  Go Vikings!!

Phil Jones

Phil Jones

After graduating from LJHS I earned a BA degree in Music, served in the Army, earned an MM degree in Piano Performance, taught Piano at the college level for a few years then earned an MA degree in Arts Administration.  As a government Arts Administrator I worked for two State Arts Councils (Nebraska and Indiana) and served as Director of Arts and Culture for the cities of Dallas and Phoenix.   My wife, Pat and I have been married for 39 years.  During that time we've lived in Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Texas and (for the past 20 years) Arizona.   Our daughter, Jennifer (35) works in television and son Kevin (32) is an architect.  We have a wonderful daughter- in-law, Erin.   Since retiring in 2009, I've served on local arts boards and in leadership positions at our church.  I also volunteer at the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix.   I have time to play the piano again, and continue to post new classical recordings on my youtube channel (google: pianophilo).   My wife recently retired from her administrative job with a local school district, and we are looking forward to doing some traveling in the future.

Phil Jones and Family

Steve Alwart

Steve Alwart

Married in 1969 Steve for 43 years successfully raised a son Todd,  who graduated from Northwestern in Chemical Engineering , got his MBA from MIT, married and has two daughters.

Phyllis was a graduate of Kansas University with a degree in Psychology and Sociology.  Having a strong interest in real estate, she was an agent in several states and maintained her passion of homes after retirement.  She was an avid traveler, enjoying cruises to Europe, Alaska, and the Caribbean.  Phyllis also was a very competitive tennis player.

Unfortunately my wife, Phyllis Gail Halleman Alwart passed un-expectantly on 12/8/2012.

Marion Bottomley

Marion Bottomley

Right after college at UC Berkeley I married John Bottomley (Class of 63).  Two weeks later we moved to New York City and at that time I lost contact with most of my classmates.  We see John Schroeder frequently and he keeps us posted on some of our old friends.

We we returned to California we settled in the Bay Area.  We raised two boys and a girl in Orinda.  They played all the sports and the boys excelled at water polo.  Those were the fun times.  In l989 tragedy struck when our middle child died.  He was going to UCLA to play water polo and died suddenly of a heart virus.  We all recovered with the support of dear friends.

In 1999 John retired and we moved to Carmel.  Carmel is like La Jolla without the traffic and close enough to our kids to visit frequently.  John and I are fortunate enough to have great health for our age.  We hike Big Sur area frequently, run our dog on the beach every day and  play TONS of golf.

Ever since high school photography has been an interest of mine.  I took several classes and workshops and now enter competitions with floral and landscape images.  I am a member of Garden Club of America and travel all over the country to judge the photography in their flower shows.

In high school I never appreciated the benefits of athletics and did not have it together enough to participate in any sports.  Now sports are central to our lives.  All in our family are avid skiers and last year I achieved my ultimate dream.  We have four grandkids ranging in ages from 12 to 3......we skied  together from top to the bottom of the slopes with our 3 year old leading the way.

I am looking forward to the October reunion this weekend.  Thank you to the committee that pulled us all together.

 Hiking Mt. Fitzroy, Patagonia

Bottomley Family

Jerry Welch

Jerry Welch

In 1971 graduated from Marquette dental school with DDS.

Moved to Maui in 1998 after traveling around the world for a number of years including driving for six months up the center of Africa. Got married to Robin Holliday whom for point of interest is also one of closest living relatives to Doc Holliday of OK corral fame, she came without guns though. Picture attached. In 99 I designed and worked as my own contractor in building my house, picture attached. I did a real lot of yoga for a number of years and traveled back and forth to India, then took up windsurfing and now back to bicycling like I rode my bike to school as never seemed able to get my cars out of Mr. Soriano's auto shop. Last year I won the masters division of 'The Maui Stage Race' picture attached of finish.

31 years ago I actually become clean and sober and so life has been different for me than when in HS when I started down some curvy roads. I have been active in the recovery community and have been to 12 step meetings in over 20 different countries.

In 2008 I received Maui's Palaka award sort of communities version of citizen of the year

Cameron Center presents The Palaka Award to Jerry Welch for 13 years of volunteer service at Aloha House, Inc.

palaka07Wailuku, Maui, HI - Jerry Welch D.D.S became the fourth recipient of The Michael H. Lyons, II Palaka Award at J. Walter Cameron Center's annual meeting held last Friday at the Center's auditorium.

For 13 years, Dr. Welch has volunteered his services on the Board of Directors with Aloha House, Inc. and its sister agency Malama Family Recovery Center. He has served many different terms in various roles: president, secretary, treasurer, and vice president. Aloha House reportedly was in severe financial difficulty when he came on the Board. Over the years, however, he has encouraged diversification of programs and agency mission so as to never be in a position of having to close down from being too invested in just a few programs.

Dr. Welch has championed the creation of a medical detox program (separate from the hospital) for alcohol and other drugs, stated Jud Cunningham, Executive Director of Aloha House Inc. who nominated Dr. Welch.

I have left out some family stuff, parents dead, sister happily living in Colorado and my daughter died in mid 30's but have adopted one now in twenties living near me on Maui.

Rebecca Morales

Rebecca Morales 

After graduating from La Jolla High School, I went to UCSD for one semester then transferred to UC Berkeley where I graduated with a B. of Architecture. My stay in Berkeley coincided with the Free Speech Movement and lasted till People’s Park. It was a very interesting time that opened my eyes to the Civil Rights Movement. 

From there, I went on to get an MA from UCLA and a PhD from MIT in Urban and Regional Planning with an emphasis on regional, industrial, and economic development.  My dissertation was on undocumented workers in a changing automobile industry, which led me a journey of studying Latinos in the US and internationally, labor markets and international migration, and the international automobile industry.  

For years I was a professor teaching, conducting research and writing about these subjects.  I obtained funding from major foundations and travelled the world as part of my work.  One of my favorite activities was designing the National Center for Industrial Innovation for the Mexican Sub-secretariat of Trade and Industry. Although I was married, we never had children and eventually parted ways. 

Since then, I have moved back to La Jolla where I have worked in development and as a curator for the San Diego Automotive Museum, among other things. I continue to write and have co-authored a book titled Stealing Cars -- a study of the history of auto theft in the US. It was published by Johns Hopkins University Press and came out in April of this year. All of my publications are on my website, along with a chronicle of what I’ve been up to – www.rebeccamorales.com. 

At present, I’m active in Kiwanis. I will be the President of La Jolla Kiwanis starting October 2014 and was a co-founder of a new Kiwanis club in Tijuana – the Kiwanis Club of La Joya de Tijuana -- that received its charter January 11, 2014. I’m a member of La Jolla Parks and Beaches and sit on the San Diego Mayor’s International Advisory Board.  And as part of the Centennial Celebration next year, I hope to establish a Centennial Innovation Prize. 

For fun, I play the folk harp and ride my bike. I share my house with two cats, Leo and Belle, and have a pipe dream of publishing suspense novels.  

Bert Hudgins

Bert Hudgins

I have been fortunate to have had a wonderful marriage, great kids, a challenging career, and good health. I was married to my beautiful wife, Eileen, for 36 years.  Unfortunately, Eileen passed away in 2010 after a courageous battle with ALS.  Together we raised three children:  Dean, Chris and Cari.  Dean’s wife Maria and Cari’s husband Jim have been a great addition to our family. I am also the proud grandfather of five year old Audrey and three year old Vivian, the daughters of Jim and Cari. 

For 31 years, I worked as a business teacher, work experience coordinator, detention supervisor, ASB director and district administrator for the Poway Unified School District. Prior to my retirement, I was the Director of Student Discipline and Attendance and was so often reminded of our crazy times at La Jolla High School. Some things never change! 

I am still participating in many of the activities that I have always enjoyed including golf, tennis, travel and going to the gym. Currently, some of my favorite activities include camping and boating with my granddaughters! 

 Audrey on the boat

 Vivian on the boat

Hudgins Family