Spring 2025 Golden Grads President’s Report by Doug Whalley ‘63

Oh No, Not the Burg!

Sad news to report: the original Burgermaster restaurant near the  University Village closed February 2025 after seven decades in business. It is making way for a massive apartment complex with businesses below. CEO Alex Jensen, grandson of founder Phil Jensen, said he has known since 2022 that the Bugermaster’s tenancy could be terminated. Golden Grads remember car service before they offered sit-down eating. (You probably spilled your milkshake a couple of times.) Many of us continued to patronize the restaurant, and it sometimes seemed like a Roosevelt reunion when you spotted your classmates.

Thank You to Ellen Brown Hewitt ’53

Ellen has been a star as our Web Master for many years and has done a great job of maintaining our web site. She is retiring from that job this Spring. Her son has helped her with some technical issues (not unlike many of us), but Ellen could explain everything to the Board with expertise. We would welcome a Golden Grads volunteer with web experience to replace her. It is not a difficult job, but we cannot maintain our web site without an experienced volunteer.

Remembering Cindy Dack

Cindy, a long-serving GG Board Member as Luncheon Chair, passed away recently. Until she retired from the board two years ago, Cyndy ran the annual luncheon each year with good humor and an iron hand, making sure that everyone had a good time. (Her obituary is in this issue.)

Scholarships

The primary mission of Golden Grads is to provide college scholarships to deserving RHS graduates. Our 2024-2025 budgeted amount for our scholarships was $73,000. (This does not include special scholarship donations from members, like our Don Harney sports scholarships and Donald Strom and Jane LaFazio art scholarships.) The Scholarship Committee, now focused on the financial need of the applicants, recently requested a substantial increase in the total amount of scholarships funds to $125,000 because of the rise in tuition costs. Our Finance Committee and then the Board of Directors considered the request, and a majority voted to recommend increasing the 2024-25 budgeted amount by $10,000, for a total of $83,000. Treasurer Mike Bush stated our current budget is based on the best practices for non-profits, which is to maintain grants between 5% and 5.5% of the endowed funds. We are currently spending 5.7% of our endowed funds before any increase. (Additional donations for scholarships by GG members will help increase the scholarship funds available.)

Golden Grads Annual Luncheon is Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at the Seattle Yacht Club

The registration form and details are in this newsletter. We encourage all members to attend. It is a unique opportunity to get together with Roosevelt grads from your class and others. Our speakers from the school provide an inside look at Roosevelt today, and award-winning Roosevelt musicians present a short musical performance. The Seattle Yacht Club has a reputation for very good food, and the location should be more convenient for many. Guest parking is available.

Just in from President, Doug Whalley:

The Golden Grads Spring 2025 Luncheon will be held June 10, 2025 at the Seattle Yacht Club. See all the details and sign-up information in the Spring Grapevine newsletter.

Mark your calendar now!

Start or renew Golden Grads membership today!

Print and complete the membership form (click on “membership form”) and print out and mail to RHS Golden Grads, PO Box 281, Edmonds, WA 98020-0281. You can add Credit Card instructions to the form or include your personal check in the envelope to pay your dues. 

Here’s how to see us on Facebook:
• Log in to your Facebook page.
• Type “Roosevelt Golden Grads” in the search
box at the top.
• Roosevelt Golden Grads will pop up as a choice.
• Click on us to see our page.
• Underneath the banner with our name, select
“Like” & “Follow”.
• Start reading our posts 

To see what else is happening this spring, go to one of the websites below:

• High School
• Jazz
• Drama
• Orchestra
• Bands

For More on RHS Jazz Bands click here or visit the Jazz Boosters Calendar Page. For RHS Orchestra click here. For RHS Roughriders Band information click the Riders Band site. And for Roosevelt Drama events click here.

More News from Your Secretary
by Cathie Hogue Huffman, 63

Hello Golden Grads!

(Compiled.) Once again, the elves have compiled the Grapevine and sent it out by email and snail mail to Golden Grads near and far. I hope you have all received your Spring Grapevine and are keeping up with news on the Golden Grads website (rhsgoldengrads.org).  You can also follow student activities/opinions/news in the school paper on Instagram @therhsnews! or at therooseveltnews.org.

The Jazz band was again invited to the Essential Ellington event at Lincoln Center. The Roosevelt Jazz Band is famous for Its outstanding Jazz music program.

Don’t forget Golden Grads free performance night at the Spring Musical May 20 at 7 pm. They invite Golden Grads to the final dress rehearsal as a thank you for our work. You can bring family and friends.

Happy Spring to everyone!

Cathie Huffman

by Grapevine Editor Janet Whalley

The Grapevine is much more interesting when you are in it!!!!! Try to scribble down some notes about what you’ve been doing or planning and send it to your Class representative or me as soon as soon as you can do so. It’s really easy to do.  Just a few sentences are fine!

Address your email to me at janet@whalley.net or your Class Rep as listed in the Grapevine. Class reps should solicit their classmates’ reports and/or compose a report to me for the next Grapevine and send, or better, email to me. (NOTE – Reports and articles received with GG Membership forms will be sent directly to me by the Membership Registrar to put into the appropriate class report section.) I need all reports and information by the deadline in order to get the Grapevine out on time. All your efforts are greatly appreciated!  Now is the time to catch up if you haven’t sent your dues in yet.