Doug Whalley ‘63

The Future of Golden Grads

I was recently a guest at the monthly lunch for the Seattle chapter of retired FBI agents. The chapter president told me that their membership is falling fast because today’s retired agents are much less likely to join. Golden Grads is having the same problem. I suspect people are reluctant to join Golden Grads because they think it means monthly meetings, regular dues, and frequent activities. Of course, that is not the case. Your yearly membership payment of $20 goes largely to Roosevelt scholarships and teachers’ supplies. Our only membership meeting is the yearly luncheon. Our current problem is that our Board of Directors are almost all from classes in the mid-1960s. We need more members from the 1970s. Please encourage your classmates to join, and please volunteer for a Board position. The Board of Directors meets only three or four times a year online. Financially we are in great shape, with over a million dollars in the bank (!). We need your help to use that money wisely for scholarships and teachers’ needs.

Roosevelt Almost Had A New Principal

After last year’s Roosevelt principal was placed on leave because of the football recruiting scandal, the current Eckstein Middle School principal, Kristin Rose, was announced as the new Roosevelt principal. On January 29th, the school district issued a press release:

We are reaching out today to share a leadership update with the Roosevelt community. Assistant Principal Ivory Brooks will serve as Interim Principal through the end of the 2025–26 school year. We understand how challenging it can be when leadership plans change. We also recognize the strain that shifting expectations place on a school. Our priority is ensuring stability, clarity, and strong leadership for our school communities. Considering this, Seattle Public Schools will not move forward with the previously announced appointment of Principal Kristin Rose to Roosevelt High School. She will continue in her role as principal of Eckstein Middle School. We want to extend our appreciation to Principal Rose for her willingness to support the Roosevelt community. Her dedication and professionalism are valued across the district.

I talked to Kristin Rose, a Roosevelt grad and good friend, and she was fine about staying at Eckstein. I don’t blame her, after that confusion.

Thank you to Jeri Mortensen Kronmal ’60

Jeri is retiring from her role as the Special Scholarship Chair. We appreciate her expertise in choosing the students who received additional money for our special scholarships. The Scholarship Committee will incorporate the Special Scholarships into their work.

Thank you and best wishes to Anne Chichester Temple ’63

Anne is recovering from a mild stroke, and the Membership Committee needs a new leader. Her committee members and other Board members are available to assist a new volunteer.

Web Site Progress

We are updating our web site, rhsgoldengrads.org. We will soon be able to receive dues and donations online, but we still need a member to be our volunteer Webmaster. Some web experience is helpful, but we have hired an expert to set up and take care of the site, and he will be available to assist a volunteer. At your leisure, you would update information on the site from other Board members, or news about Roosevelt. Our wonderful former Chair Ellen Brown Hewitt ’53, is available to assist. That’s right, class of 1953. She is a GG Super Hero.

The Annual Golden Grads Luncheon was held on June 10, 2025, at the Seattle Yacht Club. The Co-Chairs of the luncheon, Ann Reid ’68 and Heidi Liniger Olson ’72 did an excellent job planning this year’s event at a new location.

A total of 121 people attended the luncheon: 69 Golden Grads members, 17 scholarship winners, and 16 family members or friends of the students.

Click here to read more and see the pictures

Here is the schedule for the Spring 2026 Grapevine. What is most important for you is the deadline for submitting articles and reports which is Friday 3/13/26. I hope this date works for you and I look forward to receiving reports from most of you.

GRAPEVINE SCHEDULE – Spring 2026

Reminder to Class Representatives:
Monday – 2/16/26
Membership Chair tells Class Reps to solicit classmates’ reports and/or compose a report to be included in this issue. Sending reports by email to the Golden Grads Grapevine (GGG) Editor is preferred.
Note: Information (reports and articles) received with GG Membership forms is sent by the Membership Registrar directly to the GGG Editor and put into the appropriate class report section.

Deadline Date for Reports and Articles:
Friday – 3/13/26
GG officers, members, class reps, and committee chairs need to send any articles, reports, and notices to the GGG Editor by this date. Sending information before the deadline is greatly appreciated.

Deadline for Donations and Obituary Reports:
Tuesday – 3/31/26
Membership Chair needs to send final reports to Editor.

Grapevine Newsletter to Proof-Readers
Friday – 4/3/26
Grapevine sent to proofreaders for editing revisions, corrections, and comments.

Click here to see the rest of the schedule

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.

Hello All and Happy New Year!

Business First, If your dues are not current, please send them in. Your paid up date is on the address sticker of your Grapevine,  and is expected to be available on the web site soon at  rhsgoldengrads.org (Home page, left column,  “GG  Members by Grad Year”) . Payment can be made  by check or credit card using Postal Mail. This is a very informative website and I am definitely Snail Mail in comparison!

Click here for the printable dues and donations form

If you have interesting updates to your life or a good story to tell in the Grapevine, please get them to
Janet Whalley ASAP  (janet@whalley.net) as the due date is SOON – like today. Sorry I’m very late with
this prod.

The Big News from the school is that there will be a new principal starting today – January 29th. This from Doug Whalley (’63) : The new principal is Kristen Platt Rose, currently the principal at Eckstein. Kristin is a Roosevelt grad and our good friend. Her husband Max teaches at Roosevelt and is the golf coach. Kristin’s bother Brian Platt lived with us his last years at Roosevelt, and Kristin spent holidays with us. She will be great for Roosevelt.

Things to look for from the Arts and Music departments (with details coming when I get them:)
Jan. 29, 30 and Feb 2nd – 7 pm – Pride and Prejudice is being performed.
March 24 -7 pm Band Concert
March 31 – 7 pm April Fools Orchestra Concert
April 2 – 6:30 pm Variety Show
May 21, 22, 28-31 Spring Musical – Anything Goes!
June 2 – Jazz Night
June 4 – Band Concert
June – Orchestra Concert
June 10 – Roughriders Show

Read More »

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.