A Successful 2025 Luncheon Because of our expert coordinators Ann Reid ’68 and Heidi Liniger Olson ’72, the Golden Grads Annual Luncheon was a great success. Our new location at the Seattle Yacht Club provided good food, easy parking, and a nice view of Lake Union. The location is also very convenient for our many members that still live in NE Seattle. A highlight was Pamela Katims Steele’s introduction of the scholarship winners — their achievements were amazing. Thanks also to Rick Keating ’64 for running the show and only insulting the President five or six times, and to our Board members who handled registration. Principal Tami Brewer spoke at the luncheon, one day before she was placed on leave. (See the next article.)

The Football Scandal In June the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) imposed penalties on Roosevelt for illegal football recruiting, including fines for Principal Tami Brewer and athletic director Danny Thompson. The Principal was placed on administrative leave by the Seattle School District. Last year the team had their best season in years, winning eight games before losing to Bellevue in the quarterfinals, but Roosevelt forfeited all games played in the last two seasons (2023, 2024). The team now has a one-year post-season ban. Any transfer student found to have provided false information to gain eligibility will be banned from athletic competition for one year.

RHS Interim Principal Ruth Medsker has been named Roosevelt’s “Interim Principal” this fall. She had previously served as principal at West Seattle High School.

Another Gift to Golden Grads from The Estate of Merle Stillson ’47 Roosevelt alum, Merle Stillson, passed away on September 28, 2023, at age 95. He included Golden Grads in his will among many other non-profit groups, friends, and family members. In Spring of 2024, we received $80,000 and recently received an additional $24,742 from his estate.

Golden Grads’ Web Site is Being Upgraded We are in the process of updating our Golden Grads website (https://rhsgoldengrads.org). We plan to enable GG members to pay their dues and donations online with a credit card and to send us their membership forms. Our wonderful Web Master, Ellen Brown Hewett ‘53, has been trying to retire for two years, but fortunately has stuck with it while we look for a replacement and streamline the site. The upgrade will allow her replacement to easily monitor the site without technical expertise, so please volunteer.  Board members provide all the information to be posted.

The RHS Class of ’25 In this issue, I write about the Roosevelt graduation ceremony that Janet and I attended at Seattle High School Stadium for our oldest granddaughter, Kate Whalley. Kate’s second cousin was also in the graduating class, making them the 12th and 13th members of our family to graduate from Roosevelt, starting with the Class of 1931. I know I brag about this all the time, but that is what this bully pulpit is for. Any complaints, and you will immediately be placed on the Golden Grads Board, possibly as president.

Recruit New Members! You likely stay in contact with many of your fellow Roosevelt graduates, so please encourage them to join Golden Grads. Our administrative expenses are very low, and most of the $20 membership fee supports college scholarships for deserving students and money for teachers’ needs that are not covered by the school district, like science equipment, special projects, books, and outings. Members also receive this spiffy newsletter. Where else could you find out that the 1956 Seafair Queen was a Roosevelt grad?

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.

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.

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

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.