We are saddened to tell you of the loss of the beloved leader of the Golden Grads, President Bob Berst, class of 1948.

Bob passed away on January 27, 2010 at Swedish Hospital in Seattle after losing his battle with melanoma. He was an inspiring leader and steadfast in his service to GG, handling so many areas so capably. We will miss him terribly.

Bob lived his life to the fullest with his hands into many things, of which some were music (loved jazz bands as he had his own at one time), piloting his plane, bird hunting, gourmanding, wine tasting, travel, friends, relatives, strangers and charities all in living his life zestfully, fruitfully and fully.

At different times in his life he was President of the Young Men’s Republican Club, Commodore of the Seattle Yacht Club, President of the King County Bar associations Senior Lawyers Section and at his death, President of RHS Golden Grads. He is survived by his wife Evalie, daughters Carla & Kay, his brother Chuck and sister-in-law Roelina and nieces Nelina and Caroline.

A memorial celebration will be held at 3 pm Friday, February 5, 2010 at the Seattle Yacht Club. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to Roosevelt High School Golden Grads, Bob Berst Memorial, P.O. Box 98442, Seattle WA 98109-1442.

Continue on your journey Bob–we will miss you!

May 19, 2009 is Golden Grads night at the 2009 RHS Spring Musical. Be at the RHS Theater at 7:30 PM for a rollicking production of ‘CATS’! Don’t miss it!

Make your plans now to attend the Golden Grads Board Meeting at 10 AM April 29, 2009, in the Alumni Room at RHS. All paid-up members are welcome, and class secretaries and committee chairs are urged to attend.

This year’s Pot Luck Picnic was at a new location – Matthews Beach Park, 95th NE and Sand Point Way – on Aug. 14, a beautiful sunny day. About 25 people attended. Food was wonderful, and everyone had a great time visiting and viewing pictures.

Golden Grads is planning to use email to contact members, send out reminders, and provide info on GG activities, RHS activities, etc., to help control postal expenses. The project has been taken on by Joyce Hitt Butchart, GG Secretary, who has been working hard to computerize the mailing list. But we are still missing some emails.

If you want to be on the Golden Grad email list AND haven’t provided it already, please email the following info to Joyce: First name, Maiden name for ladies, Married last name, Grad year, and, of course, your email address.

Toni Filigno Clark headed up a silent auction during the RHS Class of 1953 55th reunion July 18, 2008 to benefit the RHS Golden Grads Scholarship Fund. The auction brought in $895 for the Scholarship fund and was a lot of fun to boot.

Toni Filigno Clark is collecting items for a silent auction to be held during the Roosevelt High School Class of 1953 55th reunion July 18, 2008 at the Nile Country Club to benefit the RHS Golden Grads Scholarship Fund. Items to be auctioned off include “things” that are worthy of bidding on, tickets to an event, activities such as a boat outing, or an offer to teach something (knitting, cooking a specialty dish / meal, anything the person donating it is skilled in that others might want to learn), or the donor’s time for gardening, shopping, etc.

The Class of 1938 celebrated its 70th Reunion at the Golden Grads Luncheon on May 10, and easily edged out last year’s attendance winners, the class of ’53, for the Jeanne DeFriel Gardiner Outstanding Attendance Award Plaque. Next year’s Luncheon will be May 30, 2009 at a new venue, the Nile Country Club.

The world lost Jeanne DeFriel Gardiner ’30 on April 23, 2006. She was the founder and first president of the Rooselvelt High School Golden Grads. Jeanne treated the Golden Grads as a full-time job. She was on the phone daily with Golden Grads’ business in keeping track of all of the members and the various changes that occur on a daily basis. During her lifetime, Jeanne and her husband, Arthur, specialized in mountain trekking, particularly in the Himalayas. To see Jeanne’s garden overlooking Lake Washington, with a view of Mt. Rainier, was a very special treat. Jeanne died at the age of 93, remaining active, with trips to Turkey, Greece, Alaska, and Mexico with her children, enjoying plays and concerts, attending University of Washington football games, and still taking care of the membership challenge of the Golden Grads until the last. She is, and will be, missed.

RHS Golden Grads has two main goals to accomplish each year: (1) to contribute money for RHS Student Scholarships and (2) contribute money for the RHS Teachers Wish List.

The following was spent in former years:

Scholarships – in 2005-06 $22,500 and 2006-07 $29,000 was given

Wish List – in 2005-06 $22,500 and 2006-07 $11,000 was given.

How You Can Help

We have an annual luncheon each May (we each pay for our own lunch) and each August a Picnic Pot Luck at a local park. You can help Golden Grads in all its good works by becoming a dues paying Golden Grads member, volunteering on a committee or becoming an officer — and most importantly making a donation to a very worthy cause.

Contributions Are Key

Contributions from former graduates are key to being able to provide these benefits for Roosevelt students and teachers. Golden Grads membership dues go toward the two issues of Grapevine each year, which cost to print and mail, and also help to pay for guests (scholarship recipients) at the luncheon. Roosevelt High School Golden Grads Association has a tax exempt status under 501 (c)3 of Internal Revenue Code.