Things to Look Forward to from Golden Grads Secy Cathy Huffman

Time for the fall Grapevine!

by Cathie Hogue Huffman, ’63

Hello All –
I hope you’ve all weathered whatever weather came your way over the summer.  It sounds like everyone had something unusual…maybe suitable for sharing in the next Grapevine!  News about trips, events and just “catch up” stories are also fun to read.  That being said…

The deadline for news you want to share in the Grapevine is September 8!!!  Please send stories to Janet@Whalley.net

The Roosevelt Athletic Booster Club has published its first Athletic Newsletter.  What a great way to catch up on all the sports.  They also mention the athletes’ RHS grad family members so take a peek and see who you might know!

The class of 1953’s 70th reunion is coming up Wednesday, September 13.  Check out the information on their website rhs53.com.  While you’re there you can also enjoy scenes from their 50th,  60th and 69th reunions!

The youngsters in the class of 1963 will have their 60th reunion Thursday, September 28th at the Nile Country Club from 11-3.  Please watch for RSVP info.

Have a great fall ,
Cathie Huffman

How to Start or Renew Your Membership

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. 

Renewing Your Membership

Membership Is due by January of each year.

Golden Grads members can enjoy the Centennial Celebration this Sunday, August 27, the free Golden Grads night at the Spring musical, and know they are contributing to scholarships and teacher’s wish list donations from Golden Grads. Your Grapevine Newsletter will also continue to be sent to paid-up members. Membership rates are: $20 for an individual annual member or $30 for a couple living in the same household. To become a lifetime member the cost is $300 for an individual lifetime member or $400 for a couple living in the same household.

It’s That Time Again! The Fall Grapevine News Deadline is Sept 8!

Send in your stories now!

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 Editor right away.  It’s easy to do.  Just a few sentences will be fine!

Address your email to janet@whalley.net or your Class Representative. Class Representatives are listed in every Grapevine. Remember, Grapevines are sent out by email (preferred) or snail mail to members who are up to date on their dues. Now is the time to catch up if you haven’t sent your dues in yet.

Golden Grads President’s Report for Spring 2023

Spring 2023 President’s Report

by Doug Whalley ‘63

The Luncheon Returns

The Golden Grads Annual Luncheon is scheduled for Wednesday, June 21, 2023, at the Nile Golf and Country Club. It will be fun to meet with your classmates in person again, hear the latest news about the school, and enjoy some entertainment by the students. Please send in the registration form in this issue of the Grapevine.

Roosevelt’s 100th Anniversary and The Wall of Honor

The Roosevelt Foundation (a separate group from the Golden Grads) has announced the schedule for Roosevelt’s Centennial Celebration. The details are in this edition of the Grapevine. A highlight will be the unveiling of a Roosevelt “Wall of Honor” identifying outstanding Roosevelt graduates, teachers, or staff. I was on the selection committee, and it was a difficult process choosing among so many worthy candidates.

Kids Today

I spent a school day at Roosevelt recently as part of a career information program focusing on public service jobs. I met with seven different groups of about 15 students each and discussed working as a lawyer for the government. Although only a few seemed interested in a law career, they were all polite and attentive during our meeting and asked good questions. I also ate lunch with the students in the lunchroom. There is only one lunch period, so it was packed and noisy, but the students were obviously having a good time. I was impressed that there was no yelling, shoving, or bullying. There were several students with handicaps in the crowd, some in wheelchairs or walkers, and those who needed assistance were accompanied by a student volunteer aide to help them carry their lunch and find a seat.

College Scholarship Grant for Visual Arts Students

Roosevelt Golden Grads thank Don Strom ’64 and his wife, artist Jane LaFazio, for a generous donation of $5,000 to fund scholarships for graduating RHS seniors gifted in visual arts. The grant will fund one $1,000 scholarship annually for five years. An arts teacher or their designee will select one senior each year based upon their achievements in a visual arts field such as watercolor, mixed media, art quilts and similar fields. Winners will be going on to university, college, or art school, and ideally, they would be pursuing a visual arts field. Thank you, Don and Jane.

Thank you to Katie Greve and Ben Stuart of the Roosevelt Theatre and Dance Department

Golden Grads are invited to a May 30th preview of the 100th Anniversary Spring Musical Celebration. Details are in this Grapevine. It is a free event, with no reservations needed. Prior to the pandemic, the Golden Grads and their guests were invited every year to the Spring Musical preview. It is a great opportunity to see the school, especially its beautiful theatre, and enjoy one the finest high school musical programs in the country.

Be True to Your School

Our current group of officers and committee members has been largely unchanged for several years. I am pleased they have served so long, but we always need younger grads from the late 60s and early 70s on our committees as members retire. There are very few in-person committee meetings each year. Beginning next fall, we will resume two Board meetings a year at the school for committee chairs and class representatives, but attendance is not mandatory. Please contact me to volunteer.

Some Things to Look Forward to … from Your Golden Grads Secretary

Check Your Spring Grapevine for All the Exciting News

by Cathie Hogue Huffman, ’63

Welcome to all of you who are new members of Golden Grads and thanks to all of you who have renewed your membership in 2023.

The Golden Grads website, rhsgoldengrads.org, (you’re looking at it) has LOTS of information you can look up.  Are you wondering who are members and where your classmates might be?  It’s here.  How about the RHS calendar … check what’s there.

The class of 1953’s 70th reunion is coming up Wednesday, September 13.  Please see the Spring Grapevine for details and follow the information on the website rhs53.com.  While you’re there you can also enjoy scenes from their 50th and 60th reunions on the Reunions page!

The youngsters in the class of 1963 will have their 60th reunion Thursday, September 28th at the Nile Country Club from 11-3.  Please watch for RSVP info.

The Golden Grad Luncheon is June 21st.  Further registration information will be in the Grapevine or print out this registration form and mail in with payment 

MEANWHILE AT ROOSEVELT

The Jazz Band is again going to the Essentially Ellington Festival where they will compete in the finals May 11-13th.  This website (https://www.jazzlive.com/essentially-ellington-23) will take you to the festivals page and links where you can see the students perform.  Bothell and Garfield are also in the finals.

There is a  great article in the Seattle Times about  Hannah Mowry who took over as band director after Scott Brown’s retirement last spring. See it at https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/music/roosevelt-high-schools-new-band-director-smashes-jazzs-glass-ceiling/?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=article_inset_1.1

Cinderella is the Spring Musical and is presenting a Golden Grads Night performance (it’s FREE) at 7 pm May 30th.  This event is always special!

I hope you’re enjoying your Spring season, regardless of the weather!

Cathie Huffman

Music, Music, Music!

Roosevelt Jazz Band 1 Is Going to Essentially Ellington!

from RooseveltJazz.org

We’re proud to announce that Roosevelt Jazz Band 1 has been selected as a finalist to the Essentially Ellington Festival in New York City.

The Pacific Northwest is rich with such quality jazz musicians, educators, and programs that deliver excellence at the highest level. We are honored and deeply grateful to get to represent our region alongside our friends from Garfield High School and Bothell High School.

Reminder! We Want to ADD YOU to the Grapevine!

The deadline for sending your story to the Spring 2023 Grapevine was Friday, March 10!

from Golden Grads Grapevine Editor Janet Whalley

Hi Golden Grads!

The Spring Grapevine is coming out in mid-May.  If you couldn’t send news about yourself by the Spring deadline on March 10, please start making some notes for the fall Grapevine. It’s easy to do.  Just a few sentences will be fine!

The Grapevine is much more interesting when you are in it!!!!!  Send your email to me, janet@whalley.net  or your Class Representative.

Thanks so much!

President’s Report for Fall 2022

By GG President Doug Whalley (’63)

We Are Planning a Luncheon for June 2023

Absent a major change in public health concerns, we will be able to hold a luncheon next June. Most of us are once again comfortable being around other people in public, especially since our members are an especially health-conscious crowd. We will let you know the details when we have more information.

Scott Brown Is Retiring

Roosevelt’s talented band director Scott Brown is stepping down after 38 years. See the details in this issue.

Yet Another New Principal


In its April 2022 edition, The Roosevelt News commented on the continued absence of first year Principal HkwauaQueJol Hollins since February. Seattle Public Schools initially reported Hollins was on leave, but later listed him as having left the district, and the school was without a principal the remainder of the school year.

On May 9, 2022, the school district announced the appointment of Ingraham Vice Principal Tami Brewer as Roosevelt’s new principal. Brewer, pictured here, began working as a teacher at Ingraham in 1994, so she is familiar with the district and with urban high schools. I spoke with her briefly in August and she struck me as a polite but firm administrator. Her comments are in this edition of the Grapevine.

Roosevelt Alumni for Racial Equity

RARE has a report in this issue about their successful event at Roosevelt in August for about 100 alumni. The RARE founders are graduates from 1971 and 1972 and Janet and I joined many alums from that era who were attending as part of their 50-year reunions. (1971’s reunion was delayed a year.) When RARE was organized two years ago, Golden Grads Treasurer Michael Bush helped them start their non-profit charitable organization, and Golden Grads continues to maintain RARE funds (separate from GG funds) and to distribute tuition payments for them.

Roosevelt Wall of Honor

The Roosevelt Foundation is sponsoring a “Roosevelt Wall of Honor” for 100 graduates, teachers, or staff. They are reviewing the candidates in preparation for announcing them at the school’s 100th anniversary celebration/open house next Spring.

Remembering Pastor Pat Wright

A highlight of our 2018 Spring Golden Grads Luncheon was the presence of Pastor Patrinell “Pat” Wright, Seattle’s “first lady of gospel”. She passed away August 30, 2022. At the GG luncheon, she spoke to us about the work she was doing with young people and agreed to sing one of her songs. Her voice was amazing.

Please Volunteer

We need volunteers for the committees that keep Golden Grads functioning. As volunteer jobs go, these are very convenient — our committees hold very few meetings (often online), the other committee members may be your classmates, and you are giving back to your alma mater in the best way possible. If you are interested, call me today — (206) 523-5636. Operators are standing by.

It’s Time to Renew Your Membership in Golden Grads

Your 2023 membership was due in January

Students and staff are having a great school year, and we are planning some exciting events during our Centennial celebrating 100 years of service by Roosevelt High School.  We don’t want you to miss out on anything! Up-to-date members of Golden Grads will have special opportunities to participate during the Centennial. Your Grapevine Newsletter will continue to arrive in the in-box of paid-up members. You don’t want to miss a single edition! 

Rates for membership are: $20 for an individual annual member or $30 for a couple living in the same household. To become a lifetime member the cost is $300 for an individual lifetime member or $400 for a couple living in the same household.

Start or renew your membership today!

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