At the kickoff assembly Mr. Gomez was offically inducted in the CHS Hall of Fame, the current CHS Golden Spurs entertained and many danced to the music of the Beach Bums, including the current Cupertino High Principal (upper right hand corner).

Because of the success of CHS50 we have decided to make this an annual event. As in CHS50 we will kick things off with a Friday night football game and continue on into the next day on the CHS campus. So mark September 25th, 2009 on your calender for the fun, once again, to begin.

Many former faculty members joined in the fun. Mr. Jakovina can be seen dancing, and past Principal Barbara Nunes, who did some dancing herself, is pictured being introduced. The two alumni engrossed in conversation was typical of the catching up that took place at CHS50.

CHS50 offically got underway at a the Cupertino City Hall on Wednesday September 17th when Cupertino City Council declared September 20th Cupertino High School Day. Phil Sedgely, Dale Deselms, Dave Pitman and Sue Stimson were other CHS faculty alumni who joined the festivities. Special recognition was also given to George Fernandez, CHS's very first Principal.

Mike "Bubbles" Jacobsen was among the many recording CHS50 by taking photos. All of the photos the five collages are courtesy of Cristine Daniels.The wonderful "Hug Photo" I think sums up the wonderful heartfelt vibes that permeated CHS50 from beginning to end.

Here are more photos of the revelers at CHS50, loving the rich harmony of Papa and the joy of each others alumni company. How many alumni can you identify? Is that Bobby Pierceall '73 in a blue T-shirt? He found a giant wagon wheel that we hope to have mounted on the Senior Lawn at our next CHS Alumni Gathering. The Senior lawn lawn has never been the same since a vintage Wagon Wheel was mounted on it in 1962 and survived until 1973.

As PAPA sang and played, the CHS50 alumni not only danced but sang along and reveled in the good vibes of each others company. Can you I.D. anyone and the year they graduated?

They stood happily and proudly nine abreast basking in the roaring ovation that greeted them following their show’s last song. The five current members of Papa and four Papa Doo Run alumni had just completed a one hour non-stop musical journey that had truly embraced their enraptured audience of CHS50 revelers in “GOOD VIBRATIONS”. They are lift to right Jim Rush '67. Steve Dromensk '64, Don Zirilli '64, Bo Fox, Adrian Baker,Bobby Gothar, Jim Armstrong '72, Mark Ward '67, JIm Shippey '67

After the last note had been hit and Papa began leaving the stage the CHS50ers roared and begged for more. When Papa returned for a bow the roar of the crowd continued, pleading for more. The sustained ovation soon evolved into a huge thank you to Papa. Their musical magic had brought CHS50 to a most fitting, joyous, happy ending. “Long Live Papa".

CHS faculty members in attendance for Papa Show having a great time were AL Montogomery and his wife Becky, Peggy Kahn, Ethel Kopal and Alyce McNerney. All having been surfer girls and boys in their high school days, they of course really dug the Papa tunes.

It had been as long as 27 years since some of the Papa Doo Run Alumni had done a live complete show with Papa. Never before had these nine former Papa and present Papa played together for a show. The present Papa, called by many music critics better than the Beach Boys, opened the show with three wonderous songs that sent the audience rushing to the dance floor. Then the Papa CHS alumni came on to a roaring welcome from their alumni brothers and sisters in the audience. Then for the next 50 minutes the 50 year old CHS gym rocked as it had never rocked before.

Here are the charming wives of four of the Papa Doo Run original CHS Papa members. Left to right they are the wives of Jim Rush (Debbie), Jim Armstrong (Barbara), Mark Ward (Debbie) and Don Zirilli (Margie).

There were so many people that contributed to whatever success CHS50 enjoyed. The following CHS alumni deserve special thanks.

These are the CHS alumni that worked so hard and so well to decorate the rally quad, cafeteria, gym, the memorial for CHS grads killed while serving in the armed services. And provide technical assistance. Fred Wahl recorded the current CHS students singing the school songs which were supposed to be played at the CHS50 Kickoff Assembly. I apologize for forgetting to do this. You can here it now by clicking on to CHS songs
They are clockwise from 11:00 Sara Thompson Acevedo ’78, Lorijean Bitney Spear ’78, Sally Thompson ’73, Connie Bitney Bjork ’67, Peter Shin ’89, Greg Hill ’72, Fred Wahl ’67, Marilyn Bitney Anderson '72. The Dusty in the middle, which became the CHS50 icon was created by Peter Shin, currently a producer & director for the hit TV show “Family Guy”.

Just some of the decorations that graced the CHS campus during CHS50. We'll be showing other photos as we receive them. We appreciate the many photos we have received and will be showing many of them in the weeks to come. Any identifying you can do of alumni in your photos would be greatly appreciated too.

Here CHS alumni as well as family members wait the Papa Concert/Dance/ Sing Along to begin. Can you help us identify who they are? They would be so glad they came. How many can you I.D. by name and graduation class?

Here are some Class of 1974 members pausing to smile for the camera at CHS50. Pictured here are Scott Prewett, Cindy Hill and Jeff Bartels. Can somebody help me with the other names? To the many who have expressed an interest in another such gathering "The Answer Is Blowing In The Wind". Watch this site for details coming soon.

The official start of the CHS50 celebration started on Wednesday September 17th when the City of Cupertino designated Saturday September 20th, Cupertino High School Day. At City Hall the Principal of Cupertino High School, Kami Tomberlain, was presented a proclamation listing the many services CHS has provided the City of Cupertino as well as the accomplishments of the school in the past 50 years. There to honor CHS as well were FUHSD board member Hung Wei and the Superintendent of FUHSD Polly Bove. Also present was Andy Walzac, CHS Assistant Principal, who did so much to make CHS50 success.

Getting CHS50 off to a rock and roll start at the CHS50 Kickoff Assembly were the Beach Bums. The"Bums" top left...CLOCKWISE... are Bruce Watts '77, Paul Padilla '78, Tommy Watts (Bruce's son), Ray Wolfe '76, Clay Laucella '76, Paul Padilla again, Clay Laucella again, Ray Wolfe again and in the center Mr. Bill Boggie (63' to '03).

Top left clockwise Scott Prewett '74 and CHS Hall of Fame member kicks up his heels to the music of the Beach Bums, a CHS Golden Spur gets an alumni out on the floor (can somebody help me with his name and grad year), Dave Frederico '67 shows some fancy moves (who is his happy partner?)and former CHS Principal and current FUHSD Board member Barbata Wilson joins the fun too at the CHS50 Kickoff Assembly.

On the Friday night before the Papa Concert I (Mr. Boggie) confided to Julie Matthews that I was worried about meeting expenses for Papa Doo Run coming to CHS50. Despite the fact that Papa had most graciously not charged any appearance fee the cost of ...plane tickets from LA for all of Papa and their wives...use of Papa's sound system (plus trucking it from LA and paying "Roadies" to set up and tear it down) and hotel accommodations for all amounted to over $5,000. Julie Matthews took it upon herself during the concert (as pictured here) to urge alumni to help defray these expenses. She herself donated $500 to this cause. One CHS alum wrote a check out for $200 on the spot. I apologize for not recalling his name. This plus all those CHS alumni and family members coming to the concert who paid for tickets, and CHSAAA donating all the proceeds from CHSAAA membership obtained during the month of September 2008, helped pay for Papa Doo Run's priceless performance.It's alumni like Julie that make CHSAAA possible.

The Class of 1972 had a loud, happy contingent at CHS50. They even brought their class rally banner to the festivities. Can somebody help me out with these two charming 72ers and those in the background.

First CHS Principal George Fernandez honored at the CHS50 Kickoff Assembly showed he’s still got the jive at 85! His recollections of CHS’s early days were both entertaining and moving. He concluded by saying “Thank you for making my later years so wonderful”. We thank him for all he did for Cupertino High.

Just a few days before CHS opened its doors for the first time on September 15, 1958, Mr. Fernandez's met for a publicity photo with Winfred Coombs. Winfred was in charge of all hiring for the FUHSD. Two new CHS teachers, Pauline Tedesco and Babe Herrah were also invited to the picture shoot. The tie-in was that Fernandez, Herrah and Tedesco all had graduated from the "mother school" of the FUHSD...Fremont High School.

Mr. Bob Gomez Legendary, CHS “Music Man”, was inducted into the
Cupertino High School Hall of Fame as an “Honorary Graduate of the
school he served so well for 36 years. Many of his former orchestra and band students were there to see photos tracing  him from a toddler to a dashing high school senior. He asked them to stand and be recognized. His heartfelt acceptance speech was truly a CHS50 magic moment.

Clockwise Mark Ward and Jim Armstrong Class of '72, Don Zirilli Class of '64, Steve Dromensk '64 and Jim Rush '67. To see these guys perform together and to not miss a beat was amazing to hear and see after being apart for over 27 years. Such talent and showmanship. What true Cupertino High School Spirit, I must most certainly say !!

Special thanks to Jim Armstrong who first got Papa involved with CHSAAA in the first place. Jim produced Papa's wonderful rendition of the "The Ultimate School" for tinoalumni.org and the Tino version of "Be True To Your School" that can be found on this web site too.

Also it would not have happened without Don Zirilli who did so much necessary work behind the scenes. He arranged plane reservations, having the entire stage set-up trucked from Los Angeles and overseeing its installation at CHS which took five hours.

Last but far from least all those alumni who came to the Papa Show. The money raised from your ticket purchases helped cover all the necesary expenses for a big time show like this. Some like Julie Matthews '70 gave much more. Also CHSAAA donated all the membership money raised in September 2008 to the cause. Thanks to all of you who joined during that time span.

Here are the present day Papa Doo Run members who graciously performed at CHS50. The very next day Papa performed at the fabled Del Coronado Hotel in San Diego. How can we thank them enough for doing what they did for us? They are the very best! They are upper left clockwise Jim Rush '67, Don Zirilli '64, Adrian Baker, Bobby Gothar. Bo Fox Papa's great drummer is missing.

Here is Bo Foxx. After the Papa Show was over he told me how impressed he was with "Papa's Home Turf". We were certainly impressed, or better yet blown away by both Bo and his Papa buddies. What a great band!

Ray Wolfe '76 got a special thrill out of Mr. Gomez's induction into the CHS Hall of Fame. He was the CHS Marching Band Drum Major his Senior Year and led the card tricks as we won the Football Jamboree El Camino Spirit Bell.

Sharon Wood, another '72 class member, and a Charter member in the CHS Hall of Fame,talks to another alumni. Can somebody help me out with her name and the alumni behind her? In the background is Mr. Slama, A CHS Parent alumni who as an Honorary CHS Graduate is also a member of the CHS Hall of Fame.

Pati Folke Hyland '73,former Mt.View High School Principal, now a professor on the staff of DeAnza and also a member of the CHS Hall of Fame is joined for a picture with...can somebody help me out here too?

Among those at the CHS50 Kickoff Assembly were CHS teaching legend Senorita Delia Ybara and former student Tom Kennedy '63. No one has more love for Cupertino High and its great history than Delia. She is most remembered as a great teacher of the Spanish language but she also taught Humanities to classes numbering in the 200s in the CHS Auditorium. Track meets were one of her favorite special duties.

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