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WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
A TRIBUTE TO HOWARD VIERRA
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What's New?
May 21, 2011
Added the passing of Tom Atkinson and updated the
Where Are They
Now?page

Thomas Melvin Atkinson 4/3/1938 - 5/16/2011
Resident of San Jose, CA
Tom was born April 3, 1938, in Porterville, CA to Hardin and Kathryn Atkinson. He passed away on May 16, 2011, with his family by his
side.
Tom grew up in Porterville, Stockton, and Livermore, and graduated from Livermore High School in 1956. He was named "All American
Player in Football" at San Jose City College in 1958, and received a B.S. Degree in Industrial Technology from San Jose State College
in 1960. He subsequently married Margery Simon of Livermore and they raised two daughters.
Tom worked at IBM as a Software Engineer for 26 years. After he retired he taught programming at West Valley Community College
before returning to programming on a contract basis. He worked for several companies including IBM. He fully retired in 2000.
Tom loved football as both a player and a spectator. He held season tickets for his beloved 49ers for 40 years. He never missed
a home game or a playoff game and went to several Superbowls. He was also an early and avid fan of the Sharks, with season tickets
for several years.
Tom was a true sportsman. He loved nature (he knew his birds). He hunted wild game with his father and brother in Stockton and
Livermore. He fished in Lake Tahoe and many of the streams he discovered on his many backpacking trips through the Sierras,
especially Desolation Valley and Yosemite. He loved to snow and water-ski sharing that passion with his two daughters. He sailed
often in San Francisco Bay. Traveling meant driving his RV from campground to campground. He covered many Western states and
Canada with his family and friends. At home you could find him on his deck barbequing with friends and family while watching
their favorite teams on TV. Tom was a kind and gentle man with a keen wit – he charmed all who knew him.
Tom leaves his loving partner, Deborah Norberg; daughters Jeanne Schow (Rick) of Morgan Hill, and Diane Elner of San Jose;
grandchildren Kristy and Brenden Schow; extended family Nathan Norberg (Sara) and their son, Paul of San Jose, and Nick Norberg
(Laura) of Walnut Creek. He also leaves his brother, Ken Atkinson (Marilyn) and his sisters, Sheryl Caskey and Sharyn Norville,
besides many aunts, uncles, cousins and numerous wonderful friends.
Memorial Service to be held on May 31st at 11:00am at Westhills Community Church, 16695 De Witt Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA.
In Lieu of Flowers, donations may be sent to: Lewy Body Dementia Organization, 912 Killian Road, SW, Lilburn, GA 30047, or
give online at www.lbda.org.
December 16, 2010
Website was down for a few days while the hosting service was changed. A new hosing service was added and
is up and running now. Let me know of any problems (tedsaselli@yahoo.com).
January 23, 2009
A COMBINED 1954, 1955, 1956 Reunion is being discussed at this moment. You can read all about it at the
Reunion
page
November 2, 2008
Added the passing of Jerry Bireley and updated the
Where Are They
Now? page
Jerry Eldon Bireley 10/24/1938 - 10/29/2008
Resident of Livermore
After a valiant struggle with cancer, Jerry passed away on
Wednesday October 29th at his home, with his family by his side. Jerry celebrated
his 70th birthday on October 24 surrounded by family and friends. He was a lifetime
Livermore resident; born at St Paul's Hospital, graduated from Livermore High School
in 1956, and received his AA from Auburn Sierra College in 1959. He was an Airman
Second Class in the Air Force Reserves until discharged in 1965. His younger years
were full of adventures, riding his Harley across the US; and as an extra in the
movie "The Greatest Story Ever Told" just to name a few. His first business was a
boat launch and sales in Bethel Island and then as an Owner/Operator of JEB
Drayage Trucking Co. Having found his calling as a truck driver, he spent his
years until retirement on the road, with his arm out the window and the wind in
his hair. Longtime Livermore business owner, he enjoyed restoring the Family
Station on Portola Avenue built in 1923 to its original state. His hobbies in
his latter years included a fishing boat at the Berkeley Marina, annual trips
to the Bonneville Salt Flats Speed Week, the Classic Boat Show in Lake Tahoe
and as an active member of the Livermore Heritage Guild. He is survived by his
sister Kathleen; his children Charlotte, John (Mary), William, Jerrod (Daniela)
and his grandson Vaclav. He had a great love for his family and was surrounded
by his children at the "K" Street compound". Funeral service for family and
friends will be held on Tuesday, November 4th at 1pm at Callaghan Mortuary Chapel,
3833 East Ave., Livermore with burial to follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery, 3873
East Ave., Livermore. Callaghan Mortuary Livermore Crematory (925) 447-2942.
October 14,2008
Added photos taken by Norm and Gerry Wilson Manha at the September 21, 2008 Class of 1956 Mini Reunion to the
Reunion
page.
Added a link to more Mini Reunion photos taken by Patrick and Jan Worth Weidhaas to the
Reunion
page.
August 11, 2008
Added the passing of Richard Bier and updated the
Where Are They
Now? page
October 16, 2007
Added the passing of Tony Berry and updated the
Where Are They
Now? page
Tony D. Berry, 70, of DeBary, FL, died Oct. 3, 2007, at his home.
Born in Garland, KS, Mr. Berry retired as a manufacturing technician.
He was a member of the American Legion.
Mr. Berry served in the U.S. Army 1960-63.
He is preceded in death by one granddaughter, Emma Berry. He is survived by one son, James and his wife, Belinda, of DeBary; one brother, Robert of California; one sister, Charlene Bonetti of California; two grandchildren, Shawn Michael Berry and Nevaeh Nichole Berry; two stepgrandchildren, Jeremy Whaley and Jacob Whaley; and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial donations may be made to your local Veterans of Foreign Wars Post or American Legion Hall. Deltona Memorial was in charge.
August 22,2007
10th Old Timers Party-Reunion of Old Friends
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Elk's Lodge
940 Larkspur Avenue
Livermore, CA. 94551
5:00 p.m. - No Host Cocktails
6:00 p.m. - Buffet Dinner (Back Forty BBQ)
7:00 p.m. - MC - Norm Volponi and Helpers
7:00 - 11:00 p.m. - Background Music - Darren Bainter
Come join the fun of visiting with friends and fellow classmates. If there is
anyone you want to invite, feel free to pass this information on. We need to
discuss further get-together's.
Please send $30.00 per person by September 10, 2007 to:
Polly Stonich
779 El Rancho Drive
Livermore, CA. 94551
February 18,2007
Added individual photos taken at the 50th. Class Reunion to the
Reunion
page.
November 11,2006
Added the group photo taken at the 50th. Class Reunion to the
Reunion
page.
October 29,2006
Wow! What a reunion! I am still emotionally drained from the festivities of October 14th at Beebs Sports Bar and Grill
at the Livermore Airport. A complete and utter success! All made possible by the efforts
of the tireless reunion committee members. It couldn't have been done without them!
I now have the daunting task of placing a ton of photos taken at the cocktail party, the reunion,
the breakfast, and those taken by the professional photographer, Carol Mooney Newman's son Jim. So be sure and check the
Reunion
page often for
these exciting photos.
September 24, 2006
Added the latest on our 50th Reunion and updated the
Reunion
page
April 15, 2006
Added the passing of Joyce Test and Gene Strom and updated the
Where Are They
Now? page
April 7, 2006
Added recent reunion
committee pictures to the
Reunion
page
February 8, 2006
Added recent reunion
committee pictures to the
Reunion
page
January 9, 2006
Because of attacks by spammers, I found it necessary to completely eliminate
the Guestbook portion of this website. It is truly sad that there
are people on this earth with too much time on their hands that find it necessary
to destroy something that doesn't belong to them.
December 18, 2005
Added the passing of Judy King and updated the
Where Are They
Now? page
Special Note:
Two of our Classmates are very ill and need our prayers. Joyce Test is in an assisted care facility in Texas suffering from Huntington's Disease. Her
daughter is close by and tends to her needs. Bob Hagemann is also suffering from Huntington's Disease as
well as dementia. He is in an assisted care facility in Modesto and is cared for by his daughter
who visits him every weekday. If you would like to send cards to them, just drop me an email and I will forward the
proper address to you.
Ted Saselli
You can email me here:
mailto:tedsaselli@yahoo.com
August 10, 2005
Added the results of the July 31, 2005 50th. reunion
planning meeting, including committee pictures and pictures of Beeb's Sports Bar and Grill,
to the
Reunion
page
August 9, 2005
Added additional information to the
Reminisce page
July 18, 2005
Added the latest info on the 50th. class reunion
and the July 31, 2005 planning meeting to the
Reunion
page
February 27, 2005
Added Cheri Taylor's 6th. Grade
Class of 1949-1950 and Clifford Jones' 7th. Grade Class of 1950-1951 Photos To the
Photos
page
February 9, 2005
Added the passing of
Leon Williford to the
Where Are They
Now? page
February 3, 2005
Registered the domain
name, classof1956.org, and placed the webpages on a dedicated server.
Added a custom guestbook without any advertising
October 21, 2004
Added the
Reminisce page
October 21, 2004
Completely rewrote
the Class of 1956 website. Added A Tribute To
Howard Vierra
January 4, 2004
Added the passing of Walter Motta to the
Where Are They
Now? page
September 14, 2003
Added the passing of Paul Dominguez to the
Where Are They
Now? page
June 26, 2003
Added the passing of Edwin Rundstrom to the
Where Are They
Now? page
Added the passing of Thelma Rundstrom to the
Where Are They
Now? page
December 6, 2001
Added the Livermore Elementary School Class of 1952 Graduation Exercises program
to the
Photos page
December 1, 2001
Added the Class of 1956 Commencement Exercises program to the
Photos
page
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