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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