It Really is a Small World

by Ed Welch ('77)

The other day, my daughter Ashley, a student at the University of Florida, called me with a question from way out in right field: “Dad, do you know a guy named Bruce Young?” What a strange question coming from her in Gainesville, Florida. Of course I remembered Bruce. I told her I just saw his sister, Heidi, in San Diego at the 75-80 Reunion. Ashley went on to say that Bruce was in her office (she works part time in a property leasing office near the campus). He and his wife were filling out the paperwork to rent since they had just moved there from the PI. Ashley perked up and told them that her parents lived in the PI and went to high school there. Bruce replied that he did as well. Ashley told him that her parents went to Wagner. “I did too,” Bruce said. The comparisons kept going until a timeframe was whittled down…and the connection was made. I couldn’t help but think that the chances of that meeting were slim to none. It’s hard to imagine a Wagner connection made across thousands of miles and a generation.

I’m sure a lot of us have had a chance meeting or circumstance over the years. When I first came back to the states after high school, I took it as a normal thing. After all, I was living with my two best friends from Wagner, Frank Fontenot and Dave Wellman. My girlfriend, Lori Neese, lived across the street. Also at that time, there were several people from the PI in the Sacramento area. From what I remember, Tom Goodall, Diana Barbieri, Linda Barbieri, Lisa Roach, Kathy Vick and her sisters and Marc Dermenjian were all close by. Other Wagner people came through town that year: Mike Dobbs, Alan Neese, Joe Caldwell, Bob Dermenjian, and Rick DeLeon. Hell, I even remember that soon after arriving in the states, the Jimersons were on TV on The Family Feud. Even when we would visit my parents in Maryland, our old friends, Mark and Liz Anderson were there. It was all just another day.

After Sacramento, there were other happenstance meetings with other old friends. While stationed at MacDill AFB in Tampa around 1979/80, I ran into Bob Tagupa at a softball tournament. In the mid 80’s, while stationed at Ramstein AB, Germany, I met up with Mike Wilson at the base gym. He didn’t go to Wagner, but I lifted weights with him at Clark. He was a young GI dating Doreen Trevino. In the mid-to- late 80’s, while stationed at Blytheville AFB, Arkansas, I discovered that Dennis Burgess just lived down the street from us.

The “small world” connections petered out until the 2001 Denver Reunion when I found out that we lived within 2 miles of Mary Billett and Mike O’Brien for several years and none of us knew it. Mary has since moved out of the state, but we get together with Mike and his wife Cathy when we can. The 2006 San Diego Reunion made us aware of another nearby Wagner friend, Donna (Lamoreaux) DiGiacomo and her husband, Steve. It’s nice having people with some of the same life experiences close by after all these years!

Joe Avalos has told me about several connections he has made over the years working for Southwest Bell. I know there must be a ton of chance meetings you all have had. So, let’s hear them! What are some of your “Small World” moments?

Picture 1 - Seniors '75 - I can't identify everyone but here goes: 2nd row on right-Gary McClellan, Bottom Row: John Olsen, Bruce Young, Rob Barnhill. Picture 2 - Football Studs Dave Wellman & Ed Welch. Picture 3 - Alan Neese, Lisa Roach, Lynn Eby, John Ibanez, Liz Smith & Lori Neese. Picture 4 - Frank Fontenot & Diane Barbieri. Picture 5 - Linson Thompson, Frank Fontenot, Joe Avalos & Mark Anderson.

Comments

[Lisa Ramos Wilcox]

That's funny that you wrote this, Ed, because I was just talking to Bruce the other night & he told me about meeting your daughter! Pretty wild, for sure!

[Myrna Nickelsen]

My favorite WHS alumnus story:

A few weeks after I bought my 1992 Honda Accord and finally had "broken it in," I'm headed home from work, when I see the lights flashing. (Yep, I had a serious lead foot.) I pulled over, all the while muttering four letter words as it was about to become my third speeding ticket in less than 2 years which would have meant a doubling of my insurance rates. After I handed the California Highway Patrol guy my driver's license, he looks at me, and asks, "Were you at Wagner in the Philippines?"

"Yes."

"So you're the same Myrna Nickelsen! I thought you looked familiar!"

"I'm sorry...I don't remember you."

"Oh, you didn't know me. But I knew who you were...how long have you been living here?"

So I tell him. We continue to chat for another 2 minutes. I apologized for not remembering him, and he said, "It's okay. I was quiet. I remember you because you were all over the place. I said hi to you a couple of times, and you always smiled and said hi back..."

He tells me a little more about how he never did anything at Clark, how he was too shy, etc.

Ten minutes later, he said, "Slow down...you're driving way too fast. (I was doing 80 in a 55 zone.) If you don't want to get a ticket, never go more than 5-10 miles over the speed limit..."

He didn't give me a ticket. Though I don't remember the guy's name to this day because it didn't register (I was absolutely freaked out about the prospect of my insurance rate doubling with yet another traffic violation), I do remember what he said before he said goodbye to me: "Drive safely, and thanks for acknowledging I existed when we were in high school -- even if you didn't know who I was."

I've since told that story to my nieces and nephews. Be nice -- you never know where these people will end up, and they never forget who was nasty and who was nice.

[Gabe Montes]

We do have quite a few Wagnerites that have worked for the phone company or still do. Throughout my career with what's now known as AT&T, I've met up with Edcelyn and Edwina Nuqui, Yolanda Fisherman Santana, Victoria Readnour, David Hamilton, my brother's Joey and Brian, and of course, Joe Avalos. Any others out there?