San Rafael High School Alumni Association
This page contains and Upcoming Events and Announcements scroll down for complete info
UPCOMING EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
We have openings on our Board of Directors. If you are interested in joining us and showing your support of SRHS, please email us at info@srhsalumni.net
*************************
DECEASED TEACHERS
John (Jack) Charles Curtin, PhD, Beloved Educator
Jack Curtin died peacefully in his sleep in the afternoon of June 30, 2022 at the age of 90.
Jack was born in Fulton, NY. After attending St Joseph’s Military Academy in NY. He moved to CA with his mother, Mattie, at the age of 14. He graduated from Sacred Heart Cathedral College, now Sacred Heart College Prep, in San Francisco.
In 1952 while attending San Francisco State College he met his first wife, Carole. They married in 1953 and had two daughters in 1954.
He earned a BA from San Francisco State College, with a major in Social Science and a minor in speech in 1955. He received a general secondary credential in 1956. And in the fall of 1957 he was hired to teach at San Rafael High School. While at SRHS Jack also taught Freshman Sociology classes at night at College of Marin. He left San Rafael High in 1967 to accept a teaching position at San Francisco State College in the Social Science Interdisciplinary Studies Department. He taught at State until 2002 when he retired from California State University, San Francisco Campus as Professor Emeritus.
Jack was inducted into the SRHS Hall of Honor in May 2018.
In 1967 the Ford Foundation hired him away from College of Marin to teach at San Quentin State Prison. He taught college level Sociology to the inmates. It was there he got a feel for the criminal justice system with all its imperfections and discriminations. In 1982 he founded the Criminal Justice Program in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences at San Francisco State University. He was the director of that program until retirement.
While teaching full time at State he attended UC Berkeley, the real hotbed of political upheaval, where he received his PhD in 1970. He fondly remembers his professor reaching across the desk, shaking his hand and saying “Congratulations, Dr.”
In the late 1990’s he authored 3 books on Criminal Justice.
Jack was a passionate teacher. He wasn’t so much interested in “getting through the curriculum” as he was teaching the students to read and write, and mostly, to learn to “think” for themselves. To work through a subject to fully understand it, and then feel confident enough with the subject to be able to discuss it. He was not a “rote” teacher. He felt his “job” was to teach the students how to think so they would become productive articulate adults.
The name Curtin derives from old Celtic names all meaning “teacher”, “educator”. Jack felt the “calling” of education. For him is was something genetic and visceral. Most of his students remember him as a great teacher. They had the good fortune of having him when he was at his best, in front of a classroom. Some were lucky enough to be considered “family” and they treasure those memories to this day.
Jack leaves behind his wife of 21 years C.L. Matthews, 2 daughters, Michele Boyd and Karen Curtin Spicer (Stephen), 2 granddaughters, Stephanie Frey (Adam) and Melissa Fruechtel (Joe) and 3 great grandchildren.
MARIE A. BRADLEY (March 28, 1926 - August 7, 2020)
Marie passed away peacefully at her home in Rohnert Park, California in the care of her loving family. She worked at San Rafael High School as a secretary to the Assistand Principal and Athletic Director from 1960 until her retirement in 1986. In 2018, she was inducted into the San Rafael High School Hall of Honor. The caption on the plaque honoring her reads "Friend to all."
*********************
2020 MARIN ATHLETIC FOUNDATION HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
TIM HARR - SRHS Class of 1965
MARK VALLEE - SRHS Class of 1984
2019 MARIN ATHLETIC FOUNDATION HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
GAIL SCHMIDT - SRHS Class of 1979
CHRIS UNTERMANN - SRHS Class of 1993
RON WHEATLEY - Coaching
*************************
| AWARDS |
Donald Saunders Adam, Class of 1965 Receives Award
2018 - the Trust for the National Mall, Washington DC recognized National Mall volunteer Donald Adam for over 20,000 hours of service. The memory of his cousin, Michael G. Tandy, who fought and lost his life during the Vietnam War, inspired Don to become a National Park Service volunteer in 2002. Rain, shine or snow, Don has helped veterans, student groups and visitors understand the importance and meaning behind the Wall at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. For him, it is personal. And we think it is for you, too. (March, 2018)
*****************************************************
|
All SR Wrestlers Place at MCAL Championships
|
|
2018 - All eight of our Bulldog wrestlers placed at the MCAL Wrestling Championships! Congrats to
all on a great season! (February, 2018)
|
|
**************************************
|
|
HeadsUp Carnival 2017 Collects Record-High $87,000 for SRCS! |
||
|
425 Volunteers Participated in Event's Success
Hats off to the HeadsUp team and all those who contributed to making this year's Carnival fundraiser (formerly Summerfest) a huge success! It was a record-breaking
year with over $87,000 raised for HeadsUp, which supports a variety of programs that benefit our San Rafael City Schools students. In addition to HeadsUp's core team, there were 425 volunteers -
parents, staff, and students from every school - working together tomake the day a success. Thanks to the hard-working HeadsUp Carnival committee and to everyone who supported this wonderful
community event!
****************************************************
|
2017 MARIN ATHLETIC FOUNDATION HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES Marin Independent Journal November 4, 2017 By By Dave Del Grande, IJ correspondent
NANCY PLACAK MADDEN, CLASS of 1979
Ask Nancy Placak Madden to identify the greatest thing in her life, and her twin sister Linda comes immediately to mind.
Not far behind is the medley relay.
The Placak sisters were so dominant in swimming in the late 1970s, their names still appear multiple times in the San Rafael High record book.
It’s when they appear side-by-side that makes Nancy proudest.
And when they teamed in a relay — especially the medley relay, where their strengths could coexist — the Bulldogs were doubly unbeatable.
“Relays have always been my favorite,” said Nancy, who teamed with Linda at age 14 to set a national medley-relay record. “There’s something about the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. The joy of sharing in the relays is always more gratifying, especially when your sister is on the team.”
Nancy set MCAL records in the 100 butterfly and 200 IM, and a school record in the 500 free, before heading — with her sister — to UCLA, where Nancy was an All-American in the 50 fly and 200 medley relay.
“My fondest memory (of swimming),” Nancy pondered. “I have the best twin in the world. Competing with Linda and doing the relay thing with her, nothing is better.”
LINDA PLACAK ROLAND, CLASS OF 1979
Linda Placak Roland doesn’t work these days so she can live the dream.
The dream of driving her three boys, year after year, from one sporting event to another.
“I remember my mom and dad always being there,” recalled Roland, who teamed with her twin sister Nancy to set numerous swim records at San Rafael High from 1975-78. “I love it. I can be there for my kids.”
The difference between Roland and her parents is that not everything in her 21st-century family sports experience revolves around a pool.
In fact, her oldest son, Michael (24), didn’t like the water at all. He played varsity basketball at San Rafael.
So it’s been a bit of a roller coaster ride keeping up with middle son Ryan (21), a former water polo MVP and baseball player, in his two current favorite sports — skiing and indoor soccer — and youngest Danny (17), who has graduated from being a youth All-Star catcher to now being a national-level water polo goalie at Drake.
“When I see them doing well, it brings joy to my eyes,” Roland said. “I’m so happy because of all the time and energy it takes to do the things that they do. And because I can be there, reaping the rewards.”
Then known as Linda Placak, the 1979 San Rafael graduate set an MCAL record in the 100 free, tied the league record in the 50 free and established a new school record in the 100 back for the Bulldogs, who captured the 1978 North Coast Section championship.
She also teamed with sister Nancy to set two MCAL relay records.
“This is an honor,” Roland said of the Hall of Fame induction. “For them to choose my sister and I, and my brother (Bob) like 10 years ago...It’s a really good feeling. There are so many people from Marin that they can choose from.”
************************************
National Merit Scholars
|
|
Three exceptional Bulldogs were
recently honored in the prestigious 2016 National Merit Scholarship Program. Less than 1% of US high school seniors are awarded Semifinalist status, based upon the student's performance
on the PSAT. Congratulations to Semifinalist
Justin Neal for achieving this remarkable distinction! Additionally, the top 5% of
students taking the PSAT are also recognized for their outstanding academic promise as Commended students. Congratulations to Max Mullins and Jasper Powell for their impressive achievements!
(October, 2016)
|
ARNOLD "ARNIE" RIESEN (February 1, 2014)
*******************************
Contact Us Today!
San Rafael High School Alumni Association
150 Third Street
San Rafael, 94901
E-mail: info@srhsalumni.net
Like us on Facebook
Share
Print 