Before I moved to Tempe I met Sam Fees. My mom and his dad dated briefly. Sam's dad, Mr. Fees ( Sam Sr.)was the first Tempe High parent I met. Sam Sr. was strict, but he was also a man that always treated me like family. This was my start at meeting and getting to know some of the following parents,
After I moved to Tempe it wasn't long before Sam introduced me to Mons. Mons being the great guy he is asked me to come over. Mons' parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ellingson were some of the nicest people I have ever met. I honestly be lieve they could of taught the Cleaver's how to be the perfect family. I never once heard Mrs. Ellingson ask Mons how this boy Greg could always show up for lunch on Saturday and eat all of her homemade bread. I'm not sure who's parents I met next, but I'll try to string it together. There were Greg Campbell's parent Rudy and Greta. If you ever wonder where Greg gets his great ability to keep you entertained it's from his dad. I always thought Greg's parents were the perfect match. They also treated me like family, it's a reoccurring theme. Doug Yount's parents Jim and Glady's were always great hosts for when Doug would bring over his friends. Doc Yount would listen to what you were up to like it was the most important thing in his life at that moment. Brent's dad would take Brent and me hunting for the next 15 years after high school. Brent and I would jump out the jeep as soon as we saw birds, blast away and be done before Mr. Mullin ever got the jeep stopped. One of the most cherished pictures I have is with Mr. Mullin and I at some ruins to the east of Florence.
When I think back at some of the ladies I liked I can't think of their parents too much. I probably had other things on my mind. I know I met Denise's parents more than once. I also met Vicki V. parents when I took her to the Junior Prom, it seemed they liked me ok.
I have been to some of our parent's funerals. The sense of loss is immense. I was at Billy's mom's funeral. I had been able to stay current with her by spending time at Billy's under the mesquite tree drinking wine on Friday nights. I thought she had marvelous stories about Arizona. I went to Bob Curry's funeral who was Paulette's step dad. She gave a moving and enlightened perspective of Bob. Unfortunately for me it made me think of Paulette differently....no more the cute blond with the hot bod, oh well..
Phyllis told me about her mothers death, I liked her mom. There was also Charlie Nelson's dad and uncle, Leon and Bud. If you never got to meet them you missed out on two of the greatest philosophers of our time, great men.
Although I'm leaving out people like Kelly's parents and Marco's I will finish with Ned's parents. Bob and Merri Schall were/are really grat people. Merri with my mother were the drivers who got me through college. I can never thank either one enough. When my son Paul was little we would go and see the Schall's at their place in Pine. Bob came up with the name of Scoop for my son, I've always wondered why I hadn't come up with that name as it fit him perfectly.
Our parents generation has been called 'The Greatest Generation'. I think it has to do more with WWII, but for us, we know it has to do with who they are and were.
My mom fondly remembers you being so polite to her at the grocery store. Thanks for that. I've told my parents, that until you have children of your own you dont realize the sacrifices they made for us. Until I started driving Mom or Dad would come and pick me up after BB practice every nite. I'd walk across the street from the school and call, they would drop what they were doing and drive into town and then were glad to see me. They are a special generation
Thanks, Greg, for this wonderful reminder! While I may not have known this particular set of parents, there were of course others, and thinking about them may be the most poignant image of all.
In addition to my own, the parents that I will never forget nor will anyone have more positive influence on me, were John Ditsworth's parents. The Dits's and the Z's lived across the street from each other on Loma Vista Dr., and Dick and Jean were my second parents, without a doubt. They were such great examples of how a person could be. They possessed so much wisdom, patience, respect and honor; wonder if they knew how much we appreciated them. Their kid could have become a judge or something.
What a wonderful gift are the parents of your friends and classmates, just by being who they are.
Greg, this is a wonderful topic. I meant to respond to it when I first saw the posting, but... so,
I will start from my earliest memories:
Peter Shelton's parents, Mary and David. They welcomed me into their home as if I were their daughter. Anytime I wanted a some 'happy time' I would just cross the street and go through the carport door into their wonderful home. Mary always greeted me with her delightful singsong voice and David would give a low chuckling hello. I loved sitting in their den and watching TV or on the back porch drinking lemonade. The summer after high school graduation I was treated to a week's vacation at Mrs. Shelton's parents' home in Troy, Ohio. Peter was there with his mom and dad. Mary taught me how to make homemade apple sauce and we all sat on the front porch staring up at the moon while the astronauts were landing and taking the 'first step for mankind.'
Whenever anything happened in my life, good, bad or ugly, I would run to the Sheltons and tell them all about it. I loved it when Dave would come to our house and enter, without knocking, with his jolly, 'Hello' My family and the Sheltons shared many holiday dinners and celebrations.
Steve Jones' parents, Cliff and Carolyn, were ever present in my childhood. Carolyn in a very quiet pleasant manner, Cliff always in association with a baseball or football. He challenged me to my limits as I tried to keep up with Steve and Cliff, Jr while playing tag football or fielding Cliff seniors batted or throwm baseballs to improve our fielding. Alas, who could possibly keep up with Jonesy in the sports world. I remember a day when Steve and I were playing catch with a beachball in his bedroom, when the ball hit the glass cover on the ceiling light. It shattered and a piece of glass lanced into the bridge of Steve's nose. Carolyn came running and calmly removed the glass, stopped the bleeding, prevented us from cutting our bare feet, shooed me back home, and took Steve to the Doctor. She was amazing. I do not remember if Steve caught grief from his dad.
Nick Bozovich's parents were near and dear to me. They, too, welsomed me into their home and allowed me to participate in the joy of there newly adopted newborn girl. I was baby crazy and relentlessly knocked on the door with, 'Is she awake.' Mrs. Bozovich was responsible for me catching onto and doing very well in algebra and geometry. She tutored me on a weekly basis and I will be forever grateful for her expert and patient teaching. She presented math in a fashion that I could grasp and build my confidence in learning.
Then, of course, Denise Petty and her family came onto the scene. Sylvia and George were so wonderful to me. They took me everywhere with them, just as if I were their daughter, too. It was in the Petty home that I discovered that families, adults included, played games together. Sylvia trught me how to play canasta and another similiar card game that starts with a 'Z'. I spent endless ours playing the game of life or monopoly while eating pickles or sandwich spread sandwiches. I usually tried to hang out long enough to get invited for dinner. I will never forget Sylvia's 'pasties.' Not what you think. These were little meat and onion filled pie crusts folded in half, made individually for each person. Yummy!
Then, Vicki Smith arrived on the scene, with her parents Maxine and Bill. They, too, tolerated me hanging out at their home and feeding me as if one of their kids.
Genie Davis' parents were always kind and welcoming. I spent many hours with Genie at her home playing all the little girlie fun with our dolls and stuffed animals. When Genie and I roomed together in the ASU dorms, Mrs. Davis would often welcome me home with Genie for a much desired homecooked meal. Mrs. Davis was an amazing seamstress and having made Genie's incredibly beautiful wedding gown, I remember her sewing her into the gown, just before Genie was to walk down the aisle. I repeated that very thing with my daughter's prom dress. I thought sewing her into it would prevent and hanky panky or at least there would be evidence if it did occur. I can't remember if it did.
I am forever grateful for all the wonderful parents of my friends who were so kind and generous to me. I truely grew up in a neighborhood in which all the parents parented all the children. It was our 'village.'
That was truly beautiful Greg. I treasured having Bob Curry as a step dad. Annette Hoover's parents were very good to me as well. Too many people take that piece for granted .. having loving parents who welcome your friends into their home. Not all of us came from such an environment. What a gift!
