[ City: Omaha | State: NE | Birthdate: 7/10/47 ]

Merry Christmas from Hand Family 2016                             [December 15, 2016]

*****

I left Lennox High with high expectations. I enrolled at El Camino in September of 1965. During my two years at El Camino, I completed my general education while taking an interest in Data Processing (now IT). I made the Camino baseball team as a pitcher along with six others for the 1967 season. (120 tried out for pitcher). Several of El Segundo High baseball players made the team. I was set to be the #3 starter and relief. Unfortunately, I injured my left foot and only pitched 16 innings. I was 1-1, 1.61 era and ko'd 32. About that time I met a beautiful redhead from Westchester High named Juanita. I met her the night after injuring my foot. I went to work for Rockwell in data processing. We dated for one year and were married in 1968. Within six months, I enlisted in the U. S. Navy. I served as a courier in San Diego and on Guam. In early 1973, I was set to attend Pepperdine University. Our family returned from Guam, and although I had a full-ride to attend the Malibu campus and pitch baseball. I realized that with my young wife and two young children, I needed to return to Rockwell. Family came first. I did continue to pitch baseball in NASA, Semi-pro and Adult leagues until I was 38. I did take advantage of the G.I. bill and received a BS in Business from Pepperdine in August of 1975. By then we had two children with one in the hangar. Our children, Leila, Kevin and Eva are all married and each have two children. We moved to Lancaster in 1974, about 18 months after separation from the Navy. We moved with Rockwell several times within California, to Texas and back. I worked on the Space Shuttle as a software engineer in Palmdale, Houston, and Downey. I then managed data centers for Rockwell and later Boeing where I retired in 2002. We have been blessed with great children, a faith that has held us close and six grand kids that we have helped or are currently helping raise in Omaha, NE. This was our 32nd move. Eddie Gould and I wrote a documentary about the community of Lennox, a labor of love. It is on the Lennox Lancers Home Page web site. Thanks to those who contributed to the documentary. I am working on a children's book hopefully to be published later in 2016. Juanita and I celebrated our 48th anniversary 2/24/2016. Blessings to all. A big thank you to the Lennox Lancers Home web site team.     [6/25/16]

*****

I will turn 68 in 3 days. My wife of 47 years and 5 months, Juanita (a Westchester High grad of '65) follows me by one day. Have been retired 13 years from Boeing as of August 1, 2015. Yes, I did 4 and one-half years in the Navy as a courier. Our three adult children, 46, 42 and 39 all have two children each. 12 yr boy and 11 yr boy, 17 mo girl and 2 mo girl and 16 yr girl and 10 yr boy. They are scattered across the US, but thank God for Skype. Thanks to Eddy Gould, class of '65, the reason we got the Lennox Documentary completed. Not bragging. Can't! Several Lancers from years past contributed to make it better. Thanks to the Lennox Home Page administrators for their loyal work to keep us informed and for placing the documentary on the web site. Hope to be at the class of '65 50th reunion. Oh, the memories.        [7/7/15]     [7/7/15]

*****

Finally decided to really retire after retiring from Boeing over four years ago. My wife and best friend of 39 years, Juanita (Westchester, class of '65), tag teams with me to help train our two 2 year-old grandsons and our four year-old grandson to play T-Ball.  It appears that all three of the boys will be right-handed pitchers.  We have two right-handed hitters and one lefty.  We spend a lot of time in the large backyard running the bases and keeping the game under control. Our eight year-old granddaughter is in her first year of softball.  She is training to be a pitcher just like her mother, our youngest daughter.  Our eldest granddaughter continues to keep a 4.7 gpa and play serious club and high school volleyball. Her team won the San Diego Section Division 1 Volleyball championship in 2006.  What a year it was.  Our eldest daughter continues to be a stay-at-home mom to raise her two boys while daddy works as a software product manager in the wireless world.  Our son loves his job as manager of financial operations for a medium size "IT" outsourcing company.   His wife keeps up with their auto dealership where they sell pre-owned high-end cars. Anyone for a BMW?  Our youngest daughter just completed her studies to obtain a certificate to be a licensed vocational nurse, while her husband also works in the medical field as a respiratory therapist.  Our entire family live within ten minutes of us, so things are jumping at our house most of the time. San Diego's coast is about as beautiful as it gets along with the San Diego backroads. Short road trips and exploring makes for a lot of fun, while meeting new people. Renewing friendships with some of my fellow Lancers has been a real joy.  No one ever told me how great retirement could be.  OK grandkids, who stole second base?  [2/17/07]

*****

Retired for one year and loving it. My wife of 35 plus years loves North San Diego County as do I. We hang out with our three children and each of their children. My son Kevin and daughter Eva (Hawthorne classes of '91 and'93) say thank you to Mr. Karella and Mr. Armstrong for their support during their last few years in high school. Life is good. Time to go out and play ball with the grandkids. [3/19/03]