July 8, 1952 - April 16, 1970
Dearly Departed Members of the Piner High School Class of 1970
Index
- - Welcome
- ~ Faculty and Staff
- ~~ Al Biella
- ~~ Al Eubank
- ~~ Bert Scuri
- ~~ Betty Buss
- ~~ Bill Rogers
- ~~ Bill Tauzer
- ~~ Bob Wilson
- ~~ Bob Wycoff
- ~~ Charles S. Juricich
- ~~ Don Holden
- ~~ Ed Anderson
- ~~ Edna Frank
- ~~ Eugene Jarman
- ~~ Eva Toland
- ~~ Gene McKamey
- ~~ George Richmond
- ~~ Hector Buroker
- ~~ Helen Sabsay
- ~~ Joanne K. Jump
- ~~ John "Jack" Dolan
- ~~ Kathy Trenchard
- ~~ Margaret (Colgan)
- ~~ Marie A. F. Spedick
- ~~ Michael L. Gaddie
- ~~ Monty Lane
- ~~ Richard W. Latimer
- ~~ Robert A. Dodds
- ~~ Robert Jackson
- ~~ Ron Washburn
- ~~ Ronald Raymond Caselli
- ~~ Roz Peabody
- ~~ Steve Casperson
- ~~ Thomas A. Curtis
- ~~ William E. "Bill" Albright
- Alan Reed
- Alfonso Rogers
- Bonita (Heyer) Pryor
- Brooks A. Pangburn
- Bruce E. Cameron
- Carol (Coffey) Ross
- Cynthia K. Burwell
- Daniel Barrett
- Daniel E. Larsen
- Daniel W. Reifers
- Dennis R. Cleek
- Douglas R. Newman
- Elizabeth "Liz" (Jolivette) Levron
- Eugene Lee
- Gary D. Church
- Gary Hershberger
- Gary L. DeMaria
- Gary L. O’Dell
- George Ascentio
- Gregory L. Reece
- James A. Coleman
- James Beglinger
- Jerilee Corriveau
- Jerry W. Blanton
- John A. Michaelson
- John S. Fehrman
- Kay (Duddie) Dolen
- Keith R. Peterson
- Larry J. Heald
- Lawrence M. Cann
- Linda Laganiere
- Lois Gaylene (Givler) Jarmon
- Lori (Zimmer) Mitchell
- Marilee Sullivan
- Mark C. Hines
- Mark E. Blackwood
- Michael B. Avery
- Mike A. White
- Mike Watson
- Robin G. (Olsen) Ryan
- Scott E. Black
- Stanley E. Brooks
- Steve V. Jack
- Susan M. (Wright) Kielpinski
- Susan M. Poe
- Terrie L. Palmieri
- Thomas G. Nix
- Tony R. Watson
- Virgilio M. Alcones
- Wes Niell
3 comments:
I first met Bruce (and Daryl, Wes, Celia, Rick, Betty, Connie, Jerry, Mike, and Pat ) when I moved in 3rd grade to Mark West Elementary School from Rincon Valley. I remember that his hair was really blonde and he looked pretty cute in his Cub Scout uniform, and played a mean game of tetherball. We "went steady" in 6th grade, and wrote notes back and forth -- our delivery system was our individual file folders for the independent study work we did in Mr. Knauff's 4-6th grade class. (It was an experimental "accelerated" class; there were 18 of us the first year.) He gave me his coveted baseball pendant on a chain, (he earned in Little League) but asked me to keep it a secret. He was probably embarrassed -- yeah, I could run as fast as most boys and played baseball just as well, but I was uglier than a mud fence back then. Who knows? Could have been because I had boobs back then.... My mom said it was because I was nice, and didn't go along with the crowd.
I remember there was a new boy named Ricky who wanted to hold hands during 6th grade promotion procession, but Bruce objected and Ricky "called him out"; they fought out on the playground behind the classrooms for a couple of minutes, I think. Ladies: there is no other feeling than that of two guys vying for your attention! Of course, I didn't realize what the hub-bub was about -- I thought it was stoopid, and that they might hurt each other. Then I realized it was about...ME. Ricky walked in with me, but Bruce sat next to me for the ceremony. Ah, to be that 11-yr-old again...{sigh} We wrote back and forth through the summer -- he from Boy Scout camp at Navarro, I from 4-H camp at Angwin; I never had a limit on the amount of time I could talk on the phone, but I do remember being "cautioned" by Mother that those occasional summertime calls were getting "a little too long." He talked about riding his bike out to the Mark West sticks where I lived, but the roads back then were a little dangerous for a 12-year-old, much less an adult cyclist.
Summer ended, and so did our "relationship." He asked me to return his pendant, and that was the end of...everything. We didn't have classes together in jr high or high school, as I recall, and he never really spoke to me after that. I still don't know if I hurt his feelings, or I simply wasn't in the cool crowd, or what. I do remember being devastated by his death. Just one month before, I had become a Christian and I remember sitting at the hospital with Gwynne and Marion Anderson, praying my heart out for his survival. It was my first "lesson" that God is God and I am not. There are nature's consequences for certain occurrences in this world -- like viruses that attack young people (and 50-yr-olds, like me). Death, like illness, is no respecter of persons. Perhaps one day I'll understand.
I know that there were girls in Bruce's life who were much closer to him than I, but he will always be special to me because he was the first boy (my age) to ask me to go steady. I mean, first-grade kisses in the coat closet are one thing, but a Little League pendant? That's commitment.
Ah, fond childhood memories...
I to went to grade school with Bruce at Mark West as well as Martha, Sue, Daryl, Wes, Rick Smithers, Alan Reed, and many more. Now Sue, you just cleared up one of the mystery of that time. I recall Bruce getting into a scuffle with some guy, he was panicked about the confrontation cause Rickey was kind of a big kid, we called him a hayseed, he was a farm boy as I recall, anyhow the reason why Bruce who was the nicest kindest guy, who would never be getting into a fight was going to be fighting was never revealed. (until now)...what a story.
As far as Bruce's death, I recall the tragedy like it was yesterday. I had seen Bruce on the Saturday before his death at Gary Pigesley's house, they were up on the balcony, feeling no pain and having a good time. Bruce had a bout with mono and just prior to his death was fighting off some kind of strep virus; I remember him complaining of headaches and his ears itching, I do remember him missing some classes. As I recall his death was the result of encephalitis, I believe a medical term for swelling of the brain. But why it occurred was a mystery. That’s my recollection, Daryl was closer to the family so he may be right, but I don't recal meningitis being mentioned, or maybe it’s the same thing? Anyhow Bruce was a great guy, who left us much too soon. We partied a lot together, played sports, he was quite a lady’s man and loved to have fun; always smiling.
I will always remember Bruce Cameron as I have for years and years. He and I got to spend a few moments together not long before he passed away and I was privileged to see a side of a young man who I must say was the first man I truly thought I could have a real crush on. I did have a crush on Bruce.
We talked and talked and just sat quite together. He was the most comfortable person I had meant at that time in my life. I looked very much forward to more of those times with him in the future.
One day as I was walking into study hall in the Library, I spotted Bruce. He came over to me and we exchanged hellos. He said, “Terrie, I want to talk to you, okay”. I said, “sure, Bruce”, as I began to melt from his voice. He told me he had just asked Coach Gaddie if he could go home because he had a very bad headache. I said I was sorry to hear that and he said goodbye. That was April 15, l970.
Bruce will always be in my memories as the sweetest, kindest gentleman I had encountered in my High School memories. I suppose I can say this now and get away with it... He was the best kisser too. Wow. I met Bruce's father not long ago at the cemetery where I worked and I told him this very story. He seemed to light up when I told him that part about kissing.
I will remember him always and hope someday to see him again if there is such a place...
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