Jo Ann's Friends: 2017

Tuesday, December 26, 2017

Alice - A Former Boss and Friend

As I have been writing about some of my friends in this JO ANN's Friends blog, I realized that some of the friends that I now consider lifelong friends were once my bosses, so now, I"m going to write some blog posts that are dedicated to those wonderful people who hold a very special place in my heart. We met because of work, but as the years passed, when we no longer worked together, we connected again and realized that we were friends. I think that is SO COOL!

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The first boss I'm going to write about is Alice who was my boss when I worked at the University Student Union at California State University at Long Beach from 1980 to 1982.

JO ANN and Alice - Reunited in 2013 at an ice skating rink .....Alice didn't know until that reunion day that I was a skater!

When I did graduate work at California State University Long Beach in 1980, I realized that I had the time to take on a part-time job, so when I saw an advertisement at the University Student Union for a job at the Information Desk, I applied. I have a memory of filling out a simple application and having a short interview with Alice, who managed many of the University Student Union offices including the Information Desk and the Candy Counter. Her title was "Services Supervisor."

It was a fun interview and it seemed like Alice wanted to hire me the moment she met me. I had worked as a cashier at Fotomat before beginning graduate studies at Long Beach State and had the experience of working alone that Alice was looking for. I began my work the next day and discovered very quickly that I loved the job! I gave information about the campus to students, but also sold newspapers and took film orders. I worked right next to the disabled student services office, and got to know many of the students with special needs. I got to know a blind student and also a graduate student who was paralyzed from the neck down after a tragic accident.

Newspapers sold for 25 cents, and I never handed a newspaper to a student customer until I had that 25 cents in my hands. One day, a student grabbed my hand and pulled it back and forth and said he would not give me the money unless I gave him the newspaper first. He began pulling my hand back and forth and then he noticed my wedding ring and exclaimed, "You're married!" He then quickly gave me the quarter and took his newspaper and disappeared.

What was wonderful about my student job was that every semester, the hours I worked were scheduled around my class schedule and when the Information Desk was quiet, I was allowed to study. Once in awhile, I got entire class projects done while I was at work.

Every semester I looked forward to working for Alice and one summer, I asked Alice about working a summer job, and worked at the Candy Counter five days a week from 10 am to 4 pm. Alice taught me how to make popcorn in the huge commercial popcorn maker at the Candy Counter. I still remember her realizing I was too short to reach the popcorn machine, but she found me a step stool so I could do my job of making popcorn and also cleaning the popcorn machine at the end of the day.

That summer was a hot one and one day when one student asked for a scoop of trail mix, the scariest thing happened! Bugs flew out of the trail mix! Alice told me later that all the trail mixes had to be thrown away. Apparently the heat caused the trail mixes to go bad. Every time I see trail mixes, I think about those bugs flying towards me! I remember students also wanting tiny bits of Jelly Belly candies and having to measure and weigh small amounts of that candy. As soon as the summer ended, I was very glad to be back working at the Information Desk.

Once a student tried to short change me when I worked at the Information Desk. Alice was so patient and didn't blame me for losing the $10 that the student did steal.

(Another time, when I was working an early evening shift, a male student approached me and handed me a love poem! He had seen me eating dinner on my break in the student union's cafeteria and told me he knew I was married, but wanted me to have the poem he wrote anyway. I told my husband about the incident and never did see that student again, but was so very flattered.)

Alice was one of the most patient bosses ever. All her employees were CSULB students, so she dealt with many young people and chose employees she could trust and rely on. I worked for Alice and the Student Union for about two and a half years, from 1980 to the end of 1982.

I remember she invited those who worked under her to her home for a holiday gathering. We got to know her husband Brent and became excited when we learned she was expecting a baby.

I remember a story of how the game machines were stolen right from the employees at the Student Union. One evening, when Alice had left for the day, some men drove up in a van and looked official and said they had come to take the game machines for repairs and the Student Union evening employees even helped the crooks load the machines into the getaway van! I remember that was one of the more upsetting ordeals that happened to Alice. (I'm not sure the game machines were ever recovered.)

After I completed my California Teaching Credential at CSULB, I could no longer work on campus since my part-time job was just for students, but I kept in touch with Alice. She was so diligent about sending holiday cards and every year I looked forward to reading about her life and her family. I saw her two children, Jennifer and Curtis, grow up through those cards. Now, Alice is a grandmother! She also has been very successful in real estate.

One memory of the news that came from Alice that really stands out in my mind was when Alice and Brent ended up winning a car on Let's Make a Deal! They notified us somehow to tune into the show so we could see them win the car! Her daughter, Jenny, was able to find the video of her parents winning that car thirty years later. Click on the link below to see Alice and Brent winning that car:

Click Here to Watch a Video of Alice and Brent Winning a Car on Let's Make a Deal

Alice did not know that I was a skater when I worked for her, but ironically, we hooked up after about 30 years at an ice rink! Alice and Brent were in Colorado Springs on vacation and when she wrote on Facebook that she was at Garden of the Gods, I realized she was in town and contacted her. She was visiting friends in Colorado Springs and those friends were going to a high school hockey game at Sertich Ice Center, so we paid admission and watched the game just so I could see Alice!

The Schneider-Farris Family Smiles With Alice at Sertich Ice Center in 2013

In December of 2015, Alice and Brent took their grandchildren to Disney On Ice Frozen in Long Beach and they got to meet my son Joel after the show. Who would have thought when I met and worked with Alice around 37 years ago, that she would link up with my son Joel who is in Frozen's cast at the Long Beach Sports Arena? Alice was so thankful too and Joel was really delighted to meet her family. How wonderful!

Alice smiles with her husband Brent and their grandchildren with my son Joel at Disney On Ice in December of 2015

Alice and Brent now have a growing family and have a very active life. I am so glad that Facebook keeps us in touch and up to date on what we are all doing and I hope to see Alice again face to face when I"m in southern California. Thank you Alice!

Brent and Alice and Family

Further Reading:

Monday, December 25, 2017

June and JO ANN - Celebrating Forty Years of Friendship 1977 to 2017

When I met my friend June in the fall of 1977 in an art class at Colorado College, little did I know that at the end of 2017, we would still be connected. What is special about our connection is that we can pick up where we left off every time we do see one another face to face. In addition, June has touched the lives of some of my immediate family members and some of my other friends.

June knows a lot about me, and sometimes does not agree with everything I do or how I think, but no matter what, I know she is my friend.

Below is a summary of what truly is a lifelong friendship:

My senior year at Colorado College was a unique one. You see, most Colorado College students lived on campus for their Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior years and then moved off-campus for their Senior year, but I did the opposite. Because I was a competitive skater, I had lived off-campus for my first three years of college, but since I stopped competing in the middle of my Junior year, I really wanted to experience life in a dorm as a Senior. Living on campus was an amazing adventure for me and during the one year I had left in college, I decided to make the most of it and I just loved making new friends.

I met June in a senior studio art class in Packard Hall at Colorado College. The school's bright blue art building was like a piece of art in itself and had circular stairs leading up to student art studios on the top floor. The windows from the studios and classrooms gave those who used them a view of the beautiful Colorado mountains and Pikes Peak. During our three-hour class's 15 min break, I recall slipping on the building's stairs. Most of the students were in too much of a hurry to help me when I fell, but June and her friend Sharon stopped to see if I was alright.

June and Sharon's attitude really touched me.and I wanted to get to know them better. Shortly afterward, June and I got together. I learned that she was a young single mother of a four year old son named Slade. I also learned she was from Colorado Springs and had transferred from Pikes Peak Community College to CC. She also had earned a full-scholarship to CC, Colorado College.

I began taking walks off campus to visit her basement apartment that was about two blocks from campus. She'd make me tea and I would play with her cute little son Slade. Her apartment was decorated in a way that showed off her artistic talent and was very comfortable and cozy.

June also visited my college dorm room located in Ticknor Hall, a historic building that was over a hundred years old. Ticknor was for female students only. Little four-year old Slade sometimes would run around the dorm and delighted most of Ticknor's residents. Also, June and Slade joined me for lunch in the Rastall Center cafeteria at least a couple of times.

When I became interested in God during the fall semester of 1977, June invited me to church one day. I am Jewish and had never ever been inside a church, but took up her offer.

The most significant thing I remember about that church visit was that in the church bulletin something called "The Lord's Supper" was going to be served that morning. I was really concerned because I wasn't a bit hungry at 10 am on a Sunday morning and also wondered what in the world "The Lord's Supper" was. When little tiny cups of grape juice and small wafers were passed around, I had no desire to drink the grape juice, so I put it in the holder in the pew in front of me, but I ate the little wafer. June told me I had to drink the grape juice since I ate the wafer. I always think that memory is very amusing!

June is a great cook and loved making homemade pizza for friends. On Saturday night, the campus did not serve dinner, so it was common on Saturday nights for me to arrange a small dinner gathering at June's basement apartment. All who came loved eating June's homemade pizza and June was so proud of her culinary talents. She was very happy we liked her pizza. She gave her special recipe for the pizza out to friends and my friend Marion still has that pizza recipe!

When June and Bill became engaged in 1978 during the spring semester, I was one of the first to find out and I made the mistake of telling others about their engagement before June and Bill had a chance to announce the engagement to their friends. (I remember some of the students at the Taylor Dining Hall did not believe my news of their engagement.)

About a month after I graduated from CC, Colorado College, June and Bill got married. I was very excited to be able to attend their wedding. I still remember the beautiful and tasty cake that I ate at the reception and meeting June's family.

I think a day or so after June and Bill's wedding I boarded a plane for California to begin my post college life. June and I really missed one another, so the two of us exchanged letters on a regular basis. Her letters were long and very detailed and mine were short, but those letters kept us up to date on what each other were doing.

Dan and I spent our honeymoon in Colorado Springs during April of 1979, so we got together with June and Bill. Dan got to know them during that visit.

My parents also met June and Bill on one of our trips to Colorado Springs and my dad offered Bill a job working at his laboratory at the Veterans Adminstration in North Chicago. Bill and June took up my dad's offer and June, Bill, and Slade moved to Illinois.

I began visiting my parents in Illinois about once a year or every two years and during those visits, I would always see June at least a few times. We'd go to the mall or take the train to the Chicago Art Museum. Sometimes we'd go to a huge indoor pool in Zion and I'd swim laps. When June had another child named Hannah, I would spend time with June and her sweet daughter. I remember going to Great America together. During my Illinois visits we'd talk together on the phone for hours every night.

Bill, June, JO ANN - 1981 in Illinois

Another memory I have is going to a church in Illinois with June. I remember the pastor said he "felt that someone present suffered from stomach aches." June looked at me and told me that that person must be me and that I should go forward. I remember feeling kind of out of place, but did obey June's advice. I stood in front with my eyes closed and felt the pastor's oily hands pushing on my forehead and wondered when all the praying would end. It seemed to go on and on. Finally, all the praying ended and I opened my eyes and it seemed like about 20 to 30 people were lying down on the floor around me! I guess I was supposed to fall down so that the service would end, but I didn't know I was supposed to do that! I do remember a lady coming forward who told me she would pray for me.

My Grandma Fannie moved to Illinois and lived with my parents in 1992. My parents hired June to "babysit" my grandma while they were at work. June's long letters kept coming and I welcomed news about my grandma's health and my parents.

As time passed, I had less and less time available to visit Illinois, but June's letters just kept coming. Once in awhile we'd talk on the phone too.

During the fall of 1990, June came out to San Francisco to visit me for two weeks while my husband Dan was in Israel. There are a lot of fun things I remember doing with June on that trip: We went to Fisherman's Wharf, Golden Gate Park, went to the movies, visited our friend Sharon in Santa Rosa, and ate authentic Chinese food in the city.

In 2001, I learned that June's son Slade was in the Twin Towers in New York City on 9-11. Fortunately, Slade was able to get out of the building and was safe. He called June at about 9:30 am on September 11, 2001 and told her he was safe. June is a late sleeper so she was not yet informed on what had happened, but was so glad to hear her son was okay.

When Dan and I moved to Colorado, June and Bill would always see us during their trips to see their families in Colorado Springs. When my husband Dan was severely injured in 2005, June came to our house to see Dan and got to know my children and Dan's brother Mike. Ironically, June's father was in the hospital at the same time Dan was, so I had a chance to visit with June's father at the hospital.

At the end of 2010, my mother became very, very ill and was in hospice care in Lake Forest, Illinois. June came to the hospital when I was visiting my mom a day before Christmas and then June and Bill came to my dad's house on Christmas Day evening to visit. Seeing them meant so much to me and my dad during such a hard time in our family's life. During that trip, I helped June set up a Facebook page.

When my daughter Rebekah had an ice dance partner tryout with a boy from Chicago in 2013, June and Bill came to our hotel in Skokie to see me. Also, when June's father was ill and in convalescent care in Colorado Springs, my son Joel and I visited her father when June was in the Springs to see her dad.

June and Bill in 2013

In 2015, after my dad retired, June and Bill did a major cleaning and repair of my dad's house to get it ready to sell. They did everything from pulling the old carpet out to show off the hardwood floors, polishing the floors, cleaning out the refrigerator, cleaning the bathrooms, you name it! We decided to surprise my dad with all they did when my dad and I visited Illinois when my dad returned to the area to march in the graduation festivities at the Chicago Medical School. My dad loved and appreciated all the hard work Bill and June put in.

Bill, June, and my dad in his cleaned up Chicago house

About a year later, the house suddenly sold, and June did all the packing and getting rid of things we did not need. Bill and June worked so hard; they only had about three weeks to get everything packed and removed from the house. My parents lived in that house for 40 years, but some of the things June and Bill found were much older since my parents were married for 60 years. My family's cherished belongings arrived safely in Colorado and were packed with so much loving care!

My dad and I made one more trip to Chicago to clean out my dad's safe deposit box. We stayed in a Homewood Suites in Lincolnshire and every day during that visit, June and Bill came to our hotel to visit. She and Bill got to know our dear friends Lyman and Mary, and we had a great time together at the Chicago Botanical Gardens. June joined us all for a picnic one day too. And..she also joined me in riding a scooter!

June visited me in Colorado twice. My dad was so impressed with her hard work on his house that he suggested that June come to my house to help me redecorate. During that trip, she and Bill cleaned out a storage locker that included her father's belongings. In that locker was some very nice furniture that belonged to her mother, and June gave the furniture to us!

Me and my dad smile together in the cleaned up Chicago house

June gave us the chairs, table, and pillow

In June of 2017, June came to Colorado to see her brother for a family reunion, but came early to stay with us. We went on two wonderful hikes together and enjoyed being in our family's mountain Colorado house. She went to see my daughter Rebekah perform in the musical "The Music Man."

On the anniversary of 40 years of friendship, I wonder what the future years will be like for us. We continue sharing our lives with one another via Facebook and once in awhile, have long talks on the phone. One thing I do know for sure is that no matter what June is a loyal friend.

JO ANN and June - December, 2010

Here are just a few things I know about my friend June:

She likes plain food and plain iceberg lettuce with Italian dressing.
She has very small feet.
She loves her cats.
She likes to cook.
She loves to read.
She stays up late every night and likes to sleep late.
In her younger days she was quite a hiker and climber.
She thinks it is great that I hike, bike, scooter, ski, kayak, and swim laps!
She doesn't like to swim in a cold pool.

Further Reading:

Saturday, December 23, 2017

Remembering My Friend Jeff

JO ANN and Jeff - 1978

This is a difficult blog post to write because it is about my very dear and special friend Jeff who committed suicide. He shot himself in the head right after the Gulf War was announced in early 1991. For many, many years I mourned his death and I still have a hard time believing he is gone, but of course I have moved on. Only very special memories of that dear friend remain.

I met Jeff in the Taylor Hall cafeteria at lunch one day at the beginning of January of 1978 during my senior year at Colorado College. Students at Colorado College, CC, had a habit of sitting down at any table that had empty seats which was a wonderful way to get to meet new friends. During those days, I tried to make a new friend at every meal in fact.

During that lunch, I learned Jeff was from Longmont, Colorado and he shared that he was a "Summer Start" student, which meant that he had begun his freshman year at CC in the summer of 1977, skipped the fall semester 1977, and would conclude his freshman year with the rest of Colorado College's student body during the spring semester of 1978. Colorado College's Summer Start students were accepted to CC based on the fact that they agreed to begin their college life in the summer and skip the fall semester, so Jeff had not had a chance yet to form very many friendships at CC.

After that first lunch, Jeff and I tended to look for one another at meals. He, like me, seemed to be so excited about being at college and living on campus. Also, like me, Jeff had a tremendous desire to make friends. He told me later that high school had been really difficult and that he had been subject to bullying and that once some kids had even put him in a trash can and beat him up.

Anyway, even though I was a senior at the time and Jeff was a freshman, we hit it off. He made me smile and laugh. As the semester wore on, it seemed that we always together. We were not boyfriend and girlfriend, we were platonic friends who needed one another and both of us just were so anxious to make friends.

He drove a little green Volkswagen Karmann Ghia car that he called "The Emerald Flash." It was common for him to take me for rides in it when I needed a ride. I remember going to see Star Wars in downtown Colorado Springs with Jeff. He packed a bunch of kids into his Karmann Ghia and gave us a ride to the theater.

Jeff, like me, was Jewish. The late 1970s was the tail-end of the Jesus Movement, so young people, both Jewish and Gentile were turning to God. Young people were exploring getting high on drugs, but they were also exploring "getting high on Jesus." (Getting high on God, Jesus,, and love was much safer than getting high on drugs.....I guess...)

So...in February of 1978, Jeff and some other friends of mine went to see a movie on campus called "The Thief in the Night," a movie about The Rapture when a lot of people who believed in Jesus would disappear. The movie was shown in the college's science building Olin Hall which had a somewhat dark and spooky theater. Jeff took the movie very seriously and was scared to death; I recall him jumping out of his seat and coming forward to "repent" during the altar call.

After that night, Jeff had this interest in God that seemed to take over his being and I was given a new "Jewish spiritual buddy." The two of us seemed to be almost inseparable. Our Jewishness and interest in God and love brought us together.

Jeff loved music and brought his guitar over to my dorm room in Ticknor Hall often. He would compose his own songs about God and we'd sing them together. He'd share songs with my friends too and sometimes we'd sit on the floor in a circle singing songs about love while Jeff played his guitar. Sometimes he would also play the piano and cello.

Somewhere in the middle of that semester, to save money, Jeff moved off campus to a house on Dale Street. I don't remember how he managed to do that, since freshman were required to live in the dorms, but Jeff did move. Since he no longer had the college meal plan, Jeff bought a meal ticket punch card for breakfasts only. He would arrive at the Rastall Center dining hall at about 7 am for breakfast and eat and eat and eat for about an hour! He told me that that one meal a day was all he'd eat until the next day since he ate so much. I always thought that was so funny, but it was a unique way to save money!

As the semester wore on, I decided that after graduation that I would move to California since I had it in my head that I wanted to live in a commune full of Jesus freaks that were into this "love thing." Jeff was excited about my idea. Together we talked about what life in a commune might be like and the "love revolution" that we heard was taking place on the beaches in California. He planned to drive "The Emerald Flash" to California to visit me once I got settled, but we wondered if his little broken down car could possibly make that drive.

It snowed on my birthday on May 7, 1978. After the storm, Jeff and I played in the snow on campus. Below is a photo of him "saving me" from a snow monster on the Colorado College campus.

As graduation grew closer, we realized that Jeff had three more years of Colorado College to complete, so we knew it might be awhile before he'd visit me in California, but he did promise to write.

On graduation day, Jeff cheered loudly for me as I received my diploma and a few days later we said our good-byes.

After I moved to California, Jeff and I wrote detailed letters to one another. That's what young people did in those days since there was no email or social media and phone calls were very expensive. He was an amazing writer and his letters were so entertaining to read. He told me about life at CC and always included humor in his letters. He'd draw little facial expressions and include them throughout his letters. I was happy to receive letters from Jeff even before I opened them!

When I got engaged to my husband to be, Dan, in November of 1978, Jeff began to also write letters to Dan. At first Dan did not understand Jeff's humor, but it didn't take long for Dan to really enjoy Jeff's correspondence.

We spent our honeymoon after we married on April 7, 1979 in Colorado Springs and Jeff picked us up at the Colorado Springs Airport in The Emerald Flash. He was just so excited to see me and meet Dan! We all assumed a lifelong friendship had begun. Every time we visited Colorado, seeing Jeff and spending time with him was part of our vacation plans. He'd come over to my family's Colorado Springs condo and he'd enjoy swimming and using the hot tub at the condo with us.

Jeff planned to spend the summer of 1980 with us at The Atherton House, a commune type house we shared in Long Beach, but just as he began driving his Emerald Flash car to California, the car broke down and the cost of the repairs were just too much for him to make the trip. I was so disappointed since I knew Jeff would have fit in the house so perfectly.

Somewhere during Jeff's senior year he wrote that he was engaged to a junior named Martha, so when Dan and I visited Colorado Springs on vacation, Jeff and Martha visited us at my family's condo.

Jeff and Martha - 1981

After Jeff graduated from CC, Jeff and Martha got married while Martha was still in school. I recall they moved to Kentucky after Martha's graduation.

Jeff majored in English which made finding employment difficult. He wrote that he was having a hard time finding a job. He just couldn't find employment which was making him depressed, so Jeff joined the Air Force and ended up being stationed in Panama. Jeff wrote that Martha did not like Panama and that the two of them looked forward to the end of his military commitment.

Reunion With Jeff - 1984

In 1984, Jeff left a message on our home and told us he had about 24 hours leave and was at an Air Force base in San Bernardino and would be flying somewhere else the next day. He asked if we'd come out to San Bernardino and get him so he could spend some time with us. He had no idea how far San Bernardino was from Long Beach, but Dan and I wanted to see Jeff so much, that we got in our car and picked Jeff up and took him back to our little garage apartment in Long Beach. It was a very short visit since we had to wake up in the wee hours of the morning in order to get Jeff back to the base and get Dan to work in time.

The letters from Jeff just kept coming, but they were not as frequent or happy as they once were. One day, we received a letter and a tape from Jeff telling us he was now an agnostic.

Then, in December of 1990, we received a holiday card from Jeff written as poem that didn't sound happy. I thought nothing of it, but I do recall thinking to myself that I missed Jeff's cheerful letters and cards from the past.

Just a month later, I received a card from Jeff's wife Martha. I first thought it was a birth announcement when I saw that it was Martha's writing and not Jeff's, but once I opened the card, I read the horrible news that Jeff had shot himself and was dead. I was in total shock. Dan came home from work and found me in tears.

Although Jeff is no longer with us, he is in my memories. I hear him singing and talking. I remember my wonderful friend. He will always be alive in my heart.

Jeff - 1978

Further Reading:

Saturday, December 16, 2017

Dan and I Treasure Our Friendship With Frank

There are some friendships that I cherish. One of those friendships is with a special friend I made during my senior year of college (1977-78) named Frank. What is so special about the friendship my husband Dan and I have with Frank, is that for a period of almost 20 years we lost touch with Frank, but when we reunited, our friendship was one we all cherished more than ever and our friendship has grown stronger and stronger and more and more special.

Frank, Dan, and I have had experiences from our past that have caused us to think the same and we just enjoy being together when we are able to get together. Our thoughts on religion and politics are very similar, but even if we disagree sometimes, we just enjoy keeping in touch since we know that our friendship is now a lifelong one that can't be taken for granted. We never want to be out of touch again. Most of the time, we just talk on the phone or chat online and we follow one another's lives on Facebook, but when we can, we try to see one another face to face.

Below is a summary of how this cherished friendship came about:

When I was a senior at Colorado College in the fall of 1977, shortly after I stopped competitive skating, I moved into the dorms at the college. I was very eager to make friends that year since I had been so busy training that I'd never really just been a "regular kid," so almost every time I met a new person, I wanted to get to know that person better. Making (and keeping) friends was and is just so important to me.

So....during the very first part of the semester, I sat down to lunch in the Rastall Center college cafeteria one day alone. I had discovered if I sat down alone other students would join me and that there was always a chance I'd meet someone new since the students at Colorado College always were anxious to have conversations with students they did not know yet.

A few minutes later, I was joined by my new bubbly and cute red haired friend Elaine who was from Boston. Not long afterward, another student joined us.

Frank put down his tray and began to settle in to eat his lunch. Elaine made some introductions.

“Jo Ann, this is Frank," said Elaine. "Frank, this is Jo Ann."

I really liked Elaine since she was so cute, and anyone Elaine liked, I instantly liked.

On the day, I made a friend at that lunch who would become very dear to me, and later, to both me and my husband, Dan.

I still remember Frank eating melted ice cream that day in the Colorado College Rastall Student Center Cafeteria. A funny memory I have of Frank as a college student was that he always got ice cream for dessert and let it melt...:)

I have no memory of what we discussed at that first lunch together, but after lunch, we were certain we had begun a friendship.

In a few short weeks we had a discussion in the THE HUB (the College’s snack bar) over ice cream cones, on whether any romance was involved in our friendship, and we decided, “No,” there was no romance, just a good old platonic friendship. Ever since I was a little kid, I had a lot of friends who were boys, so it didn't seem odd to me to become friends with Frank even though he was a guy.

I really enjoyed Frank. He had a quiet manner I can’t explain. He lived in McGregor Hall, a boys' dorm on the Colorado College campus, near to the Ticknor Hall women's dormitory where I lived during that school year. It was common for college students in those days to just drop by one another's rooms to just say hello, so I visited him in McGregor a few times and he dropped by to see me in Ticknor many times.

Frank had a car and didn’t mind giving me a ride when I needed one. Most of the students at "CC" Colorado College lived on campus without cars in those days, so asking friends for rides was common. (Too bad there was no such thing as Uber in those days!)

One of my favorite places to take my college friends was “The Condo,” a condominium near the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs that my dad had purchased for our family while my brother and I trained in figure skating at The Broadmoor. It was common for me to get a group of kids together, and Frank would drive us all to “The Condo.” We would sometimes eat a meal there, but would also always take advantage of the indoor pool and hot tub there. What great memories I have of those visits to the condo! Many of the college friends I'm still in touch with still talk about those "condo gatherings!" The hot tub and pool was just so luxurious and it was fun to sit in the hot tub as we watched the snow fall down through the glass that surrounded the pool and roof.

Frank also became close with my friend, "Melinda." (Not her real name, since "Melinda" has asked me not to use her real name on this blog) and I became close with a young freshman named Jeff. The four of us sort of like a gang in those days. We did everything together! We went to movies, ate together, sang songs together, and just had fun.

Frank loved sending cards, and bought many in advance so they would be ready to give or send for any occasion. It was not uncommon to receive neat cards from him and it was so special to receive one of Frank's cards. Getting a card from him was a great treat, since he put much thought into every card he sent or gave. I was happy before I opened one of Frank's cards!

Frank, Frances, Fran, Susan

Frank's family was from San Antonio, Texas and before attending Colorado College, he attended a high school there. Frank told me that his father’s name was Frank, his mother’s name was Frances, his name was Frank and his sister’s name was Fran. But....there was also another sister, named Susan! I always thought that was very "interesting" and funny! Frank's parents really must have liked their names!

Note: Frank gave me the following trivia about his family: 'My dad was actually "Francis" at birth, but early on used "Frank." In 1917 my grandfather changed the spelling of our surname, so maybe Francis officially became Frank then? All his ID was in "Frank." '

So...Francis and Frances were really Frank's parents' first names! I bet that must have caused lots of smiles among their friends and family and naming two of their children Frank and Fran continued those smiles!

Susan, Frank, Fran

Frank was/is integrated into so many memories of my senior year at Colorado College. In November, I remember baking him a Devil's Food dark chocolate cake for his 21st birthday and delivering it to McGregor. Also, in that same month of November, I remember eating Thanksgiving Dinner in Bemis (a very fancy dining hall on campus that was designed like a British hall from the best colleges in England) with Frank and my friend Elaine in 1977. Elaine and I had been invited to a Thanksgiving dinner at someone's home that evening, but still took advantage of the free meal on campus! We ate so much and talked about the things we were thankful for. Most of the students at CC had gone home for the holidays, but the students who remained on campus had been provided with a meal and we were glad to be together.

I was an art major and I remember Frank helping tremendously with my senior art show on campus in the college's art building Packard Hall. I still have an album of wonderful photos he took from the reception. He even took photos of every single one of my paintings! I still have all those photos from that art show, and I treasure each one. Frank loved photography and was and is great at it. (He still posts amazing and wonderful photos on Facebook.)

Center Left Photo - Frank and Freinds Helping With My Senior Art Show

Frank gave me a ride to a public high school in Colorado Springs so I could interview a teacher for one of my education class projects. He just always seemed to be there for me and his other close friends. I was so grateful that he took the time from his busy student life for others.

When my closest friend Marion visited me during January of 1978, Frank drove Marion and me to the airport at the end of her visit. I still have the photo that Frank took of the two of us as we said good-bye.

JO ANN and Marion - January 1978 At the Old Colorado Springs Airport - Photo by Frank

On a Saturday night Frank drove me and a couple other friends to Denver to see my brother, Billy compete in the Midwestern Figure Skating Championships. Going to Denver in those days was considered a long drive! I will never forget how he went over and beyond for me in those days. (Frank still goes above and beyond for those he cares about.)

On Saturday night, dinner was not served on the Colorado College campus to the students who lived in the dorms, so on many Saturdays, I went out to dinner with Frank and other friends. He almost always drove. Many times we all went to "The Condo" and had an enjoyable evening that included a pot-luck dinner, swimming, and sitting in the hot tub and sauna.

Frank went skating with me once at Honnen Ice Rink on the CC campus, and I remember him clinging to the rail the entire hour. I offered to teach him to skate, but he didn’t take up my offer! I think that may have been the last time he tried ice skating...

Once the four of us (Me, Frank, "Melinda," and Jeff) went out to dinner at Senor Manuel's at the north end of Colorado Springs on a Saturday night. I remember our server recongizing me and telling me she sat next to me during the GRE. I said I was surprised she remembered me and I remember Frank and "Melinda" saying “Everyone remembers you, Jo Ann!”

We went out to eat at lots of other places with Frank: Mexican restaurants seemed to be our favorites: I especially remember he liked Jose Muldoons, and I even remember going to a Mexican restaurant at the Citadel Mall with "Melinda" and Frank and Jeff. Frank always ordered Chimichanga at Mexican restaurants.

When we graduated from Colorado College in May of 1978, Frank and I marched together and sat together for the Senior Class graduation photo and stayed near one another through the giving out of diplomas and the reception.

JO ANN and Frank - 1978 Colorado College Graduates!

We did not say good-bye right after graduation day, since Frank needed to stay in Colorado Springs after the dorms closed, so he stayed at "The Condo" with me and my parents for a few days. Even after my parents left for California with my Green Gremlin car and after I left on a plane for California that summer to begin a post-graduate life in southern California (the summer of 1978), Frank stayed at the condo since he was such a trusted and close friend that my family had no problem with him using the condo while we were not there.

Just before I left Colorado that summer, as we said our good-byes, I invited Frank to visit me in California and stay with me in Hollywood, although I really did not have a home there yet. I think Frank arrived in California about a month later.

My experience living in Hollywood turned out to be a nightmare; I was just so lonely there, so I was overjoyed to see Frank when he arrived in Hollywood to visit me. He ended up staying with me at a house on Berendo Street that was owned by a somewhat fanatical religious group. That group had given me a temporary place to stay for a short time that summer and the group also allowed Frank to stay there during his visit.

Frank and I were also extras in a movie during his Hollywood visit. We spent the night (graveyard shift I recall) on the set of THE FAST BREAK with Gene Kaplan. We just sat in the stands pretending we were watching a basketball game. We had "lunch" at midnight, courtesy of the studio. We each made $25.00. It’s a memory I’ll never forget. I remember asking a security guard for permission to use the restroom that evening and the security guard told me he was only an actor and to go ahead!

I took Frank to Long Beach to visit my grandmother during that visit too. I remember trying to guide him through as he drove through the difficult Traffic Circle that is near PCH and Lakewood Blvd.! I also remember walking through Belmont Shore and Frank taking photos of interesting sites. (About a month later, I gave up on living in Hollywood and moved in with my grandmother in Belmont Shore in Long Beach.)

I don’t remember if I saw Frank again until after I married Dan on April 7, 1979, but right after I married Dan he sent me a neat photo of me skating with my ice dance partner Richard and he put my wedding picture alongside my skating picture – he made one photo from two!

In early 1980, we took a vacation to northern California, visiting Marion’s parents and took a quick trip to Yosemite, then we decided to head for the San Francisco Bay Area to meet my friend "Melinda" and her mom and to also meet Frank. During that visit, Frank and "Melinda" and "Melinda's mom" enjoyed getting to know Dan; so now, Dan was part of my close friendship with Frank, "Melinda" and "Melinda's mom." Frank was attending Santa Clara University School of Law at the time. "Melinda's mom" sort of "adopted" me and Dan, so all of us became sort of one big extended "adopted family!"

Frank visited Long Beach and The Atherton House (a commune where we lived during our early days of our mariage) many times. I don’t really remember if Frank stayed at the house or not. I imagine he did, since all our friends stayed with us; there was always room on the couch!

He visited us often, and later, after the house closed down, even attended The Atherton House Reunion in 1983. I remember Dan and I going to Disneyland with Frank and enjoying the Tahitian Terrace Restaurant together.

I began teaching skating in 1983, and Frank visited me at the rink when he visited. He spent many holidays with us too. Every holiday season, he sent us a fruitcake. His wonderful and thoughtful cards kept coming and every time I opened one of his cards I was happy!

It became a tradition to combine a visit with Frank with our trips to Northern California. When we went to the Bay Area by plane, Frank always picked us up at San Jose airport and we stayed at his small apartment.

Frank went to Israel on a tour and brought back Coca-Cola shirts in Hebrew and and a set of Israeli records especially for us.

Unfortunately, around 1986, Dan and I lost touch with Frank, but we continued to think about him. I treasured our friendship so much and held on to the hope that we would all reunite again.

At the end of 2005, my husband Dan was in a horrible life-threatening accident. I sent out emails to every person I could locate asking for prayers and thoughts, and shortly afterwards, I heard from Frank! Wow...I was overjoyed! What a wonderful thing for that to happen during a time in my life that seemed surreal.

Frank began exchanging emails with me and rejoiced with me when Dan woke up from his coma and would perhaps recover and paid attention to his progress when Dan came home and began his rehabilitation. When Dan improved, he too, exchanged emails with Frank.

I was so happy when Frank joined Facebook in 2010 since now we could really share our lives and thoughts, but the highlight of being reunited happened in 2012 when I attended the US Figure Skating Championships in San Jose, Frank met me in San Jose and we reunited face to face! For me, that was the most wonderful reunion! During that same trip, Frank and I got together with "Melinda," Marion, and my friend Jessica.

Later, when Dan and I both were in Long Beach, Frank drove all the way from the San Francisco Bay Area to southern California just to see us! We ate a wonderful meal together and just enjoyed one another again.

Ever since we reunited, Frank has met two of my children, Joel and Annabelle (he has not met Rebekah yet). Frank's daughter Monique and her four children (yes...Frank has four grand-children!) went to see Joel perform in Disney On Ice Frozen when the show was in San Jose.

Click Here to See a Video Frank Captured of My Son Joel Performing in Frozen!

I've never met Frank's two other children, but have heard about them. When I was in northern California for a skating related event, I was able to meet Frank's very sweet friend Jeanette who now has become a friend of mine. Frank and Jeanette and her niece went with me and my dad to see my son Joel perform in Disney On Ice in 2015 when the show was in San Jose. In addition, my close friend Kathie met Frank and Jeanette at a concert in Santa Cruz. He says it was great to meet another friend of mine at that concert.

Frank tried to drive to Colorado for my daughter Annabelle's Bat Mitzvah, but due to snow he had to turn around and could not make it. How meant so much to us that he made a real effort to come and shows how loyal a friend Frank is!

Frank's Route 48 States Challenge and Also His Trip to Alaska on His Motorcycle!

In 2006 Frank rode his motorcycle up the Alaska Highway and Haul Road to Arctic Ocean!

Frank Photographed the Beautiful Alaska Scenery

By the way, Frank has done something quite impressive! He did the 48 States Challenge on his motorcycle and he has done that incredible challenge more than once. The 48 States Series consists of motorcycle rides that include the challenge of visiting all of the lower 48 states on a motorcycle and the challenge must be completed in 10 days. He's also done the National Parks Tour Master Traveler rides where he visited 50 National Park Service sites in 25 states in the USA within a year. That was also done on a motorcycle! In addition he's done the 50cc Quest where he rode his motorcycle coast-to-coast within 50 hours and the Border-to-Border Insanity where he rode his motorcycle from Mexico to Canada in less than 24 hours!

We look forward to continuing the friendship we cherish with Frank. By the way, Frank, thank you so much for being my friend!

JO ANN Dancing With Frank's Daughter Monique 1985

Frank, JO ANN, Dan - 1986

Frank and His Friend Jeanette Smile With Me - Oakland, California 2013

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