40th Reunion (1995): (Standing) Dixie Eason McCarthy, Vondra Bush, Maren Browning Gilliland, Linda Thorpe Sprague, Irene Taylor; (Seated) Elaine Bjorgan, Dee Williams Ropers, Sue Stoll Egan, Ann Murison, Carol Alexander.

40th Reunion (1995)
Visit to the Burlingame Historical Society Archives
Located in the Gunst Mansion Carriage House in Washington Park
Marilyn Dickman Short was the principal archivist at that time.

Jayne Wright Lasley, Carol Alexander, Marilyn Dickman Short, Maren Browning, Dee Williams Ropers (seated), Mike Langston, Jain Fairfax Langston, Elaine Bjorgan.

Biographical Sketch of Carol Alexander
Submitted for the 40th Reunion, 1995.

My brief write-up for our 10th reunion was as follows: recently divorced (from Leon Krueger); has a three year old daughter, Kathy; lives in Burlingame; teaches Home Economics at Oceana High School in Pacifica.

For our 25th reunion, all I needed to do was cross out the word "recently" and change Kathy's age to 18. It appeared as if nothing had happened in my life. I wanted to tell more--I had lived briefly in San Francisco. I was involved in peace marches, the civil right's movement, social/ political classes at San Francisco State, and personal growth.

Now another 15 years have gone by. Kathy is married and lives in Chicago. I still live in Burlingame but changed my teaching position to the continuation school in Daly City. I am enthused about a new class I am implementing that helps teenagers build a positive self esteem and become internally rather than externally motivated.

I have continued my interest in politics, pursued my spiritual growth, and am deeply involved in Zen Buddhism. As part of my spiritual development, I practiced and taught yoga, meditated with Eknath Eswaran (a Hindu guru), and became a licensed Science of Mind practitioner, teacher, and counselor. I have done some traveling in the U.S., Mexico, Canada, and Europe.

Over the past 40 years, I have had my ups and downs, joyful moments and sad moments, relationships --some wonderful, some not. I am enjoying the present, and at the same time, am looking forward to fresh horizons.

Addendum, 2005

In the last ten years (since my fortieth reunion letter), I have finally joined you early birds regarding grandchildren and retirement. I retired in June 2000 after 38 years of high school teaching. I am still substituting in very select situations i.e.: my former school (a small continuation school), GED and ESL for adults. It keeps me in touch.

My daughter Katherine finally had a child, a son, in 1998. Two years later to the day she had a daughter, so I can finally enjoy the pleasures of grandparenthood. They all recently moved from Arizona to the Seattle area so it takes planning and time to see them. However, since I loved my grandparents so much and the children all loved my parents so much, being a grandparent is very important to me; and I have definitely made the effort as I want them to know me. They do.

Since retiring I have done a bit of traveling--Paris, London, Mexico. The highlights were a trip to China four years ago with Karen McKenzie Smith, her brother, JM, and his wife; and a five week trip to Japan last fall. Both trips were fabulous. The first was inspired by my mother's background, being born in Shanghai and raised in Chunking. The second is a result of my Zen Buddhist practice, now appreciating all things Japanese.

I seem to have no trouble filling up my days--exercising with the Chinese in San Mateo's Central Park most mornings, finally taking bridge lessons and playing when I can, Zen, yoga, some gardening, friends and family. (My mother is still here, not as dynamic as she once was, but mentally fine.)

Life is good. I look forward to seeing all of you at the reunion.

Carol

IN SYMPATHY - Anna B. Alexander, mother of classmate Carol Alexander

Anna B. Alexander October 6, 1913 - July 26, 2006 Anna Alexander was a creative and caring woman whose insights, wisdom and generosity touched the lives of many. She passed on Wednesday, July 26, in the Burlingame home where she raised her family. She was 92. The daughter of a missionary nurse and Yangtze River boat captain, Anna Cooke was born in Shanghai, China, and spent her childhood in the hills above Chung King, She came to the United States at age 12 with her American mother. Anna graduated from Burlingame High School and attended College of San Mateo, where she met her husband, Charles Alexander. After raising three daughters, she returned to school and earned her bachelor degree and secondary teaching credential from SF State University. Anna authored 14 books, including the children's classics ABC of Cars and Trucks and Noise in the Night. She published several teen novels, beginning with The Pink Dress, an instant "must read" for sub-teen girls. Her book, Little Foreign Devil, depicts her childhood in China. A prolific writer, Anna also published many articles and short stories and wrote a popular column for the Burlingame Advance. Anna was married for 66 years to the late Charles Alexander. She was the adored matriarch of her family and will be greatly missed by her three daughters, Barbara Ghiglione of Correlitas, and Carol Alexander and Sharon Williams, both of Burlingame; six grandchildren, 12 great- grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.

(Ed. Anna's story included with permission)