Michael Gerber:
CLASS OF 1965
Atlantic City High SchoolClass of 1965
Atlantic city, NJ
Michael's Story
Life
Leaving Margate and ACHS after freshman year was sad, but going to California with my family was an adventure since I don't think I'd ever been west of Philly.
Arrived in Oakland in August that year. Attended Oakland Technical High School (there was nothing "technical" about it, just a old name). High school there began in the sophomore year so I had the advantage of having been to high school while all my new friends were new to it. At OTHS, I wrestled, was yearbook editor, and gave the commencement address (as I did when we graduated from Granville Ave. School).
Went to University of California in Santa Cruz -- another beach town! -- the year this campus opened for the first time with 500 freshman and a smattering of transfer juniors. Lived in a 52 foot trailer with 7 roommates that first year -- no dormitories yet. Love those guys. We still get together once a year.
Finished my degree in economics and went into a teacher training program in Oakland. I had a lot of trumped up reasons -- some of them good -- but really I think I was following my girlfriend, Kathy, who knew she wanted to teach since 4th grade. Kathy and I have been married for 33 years, so I guess that was the right decision.
Kathy and I taught elementary school in Oakland until 1972 and then, out of the blue, had...Expand for more
an opportunity to go to Africa (Malawi). It's a longer story, but I love telling about it.
We lived in Malawi for a little over a year. I ran a laboratory at St. Luke's Hospital (pediatrics and maternity), one of ten clinics and hospitals run by the Anglicans. I set up a training program to teach orderlies and nurses to do laboratory work. Kathy taught English at the residential secondary school, volunteered at the well-baby clinic, and filled in for a time as the secretary for the Archbishop of Centeral Africa.
We came back to Oakland and I took a job teaching in special education at the same school where I'd previously taught. Earned a masters degree at U. of San Francisco, bought a house, and we had our first child, Joanna.
In 1978, we rented the house, packed the car and the baby, and moved to Charlottesville, VA, where I did my doctorate in special education. Had our second child, Rebecca, while in Charlottesville. Kathy continued to teach.
I was appointed asst. prof. at the U. of California, Santa Barbara -- still another beach town! -- in 1981. Kathy now teaches here in Goleta. I've been at the U. all these years teaching and writing. The girls are young women and the word "retirement" has come up in conversation a few times, but I love what I do and can't see any reason to stop.
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