Richard Hayden:
CLASS OF 1964
Oceana High SchoolClass of 1964
Pacifica, CA
Pittsburg State UniversityClass of 1997
Pittsburg, KS
Richard's Story
Life
I have much interest in the following areas: Domestic Violence-Male Victims; Alcohol and Drug Abuse Among the Elderly; and Elderly Suicide. Do a little domestic advocacy for male victims. Working towards a Master Degree in Addiction Disorders.
School
The sixties were great. While we were attending afternoon sessions at Westmore I wrote Miss Johnson's (shortly thereafter, Mrs. Jones, address on the blackboard. I remember Spirit week while a Senior how some of us hauled tires up the hill in back to spell "SENIORS". What I do not understand is how, when several of us (refuse to give up your names, Jim and Merlin), cut school one time and we went to see Santa Clause at the old Emporium and the next day the office would not take our phony excuse notes because they KNEW what we had done!
College
Started research in Domestic Violence-Male Victims and research in the area of Elderly Suicide. Survived on student loans so I did not work a whole lot while attending. The funest part was attending football games. Not to mention I attended the only university that has a Gorilla for a mascot. Involved with both Alpha-Kappa-Delta and the Pinnicle Honor Societies. I was also one of a handful of students that were older than most of his professor.
Workplace
Had a job working in the Washington state prison system as an alcohol and drug counselor. Think the main reason I took the job was because I got to ride a boat for 20 minutes each way. I worked at McNeil Island Correctional Center. Truely enjoyed the work as well as the client population. Not something that just anyone can do. Then got sick with leukemia and back in CA for health care at UCSF. Currently living with my high school sweetheart, Sandy Costello Leatherwood in Sonoma County, CA. We have planned 3 times to get married, but each time the leukemia and following chemos seem to make this important part of our li...Expand for more
ves not happen. We have comitted ourselves in marriage to each others with our claddagh rings in August 2002, but have been unable to formally " 'tie the knot' with the local powers that be" due to my chemo and leukemia treatments. I know that we will be eternal companions and lovers forever ultimately. We are not going to let a great relationship end with this lifetime!
It is with great sadness, and a broken heart, that I must post that the love of my life, Richard has passed away due to a stroke May 19, 2005 at home here in Rohnert Park, Calif. Richard had had another round of chemo the week before, as his myelodysplastic syndrome had come out of the closet and resurfaced. His leukemia was still in remission, but unfortunatley, that was just hiding in the "wings" as well. Richard had the joy of reconnecting with many family members before his passing that he had not seen in over 20+ years, as well as reconnecting with his special friends, Jim Park, Jim Boyd, Wayne Coen and Kitty Slieger and his beloved Aunt Jessie. They all attended the memorial service that was held for Richard on June 4, 2005. Richard also had the opportunity of seeing the beautiful foals that our beloved Polish arabian mares gave us the week preceeding his death, as well as enjoying the companionship and love of our beloved boxers, Shiloh,Duke,and Duchess and our cats, Merlin and Callie. I miss him greatly, and will for all of this lifetime!
Military
Ya, so I joined the Navy Reserves so I would not get drafted. Went to the shores of Nam and fired loaded one of the 5" guns (I was a powderman on the aft mount) so we could shoot at the bad guys a bunch of times. Then I did a great thing and asked for a transfer after the Buck, a destroyer, got back state-side. Moved on to a cruiser and traveled through Panama Canal and cruised the Mediterainan. (Damn, cannot spell worth beans today. Must be the chemo.)
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