Ron Winckler:
CLASS OF 1969
El Modena High SchoolClass of 1969
Orange, CA
Ron's Story
1970, Co-founded Hotline Help Center (Anaheim), a crisis line dealing with druggies. Lots of experience in that field.
1974, Ordained as minister, zero experience in that field. * Married in the basement of questionable Tijuana judge. Wedding ring was a Mexican cigar band. Had first, male, child. Woeful lack of experience in both fields.
1980 Married and divorced -to same woman- total of three times. Very experienced in ministerial art of "forgiveness," ex-wife more experienced in art of "loving thy neighbor."
1981, Married again -different woman. Took over church in Diamond Bar, Ca as senior pastor. Lots of marriage counseling. Exceptionally experienced in that field.
1993, Resigned position, spent a year writing script for computer game. Game picked up by Dynamix in Eugene, Oregon.
1994, Went to Croatia. Game partner and I established animation studio in Zagreb. Life insurance agent cancelled policy "...it's a war zone. Are you nuts?".
* Worked on game prototype, also other games (mainly backgrounding) for Sierra OnLine.
* Before leaving Croatia, called wife and told her to find rentor for house, "We're moving to Alaska" I told her.
* Arrived in Ca, Dynamix dropped game but paid off on other work, wife delivered address of house on Maui with following message, "Visit when you get cold." Moved to Maui, started weekly newspaper...still had more money to lose after game venture.
1998, Turned paper over to part-time resident, Joseph Sugarman (the BluBlocker guy). The Maui Weekly is now published by the Maui News and continues money-losing tradition. * Dusted off Certificate of Ordination, started wedding business.
2008, Still arranging destination w...Expand for more
eddings and other events (actually, wife of 27 years arranges). Made lots of money...till beginning of 2008. * Daughter, Lauren, graduated from Marymount Manhattan. She's bartender/actor, waiting for "big break" (me more than her, girls are desperately expensive).* Started Maui Wedding and Event Professionals, an association of 50 or so event and wedding companies, all pretty much losing money as well. Ever increasing experience there.
It's been a helluva ride. As I approach 60 (58 and slooowly counting) I think more of the years at El Modena. I remember being more afraid of my peers knowing just how afraid I really was (especially of the infamous, two "Jerry's") than appointments "behind the pool hall."
I remember clearly, Bob Leaverton and his passive-aggressive rebellion evidenced in his "007" book reports which, for the time, were scandalous. His devilish glee as he handed me his latest offering was, in retrospect, priceless. John Mixer's dress was a constant source of envy. Coming from a large, and largely broke, family, my clothes were purchased at K-Mart. That was in a good year.
But there was also Merlin's, Penny Lane and the Anaheim Bowl. Strobe lights, fog machines, incredible bands and Newport's 17th Street, Irvine Park, the Ortega Hot Springs, Holy JIm Canyon, Peter's Canyon and hunting rabbits with Rick Besnaette (I think "Besnaette"). All contributing plenty of golden (albeit unproductive) days and months.
And although I never talked with her in the years following my, marginally productive, stint at El Modena, I regret never telling Ms. Pina how beautiful she was; and how I was always struck dumb when she was in close proximity.
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