Robert Chavez:
CLASS OF 1964
Pioneer High SchoolClass of 1964
Whittier, CA
Robert's Story
I've given a great deal of thought about what I would say is my story, and I wish I could say that it's been one of great accomplishment, but it hasn't. I have had people in my life that certainly gave me every chance to succeed, but I guess in most cases I managed to squeak by to achieve most of their expectations, even though not as well as they thought I could do; I never really reached my full potential, and they knew it, worst of all I knew it.
I was a terrible student when I attended Pi-HI and I tended to be disruptive in class, which cheated my fellow students out of valuable learning time. For that I apologize. I consider Mrs. Olsen one of the people that had a profound impact on me and any success that I might have achieved, she gave me more understanding, and pushed me to succeed when other's simply gave up on me, for some unknown reason she had faith in me. For that I'll never forget her and I'm forever grateful to her. I think, and hope that she would be proud of me for graduating from college with a BS in Business Management, and a Master's in Public Administration.
Unlike most in the class of 64 I didn't get to graduate with you. I left in February of 63 and joined the Army where I tested out and received my high school diploma, but since Pi-HI was my last high school I consider it to be my Alma Mater. After serving for 6-years I was discharged in 1969 and returned to Southern California for a very brief time. My wife and I lived in Monrovia until 1970 when we moved to Oakland and I eventually started my career in the SF Bay Area. Little did I know that when I left Whittier in 1963 destiny would keep me away for the rest of my life.
I have had a successful career and I retired in July 2009, however, career doesn't necessarily equate to a great life, although mine has been better than many, I never reached the level of happiness that I so often craved. My last position was as Contract Compliance and General Services Division Manager for the Oakland Housing Authority. Perhaps complete fulfillment and happiness is an ...Expand for more
illusion, and we should be satisfied with what we have. Ever since leaving Whittier, I've always had an emptiness that somehow eludes my being complete.
My wife and I raised two wonderful children, Tony and Tina and I am extremely proud of both of them. They have both reached a level of success that I could never dream possible. Both are extremely successful and Tina is married to the best person I could ever hope to be my son-in-law. I do gain a sense of fulfillment in that area, but there is always that emptiness to deal with.
I've started reconnecting with some of the people that I knew as a teenager and I'm hoping that by finding them I might find myself. The past is something that I seem to return to in my mind ever more frequently lately. So for those of you that do remember me; I'd love to hear from you.
I often wonder what happened to my best friends, Adam Corona, Pete Rodriquez, Ernie Munoz, and Art Perez. And of course there was Francis Cabral, Teri Lopez, Linda Ponce, Nancy Fasone, Barbara Montez, Connie Garcia, and so many others. Then there was Patsy Madrid, she was my first true love, I've never been able to completely get her out of my system. Although I was passionately in love with my wife when I married her, my thoughts would always return to Patsy, once again I'm sure my memory is an illusion that only exists in my mind, but that's what happens when one doesn't have complete closure.
I still have my 1962 year book and it's especially important to me because in it are my three cousins that also attended Pi-hi. First of all is my cousin Anthony Davila he was in the class of 62, my cousin Peggy Romo, Class of 63, (now deceased) my cousin Henry Davila, class of 65 (now deceased) and of course I'm in the class of 64. It's the only year book that all four of us are in, so it holds special importance to me.
Well that's part of my story, I've left out the more unhappy events that have been a part of my life; better forgotten, June 64 through June 66, are the worst years of my life and I try not to think about them.
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