Gary Felien:
CLASS OF 1977
Gahr High SchoolClass of 1977
Cerritos, CA
Gary's Story
Life
Wow, I'm not often at a loss for words but how to sum up 28 years in a few paragraphs is a challenge. So here goes the short version. I've been married since 1984 to my wife Karen. We first met in college and she must have seen some promise in me because before I knew what had happened I was saying "I do" at the alter. We have lived in Oceanside, CA since 1988. We have three children: Justin 17, Sarah 16, and David 12. We have a pure white cat that we named Snowflake when he was a kitten. Now he is 20 pounds and I want to change his name to Glacier.
I attended Cerritos College from 77-79 and received my AA in Business. I attended Cal-State Fullerton from 79-81 and received my BA in Finance. I attended UC Irvine from 84-87 and received my MBA. I worked close to full time all the way through undergraduate school at various part time jobs to pay my own way through school. My favorite job was being a food taster. Can't beat a job that pays you to eat!
I spent 22 years climbing the corporate ladder in finance and accounting culminating in my final position as Senior VP of Finance for a loan servicing company called ALFI located in Irvine CA which closed in 2003. I currently work out of my home managing my own investment portfolio. I have been investing since 1982 when the Reagan tax cuts started the great bull market. I have't decided if I'm self-employed, unemployed, or retired. I get to use the oil depletion allowance on my tax return - does this mean I've hit the big time? I won't appear on the cover of any business magazines, but considering my start as a poor kid from Cerritos I'v...Expand for more
e done ok for myself.
Of course my first passion has always been politics, and I have stayed involved since graduating. I went as a Youth Delegate to the 1980 Republican Convention held in Detroit that nominated Ronald Reagan to run against the incompetent idiot Jimmy Carter. I had a floor pass to the convention, so I was seated with the California delegation when Reagan gave his historic nomination speach. Reagan's election sparked the great march of freedom that swept the globe culminating in the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union. I currently fly back to DC about twice a year for private small group meetings with assorted Senators, Congressmen, Cabinet Secretaries, Military Leaders, and Republican Party Officials. I went with my wife to the Inauguration this last January.
The only real bad news I've had above and beyond the usual school, career, and romance disapointments involves my health. I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. Death is not immenent, but a big chunk of time is lopped off my life expectancy. To show there is a funny side to everything, the nurses and doctors all asked me about my use of crack cocaine. I learned my condition is extremely rare for someone my age, and the largest reason is crack cocaine use. I explained to the medical staff that everyone I ever met in my life would just be laughing silly at the idea I was a crackhead, besides I explained "I'm a Republican, I don't do drugs".
In summary I've lived, gone to school, and worked along a 50 mile stretch of the 5 freeway. I will create the long version as time and my memory permit.
Register for Free to view all details!
Yearbooks
Register for Free to view all yearbooks!
Reunions