William Ball:  

Life Luckily, my parents were smart enough to move us to Lafayette from Oakland in 1951. After Lafayette Elementary, Springhill, Stanley Junior High and Acalanes, a BA in Psych from Berkeley, a Dr. in Pharmacy from UCSF, and several careers, I am married (since 84) w/ 2 kids, living in Alamo, CA by way of Ohio & L.A. Growing up in Lafayette in the 50s was idyllic, while Berkeley in the late 60s challenged all my ideas of right and wrong. I weaved my way safely through that and lead a life of calculated risk, doing things many of my peers thought were "adventurous" if not crazy, but they were really very safe and rewarding moves. All-in-all, things are working out very well. I quit my day job at 51 and developed a hobby with computers into another job. Now, if I could just develop my hobby with cars into a job, I'd be even happier. To have lived in this time of monumental change, despite all the worldwide turmoil, has been a glorious experience. I hope all my old friends over the years are happy and very well. School Acalanes was a very, very good high school in the 60s. Some of the teachers I had there are still embedded in my memory as truly influential individuals. Mr Annis in Physics and Trig was the picture of a dedicated teacher. Under his influence my interest in science really blossomed. Mr. Mehus, a new teacher at the time, kindled my life sciences bent in physiology class. There were many more teachers and very few that I would call only adequate. I was very well prepared for college life and found Berekely to actually be an easier academic environment than Acalanes. My grades actually went up substantially there. Anyway, cheers to Acalanes. College I loved Berkeley in the late 60s. The academics, the atmosphere, the music scene of the late 60s. What a combination. I lived in student-run housing (not university-run) and starting in my second year moved into a new co-ed house. That was exceptional if not unheard of at the time. I quickly got a very serious girlfriend with whom I stayed throughout college. Although we broke up after graduation ...Expand for more