Jane Garst Kamps lives in Linden, Calif., an agricultural community 10 miles east of Stockton. When I talked to her, the peach trees were in glorious bloom. She has four children, 53 to 60, and four grandchildren, none of them nearby. She is active in the garden club and keeps busy being a "good citizen." She says she lives in the present, working out twice a week with a fitness trainer.
There is an active Stanford Club in Fresno, Calif., says Betty Jean Poplin Rose. She reads my column "first thing," she reports. She has traveled extensively and was looking forward to taking two daughters and sons-in-law on a Panama Canal cruise. She has three grandchildren and a great-grandson, all living in California. She says her bridge game "keeps me going." Louis Sullivan retired to a ranch in Cottonwood, Calif., four hours north of San Jose. He raises cattle there.
Ray Whitaker, JD '48, says he is "still alive" in the same place in Sacramento where he was an attorney with the state. He has a wife, three kids and five grandchildren, all very admirable. Catherine McCarthy Belkonen didn't have any news for me in Santa Barbara, Calif. She keeps in touch with Eileen Chawner Davis, '47.
William Barton only attended Stanford for one year, '42 to '43. He was in the V12 program at Cal, then Princeton and finally Annapolis. He served on a destroyer for two years. Back in Sacramento, he worked at Hewlett-Packard and then General Electric for 32 years. He also has interests in real estate. He has two sons and one granddaughter. He goes fishing and hunting, belongs to Rotary and was president of the Zoological Society. It was nice to chat with Betty Lou Terry Lawrence in Pebble Beach, Calif. She plays golf twice a week and recently shot a hole-in-one. She is "hooked" on genealogy. Her five grandchildren are in college. She used to see Phyllis Kenyon Williams before they sold their place in Pebble Beach to move to San Ramon, Calif.
Jane Blair Vilas retired from owning the Evans Telephone Co. in Patterson, Calif. She has three children, three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, all girls. She lives in Turlock, Calif., where the chamber of commerce named her "Humanitarian of the Year." She has served on the Salvation Army board and is very active at CSU-Stanislaus. Jane attends the Gallo Performing Arts Center in Modesto and the Carnegie Arts Center in Turlock. Being part of the Vilas family has led to an interesting life. Jane's 13-year-old granddaughter has Stanford in her sight. Mary Vilas is not related to, nor acquainted with, Jane. I tried to reach her in Monterey, Calif., but to no avail. I'll try next issue.
Carmichael, Calif., is home to Milo Nittler, who lives in Eskaton Village. He retired from his medical practice in '87. He has four children—a retired teacher, an engineer, a nurse and a CPA—and four grandchildren. He plays tennis three times a week and bridge twice. He travels and is interested in natural history. He comes to campus for some of the women's basketball games. His grandchildren are students at UCLA, UC-Davis and Chico State, and the youngest is in high school.
The Stanford Associates held an award ceremony in April, and among others, honored Martin Anderson, JD '49, with a Governors' Award. There was also a Gold Spike reception and dinner. The Associates recognize excellence in volunteer service to Stanford.
I had a pleasant chat with Betty Peterson Winthers in Salinas, Calif. She is using her nursing skills caring for her husband. She has two daughters. One is interested in calligraphy and lives in Nashville, Tenn. The other divides her time between Salt Lake City and Carmel Valley. Betty's grandchildren are in college at the U. of Rochester and UC-Davis. Betty has caring neighbors and "life is very good."
A new home in Clovis, Calif., has replaced the ranch belonging to Carolyn Taylor Pressey and her husband. They sold their property to the city of Fresno for a water treatment plant. They train German shepherds. Their grandchild is a senior at UC-Davis.
That's the news for this issue. I always need more as you know, so please help. Cheers!
