We remember these classmates and teachers who have passed away (click on highlighted links to see additional information):

CLASSMATES

• Ron Bagby (2011)
• Susan Marie Barrett
• Ronald Albert Basso (1982)
• Chester “Chet” Beers (1987) – Chet is one of two classmates who died as a result of the Vietnam War.  Chet suffered and died from the effects of Agent Orange.  His name is memorialized on a monument near the Vietnam Memorial in Washington DC.  Chet wrote several poems about his suffering, seen in the following link. Poetry from a Disabled American Patriot
• Donald Burkhead (2002)
• Shirley (Carpoff) Verenade (2009)
• Burl Cohen (2017)
• John Curtis
• Alan Davidson, Ph.D. (2011)
• Thomas Laurin Dillon (1988)
• Warren “Mark” Doswell (1994)
• Jim Duguid (2010)
• Judy Ann Dulfer Young (1997)
• Richard Edwin Farrell, Jr. (2003)
• Michael Wade Fisher (2014)
• James Craig Gilliam (2001)
• David Gurll (2022)
• Kathy (Haff) Ruckteschler (2014) San Ramon Express
• Terry (Haff) Lembi (2023)
• Diane Hathaway (1967)
• Timothy Michael Heagarty
• Christine Hightower
• Donna Louise (Hoppas) Nichols (1979)
• John Ernest Huff
• Carolyn (Hull) Richardson (2006)
• Pamela Jones
• Allen King (2022)
• Don Lembi (married to Terry Haff – 2009)
• Walton “Wink” Lawrence (2011)
• Walter Lebedeff (2013)
• Donald Vance Leland (2021)
• William F. “Bill” Luce
• Elizabeth (McCarley) Devisser
• John McCulloch (2020)
• Elizabeth (Michaels) Hearne
• Robert Lightcap, Geography, Varsity Football Coach (1995)
• Thomas “Tom” Neese (1996)
• Gordon Olson (2004)
• Steve Pullman
• David Ragsdale (2016)
• Greg Redburn (1977)
• John Runge (1991)
• Linda (Schroeder) Bunnell (1997)
• Suzan Elaine Scott
• Ross Edward Shannon
• William “Bill” Strauss (2007) – Capitol Steps, Washington Post- Obituary, Washington Post – Editorial, New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, CNN.com, Ragged Thots (blog), History Unfolding (blog), David Kaiser, Open Left (blog), Justin Krebs
• John Sutherland (2017)
• Pete Torrey (2024) – Pete Torrey, loving husband, father, brother, real estate broker, athlete, sports fan, kind mentor and friend to many died on August 21, 2024. Born in Hartford, CT, he moved to California at age 4 and lived in Piedmont, then Phoenix where he became a lifelong Cubs fan, and finally to San Mateo. He graduated from Burlingame High School where he competed in football and track. After two years at UCSB he graduated from San Jose State University where he met the love of his life, Jean. They were married in 1970. Pete then went into the TV business working at KNTV, KXTV, & WANE-TV CBS in Ft. Wayne, IN, where he was the Sports Anchor for 5 years. After leaving broadcasting in 1977 he began a long career as a successful residential real estate broker. He joined Century 21 Hosking where he was awarded the International Hall of Fame Award. His son Zack joined him in 2004 and The Torrey Team was born. The duo moved to J. Rockcliff Realtors and his daughter Andrea joined them in 2009. The Torrey Team continued to grow and joined Compass in 2019 as founding members of Compass Walnut Creek. Pete wrote a book called Safe Passage Guaranteed about his times in television which won the Chicago Screen Writers award for best book at the 2024 Summer Festival. He is survived by his loving wife Jean, son Zack (Brittney), daughter Andrea Bishop (Tom) and grandchildren Jocelyn and Cole Torrey, Jake, Jeremy and Sydney Bishop. He is also survived by his sisters Robin Eisan (Lee) and Eve Bresnahan (Tim), sister-in-law Linda Vorpahl and various nieces, nephews and cousins. A Celebration of Life will be held at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 399 Wiget Ln, Walnut Creek, on September 26, 2024 at 11 a.m. A scholarship fund has been set up in Pete’s name at Burlingame High School. In lieu of flowers please donate to the Pete Torrey Memorial Scholarship by visiting https://ets.rocks/4ejvHy4
• Julia Elaine (Tarter) Prager (1998)
• Cindie Jane (Willey) Wirgler (2011)
• Karen Lee (Wirkkala) Karst (2009)
• Robert “Bob” Dean Workman (1981)
• Thomas “Tom” Henry Yarbrough
• Frank Michael Zustiak (1970) – Frank is the second of two classmates to have died because of the Vietnam War.  Frank was paralyzed while in combat, receiving the Purple Heart for his grave injuries.  However, following his return home, Frank ended his life. As one classmate wrote, “The only reason he died was because of the paralyzing injury he suffered while under arms for our country.  He was not killed immediately on the battlefield.  It took 2.5 years for the bullet that paralyzed him to kill him.” In 2023, his sacrifice was finally memorialized at the Vietnam Veterans Monument in Washington, D.C. (The Wall) when his name was inscribed in the digital honor role of those who served in Vietnam. He is also memorialized at the El Dorado County Veterans Monument in Placerville.

TEACHERS

• Hildegard Bals, German (2015)
• Ruben Beltran, Spanish (2010) – RememberingCA.us
• Albert Biggs, Mathematics (1994)
• Bob Booker, History, Asst. Football Coach (2012)
• Roland Christensen, English, Journalism, Driver’s Ed (2020)
• Robert Fertig, Mathematics (1984)
• Dorothy Fowler, Girls Phys Ed. (1999)
• Karl Griepenburg, Track and Field/Cross Country Coach (2018)k
• Florence Gulla, Spanish (1997)
• Donald “Deke” Harger,  Biology/Earth Sciences (2014) – San Francisco Chronicle
• Fred Roy Holmes, Government (2009) – RememberingCA.us
• Robert Lightcap, Geography, Varsity Football Coach (1995)
• Lloyd Luperini, Algebra, Biology (2020)
• Victor Mangini (Vice Principal) – San Francisco Chronicle, The Daily Journal, Capitol Words, The Oakland Tribune, Burlingame Historical Society
• Marcus Matthias, Geography, Economics (2015)
• Charles “Chuck” Mink, Chemistry (2014)
• John Rando, Band (2016)
• Muriel Richens, Shorthand, Business (2006)
• Michael Lawrence Short, Music (1997)
• Marshall Umbleby, English, Journalism (2016)
• Principal Richard Williams, Ph.D. (2020)
• Herbert Woods, History (1997)

Should you know of any classmates or teachers who have passed away and are not memorialized here, please email details to the webmaster.