California School for the Deaf (Fremont) announced some people as inductees for it’s first-ever Heritage Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

The ceremony was held during the homecoming weekend last week, and 26 inductees were named.

We are exceptionally proud that two of the Gallaudet 57ers is named among the 26 inductees.

In the community category of the Heritage Hall of Fame, the 57ers inductees are Ronald Hirano and Julian (Buddy) Singleton. Needless to say, but, they have done so much for their respective communities for years.

Hail to them for putting our class on the map.

Congratulations, Ron and Buddy.

Kay Francis and Joe

Cc: http://1957.gallaudetalumni.com/

It is never too late to announce the honors bestowed upon our classmates during the NAD conference last July.

We are proud and thrilled that Virginia Luke and Ronald Hirano were awarded at NAD’s Senior Citizens Luncheon ceremony with Senior Citizens Awards.

Virginia and Ron are very active in their senior years helping to make good of their respective organizations. They have unselfishly done great deeds to their organizations, and they deserved the awards.

We, the Class of 1957, congratulate you both for your honors and accomplishments toward senior cause.

Kay Francis and Joe

cc. http://1957.gallaudetalumni.com/

Ann Marie and her children would like for you to send him some letters and cards from time to time to cheer him up. Here is his mail information: Jack R. Hathway, Columbus Colony Elderly Care, Room 312, 1150 Colony Drive, Westerville, OH 43081. Jack’s birthday date is December 23rd.

On behalf of Class of 1957, we hope Jack will find continuation of happiness in Columbus Colony, and we pray for Ann Marie and the family.

FYI: www.columbuscolony.org

Kay Francis and Joe

1957 Classmates

We are very happy to share a newsworthy note from Al and Sally Pimentel with you. They have a hearing daughter, Carolyn, who received her Master’s at Gallaudet in 1981. She graduated with School Psychology as her major, and she has been with Indiana School for the Deaf as school psychologist ever since 1981.

THE TALLY:

We, the Class of 1957, have two deaf and three hearing children who enrolled and graduated from Gallaudet.

Deaf children:
Carlene Thumann-Prezioso in 1980 (BA) and 1984 (MA)
Judy Diot Pfau (ex-1982). Graduated in 1983 from Oregon College
William Jacobs in 2010 (BA)

Hearing children:
Carolyn Pimentel in 1981(MA)
Helen Thumann in 1991 (MA)
Mary Thumann in 2006 (MA) and August 2010 (PhD)

We hope we have made an accurate report.

Hugs,

Kay Francis and Joe

Class of 1957

CORRECTIONS AND ADDITIONS

The other day we emailed reporting Judy (Diot) Pfau was the first child of Class of 1957 classmates to be graduated from Gallaudet. We were wrong, and we want to apology to Miriam (Bredahl) Thumann who reported her daughter, Carlene Prezioso, graduated in 1980 with BA and she got her MA in 1984.

Judy’s mom (Virginia Luke) reported Judy did not graduate from Gallaudet as we thought she did. She, a member of Class of 1982, left Gallaudet and graduated from another college near Salem, OR. Right now she is a third-grade teacher at Maryland School for the Deaf, Frederick Campus.

Therefore, William (Bill) Jacobs nailed down as the second deaf child of Class of 1957 classmates to be graduated from Gallaudet.

And, we would like to mention that some of the hearing children of Class of 1957 classmates went to Gallaudet, and they earned their degrees at Gallaudet.

They are as follow:

Helen Thumann, MA in Deaf Ed in 1991.
Mary Thumann, MA in Linguistics in 2006 and is on her way to receive PhD this August.

Helen and Mary are members of Gallaudet faculty/staff along with their sister, Carlene, who is working as Special Assistant to the Dean of Graduate School and Professional Programs for Research/Institutional Review Board Coordinator.

Okay, corrections have been made. Please help us if we need additional corrections.

Please feel free to send us any news about you and your family. We will be very happy to announce the news to CLASS OF 1957.

Thank you.

Hugs,

Kay Francis and Joe

William, heartfelt congratulations to you from Class of 1957. We also extend the congratulatory message to John and Judith, too.

We had an opportunity to visit with them on Saturday, May 15, and showed the town to them. We learned William is going to take up masters’ work at McDaniel College in Westminster, MD for two years.

NOTE OF INTEREST:

William Jacobs is the second Gallaudet graduate whose parents are members of Class of 1957. Guess who was the first? Judy (Diot) Pfau, daughter of Virginia Luke and deceased Truman Diot, was the first one, and she graduated in 1982.

Kay Francis and Joe

Yesterday (Wednesday, May 12, 2010) some of the local classmates witnessed a beautiful ceremony honoring T. Alan Hurwitz.

The ceremony, The Inauguration of President T. Alan Hurwitz, was held at Gallaudet Field House before a good capable crowd. The tenth President of Gallaudet University was honorably bestowed by speeches given by some greeters from various organizations and groups along with some outstanding performances by Kendall students.

The afternoon program was an outstanding event, and President T. Alan Hurwitz made an excellent inaugural address.

President T. Alan Hurwitz and his wife, Vicki, are well-liked couple, and they are going to do great deeds in the coming years for Gallaudet and the Deaf Community.

Please watch the entire program by viewing video show in http://atweb.gallaudet.edu/videoevent/2010/inauguration/source.asp

Enjoy!

Kay Francis and Joe

We were notified of the death of Sherman Robertson who was one of seven students from Alabama School of the Deaf attending Gallaudet College in the fall of 1952.

We believe Sherman left Gallaudet at the end of 1952-53 school year.

We have an obituary article about him, and the message was sent to us from Kay Francis’ friend in Alabama.

The obit article states (in brief):

“Leland Sherman Robertson, 75, passed away on February 12, after suffering a brief illness. He was a long-time resident of San Antonio {TX} where he was a member of San Antonio Deaf Mission.

We, the Class of 1957, have lost another member of our classmates, and we want to express our sympathy to Sherman’s family.

Kay Francis and Joe

Link: Betty Battle Obituary: Betty Battle’s Obituary by the Knoxville
News Sentinel.

BATTLE, BETTY JEAN – age 78 of Knoxville passed away Sunday, January 24,
2010 in the compassionate comfort and care of the physicians and staff
at Brakebill Nursing Home. She was a loving wife for 54 years, as well
as a loving mother and grandmother. Survivors include husband, Raymond
Neil Battle; son and daughter-in-law, Jeffery Mark and Stephanie Carroll
Battle of Farragut, Tennessee; grandson, Joshua Andrew Battle of
Atlanta, Georgia; sisters, Peggy Hudson of Montgomery, Alabama, Ann
Crumpton of Montgomery, Alabama, Pat Hodge of Jack., Al.; brothers,
Bobby Johnson of Opp., Al., Harry Johnson of Opp., Al. and Jim Johnson
of Columbus, Georgia; as well as a number of nieces and nephews and many
caring neighbors and friends. Bets was an active member of the deaf
community and served on many community boards. She also served the city
of Knoxville as a member of the mayor’s advisory council on disability
services. Among her many awards, Betty was recognized by the YWCA as a
finalist for the 2008 Volunteer Community Service Award. The family will
receive friends on Wednesday, January 27, 2010 at Berry Funeral Home,
5:00-7:00 PM. A chapel service will follow at 7:00 PM with Rev. Greg
Johannsen presiding. Graveside services will be conducted on Thursday,
January 28, 2010 at 10:00 am at Green Hills Cemetery, Etowah. In lieu of
flowers the family requests donations be made to the Knoxville Center of
the Deaf. A guest book and additional information are available
at www.berryfuneral-home.com. You are invited to share your thoughts
and memories of Betty at her memorial website at www.MeM.com.