I began my formal education when my parents enrolled me in Tiny Tots at South Sunset Playground in the fall of 1958. Mrs. Virginia Bartleson was my teacher. Having successfully completed the rigorous requirements for graduation, I moved on to kindergarten at Ulloa Annex (38th & Ulloa) the following year. There were two kindergarten teachers at the school. One was Mrs. Bamberger. Of course, the kids all called her “Mrs. Hamburger.” I had the other teacher, Mrs. Malone. My most vivid memories of kindergarten are of snack time (graham crackers and lukewarm milk in half-pint cartons), and nap time. These two years of academia prepared me well to begin my eight-year career at Saint Gabriel School.

Of the years I was enrolled at Saint Gabriel School, the 1964-65 academic year was the most memorable. It was my fifth grade year. I had spent the previous summer enjoying a variety of activities. I spent two weeks as a camper at Silver Tree Day Camp, located in The City behind Glen Park Playground. My family enjoyed a summer vacation at Disneyland. I earned a bit of money cutting lawns for several neighbors. Despite the ever-present Sunset District fog, it was a great summer.

My fifth-grade teacher was Miss Juanita de Leon. Born on February 9, 1936, if she were still alive, today would be her 87th birthday. She was only 28 years old when the 1964-65 school year began. She loved baseball, especially the San Francisco Giants and the Houston Astros. In October, she let us watch some of the World Series games between the St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Yankees during class time. She encouraged my love for writing, which I appreciated. She also asked me, on several occasions, to sit in a chair next to her desk and read off the scores on student tests and assignments as she entered those scores into her grade book. I felt pretty special. After more than 50 years in the classroom, most of those years at Saint Gabriel School, Miss de Leon retired from teaching in June 2013. She passed away in January 2021 at the age of 84. 

The 1964-65 academic year was a good year for our sports teams, too. I played on the fifth grade soccer, basketball, and baseball teams. Our baseball team won the CYO city championship that year. I cannot claim to have been a significant contributor to the success of the team, but I enjoyed the experience immensely. 

The summer following fifth grade was pretty good, too. Again, I spent two weeks as a camper at Silver Tree Day Camp. My family enjoyed a summer vacation at Pine Grove Resort in Lake County. My parents let my siblings and me sleep outside on the deck of our cabin. It was the first time I had ever experienced sleeping under the stars. Never before had I seen so many stars in the night sky! And to earn a little money for myself, I continued to cut lawns for a few of our neighbors. 

I felt pretty good about myself in fifth grade. That would change the following year.