Del Valle High School

If you know details or want to share memories about classmates or faculty who have passed, please contact us so that we can give a more appropriate memorial to their lives. Be sure to leave your name with the information. Thank you.

Dan Adams

Danny Adams died of drowning several years ago. He lost control of his car. It plunged into the river near Stockton.

Photo from the 1966 Yearbook

Bob Allen

Bob was a friend of my family. I found in him a considerate and sensitive person. He served in Vietnam War and died in a motorcycle accident after returning home. It hit my mother especially hard, as she considered him a second son. Shari Dyer with the help of Bill Price.

Debbie Anderson

Debbie Anderson Hartman died February 8, 1989 of cardio-myopathy. She went to the doctor with flu-like symptoms. They sent her home and she died within days. She had two small boys at the time-Ben and Matt, now grown with children of their own. She was my sister-in-law and good friend. She was so full of life and vitality. Our classmate, Leona Page Anderson, was also Debbie's sister-in-law. Leona is still married to Gary, one of Debbie's older brothers.

submitted by Debb Maurer

Greg Briody

Greg Briody died August 7, 2016 of a cardiac arrest.

Don Caziarc

Information courtesy of Mike Farrell and the Acalanes Union High School District Directory

Eileen Farrell

Information courtesy of Mike Farrell

Jim Huff

Jim Huff passed away March 2014 from complications from a stroke. Eulogy written by Mark Hull.

MARK'S BLOG--Eulogy TO THE ROCKET MAN--------------

" I read (heard) the news today, oh boy, about a man..." who died before his time. The ROCKET MAN lost his battle YESTERDAY......"now there's a shadow hanging over me".....oh I will grieve for yesterday. Yesterday we were classmates and he was a man among boys. He was James Dean, Elvis Presley, the Fonz, and Nolan Ryan wrapped into an enigma of cool talented confidence. Quarterback of the championship football team, stud p...itcher on the championship baseball team, he came to be known as "The Rocket" during his college days, so dubbed by his opponents who had to face the fastball, which was clocked by New York Yankees scouts at 100 MPH! Following college at Cal Berkeley he pitched for a number of years in the Yankees farm system, though he never made the big show. Like many classmates I lost track of him after high school, but never forgot his enduring image on the landscape of my youth.

Years later I'm hanging and singing at Mr. Lucky's in Walnut Creek, and a muscular guy with a full head of white hair is singing "Love Me Tender" "real good for free" (as Joni Mitchell sang). When he's done he takes up the stool next to me at the bar, and I realize....it's THE ROCKET MAN! Though we shared a lot of the same spaces years before, we were never close, but now we were "brothers in arms" at the microphone, and started a conversation filled with reminiscences of our lost youth and school days. I would see him fairly often and there was always good conversation and mutual respect for someone else who got up and sang in public. Eventually, he stopped turning up and sadly I never saw him again. YESTERDAY, a phone call came from his brother with the news that "THE ROCKET MAN" had passed away. I will never forget and always admire my classmate.............JIM HUFF

Susan Mathis Ferstler

Sue Mathis Ferstler passed away on Friday, April 23, 2010.She was our classmate, a hard worker on the reunion committee, and a friend. She lived her first 30 years of life in Walnut Creek. She received her AA Degree from DVC in 1970. She worked at John Muir Hospital for 33 years as a Unit Secretary. She lived in Antioch for the last 30 years of her life. She was known for her great abilities to get treasures and bargains at garage sales. She had a heart of gold and would help any and all. She was so organized and frugal and loved working with power tools. She was preceded in death by her husband of 17 years,Tom Ferstler and son Eric Charron and her brother Terry Mathis. Debb Maurer

Jeff Fowler

d. 1968 or 1969
Information courtesy of Bob Russell

Tom Fowler

Tom died of exposure, after getting lost on an outing.
Information courtesy of Brian Eukel

Glenn Frechin

Glenn Frechin passed away in June 2005. Gene Frechin

Sue Harper

Susan Lynn Harper Capozzo
November 30, 1950 - January 5, 2016

Susan died peacefully and unexpectedly in her sleep in Las Vegas. She was born in the Bay Area where she was called by some of her closest friends, "Sweet Suzette of Lafayette." Sue was always the life of the party. Quick with a quip. Quick to laugh. Everyone loved being around her. She moved to Honolulu, Hawaii for one year with her parents as a teenager. She thought she was Gidget. After graduation, she moved back to the mainland, where she graduated from the University of Nevada in Reno. Sue Harper, as she was known then, met many lifetime friends and eventually the love of her life, Don Capozzo, who played on the football team along with quarterback Chris Ault. Sue was attracted to his good looks, his football physique and the fact he was named lineman of the year! Don and Sue moved around the country, following his career in the hotel business, going from Los Angeles to the Chicago area to Orlando, Florida. After Don passed away suddenly and unexpectedly, Sue moved back to Reno to be closer to her college friends. She was a teacher, real estate agent, but most importantly, she was a terrific wife and mother to her three children, Bart, Brian, Kim and her husband Dana Wagner. She also leaves behind brothers Steve and Jeff and the light of her life, granddaughter Kathryn. Sue and 10 year old Kathryn had many sleepovers and movie dates. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Mary and William Harper. Sue will be dearly missed by her family, taken too soon. In lieu of flowers, you can make a donation to our local Make A Wish organization in the name of Susan Capozzo.

Published in Reno Gazette-Journal from Jan. 15 to Jan. 17, 2016

Bob Harris

Bob died in a motorcycle accident in May 1992 on his way to the Calavares County Fair. He very popular. One of the local pubs, Mr. Lucky, shut down and threw a huge memorial party after the service. Later that summer the motorcycle club put on a benefit barbeque to raise funds for his son and daughter's education.
Greg Harris, class of 1970

Clay Heatley

Sorry to inform the reunion committee that Clay Heatley has passed away from cancer on Friday Feb 1, 2008. Tim Campbell

I'm so very sorry. I remember Clay as a person with gentle humor, integrity and having an easy-going nature. I instinctively liked and trusted him. My heartfelt sympathies go out to his family and friends. Shari Dyer

I was able to talk with Clay about a month before he died. He told me he has a wonderful wife and two sons. He saw alot of the world and is at peace. Such a wonderful person. Debi Barrett Miller

Clay was my best friend while I was at Del Valle. I had been looking for him for a couple of years and to miss connecting by just a month or so is regrettable-he was such a great guy. Joe "Pepe" Walker

Don Howard

Don Howard passed away in 2016 from cancer. Don had been homeless in Los Angeles. His older sister, Kathy, helped Don in his final days. Information courtesy of Ken Lowe.

David Krueger

David Krueger passed away before the last reunion. I don't know the details. Susan Mathis Ferstler

Bill Mitchell

Bill Mitchell passed in September, 2016.

Linda Nargang

I am sorry to add Linda Nargang. She died from breast cancer a few years ago. Such a waste. She was a doctor in Clovis (she was my brother's doctor ).

I really liked her around school, always friendly and positive. I knew her better as I was close friends with Mike Nargang. He passed away a few years ago as well. He died from living his life too hard. He was exceptionally smart as was his sister (Mike was from class of 69).

I miss them both. Bryan Coleman

Chris Noleroth

Information courtesy of Susan Mathis Ferstler

Richard Otto

Dick Otto passed away on Jan 13, 2013. Information courtesy of Mike Farrell

Paula Palmer

Pala Palmer died in 2013. Information courtesy of Nancy Lupton

Patty Parsons

Patty Parsons
With a breaking heart I have sad news. Patty Parsons Emry passed away early Monday morning, February 12, 2018. Her daughter said Patty apparently passed away from a heart attack in her sleep. She said Patty looked peaceful and out of pain. Patty was the very first friend that my sister, Janine and I made when first moving to Lafayette in 1964 right before freshman year. We kept our horses at the same barn and little did we know what a 50-plus year friendship that would become. I will miss her warm heart, feisty optimism and joyous laughter. Joan (Doe) Clingman Foster

Joyce Peterson

Joyce Ann Peterson Jarrard-

October 26, 1949-Feburary 22, 2009- Resident of Danville. Joyce was a very special, tender hearted, kind person who touched the hearts of all who knew her. She was an active member of her church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Joyce's absolute joy in life came from being a wife, mother and grandmother. She was a mother of 4 and grandmother of 9. She was married to her husband Craig for 39 years. She received an award at our 40th year reunion for having the most grandchildren. Inspite of being weak from cancer she was so happy to be able to attend the 40th and so proud that her hair was growing back. She fought a hard fight. She will be greatly missed.

Submitted by Debb Maurer

Rick Raynes

Richard Earl "Rick" Raynes Dec. 7, 1949 - August 29, 2016
After Del Valle, Rick joined the Navy, saw action in Viet Nam, and later went to DVC and Chico State, where he earned his B.S. degree in 1976. He was hired by the Navy, and worked for them at Treasure Island.
He received four Special Act awards from the Navy for his "expertise, motivation and perserverance in demanding situations".
He also worked for the Marine Corps at their Logistics Base in Barstow, retiring in 2001. For the next three years he enjoyed family, trips to Tahoe, and fishing and target shooting with his friends.
Rick suffered a massive stroke in April of 2004 and spent his last twelve years at Bayberry Convalescent Care in Concord.

Barb Shirey

Barb Shirey Hansen died of a brain tumor at least 5 or 6 years ago. Deb Maurer, 2011

Dee Smithers

Dee was fun to be around. I always looked forward to seeing her, and still carry sadness that she chose to leave us. Shari Dyer

I enjoyed spending time with Dee. She taught me to savor words, to find inspiration in them, to find a philosophy of life, to begin to develop an inner life. I was totally captivated by the intensity with which she questioned, she explored, she wrote. She was extremely sensitive and extremely aware of herself in her world. Bronwen Heuer

Dee was my best friend in high school. I spent memorable time with her and her parents. Dee was extraordinarily creative, passionate, capable and fun - I learned much from her. I lost touch with Dee during college, but I am certain she continued a search for meaning, always with great kindness and generosity. Dee was very, very special and we miss her. Win Sale

Dee Smithers was one of my very best friends. We remained close and saw each other in Sacramento, often. We talked on the phone and said how much we love each other two days before she left us. My heart is still sad. Debi Barrett Miller

Paul Ramey

Cindy Whittet

Cindy Whittet passed away unexpectedly from a stroke on 2/8/2014. She had a love for learning, plants and animals. She was known to be a friend to all, with upbeat and boundless energy. Information courtesy of Debbie Mauer and the Auburn Journal.

Greg Williams

I was told by a friend of mine that Greg Williams had passed away several years ago of an incurable disease. His parents owned Shakeys Pizza Parlor. Susan Mathis Ferstler

Alan Wirth

Alan passed away about ten years ago of a heart attack.
Information courtesy of Mark Richards

Faculty

June Anderson - Office

Information courtesy of Mr. Hoy

Don Black - English

Information courtesy of Mr. Hoy

Ronald Blakeman - Industrial Arts

Information courtesy of Mr. Hoy

Clare Carroll - Library

Information courtesy of Mr. Hoy

Gail Clark - Social Studies

Information courtesy of Mr. Hoy

Iris Cavagnaro, Counselor

Found onlne. Iris May Cavagnaro passed Feb. 23, 2017.

Joe Daly - Science

Information courtesy of Mr. Sharretts

Barbara Doering - Math

Information courtesy of Mr. Hoy

John Dosky - Social Studies

Information courtesy of Mr. Sharretts

Robert Ehrlich - Social Studies

Information courtesy of Mr. Hoy

Craig Gregorson - Math

Information courtesy of Mr. Sharretts

Bruce Handley - Counseling

Information courtesy of Mr. Sharretts

Phillip Huff - Industrial Arts

Information courtesy of Mr. Sharretts

Edward Kellog - Social Studies

Information courtesy of Mr. Hoy

Robert King - Spanish

Information courtesy of Bryan Wade:

Just received this from Dave Agazzi -
Wanted to let you know that sadly Bob King passed away peacefully at home today (6/30) at approximately 11:00 A.M. He was (I think) 85 or 86.Bob taught Spanish at Del Valle for many years and was the head of the Language Department for some years. My brothers and I kept in contact with him all these years helping him when we could. Cab Bond and I built retaining walls, fences, and painted at his home in the Walnut Creek hills back in the late 60's. Bob was a devoted Buddhist and hosted many religious get togethers at his home. For a guy who contracted polio as a kid he never was down or negative about life. Always smiling and joking around every day. Polio hit him hard as he got well into his senior years and he became bedridden Through the years former students and my brothers Bob and Steve visited and stayed in contact with him, He read more books than I would ever hope to and maintained a library in his home.A very interesting guy with outlooks and opinions that made you think.He loved to repeat the story about when I was his class assistant and an unruly student (Bob Pulford) stuck his head in the lower open drop window and proceeded to disturb the class. I don't know what came over me but I closed the window on his head and neck giving poor Pulford some pain. As I released my grip on the window and Pulford took off I turned to hear Bob King roaring with laughter, a laughter which spread to the whole room. Bob Pulford became a friend for life visited Bob over the years. Such was Bob King. I will miss him and always treasure our friendship,

June Luhks - Math

Information courstesy of Mr. Hoy

Frank McDonnell - Language

Information courtesy of Mr. Sharretts

Joan Nogueda English

Ms. Nogueda passed in April 2017. Information courtesy of her husband, Paul.

Her classes were wonderful. When she related the Canterbury Tales in Old English, I was enchanted. Shari Dyer

There is a tribute to her here.