Daily Archives: January 16, 2021

First grade, Robison Elementary School, 1965-1966

1965, first grade photo. It’s not included in the little yearbook that follows. Someone cut out my photo.

I started first grade in September, 1965. I was six years old. My teacher was Mrs. Goldbaum. She had been at Robison a very long time, and taught several of my older siblings. I was a bright kid and loved school, but I do remember crying on the first day. I was a big chipilon. I also remember reading Dick and Jane books and singing Frere Jacques in front of the class. My friends were Billy Fass, Larry Mendoza, and Hugo Ruthling. If I recall correctly, I had two little girlfriends, Roberta and Sue. One time in reading circle, they both kissed me on the cheek at the same time. I was in heaven. Another time, I was walking Sue home and my mom came by to pick me up. She said she came to get me but I told her, no thanks, because I was walking my girlfriend home. Mom got a big kick out of that and told everyone about it. Sue didn’t come back after first grade. Her family moved away from the neighborhood. She was a cutie pie. I made some lifelong friends in first grade and am still in touch with several of them. I can’t believe this was over 55 years ago!

I attended Robison from 1965 to 1971. My teachers were Mrs. Goldbaum, Miss Stevens, Mrs. Conn, Mrs Pilling, Mrs. Wagner and Mrs Darnall. Five of the six of them are pictured here. Mrs. Pilling was my 4th grade teacher and she was new that year and replaced Mrs. Leinhardt, who isn’t included here either.
Over the years, I was in the same classes as a lot of these kids. Most of them went on to Mansfeld Jr. High and Tucson High. I still remember most of their names, and some are friends on Facebook to this day. Here are the names of some of the kids I remember whose photos are on this page: Victor Rivera, Jane Cleary, Raymond Rodriguez, Cindy Zimmerman, Carole Ruiz, Bobby Felix, Jeannie McKaben, Ernie Moreno, Yolanda Gomez, Billy Hernandez, Mike Leskowski, Yvonne Virgil, Janet Harrison, Chuck Leon, Christina Linarez, Greg Gibson, Helene Diamond.
Mrs. Goldbaum, my teacher, also taught my brothers Carlos and Rudy, and my sister Becky back in the 50’s. My two girlfriends are in the third row from the bottom. Sue is the second girl in that row and Roberta is the last girl. My photo was just above Roberta’s, but as I said, someone cut it out. Here are some of these kids’ names: John DeConcini, Doug Adamson, Reuben Beltran, Laura Johnson, Ronnie Hale, Billy Fass, Olivia Contreras, Susan Wood, Larry Mendoza, Roberta Aros, Michael Pearlman, Linda Calloway, Hugo Ruthling.
Pictured here: Selina Suarez, Linda Lucas, Albert Soto, Oscar Munoz, Freddie Corral, Valerie Filip, John Maldonado, Tommy Kraft, Eugene “Mugsy” Olivares, Peter Otero, Sara Horowitz, Tommy Craney. and many others…
Pitured here: Cathy Paredes, Ernie Carrillo, Steven Fontes, Marion Franc Albert Yanez, Cathy Zimmerman, Jerry Mendoza, among others.
Included here: Susan Miner, Tommy Calloway, Debbie Romo and many others.
Included here: Elsa Montoya, Sandra Hernandez, Sandra Gardner, Ricky Fass and others.
Included here: Maritza Suarez, Rick Giglotti, Ruben Suarez, John Barrios and others.
Included here: Delma Rivera, Melinda Palacios, “Tiny” Romo.
Included here: Frankie Franco, Freddie Diaz (my brother), Cathy Carrillo, Brenda Jaurigue, Becky Romo and others.
Included here: Anna Marie Arenas, Mickey Lopez and others.

Included here: Xavier Suarez, Oscar Hernandez.
Included here: Chris Perez and others.