The Anaheim High School Alumni Association (AHSAA) is proud to present the first-ever list of published Colonist authors to help preserve their literary legacies.
Hans Otto Storm – Class of 1913
Thomas J. Cashman Sr. – Class of 1950
Michael E. Gerber – Class of 1955
Terence J. Troup – Class of 1969
In celebration of “Read Across America,” a national observance of Dr. Suess’ birthday, a gift of 1500 books was presented to the Anaheim High Performing Arts Conservatory to share with area elementary students.
“A book for every child” is the goal of 1944 graduate Reggie Massey, who delivered the treasure trove of books to her alma mater just in time for the March 1, 2003, reading celebration at Benjamin Franklin Elementary School.
AHS drama students, with costumes, props and books in hand, walked to the nearby elementary school to perform tales from around the world and to serve as reading buddies to the K-6 students. The troupe, accompanied by AHS drama instructor Sharon King, was welcomed by Benjamin Franklin Principal Gregory Smet.
Along with teachers and students, parents also joined in the party by creating props for the reading celebration observed by thousands of students across the country in honor of Dr. Seuss, the man who gave the world classic children’s books like “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and “Green Eggs and Ham.”
For more information, contact the Anaheim High School Alumni Association at anaheimalumni@yahoo.com.
Anaheim High, the third oldest high school in Orange County, has a rich history that inspired writers to include “Old AU” in their books, including Tom Zaradich’s book Anaheim’s Dead – Ghostly Encounters With the Passed, which includes a chapter on Anaheim High and interviews with several AHS graduates and staff members.
The history of the Anaheim Union High School District and Anaheim High, established in 1898, is documented in Louise Booth’s book One to Twenty-Eight. Booth is a member of the Anaheim High Hall of Fame for her dedication as a teacher and her literary legacy.
Anaheim author and historian Stephen Faessel has included facts and photos about Anaheim High in his popular books documenting the history of the City of Anaheim. His wife Susan (Warden) Faessel from Class of 1967 is a major supporter of Anaheim organizations and service groups, including the Anaheim Public Library.
If you know of any other books featuring Anaheim High, please contact the AHSAA at anaheimalumni@yahoo.com.
Anaheim High has its share of famous alumni but only two that we know of who have had books written about their lives.
Charles Walters, a Class of 1930, graduate because an MGM director and choreographer who worked with a long list of Hollywood greats. His life is celebrated in Brent Phillip’s Charles Walters – The Director Who Made Hollywood Dance.
Another Anaheim High super star is Marie Wilson who has three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her work in radio, TV and film. Her fascinating story is told in Not So Dumb – The Life and Career of Marie Wilson by Charles Tranberg.
Other books exist that include mentions of Anaheim High athletes including Class of 1989 grad Dennis Bateman’s books on the history of football at Anaheim High and Orange County.
Ray Ortez from Class of 1937, as well as other Anaheim grads who played in the Mexican-American baseball leagues, are featured in a seven-book series on the leagues. His daughter, Monica Ortez, has co-authored one of the books in the series and writes about her father’s life as a star player who also was an outstanding athlete at Anaheim High.
Of the thousands of Anaheim High graduates who populate the world, there’s surely more alumni than listed here who have written books about their lives or on other subjects like Danny Dunton’s memoir of growing up in Anaheim. So far, we know of eight self-published Anaheim High authors and we’re proud to acknowledge:
Margaret Peter Hein – Class of 1938
Robert Fischle – Class of 1941
Ronald Muckenthaler – Class of 1948
Donald G. Zarlenga PhD – Class of 1960
Please let the AHSAA know of other alumni authors who are published authors by emailing anaheimalumni@yahoo.com.
Dr. June Glenn has contributed more than 50 years of service to the Anaheim community, including serving as president and a board member of the Anaheim Public Library Foundation.
Born in Long Beach and raised in Anaheim, June graduated from Anaheim High School and Fullerton College. Completing a BA and MA in Education at Chapman University, she continued her studies at the USC, where she earned a doctorate in education.
Working as an educator for the Anaheim City School District, she also taught graduate classes in reading education and psycholinguistics at CSU Northridge, Pepperdine University, and at the USC.
An active member of many service organizations in Anaheim, Dr. Glenn was honored in 2014 by the Cypress College Foundation American Citizen of the Year.
Her civic and philanthropic work includes serving as a member and chair of the City of Anaheim’s Community Development Advisory Board and the Anaheim Community Service Board. Anaheim Sister Cities Association received her services for more than 25 years as a member of the executive board and as the coordinator and teacher of the Student Exchange program.
She serves on the executive board of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Anaheim, the Anaheim Arts Council, Woman’s Division of the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce, and the KCGA Foundation. Since 2006, she has served as treasurer and scholarship chairman of We Give Thanks, an organization founded by Frank Garcia, a previous recipient of the Americana Man of the Year. Her presence on the Anaheim Public Library Foundation Board of Directors is a source of pride, serving as President (2000-2014) and chairing its annual fundraising event from 2002-2014. In addition, Sunkist Community Church has received many years of service from Dr. Glenn, a charter member.
Dr. Glenn has been recognized by many organizations. She received a Women of Distinction Award from the Anaheim Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association, Remarkable Woman Award by the Orange County Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (2005), Local Hero Volunteer of the Year from the Bank of America, and won three Honorary Service Awards and the California Golden Oak Service Award from the Parent Teacher’s Association. She was named Educator of the Year by the Anaheim City School District, and Kiwanian of the Year by the Kiwanis Club of Greater Anaheim, (2002, 2009).
Susan Faessel, a resident of Anaheim since 1960, is an alumnae who serves as a shining example to today’s Colonists of a citizen who gives back to her community. Susan has worked with numerous service organizations, especially those helping spread literacy and improving library services for Anaheim citizens.
In 2002, Faessel was appointed to the Anaheim Library Board, serving as its chair for six of the seven years. Concurrently she served on the Santiago Library System Board as a representative for Anaheim. She’s past president of the State of California Association of Library Trustees and Commissioners. During that time, Susan was involved in the planning and execution of a number of Anaheim Library capital projects.
Faessel also worked to establish relationships between various Anaheim City Departments that resulted in enhance Library facilities and operations, such as the final funding component of Anaheim’s second Bookmobile. She also belongs to Friends of Anaheim Library.
A graduate of CSU Fullerton, Susan received her Master’s in Educational Technology from Azusa Pacific University in 2001. She retired in 2009 from her 34 year career with the Orange Unified School District as a Speech Pathologist. In July 2011, Susan was appointed to the Anaheim Public Utilities Board and currently serves as its vice president.
Susan continues serving on boards and commissions for the City of Anaheim, including the Anaheim Historical Society, Mother Colony Household and Anaheim Museum. She is a founding member of Anaheim’s MuZeo Cultural Arts and History Center.
She is also an active member of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Anaheim, serving as the club’s president for two terms. The club has honored her with its Rookie of the Year and the Kiwanis Formula Award.
In addition, Susan is a member of Anaheim Ebell Club and Anaheim Beautiful. Along with her husband, Stephen, Susan supports Anaheim Fall Festival, Flag Day, Paint Your Heart Out and Anaheim Beautiful programs such as Green Ribbon Week, Neighborhood Clean Up, Memorial Tree and Holiday Lights Tour.
Faessel also participates on the Anaheim Redevelopment Downtown Design Task Force, the oversight committee of the Anaheim Redevelopment Agency. She was involved in planning Founders’ Park. In June 2009, she served for two years on the Anaheim Community Service Board that studies and makes Federal Community Development Block Grant funding recommendations to the City Council for various Anaheim not-for-profit social services programs.
She was honored to have her name placed at the Canyon Power Plant and at the Anaheim Water Recycling Demonstration Facility. She was also honored by the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce Women’s Division with its Annie Accolade Award. For her tireless service to the Anaheim Community, Susan and her husband are being honored as the 2016 Cypress College Foundation American Citizens of the Year.
One of Anaheim High’s best kept secrets is Class of 1930 graduate Charles Walters, who became a successful Broadway and Hollywood dancer, choreographer and director.
In a book about his life, Charles Walters – The Director Who Made Hollywood Dance by Brent Phillips, Walters is credited with being “responsible for staging some of the best remembered (now iconic) film musical sequences of the 1940s, showcasing Lucille Ball, Judy Garland, Lena Horne, Gene Kelly, Mickey Rooney, and too many other major Hollywood stars to list.
Following this, he directed — and often simultaneously choreographed — some of the most popular movie musicals made during Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio’s “golden age” and beyond. From his earliest directorial triumphs, Good News, Easter Parade, and The Barkleys of Broadway to his smash hits Lili, High Society, and The Unsinkable Molly Brown.”
After graduating from Anaheim, he attended USC to study law to please his family, but after a year he turned to his true love of theater and dance and learned his trade at the Pasadena Playhouse, one of the finest schools of dramatics on the West Coast.
His success on Broadway probably didn’t surprise his Anaheim High drama coach and fellow students. According to One to Twenty-Eight: A History of Anaheim Union High School District by Louise Booth, the first musical comedy performed at Anaheim starred student Walters in fall of 1928. Heigh-Ho was co-written and directed by Walters and his teacher Faye Schulz and “featured dancing and singing in the current Hollywood style.” So popular were the school productions during this time, tickets were sold at a downtown store, where patrons stood in line to get choice seats.
A long-time Anaheim resident whose parents are both Anaheim High Class of 1937 graduates, Monica Ortez has been involved with the Mexican American Baseball book series since 2012, when her father was featured in Mexican American Baseball in Orange County.
A star athlete while at Anaheim High, Ray Ortez also is featured in three additional books in the Arcadia Publisher’s seven-book series, including the book Monica co-authored, Mexican American Baseball in San Fernando Valley.
Ray Ortez – Class of 1937
She also writes for the Orange Countiana, a historical publication produced by the Orange County Historical Society.
Monica was born in Fullerton, raised in and currently resides in Anaheim. Her family, on her father’s side, has resided in Anaheim since the 1880s. Her mother was Florence Edith Spencer.
In 2013, Monica retired as an educator of 33 years, who managed a district-wide academic cultural-based American Indian Education Program for the Ocean View School District in Huntington Beach. She currently works for an educational enrichment program that teaches children academic and recreational activities after school at various school sites in north Orange County.
A board member of the Orange County Historical Society and former board member of the Anaheim Historical Society, Monica also volunteers her time as a docent at the Woelke-Stoffel House at Founder’s Park in Anaheim.
Author and historian Stephen J. Faessel has captured Anaheim’s history, including that of Anaheim Union High School, in his books Images of America: Early Anaheim and Remembering Anaheim.
Someone who’s truly earned the title of “Mr. Anaheim,” Faessel was born in 1950 of parents active in the local citrus industry. Faessel supported local history as past chairman OC Historical Commission and as a member of the Anaheim Museum Board of Directors and the Mother Colony Household.
Faessel served on the Commission’s Editorial Board for the republishing of the Orange County history, 100 Years of Yesterdays. He has served as the Commission’s Chair for the 2000 and 2001 terms and chaired the County’s Historic Site Sub-Committee.
He is a longtime volunteer researcher for the Anaheim Public Library in the Elizabeth Schultz Local History Room. In addition to being the Anaheim Public Utility Department’s unofficial Historian, he continues to write articles on Anaheim’s unique history, including his four recently published illustrated local history books, Early Anaheim and Anaheim 1940-2007 for Arcadia Publishing and Historic Photos of Anaheim and a coffee-table book, Remembering Anaheim both for Turner Publishing.
He has also crossed the division between historical preservation and civic growth as a member of the Anaheim Planning Commission and as past chairman of the Anaheim Public Utility Board, where he served as its unofficial historian.
In addition to his interest in local history, Faessel serves as vice-president of the Anaheim Community Foundation and as a board member of the Charitable Foundation of the Native Sons of the Golden West, which provides financial assistance to children with craniofacial birth defects.
Faessel lives in Anaheim with Susan (Warden), his wife of 35 years and an Anaheim High Class of 1967 graduate who has also tirelessly served the Anaheim Community. Stephan and Susan are being honored as the 2016 Cypress College Foundation American Citizens of the Year.
