The Anaheim High School Alumni Association salutes the many graduates who have some way inspired and supported literacy. The list of graduates who have become teachers would be too long to include but we honor them for their years of dedication to teaching our youth.

In addition, many graduates have gone on to serve in positions within their communities that help promote literacy. Graduates we’ll recognize here include:

Dr. June (Jungkeit) Glenn – Class of 1955

Susan Warden Faessel – Class of 1966

Reggie Massey – Class of 1944

Thank you for your dedication to the Anaheim community.

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

Lois Battle – Class of 1956

Jerry Feil – Class of 1956

Tom Nabbe – Class of 1961

Virnell Bruce – Class of 1964

Sheila Lowe – Class of 1967

Dan Barker – Class of 1967

Terence J. Troup – Class of 1969

James Burns – Class of 1971

Dennis Bateman – Class of 1989

Gustavo Arellano – Class of 1997

     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.”

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.

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.