Class of 1973 - In memoriam

Sacramento Bee, July 17, 1996
DALE ANDERSON
   Friends are invited to attend a Memorial Service on Thursday, July 18, 1996 at 8:30 AM at the Dietrich Theatre on the Campus of Sierra College for Dale Alan Anderson, 42, of Lincoln. He died July 6, in Lincoln. Born July 19, 1954 in Sacramento, Dale worked in facilities maintenance at the College for 12 years. He was an avid woodworker and enjoyed hunting, fishing, and diving. A "Jack of all trades," Dale possessed many talents. He is survived by his wife, Patricia of Lincoln; his step-daughter Crystal Correia; his parents, Georgia and Jack Anderson of Sacramento; two sisters, Terry
Anderson and Patty Anderson, both of Sacramento; four brothers, Doug Anderson of Texas, and Brian, Tom and Kenny Anderson, all of Sacramento; father-in-law Herbert Huffman and mother-in-law Ernestine Huffman of Loomis. At his family's request, memorial contributions may be directed to the Sierra College and referred to the Wood Shop for Continuing Projects.
11/29/00

  Paula passed away tragically only a couple of years after graduation. Although it's been almost 23 years, I think of her often. Some of my fondest memories are the times spent with Paula and Nancy Patton. The Three Musketeers! She'll be in my heart forever.
  Connie Hall

Sacramento Bee, Sept. 19, 1997
CLAIRE ANN MOWER
   In Sacramento September 17, 1997, beloved daughter of C. Arthur Mower and Ann Mower; loving sister of Garth C. Mower; devoted niece of Teresa L. Mower, Jack H. Mower, and John H. Pedler. Claire was a fourth generation Californian and a Sacramento native. She graduated from Willamette University where she was a member of Delta Gamma. She worked many years for the State of California Legislative Data Center. Claire was a lifelong nature lover and a longtime docent for the Sacramento Zoo. She visited many zoos of the world. Donations may be made to the Sacramento Zoological Society, 3930 Land Park Drive, Sacramento, CA 95822.
11/29/00

I remember Lynne as being a great person and having a wonderful singing voice. She was in choir with me and of course, she was also in the Madrigal group. It sad to hear that she's gone. -- Patty Michael

Too short a life for a lovely young woman! She was warm, funny, creative and I never saw her treat anyone badly. I was saddened to read she died so young. Danalee Lavelle

It's sad to hear that Glenn is gone. He always had a great sense of humor and I think that's something that we all need to keep going in this world. -- Patty Michael

Love affair with fire engines lasted a lifetime
By Steve Gibson
Bee Staff Writer
(Published Nov. 20, 1999)
   David Wagaman's love affair with fire engines began when he was 10. He would stand in front of his Carmichael home in the morning and salute as the local fire chief drove by. "Finally the chief came
up to our house and said he wanted to meet the little boy who
saluted him every morning," said Wagaman's brother, John.
   That meeting with Fire Chief Dan Donovan in the '60s led to a
continuing relationship between neighborhood firefighters and
Wagaman, who despite a developmental disability lived independently until he died last week at the age of 45.
   He wanted to be a firefighter so much that he became a regular at
Engine Co. 109 in Carmichael, visiting and sometimes eating lunch
with firefighters.
   When he was a student at Starr King Middle School and Encina High School, he stopped by the fire house in the afternoons and
firefighters would help with his homework.
   Because of his disability, he couldn't do simple math, but he
could use the Internet, read technical manuals and repair personal
computers. He lived on Supplemental Social Security and kept a
scanner in his apartment tuned to the American River Fire District
dispatch channel.
   That way, whenever the firefighters from Engine Co. 109 were
rousted out, Wagaman heard it.
   "If we were going down Fair Oaks Boulevard, he'd be out on the
street to give us a wave or a salute as we went by, even late at
night," said fire Capt. Brian Rice, his voice cracking with emotion.
"He just loved the fire department. He used to say, 'I know I can't
be a fireman because I'm different.'
   "That didn't stop him from coming in and talking about fire
department stuff," Rice said. "He loved us, and we loved him. He
knew every fire engine the . . . district ever owned, all the way back.
   "He was such a gentle person, just a good, good guy. I don't know
how I'm going to put into words how I felt about him. If we all had
the same attitude about life, we'd all be better people."
   Rice is to deliver the eulogy at a memorial service for Wagaman,
scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday at Lind Brothers Mortuary, 4221 Manzanita Ave., Carmichael.
   As part of the service, Rice said he will present Wagaman's mother, brother and sister the American flag that flew at half staff over
Engine Co. 109 on Nov. 12, the day Wagaman died.
   Wagaman, who lived alone in his apartment, was sitting in front of
his computer reading a letter from his brother when he collapsed
and died Nov. 12, said family friend Don McKenzie.
   Cause of death wasn't immediately known, family members said.
Results of an autopsy are pending.
   Wagaman always knew he was different from the other children he
grew up with, but he embraced life with dignity, McKenzie said.
   In high school, where he had a perfect attendance record over four
years, bullies would sometimes "force David into the bathroom and
work him over," McKenzie said. "They'd beat him up.
   "But David had such a big heart that his response would be, 'Well,
they must have been having a bad day.' He was not only forgiving,
but as generous as could be."
   Wagaman's interest in firefighting led to his father, the late John B. Wagaman, serving on the governing board of the American River Fire District.
   Though his disability kept him from holding a regular job, Wagaman
was able to volunteer three days a week at public libraries with a
group called Employment Enterprises for the Developmentally Disabled.
   "He couldn't make change for a dollar, but he could surf the Net
and work in the library," his brother said. "He wanted to be useful."
   Disarming people with his sincere smile and cheerful greeting, he
made the rounds in Carmichael nearly every day, stopping to visit
with business owners, sometimes at the Chamber of Commerce office.
   "He made his own world out there," said his mother, Mary Klingbeil
Wagaman. "Since he died, I've gotten calls from so many people I never knew anything about. He had a severe handicap, yet he communicated with nearly everybody in the community better than we did.
   "He made you want to love him. I am so proud that I could be the
mother of David. He taught me so much. He made me realize that the
disabled world is full of gentle and loving people."