AlumniGONE, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN!
MILLIKAN TEACHERS/ADMINISTRATORS
There are many names which have little or no information listed beneath them. If anyone has information regarding persons on this list, or someone left off, please contact the web master:Click Here to Send Email to Paul
Return to Page 1
|
My name is Beverly Soderstrom Langdon. Mr. Pappone was my band teacher in 7th and 8th grade at Franklin Jr. High school in Long Beach in 1953 & 1954. I wrote a letter to the editor of the Press Telegram on 6-14-97. It didn't get published. I'm sure that there are many people who wrote about how they loved Michael Pappone. Here's what I wrote: Dear Editor, It was with great sadness that I saw the obituary for Dr. Michael A. Pappone. He was my band teacher at Franklin Jr.High School in 1953 & 1954. I can't begin to express the impact he had on my life. Sometimes in 4th period band class, we wouldn't even play a note. Mr. Pappone would talk to us for the whole period - about being a good person, about how much his family meant to him (his two little daughters, Pam & Geri.) He would tell us how lucky we were to have parents who provided the musical instruments for us to be able to be in the band. Also, why we needed to get a good education so we would be proud of ourselves. Sometimes, when the drum players in the back would be goofing off, he would get so mad, he would throw his baton at them. We all really tried to be good after he got THAT mad. Mr. Pappone also taught math at Franklin. I really tried hard in his math class so that he would be proud of me. We had summer school band (2 hours each day of Jr. band, and 2 hours of Sr. band. Monday - Friday) We always had some kind of concert to strive to be good for at the end of the season. I know we didn't realize it then, but those were the best years of our lives. I took private saxophone lessons from Mr. Pappone at Whittakers Music Store in downtown Long Beach, once a week. (We used to call him "Uncle Mike" - of course not to his face.) Those lessons cost my mom $2.00 a week. Just as in band class, sometimes we never got around to playing music. Sometimes we just talked about how one should live their life, and how rough life can be. He had an old white car (a Plymouth, I think) When he left Franklin I thought I was going to die. I didn't die. But I have kept track of him for all these years. I always felt that as long as he was around, more kids would get interested in music, and the world would be a better place - and I'm sure it was. Goodby, Uncle Mike |
Return to Page 1
Hosted, Designed, & Updates
by
Paul Prosise class of 1958
www.screenmagic.com
Click
Here to Send Email to Paul
Entire contents of this Web site © copyright 2000-2004
Lates Updates Looking for a Classmate? Millikan Reunions "Go Old Days" The Pike Time Line Stories
CORYDON Archives Millikan Vets Update on Classmates '57 to '60 Millikan & Classmates Web Sites
Reunion Planning & Finding Classmates Other H.S. Reunions & Web Sites