Miss-Delectable
New Member
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2004
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Register-Pajaronian
was born on March 23, 1965 with German measles (rubella), which not only affected my eyes and heart, but I was also born deaf as well. I had my cascara surgery at nine months old, and my first open-heart surgery at 13 months old.
When I was three, I entered Thornely School for the Deaf to help my speech and to be able to hear with hearing aids. I met a lot of deaf children from the three counties and we became friends. I continued to go to this school for five or six years. In 1972, I was so excited to be a part of a movie with many others at the school. The two-part movie was called “A Time For Love,” with Christopher Mitchum and Bonnie Bedelia. Mitchum played a young rock star who falls in love with Bonnie, who played a teacher who teaches deaf children — and I was one of the children. The movie was aired on TV in 1973.
The school helped me and I was well adjusted in reading and math, so I left the school in late 1974 to attend Bradley Elementary School from second to sixth grades. I had help with my homework, and I also had a speech therapist to help me improve my speech. I went on to Salsipuedes Junior High School for seventh and eighth grades and then I went to Watsonville High School and I graduated in 1985 with the Honor Award for four years.
I graduated from Cabrillo College with an associate degree in liberal arts in 1992. My dream was to become a teacher for deaf children, but my plans were changed when I came to work for West Marine Products Inc. in July 1988, where I have worked for 21 years now. I love my job.
In early 1998, I received a copy of the movie, and my husband and I researched and found Bedelia’s manager to see if she had ever thought of the children in the last 40 years. I was able to get in touch with her, and she invited me to the set of the TV series “Lifetime.” I was on the set with her for eight hours and it was a blast and great to see her again. I have treasured the movie and autographs that she sent to me for me to share with my family.
I also treasure my experiences at Thornely School. The school started in 1950 to educate deaf children at Aptos Elementary School in Santa Cruz County, an outcome of the efforts of the late Miss Doris Thornely, director of guidance in Santa Cruz County. The counties of Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito pooled their finances, responsibilities and resources to form the Tri-County School for the Deaf. The school was housed on the grounds of First Christian Church in Watsonville.
In the summer of 1955, a modern school for the deaf was completed on the campus of T.S. MacQuiddy Elementary School in Watsonville. It was agreed in advance by the three counties that, when the school was completed, it should be administered by Watsonville School District and the administration for the school was centralized.
So the school was named after the late Miss Doris Thornely as Thornely School for the Deaf. Mrs. Ann Soldo was our principal, and the teachers included Mrs. June Borges, Betty Jones, Betty Bjur, Nancy Hazen, Nancy Holton, Dana Horton, Ruby Snyder and JoAnne Lathrop. Many other teachers and teacher aides also worked there over the years.
Borges, our teacher, and seven of her pupils appeared in a “A Time for Love.” Nancy Leal, Damian and Gloria Marquez, Mike Chapman, Joy Ellis, Sherry Carpenter and Ruthie Thurman were in it, and Borges played a teacher’s aide.
Since those days, we have kept in touch through e-mails, and on June 20 we held a reunion at MacQuiddy Elementary school to reunite with our friends. About 20 deaf people came to the reunion with their families. We shared our stories, laughter and happiness. Some of the teachers brought pictures to share.
Money was donated to bring food and drinks to share with everyone. The barbecued chicken was catered by Hector Cordova, a friend of Nancy Leal. Lino Leal videotaped the event and took photos. I want to thank to everyone for it making it all possible and for a wonderful reunion!
was born on March 23, 1965 with German measles (rubella), which not only affected my eyes and heart, but I was also born deaf as well. I had my cascara surgery at nine months old, and my first open-heart surgery at 13 months old.
When I was three, I entered Thornely School for the Deaf to help my speech and to be able to hear with hearing aids. I met a lot of deaf children from the three counties and we became friends. I continued to go to this school for five or six years. In 1972, I was so excited to be a part of a movie with many others at the school. The two-part movie was called “A Time For Love,” with Christopher Mitchum and Bonnie Bedelia. Mitchum played a young rock star who falls in love with Bonnie, who played a teacher who teaches deaf children — and I was one of the children. The movie was aired on TV in 1973.
The school helped me and I was well adjusted in reading and math, so I left the school in late 1974 to attend Bradley Elementary School from second to sixth grades. I had help with my homework, and I also had a speech therapist to help me improve my speech. I went on to Salsipuedes Junior High School for seventh and eighth grades and then I went to Watsonville High School and I graduated in 1985 with the Honor Award for four years.
I graduated from Cabrillo College with an associate degree in liberal arts in 1992. My dream was to become a teacher for deaf children, but my plans were changed when I came to work for West Marine Products Inc. in July 1988, where I have worked for 21 years now. I love my job.
In early 1998, I received a copy of the movie, and my husband and I researched and found Bedelia’s manager to see if she had ever thought of the children in the last 40 years. I was able to get in touch with her, and she invited me to the set of the TV series “Lifetime.” I was on the set with her for eight hours and it was a blast and great to see her again. I have treasured the movie and autographs that she sent to me for me to share with my family.
I also treasure my experiences at Thornely School. The school started in 1950 to educate deaf children at Aptos Elementary School in Santa Cruz County, an outcome of the efforts of the late Miss Doris Thornely, director of guidance in Santa Cruz County. The counties of Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito pooled their finances, responsibilities and resources to form the Tri-County School for the Deaf. The school was housed on the grounds of First Christian Church in Watsonville.
In the summer of 1955, a modern school for the deaf was completed on the campus of T.S. MacQuiddy Elementary School in Watsonville. It was agreed in advance by the three counties that, when the school was completed, it should be administered by Watsonville School District and the administration for the school was centralized.
So the school was named after the late Miss Doris Thornely as Thornely School for the Deaf. Mrs. Ann Soldo was our principal, and the teachers included Mrs. June Borges, Betty Jones, Betty Bjur, Nancy Hazen, Nancy Holton, Dana Horton, Ruby Snyder and JoAnne Lathrop. Many other teachers and teacher aides also worked there over the years.
Borges, our teacher, and seven of her pupils appeared in a “A Time for Love.” Nancy Leal, Damian and Gloria Marquez, Mike Chapman, Joy Ellis, Sherry Carpenter and Ruthie Thurman were in it, and Borges played a teacher’s aide.
Since those days, we have kept in touch through e-mails, and on June 20 we held a reunion at MacQuiddy Elementary school to reunite with our friends. About 20 deaf people came to the reunion with their families. We shared our stories, laughter and happiness. Some of the teachers brought pictures to share.
Money was donated to bring food and drinks to share with everyone. The barbecued chicken was catered by Hector Cordova, a friend of Nancy Leal. Lino Leal videotaped the event and took photos. I want to thank to everyone for it making it all possible and for a wonderful reunion!
