Fall 2010 - Cal Band Alumni Association

FALL 2010
THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA MARCHING BAND
AND THE CAL BAND ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Alumni Band Day
This is Cal Football: The Band
Katie Fleeman, piccolo ’09
If you were driving down University Avenue in Berkeley or
through the Richmond District in
San Francisco late this summer,
you may have seen a familiar scene
on a billboard. In the foreground,
a trumpet player in a navy jacket,
yellow cape, and white epaulets,
and behind him, Memorial Stadium full of fans, and a beautiful
blue sky. These two billboards
featured a photo of the Cal Band
in their pregame “full field spread”
formation and the bold statement
“The Band” in the upper righthand
corner.
The billboards were part of
an advertising campaign for Cal
Football by Cal Athletics, and
introduced the slogan, “This
is Cal Football.” The Athletics
Department chose 8 things that
defined Cal Football game days
and asked the fans to vote. Fans
were presented with the choices
of The Fans, The Team, The Band,
The Cannon, The Axe, The Spirit,
Memorial Stadium and Oski, all
with corresponding pictures.
(continued on page 3) Voting took place on CalBears.
com for 12 days in July 2010, and
“Hey, did you
guys see the
baby?” I must’ve
heard that a dozen
times on Alumni
Band Day. Every
bandsmen seemed
exceptionally
intrigued by the
little boy strapped
to the back of a
trombone alumna.
Lucky kid, getting
to share the field Banner kids with Cal’s Athletic Director Sandy Barbour
for the first ever Cal Band/Alumni Band joint show.
Most years, the Alumni Band performs its own show, joining only
with the current band during the traditional “Script California.” But this
year, the alumni were part of our show – creating an unforgettable field
experience. It was decades in the making, but on September 11, 2010,
Robert O. Briggs’ dream became a reality, when Cal Bandsmen shared the
field for the “Girls” halftime show at the 59th annual Alumni Band Day.
Every song in the show had the word “Girl” in the title. The selection
spanned the generations, featuring classics like The Temptations’“My Girl”
alongside new hits like Katy Perry’s “I Kissed a Girl.” There was something
for every age group and musical taste. While eclectic in style, the songs
worked well together, and they were so much fun to play!
Follow Cal Band!
David Clarino, mellophone ’07
You follow your favorite star or starlet’s Twitter. You chime in to
your favorite sportswriter’s blog. You may even watch your favorite
artists on YouTube. Now it’s time to click on the bookmark button
again as the Cal Band goes online! Missed a show? No problem!
Go check us out on YouTube. Want the latest updates on the
Band’s exploits? Check out the Cal Band Blog! Biting your nails
because you don’t know what song the Cal Band is going to be
playing next on ESPN? Check out the latest Tweets! We here at the
Cal Band have constantly welcomed information technology as
a supplement to our activities, and now, to yours too, as the Cal
Band goes everywhere you want to be (but that’s still no excuse
to miss out on Alumni Band Day and the NorCal Benefit!).
Some of you have no doubt already been alerted to the Cal Band’s
Internet presence (as evidenced by the hugely viral Video Game
Show), and are probably already familiar with calband.berkeley.
edu, but now we’re looking to expand. Look in the future for regular
updates to the site, as well as regular articles on the blog. Shows,
as well as various other videos of Cal Band activities, will regularly
(continued on page 3)
www.calband.berkeley.edu
Tara Castro, clarinet ’05
once all the votes were tallied, five
of the pictures were chosen.
After over 12,000 votes were
tallied, The Fans came in first
with 3,802 votes, and The Band
came in a close second with
3,277. The Cannon with 1,804
votes, The Team with 1,043
votes, and The Spirit with 1,026
votes were also featured on billboards. Andy Lempart, the Strategic Communications Manager for
Cal Athletics Marketing, reported
on the outcome of the advertising campaign shortly before the
billboards came down in late
September: “We thought the
campaign was extremely successful and we will be planning
more interactive projects like this
in the future.” The billboards featuring The Band were posted at
University and Acton in Berkeley
and Geary and 6th Avenue in San
Francisco. The trumpet player on
the billboard featuring The Band
was recognizably Paul Flores
(trumpet ’03), though the scene
was recognizable to every Cal
Band member, and as the votes
prove, to every Cal fan as well.
Cal Band billboard from the parking lot of the Smart & Final at 7th Avenue
and Clement Street in San Francisco
Photos provided by (left) Rose Eng and (right) GoldenBearSports.com
Page 1
The North Tunnel Echo
Page 2
Rich Meyer (trumpet ’90) is a Commander
in the U.S. Navy Reserve. Last fall he was
recalled to active duty and currently is serving
in Pakistan in support of Operation Enduring
Freedom. After completing several training
courses, he began his nearly year-long deployment last December but plans to be home in
time to see Cal play in the Bowl-that-shall-notbe-named. His primary responsibility is as the
Office of the Defense Representative-Pakistan
(ODRP) Engineer, which involves planning,
programming, and executing all infrastructure
improvement projects in support of the Pakistan Military and U.S. Special Forces. Trisha
(mellophone/trumpet ’90) remains in Rancho
Santa Margarita with their 6-year-old son
David and 2-year-old daughter Elizabeth. The
Meyers can be contacted at tmsmeyer@yahoo.
com and would love to hear from fellow Cal
Bandsmen.
Rich Meyer
Mike “Nerf” Nersesian (alto ’83, SM ’86)
and Rhea Helmuth Nersesian (clarinet ’83)
are excited to announce some 2010 family
milestones! This fall their daughter, Rachel,
will be attending Georgetown University,
School of Foreign Service and will also
be playing softball for the Hoyas. This fall
their younger daughter Lois will be starting
The North______
Tunnel Echo
Erin Proudfoot ’92
Ananth Kasturiraman ’07
CBAA Communications
Cal Band Public
Committee Chair ______ Relations Director
Editor
Erika Gonzalez ’03
______
Contributors
Stephanie Bonds ’08
Naddav Paran ’08
Grace Butler ’08
Bill Dal Porto ’61
Tara Castro ’05
Erin Proudfoot ’92
Dan Cheatham ’54
Jamie Rawson ’77
David Clarino ’07
Ryan Rosso ’08
Jason P. Clark ’99
Kristina Smith ’08
Katie Fleeman ’09
Carol Suveda
Barbara Goodson ’77
Jack Turpin ’43
Ananth Kasturiraman ’07
Jane Wagner
Devrah Lawver ’99
Eddi Zepeda ’07
______
Please address comments to:
The North Tunnel Echo
University of California Marching Band
72 César Chavez Student Center # 4280
Berkeley, CA 94720-4280
e-mail: nte-editor@calband.berkeley.edu
The North Tunnel Echo is a joint publication of the
University of California Marching Band and the
Cal Band Alumni Association, Inc.
© 2010 Cal Band Alumni Association, Inc.
her freshman year at Bishop O’Dowd High
School. While Rachel led the O’Dowd Dragons for 4 years on the softball field, Lois
will likely be found singing and dancing in
O’Dowd’s upcoming musical productions.
Nerf and Rhea celebrated their 20th wedding
anniversary this year while vacationing at the
Lair (Camp Blue week 10).
Greg Fair (clarinet ’92) and Natalie Fair
welcomed
a
new
addition
to the family in
March. Alexandra Maile Fair
joins big brother
Ben,
providing yet another
impressionable
mind to mold
into a Golden
Bear. Seeking
Ben and advice for how
manage with
Alexandra Fair to
a 2-year-old and
a 6-month-old at Cal games, however. Otherwise, I’m still working at Meebo (they’re hiring),
still playing soccer (though it hurts more afterwards), and still living down by the Farm. Go
Bears!
After nearly 20 years in high-tech marketing, Betty Kaufman (piccolo ’79) is loving
her 5-year-new career as a wine consultant.
When they asked who wanted to get paid
to help people drink wine, Betty sheepishly
raised her hand. It’s hard to believe she gets
paid to do what she does. Betty would love
it if you would check out her website, www.
winetastingsandmore.com, and call her to
schedule an in-home wine tasting, order personalized wines or just check in. Cheers and
GO BEARS!
Hon. Ken Peterson (baritone ’67, DM ’70)
retired as a Superior Court
Judge on January 26th
after 20 years on the bench
in Sacramento. The last
12 years of his career on
the bench was as the Presiding Judge of the Juvenile Court. Prior to that
Judge Peterson served in
Ken
the Criminal Division as
Peterson
a trial judge. In 2008, he
was selected by the California Judges Association as the state Wilmont Sweeney Juvenile
Court Judge of the Year. Prior to becoming a
judge, he served 14 years in the Sacramento
County District Attorney’s Office (ending as
an Assistant Chief Deputy) and 1 year in the
United States Attorneys Office, Eastern District of California (Sacramento-Fresno) as the
Chief of the Criminal Division.
Randall Brown (trombone ’67) best known
for his role in charting the Stunt choreography
in the late 1960s and early 1970s, has spent
the past three decades working as a dancer,
choreographer, lighting designer, and actor
in Las Vegas. Randy has managed to add a
number of stamps to his passport including
the Galapagos Islands, Bhutan, Japan, China,
India, Thailand, Transylvania, and Hungary.
www.calband.berkeley.edu
His latest adventure took him to Easter Island
to watch a total eclipse of the sun this past
July. An unplanned addition to the trip was
experiencing a magnitude 6.5 aftershock at
the airport in Santiago, Chile.
Hiro Hiraiwa (trombone ’00) tied the knot
with a fellow
Cal
alum
and a former
SMA cohort
Ming Cheng
(UCCE ’01) on
July 17, 2010.
They
had
the honor of
having their
mutual friend
and a Cal
Band
alum
The Hiraiwas
Sam
Lam
(cymbals ’01) officiate the outdoor ceremony
that took place by the water in Emeryville, CA.
Much fun was had during the reception by all
in attendance, complemented with a great
view, copious amount of food (it was a Chinese
banquet, after all) and much Mad Lib-induced
laughter. The couple is currently in the middle
of a two-year “honeymoon” in Cambridge, MA
while Ming is pursuing her MBA at MIT Sloan
School of Management.
Ahead of the launch of her book Latinnovating at Stanford in May 2011 (go ahead,
ask her why Stanford!) Graciela TiscareñoSato (trombone ’85, PRD ’88) was named
“San Francisco Entrepreneur of the Year” at
the LATINAStyle Magazine Business Series in
May. Along with her parents, three children
and her editor, three former Cal Bandsmen
were present to hear Grace’s acceptance
speech titled “Leadership Lessons from the
U.S. Air Force: Applications to Entrepreneurship and Motherhood.” At Grace’s side that
day were husband Genro Sato (trombone
’85, SM ’88) and life-long friends Arnaldo
Moreno (trombone ’84) and Sonya Sigler
(trombone ’85). If you’re curious about the
book, Latinnovating: Green American Jobs
and the Latinos Creating Them, please visit
www.latinnovating.com or e-mail Grace at
grace@latinnovating.com.
Jeremy Schaub (trombone ’00) and
Michael Nguyen (clarinet ’97) both finished
Ironman triathlon races this past summer.
Michael finished Ironman Lake Placid in Lake
Placid, New York in 12 hours 20 minutes on
July 25, and Jeremy finished Ironman Canada
in Penticton, BC on August 29 in 11 hours 6
minutes. The race consists of a 2.4 mile swim,
followed by a 112 mile bike ride, and finishes
with a 26.2 mile marathon run.
Michael Nguyen
Jeremy Schaub
Photos provided by Trisha Meyer, Greg Fair, Hon. Ken Peterson,
Hiro Hiraiwa, Jeremy Schaub and Michael Nguyen
“Deus Managrum Nostrum Damnet”
Page 3
1965 American Tour 45th Reunion
Bill Dal Porto, clarinet ’61
The 45th Reunion of the 1964-65 Cal Band and the 1965 American
Tour was held on Oct. 8 with a dinner at the Faculty Club on campus.
A total of 76 people attended, including 48 Bandsmen. We renewed
old friendships, told stories of our time in the Band, saw a PowerPoint
presentation on the life of Bill Ellsworth and were entertained by the
Cal Band. At the Reunion we announced a $3000 donation from
"Our Band" to the Band’s Endowment Fund. The next day we saw
the Cal football team thrash the baby Bruins by the score of 35-7, the
sixth straight time we have beaten them at Memorial Stadium. We’re
looking forward to our 50th Reunion in 2015!
Attendees included: Will Alloway (alto ’64), Dave Anderson (trombone ’62), Mike Anzis (trumpet ’62), Bruce Benzler (peckhorn ’62),
Jordan Bloom (trombone ’61), Joe Braun (percussion ’62), Bill Chamberlain (percussion ’64), Ed Cheever (clarinet ’64), Bill Dal Porto
(clarinet ’61), Don Dean (glockenspiel ’60), Glen Duren (alto ’61),
Tom Edwards (Rally Comm Tech Assistant), Jerry Eliaser (trumpet ’64),
Bob Fisher (Rally Comm Tech Assistant), Rick Flier (clarinet ’63), Jim
Fonda (bass ’64), Jim French (trumpet ’65), Dick George (trumpet
’63), Pete Hansen (trumpet ’64), Dean Hickman (trombone ’65), Larry
Hinman (peckhorn ’63), Kurt Junge (trumpet ’64), Stan Keil (clarinet
’63), Doug Kirby (trombone ’64), Doug Lee (trombone ’62), Andy
Magid (peckhorn ’62), Gary Massey (alto ’60), Dale McNally (percussion ’64), Marty Mulhern (clarinet ’64), Mike Murakami (trumpet
’63), John “Oz” Ozanich (bass drum ’60), Dave Parker (bass ’63),
Doug Pile (alto ’63), Bill Prosser (alto ’63), Bob Sachs (trumpet ’65),
Chuck Schaupp (piccolo ’61), Chris Snyder (alto ’63), Marty Sobelman (percussion ’64), Bud Spindt (bass ’62), Rich Stanley (trombone
’61), Bill Turner (trumpet ’64), John Upton (bass ’62), Bob Warren
(clarinet ’61), Steve Whitgob (trombone ’64), Dan Williams (trombone ’64), Ron Winkler (trombone ’63), and Gene Yunt (trumpet ’63).
Members of the American Tour practice in front of their tour bus
Alumni Band Day 2010
Stunt put together several
creative ways to incorporate the
alumni into the show, such as
forming the center of the flower
for “Brown-Eyed Girl” and the head
of a girl for “I Kissed a Girl.” They
received specific charting just
like the current bandsmen, and
impressively learned the entire
show in one morning. And the
alumni were far from stationary;
I was a little jealous of the cheers
they got for moving up the field!
I was so excited to watch the
show the next day on YouTube – it
all looked and sounded awesome.
continued from 1
But watching it was nowhere near
as exciting as performing it. In one
halftime show, we had the class
of 1953 and the class of 2014, the
Golden age and the Internet age,
baby boomers and a baby.
Let’s just hope that baby’s first
steps are high steps.
In Memoriam
Robert Arnot Rice
Robert Arnot
Rice...Grandson of Nathaniel D. Arnot,
one of four
students in the
last graduating
class of Henry
Durant’s College of California, located
in the outskirts
of
Oakland.
The very next
year his grandfather’s alma
mater
was
absorbed by a new institution
named the University of California. This newly created university moved to Berkeley so
that grandson Bob Rice would
have a field to spend three
years leading the ROTC band
as Drum Major while simultaneously being Drum Major of
the Cal Band for the academic
years 1931 and 1932.
Involvement with the Cal
Band was a natural progression
for the 1929 drum major of the
Berkeley High School band.
In January 1942, at age 31,
Bob enlisted the Army and was
sent to the Presidio in Monterey
where he spent two weeks, in
his words, "cracking eggs in the
base mess hall and sweeping
the streets while they figured
out what to do with me."
Eventually, he wound up
Find Us Online
in Chico, California, teaching meteorology. The post had
a makeshift band made up
of Army clerks and miscellaneous soldiers. On one occasion he was called upon to
be drum major for a special
pass-in-review. As he passed
the reviewing stand, consistent
with his Cal Band training, he
twirled the baton. Later the
Commanding Officer, a West
Point graduate, reprimanded
him for behavior unbecoming to an officer in the United
States Army Air Corps.
Bob was a loyal Cal Band
trumpet player who is now
reunited with his old friends
in playing Fight of California
and all the other traditional Cal
songs that were so much a part
of his life.
Dan Cheatham
Cal Band Drum Major 1957
continued from 1
be uploaded to YouTube. The Cal Band Computer Committee has been
hard at work bringing the best of Berkeley to the rest of the world, and
we invite you to come follow the Band like you never have before. Think
of it as a virtual march-up. But that’s not just us talking to you: it’s also
you talking to us!
As always, the Alumni Band is not one to lag behind the Cal Band, even
technologically. Join the “Cal Band Alumni” group on Facebook to stay
connected with fellow Cal Band alums and hear about their upcoming
activities. Looking to connect with Band alumni professionally? Join the
“Cal Band Alumni” group on LinkedIn.
If you have something to contribute, such as videos, articles, or pictures,
don’t hesitate to contact our Public Relations Director or Computer
Coordinator (that’s me folks!). Whether you’re a techno hipster with updates
on everything by RSS, or a newfound user just learning to follow her or
his favorite things on the Internet, follow the Blog by RSS, subscribe to
our Twitter, friend us on Facebook, or subscribe to our YouTube channel.
See you online, and Go Bears!
www.calband.berkeley.edu/blog
www.twitter.com/calband
www.facebook.com/calband
www.youtube.com/calbandavcomm
www.calband.berkeley.edu
Photo provided by (left) Bill Dal Porto and (right) Dan Cheatham
The North Tunnel Echo
Page 4
Cal Band Does New York
Forrest Tregea Oral History
Grace Butler, trumpet ’08
Dan Cheatham, percussion ’54, DM ’57
Between our travels to Reno and Los Angeles, a few members of the
band took a quick detour to New York City to make an appearance at
the Campaign for Berkeley New York Gala Celebration. It was extremely
hectic, but we were able to make the most of it! Running on just a couple
hours of sleep, we fit in as much sightseeing, touristy photo shoots, and
food as we could handle in the short 25 hours we were on the ground.
The event itself, which took place in the Museum of Natural History, was
jam-packed with more Cal spirit than Memorial Stadium on Saturday and
seemed to be a great fundraising success. Some of the most enthusiastic
guests were Chancellor Birgeneau and his wife Mary Catherine as well as
Pulitzer Prize winning poet and UC Berkeley professor Robert Haas. While
our set list, which consisted of just three Cal songs, might have seemed
a little unimpressive
compared to the
performance by a
quintet from Julliard,
we know nothing
puts a bigger smile
on a Golden Bear’s
face than hearing
the clicks to roll
off into Fight and
watching the band
march in donning
their full uniforms.
And since we were in
New York City, they
didn’t even know we
were coming! All in
all, it was a great little
adventure, and we
hope the East Coast
bears enjoyed our
visit!
Honorary Cal Band member Forrest Tregea is among the best friends
the Cal Band has ever had. I attribute this to his status as one of the
few high-ranking campus administrators who not only graduated from
Cal, class of 1941, but also had friendly contact with the spirit groups,
going back to his childhood days of following the Band around in the
fashion of the Pied Piper.
His direct association
began as campus Assistant
Purchasing Agent, in 1954,
when the Band purchased
its first set of uniforms
designed for its new highstepping marching style.
This experience taught him
that the Band is run by the
student officers and not
by campus administrators.
It was this experience that
made him such a supportive
friend of the Band. He said,
“This was one of the first
times I learned a lesson
about the uniqueness of the
Cal Band’s self-government
and its ability to handle its
affairs. The job would have
been easier for me if I had known that in advance.”
Later, one of his toughest jobs was informing the Band that, because
of Title IX, the Band would now be required to include women in its
membership. This was followed by some devious Cal Band shenanigans.
Without Forrest, the Band would never have performed to a rousing
applause at Iowa’s home stadium…the only time the Band has appeared
in Big-10 territory.
In 1961, we went back to the Big-10 and said, “Here is how *we* do it
on the West Coast.” What followed was one of the Band’s all time great
performances and marked the Band’s final recovery from the humiliations
of the three Rose Bowl performances at the beginning of the 1950’s. This
was when we recovered our self-esteem, thanks to a long string of events
featuring that same student leadership referred to above.
Without Forrest, Cal Band legend Bill Ellsworth might have faded into
the distance. Without Forrest, the Cal Band/University relationship has
never been the same.
Bandsmen pose with the Statue of Liberty. This was one of the highlights
of the Band’s whirlwind trip to New York! Back row from left to right: Alexandra Braverman (mellophone ’07), Timothy Malko (clarinet ’07), Blaire
Segal (percussion ’08), Kirk Robinson (trombone ’08), Front row: Cameron
Shernicoff (percussion ’07), Theresa Whitchurch (trombone ’07)
Parade of Colleges
Jane Wagner, Cal Band Parent
Nathaniel Wagner (bass ’07)
What does Bullard
TALENT School, a visual
and performing arts
magnet school in the
Fresno Unified School
District, have in common
with the Cal Straw Hat
Band? The annual Parade
of
Colleges!
Bullard
TALENT School, home to
approximately 800 K-8th
grade students admitted
through a lottery process, celebrates its commitment to providing the
foundational skills necessary for future participa-
tion in a college education with
an annual Parade of Colleges.
Individual classrooms select a college to represent as they travel
the parade route complete with
college banners, festive t-shirts,
mascot costumes, and the waving
of pom-poms by each and every
student.
The 2010 Parade of Colleges
was extra special with the Cal
Straw Hat Band providing the
music for this fun event. Students
were thrilled to groove down the
parade route accompanied by the
big sound of live, inspirational pep
tunes and classic Cal songs per-
www.calband.berkeley.edu
formed with the usual playful hijinxes of the Straw Hat Band. UC
Berkeley was proudly represented
by the Bullard TALENT 8th graders
who sang along to strains of “Big
‘C’” with new words that helped
them learn prepositions in their
Language Arts class. The event
closed with a rousing rendition
of “Lights Out” featuring “bad ass”
bass man Nathaniel Wagner (bass
’07) performing a traditional, high
stepping, full-out strut around the
parade route. CAL BAND GREAT!
Photos provided by (top left) Cal Band, (lower left) Nathaniel Wagner,
and (right) Dan Cheatham
Page 5
“Deus Managrum Nostrum Damnet”
3
1
2
5
4
6
1. Ananth Kasturiraman (bass ’07, PRD ’10), Bob Calonico (clarinet ’72, StuD ’75) 2. Naddav Paran (bass ’08), Sydney Fang (trombone ’08), Stephanie Bonds (snare ’08),
Ananth Kasturiraman (bass ’07, PRD ’10), Kristina Smith (piccolo ’08), Eddi Zepeda (alto ’07), David Clarino (mellophone ’07) 3. Angela Kim, Carol Suveda 4. Cal Band 5. Laura
Hackney (clarinet ’07, Sec ’10), Bob Calonico (clarinet ’72, StuD ’75), Jonathan Nagata (baritone ’07, DM ’10), Lynn Chen (piccolo ’07, SM ’10) 6. Cynthia Erb (clarinet ’07)
Another Successful
NorCal Benefit
Lucky Bear’s Nose
Tara Castro, clarinet ’05
Carol Suveda, Alumni Relations and Events Manager, SMA
The Cal Band enjoyed marching up the Round Hill Country
Club golf course with Stone Valley
Middle School students adding
musical support at the NorCal
Benefit on Friday, October 1. Band
fans standing both on the green
and on the club’s patio to hear
this spirited entertainment were
delighted by great performances
of familiar school songs as well
as many popular favorites. After
partaking of wine generously
donated by Janet and Alan Stanford and Marko and Theo Zaninovich and wonderful food, NorCal
guests continued to bid to their
hearts delight on over 100 items in
the silent auction. With enthusiastic encouragement from Joe Starkey, attendees raised their hands
in response to the Fund A Need
request and over $8,700 more
was raised for the Band in a few
minutes! These funds helped the
Band with its trip to Los Angeles
for the Cal vs. USC game – a road
trip that includes all Bandsmen
and is one of the biggest expense
items in the Band’s annual budget.
An estimated net of $68,000 was
raised from the NorCal Benefit and
online auction to support the Cal
Band this fiscal year. The Cal Band
would like to thank Cynthia Erb,
Event Chair, and the entire Event
Committee, as well as the Band’s
Public
Relations Committee,
Executive Committee, sponsors,
attendees, donors, volunteers and
auction bidders who contributed
to the success of this year’s event.
Big Game Reunion 2010
Friday, November 19, 6:00 pm at Spenger’s in Berkeley
Join us for no-host cocktails, dinner, and a Straw Hat Band concert.
We will honor Wade Williams ’77, Tony Martinez Award Winner.
Spats snapped? Check. Vest
buckled? Check. Gloves on?
Check. If your uniform is fully
donned and you’re heading
outside to warm up for a Sproul
Steps concert, every current Cal
Band member knows it is now
time to rub the nose of the Grizzly Bear statue for luck. From
the side, the bear seems to be
pulling its granite lips back in a
smile, while from the front, it is
ferocious; brow furrowed and
lips snarling. Often band members wait patiently in a line to
have their special moment with
the bear. Some briefly touch the
nose and run off, others pause
for a short moment, eyes closed,
perhaps imploring Oski to guide
them in the pregame spot they
just learned that morning. The
bear itself is a black granite
sculpture by Raymond Puccinelli, a native San Franciscan and
survivor of the 1906 earthquake.
The statue was installed in 1955
as a gift from O.J. Woodward II,
Class of 1930, while the band
was still at Room 5 in Eshleman
Hall. In 1960, the band moved
www.calband.berkeley.edu
closer to the bear’s location on
the banks of Strawberry Creek,
occupying the basement of what
is now the César Chávez Student
Center.
The exact beginning of rubbing the bear’s nose for luck
in full uniform is elusive. Bob
Warren (clarinet ’61), says “We
were certainly rubbing the bear’s
nose in the fall of ’61, my first year
in the band.” However, Rick Flier
(clarinet ’63, DM ’66) reports, “I
am fairly confident that we didn’t
rub its nose during my time at
Cal, 1963-1967.” The tradition
seems to have been spotty even
in the mid 1970s. Juliette Bettencourt (clarinet ’76) remembers
rubbing the bear’s nose for luck
during football and basketball
seasons, while her husband Rich
Moore (clarinet ’73) remembers
only some of the Cal Band performing this tradition. However,
the tradition seems to have
taken off in the 1980s and 1990s,
since many band alumni from
that time report that rubbing the
bear’s nose was a necessity on
(continued on page 6)
Photos provided by Kristina Smith
The North Tunnel Echo
Page 6
Lucky Bear
game day. Nowadays, bandsmen
and alumni treat the tradition as
just another step on the way to
march up. Kevin Ngo (trombone
’04) joked that maybe the tradition began because bandsmen
wanted to use their white gloves
to rid the bear’s nose of any “bad
luck snot” that may have marred
its nose, and clean it up for the
game. Joking aside, Ngo’s experience with rubbing the bear’s nose
illustrates that the tradition is now
solidly ingrained in the game day
routine. He says, “I always rubbed
the bear’s nose right after putting
on my gloves after leaving BRH.”
This year is the band’s 50th in
the basement of the César Chávez
Student Center, and possibly also
the 50th anniversary of bandsmen regularly visiting Puccinelli’s
statue for luck before football and
basketball games.
Whether you rubbed the bear’s
nose or not during your time in
band, next time you walk by the
bear on your way up to the stadium on game day make sure
to encourage bandsmen-in full
uniform-to give it a rub. There’s no
such thing as too much luck!
Alumni Spotlight:
Jack Turpin, Clarinet ’43
I am Jack T. Turpin, now age
84. My mother taught me piano
at an early age, and I just loved
to plink on those keys. In the
fifth grade someone chose the
clarinet for me. In retrospect, it
was a perfect match for my personality.
One week after graduating
from high school found me
enrolled as a pre-med student
at Cal in the summer of 1943.
Remember these were the “War
Years” and the draft board was
always looking down our neck. I
think there were less than 5000
students on campus at that time,
and that may have included the
Naval ROTC contingent.
Cal Band, of course, was one
of my classes. Charles Cushing
was the director/conductor, and
Alcide Marin was the student
conductor. Mr. Cushing was a
very dignified, prim and proper
conductor; even his physical
persona identified this. In my
second year, I was promoted to
the first chair position, and was
also designated to the Manager
position. The manager then
1970 Japan Tour Reunion
continued from 5
took care of some of the business
affairs, mapped out the halftime
marching stunts, and met with a
student committee to set up the
card stunts for the football games.
As the draft board and the war
effort was always in the forefront,
this required taking a pretty heavy
load of classes. In addition I was
partly supporting myself by working part time as an ambulance
driver and sick-call clerk at the
Oakland Army Base. I was also a
surgical orderly at the Alta Bates
Hospital in Oakland.
During the summer quarter of
1945, I received in the mail two
letters. The first was from “Uncle
Sam” requiring me to report the
next week to the Presidio in San
Francisco to be inducted into the
Army. The second envelope was
an acceptance into Medical School
at Northwestern University in Chicago. Fortunately, the latter took
precedence over the Army. I completed my summer quarter (junior
year), and within two weeks was in
medical school.
Clarineting was now of secondary importance, except for
Attendees of the 40th Anniversary of the 1970 Japan Tour Reunion included:
Back Row from left to right: Kent Stewart (baritone ’69), Gary Maas (percussion
’70), Bill Au (trombone ’67), Dave Treganowen (clarinet ’68), Dave Pearson (alto
’69, PRD ’72), Bruce Hinkley (bass ’70), Dan Walden (trumpet ’69, StuD ’71), Eric
Wall (bass ’69), Jim Henson (alto ’67), Ned Orett (percussion ’67), David Focht
(alto ’69), Back Middle Row: Ron Coble (bass ’70, DM ’73), Jim Schaffer (bass ’69,
Secretary ’72), Dennis Frost (percussion ’68), Gordon Fulmer (bass ’68, Secretary
’71), Tom Roberts (percussion ’68), Bob Osborn (clarinet ’67, Secretary ’70), Mike
Maiman (percussion ’69), Brent Tanner (bass ’69), Steve Payne (percussion ’70),
Jim Vivrette (alto ’69, ’73 StuD), Jim French (trumpet ’65, DM ’68), Middle Row:
Eric Mart (trumpet ’66, DM ’69), John Franck (baritone ’68), Larry Wong (alto ’68),
Rod Marshall (trombone ’69), Bill Colescott (alto ’51, SM ’54), Sol Mussey (percussion ’68), Darryl Gershuny (percussion ’67), Gary Bowe (trumpet ’68), David
Hemphill (trombone ’67), Pat Orsini (trumpet ’69), Olin Jones (bass ’66, PRD ’69),
Front Middle Row: Steve Klatt (alto ’70), Ed Chow (clarinet ’69), Joel Suzuki (alto
’67), Tom Kellogg (clarinet ’67), Mitch Marini (percussion ’66), Ted Kahn (trumpet
’67, StuD ’70), Larry Fredlund (trombone ’66), Bruce Fichelson (percussion ’68),
Albert Locher (trumpet ’68, SM ’71), Don Dwiggins (Tech Op Lighting), Front Row:
John Buono (trumpet ’66), Calvin Lum (percussion ’66), Gary Wong (trumpet ’67),
Phil Diamond (piccolo ’67, SM ’70), Ken Peterson (baritone ’67, DM ’71), Ken
Shipman (piccolo ’66, ’69 StuD), Steve Klein (bass ’67), Bob Unthank (clarinet
’68), Sitting: Jerry Taylor (glockenspiel ’66, SM ’69), Kneeling: Mike Robertson
(trumpet ’68, PRD ’71)
an occasional duet with a fellow
classmate who was an accomplished pianist. Later, I moved to
Seattle for an internship at Harborview Hospital, following which I
volunteered as a medical officer in
the U.S. Air Force. I entered private
practice in Bremerton, WA in July
1952, and immediately joined the
local symphony orchestra as their
clarinetist. For the next forty years,
I was the clarinetist in a woodwind
quintet group, as well as clarinetist in all of the musical theatre
performances put on by Olympic
College.
Since retiring from medical
practice 20 years ago and moving
to Tacoma, I have played in several
bands in the Tacoma area, including the Tacoma Concert Band and
currently the New Horizon Band.
What’s this all got to do with the
Cal Band? Actually the Cal Band
set the basis for my continuing
with my musical “self.” It is amazing how much musical experience
supplements so many techniques
in life, and, for me at least, in the
practice of medicine. The human
body is a symphony, and any part
that is not in good harmony or in
tune with it, disrupts the function;
just as in the symphony orchestra.
Over the years I have belonged
www.calband.berkeley.edu
to numerous clubs and musical
organizations, but none has the
indelible emotional significance
and credence as that with the Cal
Band. To me the Cal Band, and
its Alumni organization, is one
of the most prestigious “clubs”
in America, and I am so proud
to be a member. I am glad that
they have kept the organization
solid, alive, and ongoing with
their alumni. I attended Alumni
Band Day ten years ago, and
at that time was able to do the
marching stunts. As I no longer
am physically able to march, I
returned this year and played in
the stands. As far as I know, I was
the oldest (in age and entry date
into the band) alumnus present.
I hope you all experienced, as
I did, the thrill of surrounding
that huge American flag the service men and women unfurled
and playing the Star Spangled
Banner; it sent chills up my spine
and brought tears to my eyes. To
be back with the Cal Band was an
honor I will cherish forever. I had
thought this to be my last time
I would attend; however, I was
so sincerely invited by several
alums to return, I might just do it
again, even if in a wheelchair.
Photos provided by (right) John Buono and (left) Jack Turpin
Page 7
“Deus Managrum Nostrum Damnet”
CBAA Council Information
SoCal Alumni Band
Big Game Performance
Once again, the Cal Alumni Band has been invited to
perform at the Big Game Viewing Party on Saturday,
Nov. 20th at 12 PM hosted by the Los Angeles Cal
Alumni Chapter. Dust off your horn and join us as we
play and cheer the Bears on to victory over the Furd.
For more details, contact Tim Castro at
tim_castro@cal.berkeley.edu.
Cal Band Executive Committee
Lynn Chen, Senior Manager
(510) 642-6705 calband-sm@lists.berkeley.edu
Ananth Kasturiraman, Public Relations Director
(510) 642-6704 calband-prd@lists.berkeley.edu
Jonathan Nagata, Drum Major
(510) 643-9353 calband-dm@lists.berkeley.edu
Thomas Gartner, Student Director
(510) 643-9353 calband-stud@lists.berkeley.edu
Laura Hackney, Executive Secretary
(510) 642-6704 calband-sec@lists.berkeley.edu
Robert Calonico, Cal Band Director
(510) 643-9644 calonico@calband.berkeley.edu
For performance inquiries, contact the Student Director. For
all other inquiries, contact the Public Relations Director.
The CBAA Council is the governing body of the California Band Alumni Association. Its members are elected annually for terms of three (3) years. General meetings
of the Council are held quarterly and are open to all Band Alumni. For more information about Council meetings contact President Jason Clark. For minutes of the
CBAA Council meetings, please contact CBAA Secretary Juliette Bettencourt or visit
calbandalumni.berkeley.edu.
CBAA Officers
Council Members
President
Jason P. Clark
(949) 374-2592
jpclark225@gmail.com
Vice President
Eric Dezendorf
(707) 478-3265
ericdez87@gmail.com
Treasurer
Doug Roberts
(707) 427-0866
droberts@santarosa.edu
Secretary
Juliette Bettencourt
(408) 923-4142
jbetten@ix.netcom.com
Performance
Andy LaBatt
(510) 769-9340
andylabatt@sbcglobal.net
Communications
Erin Proudfoot
(510) 642-0227
erin@mwpfoot.com
Terms expiring 2011:
Chris Bailey ’70
Juliette Bettencourt ’76
Matt Bjork ’87
Tara Castro ’05
Eric Dezendorf ’05
Erika Gonzalez ’03
Jerry Miller ’96
Richard Powell ’96
Jerry Taylor ’66
Wade Williams ’77
Terms expiring 2013:
Dan Cheatham ’54
Norman Chong ’74
Heather Handa ’03
Andy LaBatt ’90
Devrah Lawver ’99
Ed Price ’70
Dorothy Proudfoot ’92
Erin Proudfoot ’92
Douglas Roberts ’74
Tim Tung ’98
Terms expiring 2012:
Pete Alvarez, Jr. ’71
Tina Avilla ’91
Bryan Blythe ’00
Andrew Capule ’95
Jason Clark ’99
Barbara Goodson ’77
Gary Hsueh ’95
Andrea Johannessen ’01
Eric Mart ’66
Peter Symonds ’99
Ex-Officio Members:
Robert Calonico ’72
Cal Band Director
Lynn Chen ’07
Cal Band Senior
Manager
Carol Suveda
SMA Alumni Relations
& Events Manager
CBAA MEMBERSHIP FORM
Join the California Band Alumni Association! Your membership dues make
possible such things as this North Tunnel Echo, Alumni Band Day, Cal Band
Executive Committee workshops, and other projects that support both the
Cal Band and its alumni. Membership entitles you to discounts on CBAA
merchandise and events. New 2-year sustaining members and life members
also get a free polo shirt and hat. Please send this form to:
2-year Membership renewal. Expires 6/30/12. $30
enclosed.
1-year membership. Expires 6/30/11. $20 enclosed.
“New Member” Discount Package. Good for any first-time
sustaining CBAA member. Includes: 2-year membership,
Alumni hat and polo shirt ($60 value). $30 enclosed.
Cal Band Alumni Association
University of California Marching Band
72 César Chavez Student Center # 4280
Berkeley, CA 94720-4280
Life Membership. Paid in full. Includes a free Alumni hat
and polo shirt. $325 enclosed.
(Parents and fellow alumni should consider giving their Band alumni
friends and relatives a “gift membership,” great for graduation, birthday,
or any occasion).
Check here if this is a gift membership
Life Membership. 5-year installment plan. Includes a
free Alumni hat and polo shirt. $80 enclosed ($400 over
5 years).
Name
Address
Choose shirt size:
Men’s polo shirt (S, M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL)
Women’s polo shirt (XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL)
Phone
Youth polo shirt (S, M, L, XL)
E-mail
Choose baseball cap type hat type:
Instrument
Years in Band
Soft, low-bill with canvas snap-on/buckle closure
Hard, regular baseball cap with plastic tab closure
to
Senior Officer? (Office/year)
Lived in TH? (list which years)
You can also visit us online to become a CBAA member!
calbandalumni.berkeley.edu/membership
www.calband.berkeley.edu
University of California, Berkeley
The North Tunnel Echo
University of California Marching Band
72 César Chávez Center # 4280
Berkeley, CA 94720-4280
Nonprofit Organization
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
University of California
Address Service Requested
In This Issue:
Cal Band Billboards
Cal Band Does New York
Another Successful NorCal Benefit
In Memoriam Robert Rice
UPCOMING EVENTS
Date
Event
Location
Friday, November 19
Berkeley
Cal Band Alumni Reunion, 6 PM, Spenger’s Saturday, November 20 SoCal Alumni Band Performance, 12 PM
Los Angeles
Various
Joint Cal Band and Alumni Band
Basketball Performances, Haas Pavilion
Berkeley
Saturday, February 12
Berkeley
CBAA Council meeting, 10 AM-12 PM, BRH
For additional information, write to the above mailing
address or bandalumni@calband.berkeley.edu, or go to:
Cal Band web page: calband.berkeley.edu
CBAA web page: calbandalumni.berkeley.edu
The NTE is printed on recycled paper