Thursday night was the annual Rio Mesa H.S. Christmas party that this year was held at Ric's Restaurant in Camarillo. The format is simple, cocktails at 5:00, sit down dinner (I opted for the the INCREDIBLE salmon) at 6:30 and dancing until midnight. All of the above was great but the real joy of this event is always the comraderie that the Spartan family, both present and thankfully past, share on this special evening.
Margie Compton and Regina Voshell
Margie is retired now after several years as the R.M. ASB Bookkeeper while Regina is still active in the Spartan's secretarial pool.
Brian FitzGerald and Dick Bellman
Brian, on the left, is Rio Mesa's Athletic Director, Head Track Coach, Assistant Freshman Football Coach and, most importantly, an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher.
Dick is retired after spending his entire distinguished teaching career at Rio Mesa. Besides teaching Science classes and coaching football, Richard was a highly respected Activities Director for several years.
Koreen and Brian FitzGerald
Every mature couple needs a younger couple to energize them regularly. For Laurie and I, these two DEFINITELY fit the bill!
Koreen FitzGerald, Laurie Contreras and
Shi Young Kim
Koreen is now Rio Mesa's ASB Bookkeeper, having replaced Marge Compton when she retired. Shi Young is an Art teacher at Rio Mesa and our "adopted daughter."
With these three on the scene, LET THE FUN BEGIN!
2009 Elephants Catania Coaches
With me is Paul Petrich Jr. We will be coaching American football together this spring in Sicily. Paul will share our "Malibu" apartment with Laurie and I in Aci Castello.
Vanessa Perez and Mike Contreras
Vanessa and Mike first met at the Rio Mesa Christmas party in 2005 held at the FitzGerald's home that holiday season. They hit it off right away and will be getting married in August of 2009.
Joe Molica
Joe is the Oxnard Union High School District's "utility player to be named later" in trades. A Social Science teacher and a Rio Mesa Girls Basketball coach, he is currently working in the Puente Program on Rio Mesa's campus teaching pregnant girls and girls who recently gave birth.
As it turns out, by night, Joe Molica becomes John Travolta!
Here, he puts on a slow dancing clinic with Social Science teacher Laurena Guizar.
Joe groovin' with Chemistry teacher Annie Marostica
Joe really becomes a player when the disco beat starts pounding away!
On the other hand, Brian FitzGerald's last trip to the dance floor was on his wedding day oh those many years ago!
Other than this one major flaw, Brian still flourishes in most social settings.
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