FALL 2008 THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA MARCHING BAND AND THE CAL BAND ALUMNI ASSOCIATION Band Hosts Thousands of High School IN MEMORIAM Musicians at Biennial Event Remembering Frankie Garland, Mellophone ’05, DM ’08 Robert O. Briggs Thirty-seven high schools from all over California Cal Band alumni share stories joined the Cal and memories of one of the great Band at halftime legends of the Cal Band, Director at this year’s High Emeritus Robert O. Briggs, who School Band Day. passed away on September 17, 2008. The North Tunnel Echo’s W o r k i n g special coverage of Bob’s life and closely with legacy begins on page 5. Tara Castro, the Public Relations Director, I day was what made it memora- had the challenge of arranging 37 ble. High School Band Day fell Alumni “Retourné à Bruxelles” high schools to take the field with on our second home game of the the Cal Band at halftime. Fitting year against the Colorado State Fred Fischle, Trumpet ’57 over 2,000 musicians onto one Rams. For the Cal Band, this was field was a little bit like playing our first home game in almost a In January of 1958, James Berdahl received a letter from the State Department soliciting the Band’s interest in representing the United a massive game of Tetris, but in month, so we were anxious to get States at the Brussels World’s Fair that summer. Five months later the end, it worked out well. As back in Memorial Stadium. $65,000 in cash and services had been raised to transport the Band Saturday grew closer, I wished I As the Cal Band finished its to Europe for three weeks of performances in Belgium, Germany and had paid a little more attention to Saturday morning rehearsal, Denmark. Highlights included daily concerts and halftime type per- how High School Band Day was high schools from all over the run when I was a second-year, state started arriving on the field. but in the end, the chaos of the Once each school had taken the field, Bob Calonico Reunion 2008 led a joint rehearsal Join your fellow Cal Band alumni for an of “Big ‘C,’” “Fight evening of friends, food, fun and the Cal For California,” and Band! Check the website to register on- the Doobie Broth- line: www.calband.berkeley.edu/cbaa. ers classic, “China Special treat: John Camozzi ’77 has gra- Grove.” After preach- ciously purchased and donated wine cre- ing his usual sermon of “Watch Direc- ated by our own Mark West ’77. Mark’s tors!” a few times, the winery is called Rominger West – spread bands started to come the word. Thank you John and Mark! together and we were The reunion will honor Cal Band ready to put on quite a Announcer Albert Locher ’72 as the Tony show later in the after- Martinez Award winner, and willfeature a noon. special talk by Cynthia Erb ’07, current Cal As the Cal Band ate Fifteen members of the 1958 Brussels Band contingent reunited at the Brussels Atomium, Band member and mother of teenagers! lunch and changed the signature monument of the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair. Friday, November 21, 2008, 6:00 pm into uniform, the high school bands were formances at the Fair in front of excited international crowds, and an Spenger’s: 1919 Fourth Street, Berkeley appearance at the annual 4th of July celebration in Rebild, Denmark. No-host bar and dinner given a private tour around campus led On the return trip the Band was summoned to a reception given in Questions? Email Barbara (Hollimon) its honor in Washington, D.C., by then Vice President Richard Nixon. Goodson ’77 at [email protected]. (continued on page 9) This performance tour raised the national and international prestige of the Cal Band and the University of California. This past May, fourteen original members of the 1957-58 Cal Band Announcing the new NTE Web Site! returned to Belgium to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their World’s Fair performances in Brussels and elsewhere in Europe. The reunion trip was For up-to-date news, articles, photos, and more, visit: highlighted by a ceremony in which the famous Manneken-Pis statue, www.northtunnelecho.org (continued on page 10) www.calband.berkeley.edu Photos by Cal Band (top left), Tristan Harward (top right) and Jeanne Fischle (bottom right) Page 1 Page 2 The North Tunnel Echo p.m. Elizabeth weighed 5 lbs., 14 oz. and (Cantonese, Teochiu, Vietnamese, or English), was 18 inches long at birth. Big brother David it was universally agreed that the chocolate was proud to show off his new sister to all his fountain was everyone’s favorite appetizer. friends at preschool. Elizabeth is now doing The day after the wedding, the newlyweds Greg Fair (clarinet ’92) and his wife Nata- very well. She went on her first train ride and flew to Australia for a two week honeymoon. lie are pleased to announce the arrival of her first hike this summer when the family The couple currently reside in Seattle, Wash- their son Benjamin visited the Grand Canyon. At ington, where Susan is earning her Doctorate Cooper Fair. Benja- eight months she is already in Neuroscience at the University of Wash- min was born June 4, trying to stand because she ington. 2008, weighing 7lbs., knows she has to walk before 8 oz. and spanning 19 she can highstep. The Meyers ¾ inches. Greg reports came to their senses a couple that all are doing well, of years ago and returned to though both Natalie California after spending six and he don’t seem to years in Michigan. They now be getting as much live in Rancho Santa Margarita sleep as Benjamin! The Fairs in southern Orange County. Rich is a Manager with PRTM Ken Molles (trombone ’89) reports that Management Consultants, and Trisha is a after seven years living in Las Vegas, Nevada, stay-at-home mom. They can be reached he is starting a new job with the U.S. Patent & [email protected]. Trademark Office as a patent examiner in the The Stewarts Washington, D.C. area. Randy Parent (mello ’73, SM ’77) has Breaking the clarinet tradition, Rachel returned to the practice of law after serving as Merkhofer (clarinet ’02) found love outside Lisa (Nelson) Spresney (picc ’89) and her Executive Director of the California Alumni husband Dwaine welcomed their first child, her section, marrying Daniel Stewart (trom- Association. He is practicing construction law bone ’99) in an outdoor wedding at the Brazil Sarah Elizabeth, on August 31, 2008. Lisa with Bell, Rosenberg & Hughes in Oakland. and Dwaine live in Phoenix, and sometimes Room in Tilden Park. The beautiful setting Randy lives in Danville with his wife of 27 was complimented nicely by a string quar- get together with nearby Scotts- years, Carmen. His son Chris dale residents Kristen (Keith) tet, which provided music for the ceremony. is a sophomore at the Univer- Afterwards, guests were treated to luncheon (picc ’88) and Chris Hulett sity of Arizona and worked on (bass ’86) and their two boys, indoors, and dessert from a cupcake tower. the maintenance crew at Camp There were 27 Cal Band alumni in atten- William (trombone 2020) and Gold, Lair of the Golden Bear, Bryce (bass 2022) who, while dance. The couple currently reside in Oak- last summer—just like his dad land, close to Rachel’s job at the California greatly outnumbered by nearby did 34 years ago. ASU fans, are already proudly Alumni Association. wearing blue and gold every Continuing the tradition game day. of clarinet weddings, Susan The Overcashiers Duong (clarinet ’01) and Rich and Trisha Meyer (both Alfred Fung (clarinet ’99) tied trumpet ’90) are happy to the knot at a private civil cer- announce the arrival of their emony in the rotunda of San daughter Elizabeth Erin, born Francisco City Hall on April on January 18, 2008 at 7:12 David Meyer and Bob 23, 2008. Following their legal marriage, Alfred and Susan traveled The North Tunnel Echo down to El Monte, California on May 2nd ______ for a day-long celebration with friends and Erin Proudfoot ’92 CBAA Communications Chair family. The celebration began with a tradi- Tara Castro ’05 Cal Band Public Relations Director Jason P. Clark ’99 Editor Tristan Harward ’02 Assistant Editor ______ Contributors Steve Overcashier (mello/bass ’72) is proud Pete Alvarez, Jr. ’74 • Matt Bjork ’87 • Katherine Brittain to announce his marriage to another Golden ’05 • Robert Calonico ’72 • Gordon Chien ’05 • Robyn Bear, Lynn Le Bourdais Osborn, this past July. Comfort ’08 • Sarah Coonley ’06 • Dan Cheatham ’54 At their first meeting in April 2007, they knew • Jenna Dockery ’06 • William Doherty ’76 • Colin they had found their match and, over the next Downs-Razouk ’05 • Fred Fischle ’57 • Francis Garland weeks and months, each tried to “out Cal” the ’05 • Barbara Goodson ’77 • Jeff Johnstone ’83 • John other (Lynn finally admitted that Steve wins). Leibee ’96 • Albert Locher ’71 • Malia McPherson ’06 In addition to attending all Cal football games • Brighitte Preciado ’05 • Erin Proudfoot ’92 • Jamie (Lynn has been to the Women’s Huddle every Rawson ’77 • Karen Rawson ’84 • Jake Seefer ’08 • year except 2007 when Steve whisked her off Neil Sorenson ’59 • Carol Suveda • Alec Stewart ’01 to New Zealand and Australia), they are avid Cal rugby fans and ventured up to the Lair • Jerry Taylor ’66 • Grace Tiscareño-Sato ’85 • Ryan The Fungs Wilcox ’06 • Margy Wilkinson of the Bear this spring for the annual work ______ tional Chinese tea ceremony for the bride’s weekend where they repaired split rail fences Please address comments to: family, followed by a tea ceremony for by splitting cedar logs and stripping off the The North Tunnel Echo the groom.