SPRING 2006 THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA MARCHING BAND AND THE CAL BAND ALUMNI ASSOCIATION IN MEMORIAM NCAAs: March Ralph Edwards: Madness Diaries ‘This is Your Life’ Will Rohrer, trumpet ’02, DM ’05 Renie Yuen, trombone ’03 Ben Smith, alto ’04 One of Cal Band’s most popular I packed my anti-Texas shirt from the and well-known supporters, Ralph 2004 football season and headed out the door early on March 16th for the Edwards, has died at the age of 92. Men’s NCAA Tournament. After a long Edwards, a Cal yell leader in the flight, we arrived at the Westin Hotel, 1930s who went on to become a and were pleasantly surprised to find national broadcast television and that we each had our own bed with radio host, passed away at his home large fluffy pillow—a novel concept in West Hollywood, California, on for a Cal Band road trip! I spent the November 16, 2005. rest of the day with three of my friends He was born in Merino, Colorado relaxing and watching basketball games in 1913 and moved to Oakland in luxury. Gabriela Garcia (alto ’05) and Gabe Sudario (alto ’05) pose with top freshman players ...Back in California, two dozen more Devanei Hampton and Alexis Gray-Lawson before heading back to California. when he was 12 years old. He paid Cal Bandsmen departed on a charter flight with the Women’s his way through the University of team for State College, Pennsylvania. After a five hour flight, we Big Game Reunion California by working at various arrived at the Toftrees Resort & Conference Center (also one to radio stations in the Bay Area, gradu- a bed!) in the blistering 30°F weather. There wasn’t much to do Food, Fun, Friends, and BEER! ating with a B.A. in Drama in 1935. in the area, and since the Cal Men’s game wasn’t televised in Mark your calendars for December Shortly thereafter, he moved to New the area, we opted to find a nearby restaurant. During dinner, 1, 2006! All Cal Band Alumni are York and became a household name we made several calls to Bandsmen in both Berkeley and invited to the biennial reunion when he developed, produced, and Dallas to keep updated with the men’s game… the night before Big Game. This hosted the television show “Truth or ...Back in Dallas, the Straw Hat Band entered the American year’s event takes place at Pyra- Consequences,” which earned the Airlines Center at the same time as the N.C. State Band, who mid Brewery on Gilman Street in wore the pep band standard striped polo shirts. Given their first Emmy ever given to an audience colors were red, white, and a dash of blue, they had a “Where’s Berkeley. More details to come. participation show. Waldo?” appearance. During the game, we weren’t allowed to Don’t forget, DECEMBER 1! This turned out to be Edwards’ big stand, so when we jumped-up to protest calls, we were easily break, as he moved on to appear in noticed. The game ended in severe agony, although it was For more info email Barbara Good- several movies, before shifting his heartening to see Rod Benson play so well in his final game, son at [email protected]. focus again to television by creating (continued on page 7) (continued on page 3) CBAA Hosts Career Forum for Cal Band 2006 Ex-Comm Takes the Baton NTE Staff It isn’t often that the Cal Band holds ’96), the event was a smashing success. an event where nobody picked-up an It was a wonderful gathering of over instrument to play “Big ‘C’.” In Febru- 60 students and alumni. The evening ary, the CBAA hosted its second annual started off with alumni introductions Cal Band Student-Alumni Career and the imparting of their sagest career Networking Event at Tellefsen Hall. advice to the group. The gathering was The Cal Band has alumni that have then split into two groups focusing on accomplished a great deal in their the Business/Non-profit and Technol- given career fields. We did, of course, ogy/Sciences arenas. The focus group major in things other than Band, but for was a time for the alums to share more many it was the experience we gained detailed experiences on topics from while in Band that has allowed for applying to grad school to how to ask many successful and fruitful careers. for your first raise. We believed that in having students The most successful part of the mingle with alumni and share in those evening was that the students as well experiences, we could better prepare as the alumni benefited from the them for a life not only after school, event. Many alums reconnected with The members of the 2006 Executive Committee (from left) Student Director Ryan but also after Band. old friends they hadn’t seen in years. Palapaz, Director Robert Calonico, Drum Major Heather Handa, Senior Manager Thanks to the efforts of Matt ‘Harpo!’ Others thought that evening was a Allison Shultz (sitting), Executive Secretary David Santo, and Public Relations Director Hanadi Shatara introduce themselves to you. See page 4. Bjork (bass ’87) and Jerry Miller (mello (continued on page 5) www.calband.berkeley.edu Photos by: Gabe Sudario (top), and the Cal Band (bottom) Page Page The North Tunnel Echo IN MEMORIAM Jerre D. Noe (baritone ‘40, SM ‘42) The Cal Band mourns the loss chair of the Computer Science Eliot Smyrl (trumpet ‘83, StuD ‘87) and Laura of one of its wartime members Group. He was instrumental (Money) Smyrl (alto ‘82) just welcomed their with the announcement of the in developing the computer 4th boy and future Cal fan into the world in passing of Dr. Jerre D. Noe science program there, helping November. Eliot is still busy working at Pixar at the age of 82. A musician it to receive its own building in Emeryville, where he has been working for throughout his life, Dr. Noe was as well as full departmental 17 years. Look for Eliot’s name in the movie also a passionate academic and status within that university. He “Cars” due out in June, and the names of his an innovator, helping to pioneer enthusiastically taught Husky 2 youngest boys at the end of the credits. the world’s first computerized students for nearly twenty years Laura has stopped teaching college level ESL banking system as a member of before retiring and indulging in temporarily to be at home with baby Asher and the Stanford Research Institute his many hobbies, including his 3 brothers Asa (2), Josiah (6), and Matthias in the 1950s. Following his work traveling and sailing. Those with this organization, he joined the faculty who knew him describe him as “a tough (8)—almost enough for a basketball team! The of the University of Washington as the first act to follow.” Smyrls live in the Oakland hills and have fun taking the boys to play soccer, base- ball, lacrosse, swimming, and gymnastics Alumni Band Spreads (did we leave any sports out?), piano, and hanging out with friends. Cal Spirit at San After nearly 20 years in high tech, Betty Diego Crew Race Kaufman (piccolo ‘79) started her own wine business, where she leads lively in- Tim Castro, trumpet ’86 home and in-office wine tastings featuring On April 2, a small but spirited group of exceptional boutique wines. She also Cal Band alums performed at the annual sells private-label wines and wine-related San Diego Crew Classic. The Crew Classic gifts, and she enrolls people who want is one of the largest rowing events on the to become wine consultants themselves. West Coast and attracts many of the top Check out Betty’s website at www.wine- collegiate crew teams from around the shopathome.com/bettykaufman. nation. The UC Alumni Club of San Diego County invited the Band to perform and Melanie Bradford (clarinet ‘97) will provided admission to the event as well marry Brett Hall on May 20, 2006 in a as a BBQ lunch and drinks. Most of our ceremony to be held at Wildwood Acres Megan McDonald (clarinet ’98) and Eddie Kim (clarinet ’00) perform day was spent performing for Cal alumni Resort in Lafayette, California. Melanie with the Cal Band at a Men’s Basketball game this past January. and friends at the Cal Hospitality Tent, as spent the last two years living in Boston, while University, where she met Brett. The future well as playing on the beach for the individual earning a masters degree in Clinical Nutrition Halls have recently returned to Melanie’s native races. Between the races, the Band just enjoyed and Nutrition Communications from Tufts Sacramento, California where they currently hanging out on the beach and swapping stories reside. Melanie is keeping busy as the Los from different eras. Also, folks from the Athletic Department, as well as Women’s Crew Coach The North Tunnel Echo Angeles and Bay Area Regions program _____ manager for the State of California’s African Dave O’Neill, stopped by to show their appre- ciation. The Awards Tent became our second Sara LaBatt ‘92 Hanadi Shatara ‘04 American 5 a Day Campaign, which encour- CBAA Communications Cal Band ages low-income African Americans to eat home as we returned several times to play for Director Public Relations Director trophy ceremonies. Cal has one of the premier ______ their daily recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables and enjoy physical activ- crew programs in the United States, and the Men’s and Women’s teams won a combined six Jason P.