The 70th BIRTHDAY BASH!
Chip Rubsaman, Wally Cochran-Bond & Chip Pankow
THREE LIFELONG FRIENDS, Chip Pankow, Wally Cochran-Bond and Chip Rubsamen, decided to celebrate their 70th birthdays by hosting a communal birthday party for friends also turning 70 within the year. This vision came to fruition on May 19th, with Wally & Zan Cochran-Bond opening up their home and their gorgeous backyard in the hills of Altadena for a warm, fun, spirited birthday party.
WHAT A NIGHT IT WAS with over 100 gathering to celebrate and, for most, to blow out a towering candle on a cupcake. Those invited included as many classmates from the John Muir High School Class of 1966 as they could find as well as a number of 1966 La Canada High School grads who had been classmates of Rubsamen and Cochran-Bond at La Canada Junior High School while it still was a part of the Pasadena Unified School District. Other local high schools represented included St. Francis, Eagle Rock and South Pasadena. To attend, party goers came from throughout California as well as from Colorado, Idaho, New Jersey, Oregon and Washington.
Chip Rubsaman, Wally Cochran-Bond & Chip Pankow
THREE LIFELONG FRIENDS, Chip Pankow, Wally Cochran-Bond and Chip Rubsamen, decided to celebrate their 70th birthdays by hosting a communal birthday party for friends also turning 70 within the year. This vision came to fruition on May 19th, with Wally & Zan Cochran-Bond opening up their home and their gorgeous backyard in the hills of Altadena for a warm, fun, spirited birthday party.
WHAT A NIGHT IT WAS with over 100 gathering to celebrate and, for most, to blow out a towering candle on a cupcake. Those invited included as many classmates from the John Muir High School Class of 1966 as they could find as well as a number of 1966 La Canada High School grads who had been classmates of Rubsamen and Cochran-Bond at La Canada Junior High School while it still was a part of the Pasadena Unified School District. Other local high schools represented included St. Francis, Eagle Rock and South Pasadena. To attend, party goers came from throughout California as well as from Colorado, Idaho, New Jersey, Oregon and Washington.
PLEASE ENJOY the attached photos of that evening. We will make more photos available as we receive them. You also can check out the photos already posted on a facebook page entitled “70th Birthday Bash”. There was no formal photographer that night - just friends capturing memories. It was a most magical evening!!!
Catering: Cynthis Brooks Catering. Rentals: Dolphin Rentals. Band: Retro Station. Venue: home and backyard garden of Wally & Zan Cochran-Bond. Coordinators: Chip, Wally, Chip, classmate Wendy Anderson (of WOW Productions aka Janet Fujihara), Zan, Juanita Suarez & Connie Rubsaman. Decor & Flowers: Wendy & Zan Registration: Juanita & Connie. Big help: Suellen Reichenbach & Bob Condon. Flyers & Photos: Wendy. Additional Photos: Claire Mitchell, Dace Lielausis, Nolanda Smith & Mary Lance Spriestersbach. Thanks to all!
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THE MAGIC did not end with the party. Muir classmates Sally Hoover and Molly Munger thoughtfully hosted a "Morning After' Brunch at Mijares Mexican Restaurant in Pasadena. The brunch provided more time to visit and follow-up on conversations from the previous night in a laid back and quieter way. It also allowed some classmates who could not attend the party to join in the gathering of “old” friends.
PHOTO LEFT: Zan & Wally Cochran-Bond PHOTO RIGHT: Wally - Molly - Chip - Sally - Chip |
Retro Station was the band selected and the three hosts spent a long time creating a unique play list that brought the memories of 1966 to the night.
Hi Charlie, Wally and Chip,
On behalf of Retro Station, Jerry, Wendy, Ben, Mike and myself, I wanted to thank you again for having us play for your big 70th birthday! As I was preparing for this event, I understood how important this was for you, was a bit nervous about how to place your favs in a very short period of time but also somehow knew in the back of my mind that this was going to be very special gathering.
In my (almost) 40 years of performing, there are only a handful of events that stick out in mine (and the rest of the bands) minds. Please know that last night was one of the most memorable to me. Why? You were all very welcoming, happy, excited to see what we had to offer as well as having a lot of wonderful people there. The location was out of this world (Zan and Wally), the food was great, your friends were great, many letting us know that although the loved our music, they were also there to talk, recollect and reflect their lives together. Understandably! And something we as performers work with all the time. It was a wonderful chemistry last night and I am sure you felt it as well. Plus we were happy to get some folks tearing up the “rug” on the dance floor.
All the best,
Michelle Giacopuzzi
Hi Charlie, Wally and Chip,
On behalf of Retro Station, Jerry, Wendy, Ben, Mike and myself, I wanted to thank you again for having us play for your big 70th birthday! As I was preparing for this event, I understood how important this was for you, was a bit nervous about how to place your favs in a very short period of time but also somehow knew in the back of my mind that this was going to be very special gathering.
In my (almost) 40 years of performing, there are only a handful of events that stick out in mine (and the rest of the bands) minds. Please know that last night was one of the most memorable to me. Why? You were all very welcoming, happy, excited to see what we had to offer as well as having a lot of wonderful people there. The location was out of this world (Zan and Wally), the food was great, your friends were great, many letting us know that although the loved our music, they were also there to talk, recollect and reflect their lives together. Understandably! And something we as performers work with all the time. It was a wonderful chemistry last night and I am sure you felt it as well. Plus we were happy to get some folks tearing up the “rug” on the dance floor.
All the best,
Michelle Giacopuzzi
"THE MORNING AFTER" BRUNCH
HOSTED BY MOLLY MUNGER & SALLY HOOVER AT MIJARES
Sunday - May 20, 2018
HOSTED BY MOLLY MUNGER & SALLY HOOVER AT MIJARES
Sunday - May 20, 2018
Photos: Wally Cochran-Bond - Mary Lance Spriestersbach
CLASS OF 1966 SCHOLARSHIP FUND
We also want to thank everyone you contributed toward the Muir scholarship fund for Muir seniors. We raised $1,000 on very short notice and were able to fund two small scholarships for deserving seniors. On Tuesday 5/29/18, Wally Cochran-Bond will be present at Muir to present the checks on behalf of the Class of 1966. A committee consisting of Jonica Manak, Jeanie Herrick, Sally Hoover. Wendy Anderson and Wally has been formed to try to make this an annual class gift. The committee will be back in touch with all of you next spring.
We also want to thank everyone you contributed toward the Muir scholarship fund for Muir seniors. We raised $1,000 on very short notice and were able to fund two small scholarships for deserving seniors. On Tuesday 5/29/18, Wally Cochran-Bond will be present at Muir to present the checks on behalf of the Class of 1966. A committee consisting of Jonica Manak, Jeanie Herrick, Sally Hoover. Wendy Anderson and Wally has been formed to try to make this an annual class gift. The committee will be back in touch with all of you next spring.