Ms. Barnette, Chorus teacher, is 2nd row down, 3rd from left. Thanks guest!
Mr. Brennan, in the lower right corner, was the band teacher. (Thanks Ray Long!)
Mr. Tom Heaps, now in his 80s, was my favorite instructor at Palm Springs and I had him again for Algebra II at Hialeah High a couple of years later. He and Mr. Mahakian both had a great sense of humor. Mr. Lanza was not really that ugly - he must have ticked me off at the end of the school year and I mutilated his image with an eraser and a pen. I attempted to restore his image but don't know if I got the shape of his head right.
Mr. Montoya, who I think was Mexican, taught us Spanish I and all I remember is
"Mama! Se escapado Pancho!" "No es posible! Hace poco que la vie durmiendo en la sala!"
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July 16, 2008: Mr. Leon Mahakian passed away - his obituary from the Miami Herald:
Leon D. Mahakian
MAHAKIAN, LEON D., 85, Zionsville, IN (formerly of Hialeah, FL), died July 16, 2008.
Mr. Mahakian was born in Boston March 2, 1923 to the late John and Terviz (Mourakian) Mahakian. A U. S. Army veteran, he served during WWII with the 26th Combat Corp of Engineers, building bridges in occupied France and Germany. On September 17, 1951 he married Louise Melkonian.
Mr. Mahakian, a gifted educator who taught for 55 years, remained in contact with many former students whose lives he influenced. For 25 years he was Vice- principal and Activities Director for Miami Springs Senior High School. He found great joy and satisfaction in his involvement with his students. He was a member of the Rotary Club, a 50-year member of Dalhousie Masonic Lodge of Newtonville, Mass., and a longtime member of the Knights of Vartan. He and Louise were members of St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church before moving to Zionsville, where they attended St. Francis in the Fields Episcopal Church.
Mr. Mahakian was an avid reader who excelled at bridge, rooted for the Red Sox, and enjoyed time spent at the horse track with his friends and fellow teachers. Leon loved his poker buddies, and was never happier than when he was in the company of his beloved family or competing with his grandsons and daughter at tennis.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Louise; daughter Dr. Karen Mahakian and her husband Dr. David Rardon; grandsons Michael and Jack Rardon; sister-in-law Judy Melkonian and niece Nairi Melkonian. A funeral service will be held at 10:00am Wednesday, July 23, at St. Francis in the Fields Episcopal Church, 1525 Mulberry Street, Zionsville, with burial following at Zionsville Cemetery. Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church, 4050 NW 100 Ave., Hollywood, Fl 33024 where an August 31 memorial service is planned. Arrangements have been entrusted to Flanner and Buchanan Zionsville. To visit this Guest Book Online, go to www.MiamiHerald.com/obituaries. Published in The Miami Herald on 7/20/2008
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