CBS 8 San Diego
Feb 7, 2022
San Diego High School class of 1941 talks about life after graduation ahead of 50-year reunion 1991

In 1991, CBS 8's Gina Lew caught up with members of San Diego High School's class of 1941.

IT WAS A PERIOD OF INNOCENCE, OPTIMISM, AND CHANGE.

IN JUNE, 1941, A CLASS OF 800 SENIORS GRADUATED FROM SAN DIEGO HIGH....READY TO CONQUER THE WORLD.

LITTLE DID ANYONE KNOW, THAT SIX MONTHS LATER, THE SECOND WORLD WAR WOULD BREAK OUT....FORCING A LOT OF THEM TO JUST "GROW UP"

GINA LEW REPORTING

THE S.D. HIGH CAVEMEN CLASS OF 1941....
SAN DIEGO ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE COUNTRY WAS IN THE MOOD FOR CHANGE....THESE FACES REPRESENT THE OPTIMISM AND INNOCENCE THAT THEY THOUGHT LAY AHEAD......
THEY WERE THE LAST CLASS TO GRADUATE IN BALBOA PARK'S ORGAN PAVILLIION.....

KATHERINE CONGDON WAS SR. CLASS PRESIDENT...

KATHERINE CONGDON PABST CLASS OF '41
FULL OF PROMISE, MANY GRADUATES HEADED FOR COLLEGE...BUT THEIR EDUCATION AND LIFE AS THEY KNEW IT ENDED ABRUPTLY ON DEC. 7TH

THE SECOND WORLD

TOM WARBURTON HAD BEEN A HIGH SCHOOL LETTERMAN...A TYPICAL
TEENAGER...READY FOR GOOD TIMES....

TOM WARBURTON
CLASS OF '41

MARIAN JEPSEN WAS CLASS VICE PRESIDENT...

MARIAN JEPSEN WARBURTON
CLASS OF '41
LOS ANGELES

IKUKO KURATOMI WAS NUMBER ONE SCHOLASTICALLY IN HER CLASS...AND PRESIDENT OF THE GIRLS ATHLETIC ASSN....HER PARENTS RAN A SHOE STORE DOWNTOWN...ON DEC. 7TH, EVERYTHING CHANGED....

IKUKO KURATOMI MURAKAMI
CLASS OF '41

IKUKO ABRUPTLY LEFT U.C. BERKELY TO RUN THE FAMILY BUSINESS. SHE, HER MOTHER AND SISTER WERE RELOCATED TO ONE CAMP...HER FATHER HAD BEEN INTERNED AT ANOTHER....IT WOULD BE YEARS BEFORE THE FAMILY WOULD BE REUNITED...

FOLLOWING THE END OF THE WAR MOST PICKED UP WHERE THEY HAD LEFT OFF...IKUKO BECAME A MEDICAL TECHNICIAN...TOM AND MARIAN BECAME EDUCATORS AND MARRIED..AND IRONICALLY, KATHERINE'S JOB TOOK HER BACK TO HER ALMA MATER...AS SCHOOL LIBRARIAN....S.D. HIGH HAD CHANGED....IN THE 70'S IT WENT THRU A MAJOR FACELIFT...BUT THE PHYSICAL CHANGES NEVER DIMMED THE MEMORIES....

FOR THE CLASS OF 1941...IT'S TIME TO COME HOME...

THE 50-YEAR REUNION FOR THE SAN DIEGO HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1941 TAKES PLACE TOMORROW NITE...
IT'S AT THE MARRIOTT HOTEL IN MISSION VALLEY...AND IT BEGINS AT 7:00.
AT LEAST 300 PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO SHOW UP...TO RE-LIVE SOME MEMORIES, AND ALSO CATCH UP ON HOW LIFE HAS TREATED THEM.

https://youtu.be/KajRaXYIcxA