Wilson HS ... now known as Ida B. Wells High School
Alumni Update - April, 2026

http://www.wilsonalumni.com
edited by Linda Doyle

FULL CIRCLE FOR TWO WILSON GRADS
Paul Linnman '65 says, "Thanks for the update item on Jeremy Shetler '92, a good man indeed. I was Jeremy’s Babe Ruth League baseball coach, and have re-connected with him all of these years later.  In my third year of my “hobby” job, umpiring high school baseball, I have been happy to have some Wilson JV games, with Jeremy coaching.  Feels like it’s come full circle, and the player I recall as a great kid is now, unsurprisingly, a great adult and coach!"


WILSON PLAYED IMPORTANT ROLE IN MASS IMMUNIZATION
by Gregory Finn '69
When I was very young, in summer the kids pool at Wilson was very attractive, but many parents kept their kids away due to fear of polio.  I was told to stay away. The Sabin oral polio vaccine, given on sugar cubes, ended those fears for most people.  I remember circa 1960/61, when I was nine, the long lines at Wilson to receive our polio vaccine sugar cubes. Wilson was huge mysterious place to me then. That young I might be off a year or two.  You should be able to check. GGFinn class of '69

WHERE ARE THEY NOW

THEA BERNSTEIN '62 AND MICHEL BERNSTEIN '60

The two sisters graduated from Wilson with fond memories. Thea reflects, "It saddens me to see growing lists of former classmates’ passings so am happy to still be here, left with happy memories of my years @ Wilson, especially my love of drama & participating in so many productions under the guidance of Dr. Lucille Hill and in Trojanes. My sister, Michel, would never share her accomplishments, but I would! After graduating in ‘60, she flew as stewardess for Continental Airlines, serving on MAT, military air transport. She was—& remains—an artist who went on to create an internationally recognized greeting card & gift line, Michel & Company, eventually being courted by Disney studios to incorporate licensing of their property, Winnie the Pooh into her line. Her company kept expanding, adding more artists, sales reps, & larger offices & warehouses. A wonderful success story about another alumni., unashamedly brought to your attention by a proud sister!" Both sisters reside in Los Angeles only a few miles from each other, & happy to report … we’re still here!! And Thea adds, "I listened to the Wilson song you included in the last newsletter & am only slightly embarrassed to say I still know all the words that go with it!"

CLASS OF 1979 REUNION, AUGUST 2024, GABRIEL PARK
photo courtesy of Wendy Wendlandt '79

PIL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES OF THE MONTH - JUNE 2025
Profile written by Dick Baltus (Wilson, 1973)

Congratulations to Stephanie Burnham Needham '2000

To read more about Stephanie, go to: https://pilhalloffame.org/members-of-the-month/stephanie-burnham-needham/

SCHOOL NEWS

BARRY MANILOW SHINES LIGHT ON MUSIC TEACHER
A big congratulations to Nick Caldwell, Band Director for Ida B. Wells HS, for being selected for the Manilow Teacher Award! Mr. Caldwell will be presented with a $5000 cash prize at the July 16th Barry Manilow concert at Moda Center as well as $5000 to purchase musical instruments for the Ida B. Wells Band program! Thanks to all of you for supporting this effort!

ROSE FESTIVAL NEWS
Source:  Hillsdale News. Valeurie Friedman

High school senior Sophie Lafrenz ‘26 was selected as the representative to this year’s Rose Court.   In an added surprise, Rose Festival officials also announced that Wells/Wilson High School band teacher Nick Caldwell will be “knighted” by the Royal Rosarians. In 1926 the Royal Rosarians knighted famed American bandleader and composer John Philip Sousa, the “March King”—placing this year’s honoree, band teacher Nick Caldwell, in appropriately musical company. Lafrenz is captain of the varsity women’s lacrosse and swim teams, a member of the school band, and active in several clubs, including Model UN, Birdwatching Club, Athletic Leadership Council, National Honor Society, and the Rising Educators Club. She volunteers twice a week as an intern at Stephenson Elementary School through the IBW Education Pathway. As co-president of the Positive Charge Club, she helps organize fundraisers, projects, and events that make a direct impact on the lives of teens in the community. Outside of school, she works part-time as a swim instructor, lifeguard, and youth lacrosse coach. Next year, she will attend Whitman College, where she plans to play lacrosse and pursue her goal of becoming a teacher. Nick Caldwell has taught for almost 19 years within Portland Public Schools.  In 2012 he was named the Wilson High School Band Director. He previously taught music at Rieke Elementary School, Jackson Middle School and Gray Middle School.  He has been the Director of the Southwest Portland Community Band since 2015.  He was recently named a Manilow Music Teacher Award winner in 2025. This year’s Rose Festival will culminate on May 5th with the selection of the 112th Rose Festival Queen—the same ceremony at which Caldwell will be knighted. Past Rose Festival Princesses include:  Senya Scott (2022), Tara Beatty (2004), Leela Joshi (2002), Amy Seely (2000), Malia Yoshida (1992), Jennifer Deas (1991), Kelly Manning (1988), Laurie King (1970) and Cherie Lynne Viggers (1962). This year’s Rose Festival will culminate on May 5th with the selection of the 112th Rose Festival Queen—the same ceremony at which Caldwell will be knighted.

ZORINA JOHNSON: GIRLS WRESTLING CHAMPION
Source:  Hillsdale News. Valeurie Friedman

In just six years, the Ida B. Wells High School’s girls wrestling program has grown from two or three athletes into a thriving program with 15 wrestlers this year. Though women’s wrestling only became a fully sanctioned OSAA sport in 2023, Wells has long supported girls on the mats. Her coach Lance Johnson said, “People who love the sport will start a youth wrestling program in a community, and we’ve had one running for many years. We’ve had girls in the program for as long as I’ve been involved—since Zorina was four, when I first got started with the program. ”Senior Zorina Johnson, Coach Lance Johnson’s daughter and this year’s OSAA champion in the 135-pound weight class, is a product of this system. She captured her third consecutive state championship this February, finishing her high school career with 108 wins and one loss. Last summer, she also won a national championship at 130 pounds and has been recognized as an All-American multiple times.Women’s wrestling is now an official NCAA championship sport as of the 2025–26 school year. Next year, Zorina will attend Lehigh University in Pennsylvania, competing on their newly minted Division I women’s wrestling team.

Do you have any stats you would like us to remember and document on the alumni website? Send your details to Linda Doyle.


COMMUNITY NEWS
Do you remember shopping at Paloma Clothing store in Hillsdale? How about your Mom? Paloma turns 50 this year and is ready to celebrate. Read all about their history and planned celebrations.


RECALLING GREAT MEMORIES THROUGH STORIES AND PHOTOGRAPHS
If you would like to share stories and/or photographs with names, places/events, and the year, please send them to Linda Doyle: Lsdoyle@earthlink.net. So, make sure to look for RECALLING GREAT MEMORIES THROUGH STORIES AND PHOTOGRAPHS in every alumni e-newsletter.

SEND YOUR UPDATES
Send us the details on where/what you have been doing since graduation from Ida B. Wells/Wilson, and we'll post in an upcoming IBW-WWHS Alumni Update e-newsletter. Send details to Linda Doyle.


KNOWN CLASSMATES/TEACHERS NO LONGER WITH US
Please send an email with details to Linda Doyle if you have an obituary that should be posted here. Below is a list of classmates who have just been added to the list:

BRIDGET HALLORAN HOLLAND ‘60
RICHARD DEHAAN '64
J. DIANE HUSSEY '63
SUZIE ECKHARDT (FROMM) '75
SCOTT EVANS '75
RON HURTIG '75
CLANCY KEEF '75
CINDY DINKLE '75
CINDY STORM '75
BOB KRUCHEK '75
ROSE WILSON (FERGUSON) '75
ROBERT T. “BOB” HANDY ’59
SSGT STEVEN C. HUGO '81
NATE ROBERT PLISKA '97
CHRISTINE (SCHMIDT) CREAMER '78
GREG FOWLER '75
DON BECK '75
TED CAUFIELD '69
JAMES WING LEE, JR (JIMMY) ’61
BRUCE EMORY CLARK '65
JAMES MARCELLO APILADO (WILSON TEACHER) passed away in 2012
GORDON N. TAXER '71


Click on this link to read more about classmates, teachers, community members who have passed away...  Once on the page, scroll down to find the class year.

REUNIONS

GET ALL THE DETAILS ... updates to reunions are happening all the time, so make sure to check out upcoming reunions at: http://www.wilsonalumni.com/reunions.htm.

MILITARY SERVICE

GRADUATES WHO HAVE SERVED OR ARE SERVING IN THE MILITARY
Please check out the IBW-WWHS Military Alumni page and read all about our amazing military graduates. To add your name and information to the WWHS Military page, Send your information to Linda Doyle at LSDOYLE@EARTHLINK.NET.

Name:
Year graduated from Wilson/Ida B Wells:
Military branch:
Years of service:
Service description:
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WWHS (now known as IDA B. WELLS) ALUMNI
Alumni and community members are continuing to move forward to establish the WWHS Alumni Association.  Application process for tax-exempt status of association is progressing (with special thanks to Jack Bertell '58).  If you would like to join them, contact Jack Bertell '58.

STAY IN TOUCH

Wilson High School (now known as IDA B. WELLS HS) ALUMNI
- WEBSITE
Check out the Alumni website and don't forget to complete the simple online form to join the WWHS Alumni database. To help us reach as many graduates as possible, please consider adding the link to our website (http://www.wilsonalumni.com/) from your website. Pass the word along to your Wilson (now Ida B. Wells) High School classmates about the Alumni website and the opportunity to register. Tell your friends.

UNSUBSCRIBE
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