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Richard Prout '67
I played JV basketball without much distinction in '63, '64, and '65. The one highlight of those years was that for the '65 season, I was co-captain with my brother Steve, who was exactly one year younger than I. But I had to make varsity for the '66 season—I couldn't play another year of JV.

Of course, I tried out. I was a well-known gym rat, and although I was better at tennis, baseball—just about any other game—I loved basketball and was totally committed to it.

On the day before Coach Fitzgerald was to post the new varsity roster, he called me into his office. We knew each other well from all the off-hours I put in at the gym, dreaming of the NBA.

"Ric," he said, "I wanted to be the one to tell you that you didn't make the team—and that Steve did."

We shared a moment of silence at the gravity of these developments.

"But, Ric," Coach continued, "I know how much you love this game, how much time you spend in the gym working on your game. I've watched you over the past couple of years, and I've never seen anyone try harder to excel in any given sport. I am going to offer you a place on the bench. Do you think you would be happy sitting on the bench? You wouldn't get hardly any playing time, and therefore, you won't letter."

I enthusiastically took the offer since I would be allowed to practice with the guys and travel with the team—something that was even more important to me since my lady then, and my lady now, was a varsity cheerleader.

Coach went on to explain that he had brought the matter up with the board and asked them if they would buy one more uniform, which they did. He went to the league officials and was granted permission to carry 11 guys on the squad that year.

I did letter that season. While I wasn't much of a shooter, the coach found out that I was a defensive maniac, and since I didn’t worry about scoring or fouling out, I relaxed and made it even harder on our opponents' best shooters.

There just isn’t any comparable story from any high school that my kids went to. I was in the school play, on the track team, the baseball team, and in the choir—all valuable experiences and ones that I wouldn't have had anywhere but CAJ.


Priscilla Blair Strapp '74
I lived on campus for the first three years of life and then after that lived so close that CAJ's campus was my backyard. So the memories are myriad:

• Playing four square (or six or eight square) on the concrete circle next to the big smokestack, and then playing 15 square at recess in 6th grade
• Riding bikes and roller skating up and down the concrete walk outside the elementary classrooms
• Running in and out of the Fitzwilliam and Windus/Montei houses
• Going to church services in some old room or other and eating in the dining hall when my mother didn't feel like cooking (first experience with liver, never to be repeated)
• Miss Graham reading aloud to us in 2nd grade
• Mrs. Welbon's handwriting
• High school boys finding out I was Mr. Blair's daughter and telling me how wonderful he was
• Spying on Gaius and Martha with Cindy Berg
• Being banned from basketball games when we were in elementary school because they were too popular or crowded
• Climbing, swinging, and spinning wildly on playground equipment that no one would ever allow today because of safety concerns

Kat Damron '75
James Ford, Faith (Gizzi) Yamamoto, and Julie (Marshall) Reece are still my best friends in the entire world. They know me and understand who I am in a way that no one in this country ever has. One of my best memories is of Faith and me sneaking out of Mrs. Long’s dorm at night. We did it on a number of occasions and never got caught. And we can’t get suspended now! I have so many good memories of dorm life. Coach Davies and his wife, Jan, had a big influence in my life because they understood us kids and knew how to relate to us. CAJ seems like another lifetime ago but one I will never forget!






Lorelei Johnson VerLee '68
My CAJ classmates are treasured lifelong friends who ‘get me!’ We share a unique cultural history that bonds us so closely that whenever we get together we are more like family than friends. Our shared childhood memories mean that no explanations are necessary when vague references are made. Why ARE cinnamon rolls so popular? Because of Mr. Placzek’s 6th grade project! And why do we have clear memories of the 1964 Olympics? Because our classmates went to Track & Field Day events together! Or who didn’t admire Miss Habbestad‘s beautiful handwriting, but cringed at her strict library rules and her skirt length mandates?

As Third Culture Kids, we got to experience a way of life that shaped us so distinctly; few other experiences can compare. I am deeply grateful to CAJ for bringing us together!





Regina Dyer Nakamura '90
I remember laughing a lot. Never had a teacher I didn’t love. The feel of the fabric on the auditorium seats. The warm
concrete benches outside the auditorium. Watching the ginkgo leaves fall and gather in piles on the ground….

Favorite teacher? Mr Thule, hands down. He was very strict but you knew he cared deeply for his students and he went beyond to help.
Favorite class? Gotta say Spanish with Mrs. Amos.
Favorite spot? Probably Shimizus. Does that count?
Favorite tradition? Gotta be Thrift Shop. I can still smell those old books….




Makoto Seely '08
1. Favorite memory: Probably performing "Nightfall with Edgar Allen Poe" on stage in high school. That or seeing everyone buying Matsu yearbooks after the end of a long year working on them.
2. Influential teacher: Nelle Potter was my English teacher in high school and I can easily say she gave me the best lessons in media literacy, with how stories come together and deconstructing movies and books.
3. Favorite class: Matsu or photography class. It only recently occurred to me how much of an impact these classes have made on my art.
4. Favorite spot: The auditorium is by far my favorite building. Its architecture has always been eye-catching. As far as location: under the ginko tree out front.
5. Favorite event/tradition: Thrift Shop.
6. Important friendship: A classmate of mine who I've known since kindergarten. We were not close until high school, but even when he went on furlough we remained in touch. We graduated together and are still in contact. I call him a great friend who has weathered the many years since CAJ.