Sam (Sandy Jarvis) Upton

Wow, where to begin!
During high school, my boyfriend, an Upland High Schooler, Grad of 67, gave me a nickname, Sam. Which is what I now use and have used since then. After high school Kathy Kenney and I lived together on our own. We both worked and tried to make ends meet! After a short time we decided to take a trip to Boulder, Colorado and stay with her grandparents until we could get a job and move out! Well, that didn't work out to be as easy as we had anticipated so we traveled to see my relatives in Oklahoma and then head back home.

I attended Chaffey Jr. College and wanted to be a Physical Therapist. The counselor said that "Women" didn't do that sort of job! And, I believed her! Being back with my parents in Upland, was not what I wanted and knew that my old friend Karen Pope was living in Long Beach. I called and ask if I could move in with her until I got a job there and she said yes! So I left everything I owned on 6/9/69 and have been here ever since! I got a job finally at Bank of America and became a teller, then a Proof Machine Operator. I went to college at Long Beach City College off and on but couldn't work and go to school too. Too hard to make a living! When I became 21 I became a waitress and started back to college. I remember at the 10 year reunion everyone kept asking me if I was EVER going to graduate, I said eventually! I waitressed from then on until graduation.

I married my first husband when I was 23 and we separated many times throughout our up and down relationship! Finally in about 1977 (I think) he left and never came back, "Hallelujah!" hahahaha!! I was going to school, had helped run a wedding photography business and still work full time as a waitress where I trained and took care of scheduling all the staff.

Then I met Patrick! He is the love of my life and my mate forever. We were both divorced but he had a 2 year old son, Eric, who I fell deeply in love with at our first meeting. We dated for about two years as I finished up my BA in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Music. We married in a small service in our backyard. We were soon expecting as I finished up my credential work and became a teacher! 1967-1981. Those were long years! Matthew Christopher was born July 1982 and then came Andrea (Ande) Christine in September 1985. Matt and Ande are married and I have three beautiful grandchildren, Lily (6 months), Judah (3 1/2 years) and Bailey (1 year). Eric is still single but we still are hopeful.

Patrick is a Physical Therapist and we could afford for me to stay home with the children which was hard for me at times because I had worked for soooooo many years to get my credential. But, in hindsight it was the absolute best decision for our family! I didn't work full time as a teacher but I volunteered in my children's classrooms as they grew up, helping with reading, math and music. I loved it! Eventually I started subbing for Long Beach Unified School District and a private school in Newport Beach, called Carden Hall. I have since dropped the public school and only sub for Carden. Yes, we are both still working. I am blessed to still be alive and have my health. I am hoping to see you all at the reunion in October and get acquainted to those I didn't know in high school and reacquaint myself with those I did know.

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Classmates Found
Chaffey Class of 1967 Attending the 50th Reunion