May-June 2022 | GHS Museum Newsletter
Dear Friends,
We have enjoyed the number of alumni, retirees, family, and friends who have visited the museum before our closing May 25, 2022. It’s gratifying for us to see their enthusiasm and appreciation for the new museum, our second version of the GHS Museum.
May 25th, we will finish having students visit with freshman classes. (Then all of the GHS students will have visited us this school year!)
Here is a fun photo of four students enjoying their time at the museum during lunch standing beside a 1950s boy’s cheer sweater which displays the original 1947 Gus logo. The students are wearing coonskin caps, donated by the GHS Educational Foundation, as they celebrate being Foothillers.
Passing of Beloved Teachers
Don Graessle, GHS Mathematics Teacher 1962-1991
We received the sad news from Don’s wife Janet that he passed on February 19, 2022. Randall Skelton, Class of 1966, shared these memories with us: “I had 2 classes with him, Algebra 1 and Advanced Senior Math. He was also my friend ever since graduating. I taught him how to ride a MC in summer of ’66 and we rode together many times. I can vouch that he was a wonderful gentleman. He is survived by his wife, Janet, and multiple children and grandchildren.”
Bob Kujellis, Special Education Teacher and Counselor, Passing July 22, 2021.
Retired GHS teacher Patty Bender recalls that Bob was a strong advocate for special education students. Bob began in the classroom and later became the counselor for all of the special education programs. Our brother Brad Baer, also a special education teacher, admired Bob’s sincerity and dedication. Obituary.
Yearbooks for Purchase
Until the end of May 2022, we have yearbooks available for purchase for $40 plus $10 mailing each. In June the yearbooks will be unavailable for purchase since they will be in storage until Fall 2023.
These are not available for sale: 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1935, 1960, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1977, 1990.
You may pay online on our website home page at foothillermuseum.com using the gold donate button. Or you can write a check payable to GHS Educational Foundation, including $10 shipping for each yearbook, and mail to:
Connie and Lynn Baer 5990 Avenorra Dr.
La Mesa, CA 91942
When we have received your payment, we will mail you the yearbook. On the check memo, please write the year(s) of the yearbook(s) you are ordering.
Passing of GHS Museum Alumni Supporter Patricia Mercer Potter, Class of 1948
Pat’s love of Grossmont High School was expressed in so many ways. In letters, she vividly recalled her four years as a Foothiller and the impact those years and the staff had on her life, sharing memories of Carl Quicksall, Jack Mashin, Merle Donahue, John Warburton, Ben Cloud, and others. She brought the 1940s to life for us.
Her support of our efforts to preserve and celebrate Foothiller history were shown by her many generous donations: funding the framing of the first performing art photographs in the new theater, the 2020 Hall of Honor plaques, and a bench honoring beloved teacher and principal John Cornelius, among many others.
For several years, Pat called us and asked, “What do you need?”
Upcoming Reunions
For Updated and Detailed Information, visit www.foothillermuseum.com/foothiller-reunions
Class of 1958: Tuesday, July 5th, GHS campus and district office tour and lunch. Contact Mike Vitkauskas at
Class of 1972: Saturday, September 10, 2022 (6-10 pm) Contact
Classes of 1980, 1981, and 1982: July 29th main event and July 30th family picnic, campus and district office tour. Contact
Class of 1992: To be determined.
GHS Historian and U.S. History Teacher Don Ginn, Class of 1987, with Members of the Class of 1952, Visiting the Museum and Celebrating their 70th Anniversary in April
Ways to Financially Support the GHS Museum
While we no longer have a physical space to display memorabilia until Fall 2023, we will continue to preserve Foothiller history through digitalization of our film and record collections and transferring them to DVD and CD formats.
16 MM films, including seventeen 1961-1978 football games.
VHS videos, including graduations, Homecoming Fair, assemblies and more 1960s and 1970s Instrumental and Vocal Music 33 Records
You may donate online on our website home page at foothillermuseum.com using the gold donate button. Or you write a check payable to GHS Educational Foundation, and mail to
Connie and Lynn Baer 5990 Avenorra Dr.
La Mesa, CA 91942
We appreciate your support
Final Thoughts
While we are closed, we will have an “office” in the Social Science lounge (Language Lounge) in the lower quad. There, we will have access to our four file cabinets, one copy of each yearbook, the bound newspapers, and other research items we use frequently. We will continue to write our monthly columns, available on our website at https://www.foothillermuseum.com/footsteps.
Certainly, this is not what we envisioned when we opened the GHS Museum in April 2021. We will miss the joy of the students, retirees, and alumni who visit the museum, who share their memories and love of Grossmont High School with us.
Take care and we’ll see at the new GHS Museum in 2023. Connie, Lynn, Jerry, and Paul
Lynn and Connie beside Dad and GHS Teacher and Coach Marlin Baer’s WWII Uniform in Front of the War Memorial