Bruce Mennella

It is with deep regret, and true personal loss,  that I write to share with you the passing of our 63-64 Student Body President, Bill LePenske.  Bill breathed his last breaths, Tuesday evening, May 11th, comfortably at home, surrounded by his wife, Ginger, and daughters, Ali and Amy.  Bill suffered from COPD, from smoking, along with conplications of Lung and Brain Cancer.  In 2017 he contracted a serious lung infection that had him in a coma, and hospitalized for over a month.  Recovering slowly from that incident, it was discovered that there were cancer spots on his lung, and in his brain. The cancer treatments continued, and arrested the spread of the disease into 2021.  After falling, and breaking a hip early this year, his condition continued to deteriorate, utlimately limiting him to bed rest, as his legs nolonger functioned, and he lost his ability to walk.  He was surrounded with his wife, daughters, grandchildren, and friends during his final days, never loosing his dry whit, and his patented smile.   Date and details for a celebration of life service are being planned, but not yet decided. 

Betty Weiks (Rickard)

I'm so sorry to hear about Bill LePenske's passing. He was an outstanding student and a great guy that I remember fondly from Normandy Park Elementary on into middle and high school.  I'm sending my heartfelt condolences to his family and many friends. Praying for you all. Thanks for letting us know, Bruce.

Virginia Wolfe (Scheffer)

So sad to read of the struggles Bill had with health issues.  What a brave battle.  May you now Rest in Peace!

Theron Wood

Paul Simonyi

Sorry to hear about Bills passing.  He was an upstanding individual.  If anyone knows his address to send condolenses to, please send me an e-mail.  Gonefishing55@msn.com

Gregg Wilson

I rest my case.

Tom Chavez

Very sorry to hear about Bill’s suffering. He enjoyed being a popular leader of our class but, like all of us, he was also forced to endure suffering and sorrow. The bell tolls for everyone.

This is a world of perfect laws of cause and effect. By our pious karma we enjoy, and by our selfish karma we suffer. Human intelligence is meant to understand that everything happens for a reason.

All karma, good or bad, is actually bad because it entails birth in a world of disease, old age and death. The most wealthy, intelligent, famous, and powerful persons all suffer, just like us.

Therefore sages advise, don’t create karma either good or bad, and avoid coming back to this material world. 

How to live karma free?

It depends upon intention or consciousness. We can act and aspire for selfish purposes, to please ourselves, or we can act and aspire to please our Creator.

The perfection of spiritual life is to dedicate family, vocation, and life itself to satisfy the Lord, to use everything in service to the Supreme.

If we are conscious that everything belongs to God, and everything should be used for the Lord’s pleasure, we are free of selfish desire to enjoy this world. 

Then the chain of karmic reaction terminates. We no longer aspire for worldly fame, wealth, power or pleasure, and we are no longer forced by karma to accept a material body. 

That is liberation from the cycle of birth and death.

Linda Pompeo (Worden)

The Lepenske family lived just down the hill from my folks home.  We all grew up knowing each other from early years.  I remember Bill coming to my 3rd grade birthday party on the back lawn of my folks house and how embarrasing it was when opening presents and someone gave me underwear as a gift.  I don't remember any of the other presents...but that stuck in my memory all of these years. My mom used to always say that we should try and be like Bill's family...well brought up, well spoken and looked up to. Bill carried those qualities throughout the years I knew him.  

My sincere condolences to his family.  I know he was well loved and will be greatly missed.

Tom Chavez

A fire may start in the forest just by friction of trees rubbing in the wind. Similarly, friction between countries may start a war that no one wants.

The friction between America and China is increasing. Let's hope it doesn't lead to conflagration.

In China there is a place called Heaven's Gate. To go there is quite a trip. Here are some pictures. 

Bill Engelhardt

Tom Chavez

Silicon: Is it possible to make a conscious computer?

Federico Faggin designed the first commercial microprocessor, the Intel 4004, and directed the design of all early Intel microprocessors. Faggin started and directed Zilog, Inc., Cygnet Technologies, Inc., and Synaptics Inc. During 2003-2008, He was Chairman of Synaptics and CEO of Foveon, Inc. 

He received the 1988 Marconi Prize, the 1997 Kyoto Prize for Advanced Technology, the 2006 Lifetime Achievement Award from the European Patent Organization, and the 2009 US National Medal of Technology and Innovation.

In 1996, Faggin was inducted into the National Inventor’s Hall of Fame. 

Faggin began to study consciousness while researching artificial neural networks in the 1980s. In 2009 Faggin retired from business to dedicate himself full time to this topic. In 2011 he started the Federico and Elvia Faggin Foundation, committed to the scientific study of consciousness.  

Faggin believes that consciousness and free will are fundamental and non-algorithmic. Quantum information emerges from them, and the quantum-classical physical world emerges from quantum information. Digital computers, as classical, algorithmic systems, can never be conscious, no matter their complexity.

For more, see his autobiography: Silicon: From the invention of the microprocessor to the new science of consciousness.

Gary Korsgaard

There are pictures of our new school on the b-town blog which is 85% complete

Gregg Wilson

Has anyone ever contacted Volker Nestler?

Apparently he has been very successful both technically and business wise.

Does anyone have his address or whatever communication?

Linda Pompeo (Worden)

The Highline High School that we knew is no more.  The replacement is huge!

Gregg Wilson

Virginia Wolfe (Scheffer)

So Gregg.....did you make this???  Very clever!

Gregg Wilson

Nope. I'm not that smart. But it is humorous.

Bill Engelhardt

Bill Engelhardt

Today is National Sunglasses Day

Virginia Wolfe (Scheffer)

I hope everyone has an air conditioner right now and some very cool sunglasses!  We live just outside of Tampa and your temps in Seattle are hotter than ours.  What a switch!  Hydrate!

Bill Engelhardt

Summertime on the Seattle waterfront in the 1950s.

Gregg Wilson

"Mistress flurry rises urrly,

feels surrly, loves to wurry,

there is no hope for she is shurr,

life will be the death of hurr"

                              Pogo

Bill Engelhardt

Summertime 1963

Tim Jones (Jones)

In 1985 RJR Reynolds Tobacco Company bought Nabisco for 4.9 billion in an effort to clean up their corporate image. Now known as RJR Nabisco. RJR Reynolds was ordered to stop marketing tobacco to minors. There for a while, I was getting nothing but Oreo cookie ads. 'Oreo Thins' for the diet conscious. Oreo extra filling. Must be their big seller. Now RJR Nabisco is marketing some delicious sugar-on-sugar-with-sugar cookies to minors.  Welcome to corporate America......

Ok, Ok, I know what you are thinking:  Back off my Oreos, Jonesy!! 

Virginia Wolfe (Scheffer)

Does anyone remember Pacific Northwest Bell? It was broke up because of a monopoly. I believe now it has morphed into AT&T.  Talk about corporate America. Hmmmmmm