Home Back to the introduction On Campus What happened on the campus in 1959? Rocket Man The story of four physics students who wanted a better grade and tried to earn it with a real launch. Off campus What happened off the campus in 1959? History A brief history of the campus and the school districts that have run it. We found you Classmates who answered the 1999 or 2000 questionnaires or submitted information later: Name, hometown, occupation, e-mail, Web sites. Check your listing and let us know about any mistakes. Missing Classmates we couldn't locate for 1999 or 2000. Can you help? In memory of You remain forever young in our memories Karen Ewing A tribute to a woman who had much to give and too little time Karen Grassle A page devoted to our best-known class member. 40 years later Memories of the 40-year reunion that led to this page. 41 years later Photos and text from the 2000 reunion. Coming up Class events and other big happenings in Ventura County.  Useful links Started by the Web master, but please submit your ideas, too.

In July 2005, Karen returned to Ventura to perform in "Open Secrets" at the Rubicon Theater. This article was published in the Ventura County Star on July 5, 2006, and is reprinted with permission. Lady of the houses From Ventura to Capitol Hill, Karen Grassle has worked hard to make her voice heard By Karen Lindell klindell@VenturaCountyStar.com Houses have played big and little parts in Karen Grassle's life. The actress starred as frontier mom Caroline Ingalls on "Little House on the Prairie," and her father and sister were Realtors. She also played a key role in a political House. In the 1970s, she testified before the House and Senate in Washington, D.C., seeking congressional support for victims of domestic violence. Grassle is best known for her eight-season TV stint as Michael Landon's wife and Melissa Gilbert's "Ma" on "Little House"; the NBC show, which ended in 1983, still airs in reruns around the world. But you might not know that Grassle grew up in Ventura -- she graduated as valedictorian of the Ventura High School Class of 1959 -- and was an advocate for women's rights long before anyone had heard of a domestic violence shelter or cared about glass ceilings. She's also an accomplished stage actress who spent five seasons acting with the Actors Theatre of Louisville in Kentucky, and co-founded a theater company in Santa Fe, N.M., where she directed an all-female production of "Waiting for Godot." She's performed at other regional theaters throughout North America, currently at the Rubicon Theatre in the Ventura company's production of "Open Secrets," featuring world premieres of two plays by Tony and Emmy Award winner Dale Wasserman. The show's run ends Sunday. Grassle's presence in Ventura has been somewhat of a closed secret. Grassle (pronounced GRASS-lee), who now lives in Northern California, is staying in town but said that although some former classmates have come to see her in "Open Secrets," so far no one has recognized her outside the theater. She's not surprised by the lack of recognition. The last time she spent a significant amount of time in Ventura was in the mid-1960s, when she stayed with her parents in between training as a Fulbright Scholar at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in London and her first Equity job. Her family left Ventura 15 years ago, and Grassle, after living in Los Angeles, New Mexico and Kentucky, moved to El Cerrito, Calif., near Berkeley, about a year and a half ago. A classic London life Before donning a bonnet as a frontier mom, Grassle was steeped in classic acting at LAMDA, soaking up performances in London by such legendary actors as Laurence Olivier, Paul Scofield and Maggie Smith, to name a few. "I wanted to prepare myself to do repertory theater and play many different kinds of parts and be classically trained," she said. When she returned to the United States, Grassle had some success on Broadway, performing in such plays as "The Gingham Tree," "Butterflies Are Free" and "Sweet Sue." She landed a role in an independent film in Los Angeles but, when financing for the movie fell through, the practical Grassle started to question whether show business was a sound career choice. A graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, Grassle considered going back to school to study psychology, but she couldn't afford the tuition. Television, which paid a lot of money, seemed like a good option.   When her agent called about auditioning for "Little House"in 1973, Grassle wasn't familiar with the books by Laura Ingalls Wilder on which the series was based. "I didn't even know Michael Landon," she said. "When they told me Michael Landon was directing and he was the guy from 'Bonanza,' I said, 'Which one?' I was not so connected to the TV world." Something connected during the audition, however: Grassle beat out more than 45 other actresses for the role. Grassle fell naturally into the part of Caroline Ingalls. "Those books were exactly the kind of books I used to read," she said, "books based on real-life stories, and people going through hard times and triumphing over difficulties. It was kind of right up my alley." Growing up in Ventura Grassle, who declined to state her age (various unofficial Web sites list her birth year as 1942 or 1944), was born in Berkeley but spent her school years, from first through 12th grade, in Ventura. While walking to school each day, she recalled, she passed the Rubicon Theatre, though back then the building was a church. Grassle said she was always acting and dancing in shows at school and church and around the community. At Ventura High she was a member of the Thespian Club and starred in the senior class production of Ayn Rand's "Night of January 16th." (Another noted member of the Class of 1959, Ventura County Superior Court Judge David Long, acted in the production as well.) She served as Associated Student Body vice president during her senior year. The caption for her yearbook photo with other ASB leaders reads: '"This year our social success was due to the hard work of our Vice President Karen Grassle. She's a really capable girl and deserves a lot of credit."   Judy Van Dyke of Camarillo, 65, owner of Camarillo Travel, was in Grassle's high school class. "I remember her long, blond ponytail and how popular and smart and pretty she was," Van Dyke said. "I don't think anyone had a clue she would be a major star. Lots of people act in high school but don't go on to do anything about it."   Grassle, now divorced and single, raised her daughter, Lily, who's now 21 and living in Los Angeles. Grassle's sister, Janey, and the rest of her family left Ventura in 1991 because of a Ventura County dilemma that hasn't gone away: the cost of housing.   "My sister was a Realtor and her business wasn't happening," Grassle said. "Neither of her sons could afford to buy homes where her grandchildren would have a backyard. So they all moved together to Washington and started farming." Grassle attended Ventura High School's 45-year reunion in 2004, Van Dyke said. "She is so down-to-earth; she spoke to everybody at the reunion. She is the same nice person she was in high school." Nice, but with a spunky, independent streak, too. Woman helping women Grassle has long been a proponent of women's rights. "My mother always raised us to be independent, to ask questions," she said. "She didn't admire a clinging vine and didn't build any expectation that we should depend on somebody else to support us." Grassle "was a woman ahead of her time," said Karyl Lynn Burns, co-founder of the Rubicon Theatre. And a girl ahead of her time. When she was in eighth grade, Grassle said, her science class decided to build a telescope so they could look at the stars. "They were going to elect a committee to work on the telescope, and they were only nominating boys," she said. "I raised my hand and made a speech about how girls should be able to participate in this activity, so I got myself elected to the committee." Although "things have changed tremendously" for women, she said, "there's still a glass ceiling, and there's a lot of room for improvement." Along with playing a beloved TV mom, improving women's lives has been part of Grassle's legacy. During the "Little House" years, Grassle started helping victims of domestic violence. "I didn't know that the problem was as severe as it is," Grassle said. "I had a kind of stereotypical old idea that it was people without much education who got too drunk and beat their wives or kids." During a promotional tour for "Little House," Grassle was interviewed by a woman in Texas who had just completed research on battered women. At that time, Grassle said, there were only two domestic violence shelters in the U.S. "She opened my eyes to what was really going on in this country," Grassle said. "I asked her to send me her articles. I took them to a friend, because we had been looking for a subject to write a movie of the week about. We set out to learn everything we could about the issue." The result was "Battered," a TV movie that aired in 1978. The fictional drama, which followed three women who were victims of spousal violence, starred Grassle, Mike Farrell, LeVar Burton, Chip Fields and Joan Blondell. Farrell, she said, called the movie a "benchmark" for bringing the issue to the public. Grassle went on the road to promote the film, which included a trip to Washington, D.C., to meet with members of Congress about a bill to provide funding for domestic violence shelters. "The film eventually was screened on the Hill and I gave some kind of a talk afterward, and then it became a training film for certain police departments," Grassle said. "Now every town any size has a shelter. They're all full, and they all have waiting lists." Although domestic violence hasn¹t gone away, Grassle is no longer politically involved in promoting awareness of the issue. When she's doing a play, however, she tries to record a public service announcement for a local rape crisis center or domestic violence shelter. She hasn't yet done such an announcement in Ventura but "would be glad to," she said. "To tell you the truth, I got kind of burned out talking about (domestic violence)," she said. "I had a family and didn¹t want to dwell in thatdepartment too much. I was a single mom, and that takes a lot of energy." Moving on after 'Little House¹ When "Little House" ended, Grassle took time off from acting to raise her daughter; eventually she ventured back to theater. Of "Little House,"she said, "I was so glad when it was over. "Eight years playing the same part was not what I had planned to do," she said. "Later I realized how lucky I had been to be on such a sound, healthy show. I know now I¹m among the luckiest of actors." Grassle said she and the other "Little House"actors keep in touch via e-mail, including Alison Arngrim, who played Nellie Olesen, and twins Lindsay and Sidney Greenbush, who played Carrie Ingalls. They meet up periodically when someone wants them to sign autographs at a public event. Because of "Little House's" big success (and thanks to her conservative saving habits) Grassle has the financial freedom to work and travel when and where she wants to. She ended up in Ventura about a year and a half ago when another veteran actress, Michael Learned ("The Waltons"), got sick. At the time, the Rubicon was planning to take its award-winning production of "Driving Miss Daisy," with Learned in the title role, on a short tour. When Learned became ill, "they didn't have much time to get it together," Grassle said. :"I had done 'Driving Miss Daisy,¹ so they asked if I would come do it for them. Because it was in Ventura, I was very attracted to supporting them." When Grassle performed in 'Driving Miss Daisy' at the Manitoba Theatre Centre in Canada this spring, director Jim O'Neil asked her if she would be interested in returning to Ventura for "Open Secrets." The second production in Rubicon's three-show Dale Wasserman Festival, "Open Secrets" features world premieres of two one-act plays, "The Stallion Howl" and "Boy on Blacktop Road." In "The Stallion Howl," a woman receives a surprise inheritance from a wealthy man and refuses to reveal to her husband, a newspaper editor, the reason for the gift; Grassle plays a publisher. In "Boy on Blacktop Road," an investigator questions five people about the disappearance of a young boy; Grassle plays a desperate mother. The production also stars Gigi Bermingham, David Birney, Cliff DeYoung and Eric Lange. Good theater Grassle is full of praise for the Rubicon Theatre. "This is absolutely amazing for Ventura to have a professional theater that is so reasonable to go to," she said. "I am so thrilled for the support they have received from the community." O'Neil said Grassle "is very dedicated and sincere and caring about her work. We rehearsed for the show in L.A., and we ended up driving down to rehearsals half the time together. It was wonderful talking to her." Grassle has written several short plays and is trying to finish her first full-length drama. "The leading character I have written for myself. She's quite old. I figure by the time I finish it I'll be old enough to play it," she said with a laugh. Meanwhile, Grassle is "thrilled" to be back in her hometown. "After my family left here 15 years ago, I didn't have a reason to come," she said. She hasn't returned to the house where she grew up, however. "I want to knock on the door and ask the people if they would mind if I looked around, but I haven't done that yet," she said. "It was a very modest house," she added. If you live in a little house on the Ventura coast, be ready for a visitor. Karen Grassle files Best known for: Playing Caroline Ingalls, aka "Ma," on "Little House on the Prairie" from 1974-83. Wrote and starred in "Battered," a 1978 TV movie about domestic violence. Also known for: Stage acting. Started her career on Broadway and has acted in regional theater since "Little House" ended. Currently performing in the Rubicon Theatre¹s "Open Secrets." Less known for: Advocating for women¹s rights before Congress in the 1970s and raising awareness of domestic violence. Family: Single. Has a daughter, Lily, 21. Sister, brother-in-law and nephews live in Washington state. Hometown girl: Born in Berkeley but spent her school years in Ventura, where her father, Gene, was a Realtor. Attended Lincoln, Sheridan and Cabrillo schools. Member of the Ventura High School class of 1959. Post-Ventura education: Graduated from the University of California at Berkeley in 1964, then attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art on a Fulbright Scholarship. Ventura haunts in the 1950s: The hills (for hiking), Fosters Freeze and Merle¹s Drive-In (for fast food), Main Street (for car cruising with other teens). Ventura haunt in 2006: Saturday downtown farmers market. On working with Michael Landon: "Michael was not a person who was easy to get close to. He was the boss, the star, the executive producer, the writer, the director. I'm sure he had to protect himself because he had so much responsibility for the show. He was more comfortable with the crew and the children horsing around than he was with the other actors." Grassle didn't keep in touch with Landon when the show was over but did contact him before he died of pancreatic cancer in 1991. "What a legacy for television," she said. On stage vs. TV acting: "The theater is the actor's medium. There's nobody between us and them. We can feel them. Every night you feel them a little differently." The following letter was sent to several newspapers, including The Star. It tells how Karen helped a fan during the "Little House" days. A true star Re: your June 22 article, " "Open Secrets' has cast shifting gears." Following your review on the collective works of Dale Wasserman, entitled "Open Secrets," on stage at the Rubicon Theatre in Ventura, I thought your readers may be interested to hear how the star of the show, Karen Grassle, saved my life in the mid '70s. I was a troubled teenager living in an abusive home. At that time, domestic violence was not as openly discussed as it is today. I was a big fan of "Little House on the Prairie." It was the one hour in the week I could escape all my troubles and, oh, how I wished I was part of a loving family like the Ingalls. With no one to talk to and almost suicidal, I wrote down all that was happening at home and how I was feeling. For some reason (I do not know why) I mailed the letter to Karen, who played Caroline in "Little House." Certain that she was receiving thousands of letters a week and not really expecting to hear anything back, I underestimated this very special lady's care and compassion, for two weeks later, not only did I receive a personal reply from her, but her home address and a plea to keep in touch. Over the next lot of months, we exchanged letters -- me telling Karen what was happening at home and she advising me how to cope. Then came the letter that was to literally save my life. I can only imagine Karen sensed how desperate I was because she sent me the address of Erin Pizzey's office in London. Erin was one of the first people to set up safe homes for battered women in the United Kingdom, a cause I was later to learn was very close to Karen's heart. She co-wrote and starred in the movie "Battered" about the effects of domestic violence on three couples. I finally contacted Pizzey's office and was put in touch with a group here in Northern Ireland set up to help kids like me. I received counseling and, although it was a long, slow and sometimes painful journey, I survived. In the meantime, though, I lost touch with Karen. I married a wonderful man who restored my faith in the male species and we had two beautiful children. My daughter is now 13 and last September was learning in school about the different kinds of abuse we humans inflict on each other. While chatting to her, I was struck by the realization that, but for the grace of Karen Grassle, I would not be here today to tell my story. I felt so strongly that I began my quest to track Karen down so I could thank her from the bottom of my heart for what she did. After seven long months, I found out she was appearing in theater in Winnipeg, Canada. I wrote to a local paper there. It ran my story and also read it to Karen by telephone. I was ecstatic to learn that she remembered me. It says a lot for the type of person she is. I wrote to her at the theater and, a few weeks ago, received a letter in which she thanked me for reminding her that sometimes she's made a difference! Well, that difference to me was my life. This one-in-a-million special lady took the time, at the height of her popularity, to help me, a teenager living 5,000 miles away, and I will never be able to repay her for her kindness. I just want your readers to know what a "star," in the true sense of the word, Karen is and I hope they'll all go along and see her at the Rubicon Theatre. She deserves all the luck and love in the world. If there were more like her, what a wonderful place this world would be. Maureen McAlorum Newtownards, County Down, Northern Ireland