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Update on website: the www.maryvalepanthers.com website we have enjoyed since the Big Adventure Reunions began planning back in 2000 has been lost to a internet company who refused to transfer the domain back to Alumni Association even though I was the original domain holder.

So rather than continue to pay outrageous domain and hosting fees we have recreated the pages content here for all Panthers to enjoy.    Your contributions will be appreciated! We don't intend to duplicate every post on Facebook pages dedicated to MHS and Maryvale. We will post exciting and supportive news highlights and link back to Facebook.

Previous website posts have all been updated and we have begun searching for classmates that need to be added to the Memorial Pages.
Recent additions have been posted to Classes of 69, 73, 77 and Teachers.

Please email any info& pics to lasharpe@cox.net

                                  

Tragic loss for the Greathouse Family.
Our sincere condolences as you have lost two sons this year.
Howard Greathouse (Class of 76) in May and now George Greathouse (Class of 73) in October. Both to cancer. 
The outpouring of comments from classmates proves they were both great men and well loved.

                                  

Our sincere condolences to the family of Chris Friese (Class of 86)
 who passed away from a stroke on Oct 17, 2013 after spending a short time in a coma. He will be missed.

                                  

MHS Teacher Paul Mungo has passed away October 16, 2013
Dennis Compton says, "Mr. Paul Mungo passed away last night October 16, 2013.  He had been hospitalized since suffering a heart attack this past Saturday. Yesterday he was transferred from the hospital to a hospice center. I visited with Mr. Mungo at the hospice center during his last hours. On behalf of his Maryvale HS "Kids", I reminded him how much he was loved and respected by so many of us. There will be a memorial service for Paul, but not right away. His family will let us know about those plans at a later time. RIP Mr. Mungo...you certainly deserve that and more!"
 

                                  

Alumni Assoc. Sends Condolences to the Family of 1977 Classmate Mary Kay Smith Queen -
 A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held on Friday, October 18, 2013 at Best Funeral Services 9380 W. Peoria Ave Peoria, AZ 85345.
Visitation 10 am to 11 am with services starting at 11am.

                                  

Claudia Dufek Lazok's mother passed away Thursday.
Please keep Claudia and her siblings and other family in your prayers.

                                  

1975 Class Reunion Planned !!  

                                   

Fundraiser Benefiting Cindy Wensel (Hall) and her fight against Glioblastoma (Brain Cancer).
Link POSTED ON OLD MHS SITE is bad - please advise new link if known!

                                  

Maryvale Proud of Classmate Henry Cejudo

Comments on this article can be seen HERE

by Betty Reid - Aug. 20, 2008 12:00 AM
From The Arizona Republic

Friends, teachers and coaches gathered in west Phoenix to celebrate the triumphant journey of a former student wrestler who earned a gold medal at the 2008 Olympics Tuesday morning.
 
Henry Cejudo, who won in the 121-pound freestyle wrestling, did not attend the event at Maryvale High School Tuesday afternoon because he is still in Beijing, but his connection to the Phoenix Union High School District school remains strong. He attended Maryvale High in 2002 and 2003 before he moved to Colorado to train for the Olympics. He finished high school there.

On Tuesday, the school called the athlete one of their own. The marching band played, cheerleaders screamed and a video clip of the win was shown.
"This means a lot to our community," said Maryvale Principal Phil Verdugo. "This is a milestone accomplishment by a former student."

Cejudo attended the Cartwright Elementary School District, where he also has fans.

School officials said they knew the gold-medal winner was special when he first started flexing his muscles at age 10 in a wrestling club.

"We are ecstatic for Henry Cejudo," said Cartwright Superintendent Michael Martinez. "Our teachers, support staff and administrators can be very proud of the part they played in helping Henry along his journey to success."

 
Comment Quotes:

Congratulations Henry, you've made this country and state proud!
Signed SepharAZ


Congratulations Henry! You make Maryvale proud!  Continued success to you and your family.

And may you provide inspiration to young people facing hardship in their lives. You prove that with hard work and determination you can overcome hurdles and succeed.

When you carried the American Flag as you ran around the track after your victory and tears of joy streamed down your face, it brought tears to my eyes too. You need to know how much you touch millions of people and feel that love as well. You earned it and now you can live the rest of your life knowing for one moment you were golden! May it bring you much happiness always.

Signed ACrazyCowgirl  from Maryvale HS Alumni Go Panthers! maryvalepanthers . com


EXCELLENT Post acrazycowgirl!!!

To have watched Henry at the Olympics with the US flag wrapped around him, it was quite a beautiful scene to behold.  Sometimes we take things for granted and don't really appreciate what we all have as US citizens.

Signed SepharAZ


To view YouTube.com videos just do a search there for "Henry Cejudo"


Spotlight on wrestling!

by Nicole McGregor - Aug. 21, 2008 07:36 AM
12 News Today

Kids all over the world watch the Olympic games. As they do, they often get inspired by what and who they see. One such story unraveled before our eyes earlier this week. And as a bonus, he has a home town tie with our valley. Henry Cejudo is now the youngest American man to ever win the gold medal in freestyle wrestling and he just happens to have gone to Maryvale High School. The story, as I'm sure you've heard, does not end there. Cejudo was from a family that came to the states, as undocumented immigrants from Mexico, years ago. His mom raised 7 kids on her own. His father, was in and out of jail and died when he was 4. The entire time, Cejudo held on to wrestling, making it his life long goal.

This week he reached that goal, defying odds, he made what some saw as the impossible, possible. He is getting a lot of press because of it. And a lot of children are keeping a close eye on Cejudo too. Now, if you have kids, you know they're impressed by what they see. Often times they emulate it. Which means, the sport of wrestling could get a shot in the arm. So what does it take to be a wrestler?

Hard work and serious dedication says Maryvale wrestling and football coach Pat Rowe. He himself knew and taught Henry when he was at the school and says they're looking for someone who is strong and confident enough in themselves to be in a sport where you can't hide! Sure, you're a part of a team but when you step on the mat it's you and your opponent only. Practices at Maryvale are everyday of the week, about 2 hours and 45 minutes each. They're done in a room that's about 90 degrees and, honestly most people, says Rowe, just can't cut it. No the wrestling numbers aren't near as high as the football teams but success does not evade them. The school has produced 16 state champions in the last 8 years alone. Including 3 sets of brothers, Henry and his brother Angel being one of them.

Coach Rowe is proud of the attention Maryvale is getting lately, he hopes it will highlight the sport, the school, the area and the dream. Yes, at 21-years old Henry Cejudo did achieve the ultimate American dream, but the best part is, so can you.
 

                                   

3rd Annual MHS Alumni Remembrance 2007

NOVEMBER 10th, 2007
In honor and memory of ALL MHS alumni, teachers, and staff, who've deceased; we will again be placing silk floral bouquets (with individual personalized cards attached) at gravesides in 10 cemeteries valley wide, for those who we are aware of their having passed on, and their final resting place is within the Maricopa County valley area.

For those deceased alumni who are not interred within the valley (both in & out of state), those who chose cremation, those who we do not yet know of their final resting place, and those we are not yet aware of their passing; there will be a respectful moment of silence for all.

Please review the MHS memorial tributes on this website. IF you happen to personally know of a deceased alumni's final resting place, that isn't indicated within their tribute, then we don't know it yet. Please consider sharing that information with us, so that we may include them in these annual remembrances; and so that others, who would like to privately pay their own respects, may go and do so.

ALL placements of silk floral bouquets will be done, cemetery by cemetery, during the 1st week of November (annually) with the final placements to occur at NMCA.  This is a BIG effort. Various MHS class year alumni have volunteered each year to commit to helping with floral placements at a particular cemetery, of their choosing. *11/2007 estimate is 300 total individual placements of floral/card remembrances. The brief ceremony of remembrance will be held either just prior or post placements of the floral bouquets @ NMCA.
We will all meet by the small outdoor amphitheater/stage, with a grassy area, near the visitor center, 8:00a.m., Nov.10th, 2007.

We would greatly appreciate a concerted effort of all class years of MHS fellow alumni to join us in these remembrance endeavors by attending the ceremony at NMCA.

NATIONAL MEMORIAL CEMETERY OF ARIZONA
23029 North Cave Creek Road
(Cave Creek Rd. & Pinnacle Peak Road)
Phoenix, Arizona
 

 

The current MHS-JROTC (they've dedicatedly joined us every year) will be joining us in these efforts. They will assist with floral placements at NMCA and provide a ceremonial color guard and formation for the brief reading of names of those alumni who served in the military, and the respectful moment of silence. All known deceased alumni Veteran names will be included in a reading of names; regardless of whether they are actually interred at NMCA or elsewhere.

If YOU live in the Phoenix valley area, it would be greatly appreciated if YOU would PLEASE COME and help us to pay respects to ALL of the alumni who've gone before us, and to honor those who proudly served us and our country in the military; and to show appreciation of the current MHS-JROTC student cadets for their volunteer efforts and thoughtfulness of and toward us, and especially all of our alumni and alumni Veteran's who've deceased. This should take no longer than the above stated 8:00a.m.- 9:30a.m. time. Please consider coming and being a part of these most important respectful efforts.

Nov. 11th is Veteran's Day, every year.
Please take time to say thanks to ALL Veteran's, who have made the commitment and sacrifice to serve us all and our country, especially including those who are presently in active duty; and remember those who have gone before us.

This event has been organized by the MHS Alumni Assoc.
Floral bouquets, bows, flags, and individual personalized cards attached to each, are all provided by the MHS-AA and donors, to fulfill the needed supplies.

Thank you to Major Eddy, the MHS-JROTC instructor. and student cadets of MHS-JROTC, fellow MHS alumni, individuals, families, and local businesses, who've assisted with these remembrance endeavors for the last 3 years.
This year, 2007, all of the U.S. flags, needed to be included for acknowledgment of those who are/were Veteran's; have already been generously donated by Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery.

We greatly appreciate those who warmheartedly have given and will give their time, financially donated; and also those who will possibly consider donating to assist in this most worthy cause, so that we will have everything needed to respectfully remember all of these individuals.

Committee was
 
1972-Melody (Johnson) Baker
MHS-AA Memorial Committee chairperson

1964-Cee (Smith) Friese
MHS-AA President

1969-Janet Mohn
MHS-AA Database chairperson

This growing Memorial provides Panthers around the world with a place to share their memories.

 


  

2nd Annual MHS Alumni Remembrance 2006


NOVEMBER 4th, 2006
Saturday morning, from 8:00a.m. - 9:30a.m.  

All Maryvale Panthers and their families are invited to a special ceremony to remember and honor all MHS Alumni who've passed on.

The ceremony is to be held at National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona (NMCA) on N. Cave Creek Road at Pinnacle Peak Road, Phoenix, Arizona.

There will be a color guard (provided by the current MHS-JROTC), with a reading of names (known) of all of our Veteran's, to respectfully acknowledge their service and honor them; whether their graves are at NMCA or at another cemetery, including those who may be interred outside of Maricopa County and/or out of state.

Please come and join other Maryvale High School (MHS) Alumni, with the MHS-JROTC, and former Dean of Boys, Mr. Bill Stephens, in a short service at the amphitheater, across from the visitors center.

Following the ceremony, members of the MHS-JROTC and MHS-Alumni Assoc.
will be placing floral bouquets (each with individual remembrance cards) on the graves of all known MHS alumni at the NMCA. A U.S. flag Those who served in the U.S. military will also include a U.S. flag.
We hope you will join us

During the week prior to the ceremony at NMCA, all gravesites of alumni who are interred in 10 other valley wide cemeteries, are also remembered and honored with the same placements of silk floral gold mum bouquets and a personalized card attached for each of them.
PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ASSIST WITH THESE ANNUAL REMEMBRANCE ENDEAVORS.

Approximately 250 alumni graves, in 10 cemeteries valley wide, will be adorned during the 1st week of November, 2006, to respectfully remembered and honor each of their lives; by volunteer alumni of various years.

November, 2005, was our 1st annual alumni remembrance, in which approximately 40 alumni gravesites (from graduation class years of 1964 to present), at NMCA, were adorned with a silk floral gold mum bouquet with black silk ribbon (the school colors) and a personal card that included each of their respective class year(s) and their photo.
A brief ceremony was held, with the reading the names of each Veteran alumni honored and the MHS-JROTC provided an honor guard and salute to their fellow alumni from the past. Mr. Bill Stephens recalled personal memories of many of the alumni as he read their names.

Last year, November, 2005, when the MHS-JROTC placed flowers (at NMCA) on the grave of MHS;1986-Brian Mack, they were stunned to learn he had died in action as an Army Ranger, just earlier that year (January 2005)in Mosul, Iraq.
Brian was an Airborne Ranger, Iraq Veteran and was awarded a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. It brought the act of honoring their fellow students into sharp focus to realize this was a soldier who was also a MHS alumni
from their school, fighting in the war they see on the news every night.

If known, there were personal memories shared when placing each bouquet and a moment of silence at these graves brought emotions to the surface and tears moistened every eye.

Attending and also introduced were MHS;1980-Kenneth Riter, who is a brother of MHS;1967-James Riter, who was KIA in Vietnam; and MHS;1970-Jill (Thim) Wood, the widow of MHS;1969-Delbert "Woody" Wood, also KIA in Vietnam. Both Ken and Jill shared a few personal thoughts and memories of their loved ones.
Also attending (with her Mother) the ceremony last year were the daughter and granddaughter of Vietnam Veteran Delbert "Woody" Wood, MHS;1969 who was killed in action in 1972. Sadly, Woody's daughter Tammy, was only 3 years old when her Father was killed in Vietnam, and doesn't have many of her own personal recollections and memories of her Father and was touched by the honor.

Woody's and James Riter's names are on the Vietnam Wall Memorial in Washington D.C., and also on the Arizona Vietnam Wall located
in Wesley Bolin Park, across from the Arizona State Capitol building.

James Riter is interred at Resthaven Park Cemetery in Glendale, Arizona; and Delbert "Woody" Woods is interred at Greenwood Memory Lawn in Phoenix, Arizona.
They are 2 of 9 MHS alumni whose lives were sacrificed in Vietnam.
There are 4 MHS alumni whose lives have been sacrificed in Iraq.

 



The mother of Robbi Dann Travis, MHS;1970 (one of the MHS alumni who was remembered and honored at NMCA), later visited her son’s grave on Veteran's Day and was moved to tears when she read the tribute from her son's classmates. "We don't get there very often and to find the flowers on his grave was so wonderful. We thought it must be from another relative and were so surprised when we read the card and saw it was from his high school classmates."

Several other families contacted the Alumni Association after finding the MHS-AA floral remembrances at their loved ones grave.
Daisy Williams, mother of Darryl Lamar “Markie” Williams, MHS;1983, was so moved as to chair a scholarship in her son’s name.

The project was funded and sponsored by a handful of Maryvale Alumni Association members headed by Melody (Johnson) Baker, Class of 1972, who also created the online MHS Alumni Memorial website data.

                                   

2006 Darryl "Markie" Williams Memorial Scholarship
 

Congrats to Irma Garcia recipient of the 2006 Darryl "Markie" Williams Memorial Scholarship. May 18th at 6pm at the Maryvale High School Auditorium, LeeAnn Sharpe'72 MHSAA Secretary and Karen Bonine '71 MHSAA Vice President made the onstage presentation recognizing Daisy Williams, the Scholarship Chairwoman and Darryl's mother, in the audience.

Irma will received $750 toward her expenses at ASU.
To learn more.

Daisy has agreed to continue the legacy with initial donations toward the
2007 Darryl "Markie" Williams Memorial Scholarship.



Memorial Celebration for Darryl "Markie" Williams

Greetings Fellow Panthers

Mrs. Williams asked use to extend this invitation to all Panthers to join her and the family and friends for a Memorial Celebration for Darryl "Markie" Williams Saturday Feb 4, 2006,
Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, 1622 N. 39th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85009 10:00AM – 12:00pm
Flowing will be a a gathering for food, games and fun at:
Encanto Park –AMP Area
2605 N 15th Ave ,
Phoenix, AZ 85007
12:30 - 5:00pm

The Williams Family 602-278-6357

She writes, " He left us so suddenly, we don’t know why really don’t know how, what we do know he will always remain in our hearts"
She also sent a note that says, "LeeAnn, It was so good talking to you. It really made my day to know we could set up a scholarship in Darryl’s name. God Bless and thank you to all of you. "

Daisy Williams

 



                                   

First Annual MHS Alumni Remembrance 2005

On Saturday November 5th, a group of Maryvale High School Alumni joined by Major Eddy and the MHS-JROTC and former Dean of Boys, Mr. Bill Stephens, placing flowers on the graves of all known MHS alumni at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona on north Cave Creek Road in Phoenix.

About 40 alumni, from 1964 to present, are interred at the Veteran's Cemetery and each grave was adorned with a gold mum with black silk ribbon (the school colors) and a card honoring the alumni with their high school photo and class year along with contact information and the Alumni Memorial website.

They held a brief ceremony reading the names of each alumni honored and the JROTC provided an honor guard and salute to their fellow alumni from the past. Mr. Bill Stephens recalled personal memories of many of the alumni as he read their names.

 

Above: MHS Dean of Boys, Mr. Bill Stephens and Jill (Thim) Wood

Some more Photos from the day

When the JROTC placed flowers on the grave of Brian Mack, Maryvale Class of 1986, they were stunned to learn he had died in action as an Army Ranger last January in Mosul, Iraq Brian was an Airborne Ranger, Iraq Veteran and was awarded a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. It brought the act of honoring their fellow students into sharp focus to realize this was a soldier from their school, fighting in the war they see on the news every night.

They were also introduced to Kenneth Riter, MHS; 1980, the brother of James Riter, MHS; 1967, who was KIA in Vietnam; and Jill (Thim) Wood, MHS; 1970, the widow of Delbert "Woody" Wood, MHS;1969, also KIA in Vietnam. Both Ken and Jill shared a few personal thoughts and memories of their loved ones. Woody's and James Riter's names are on the Vietnam Wall Memorial. James Riter is interred at Resthaven Park Cemetery in Glendale, Arizona; and Delbert "Woody" Woods is interred at Greenwood Memory Lawn in Phoenix, Arizona. They are 2 of 9 MHS alumni whose lives were sacrificed in Vietnam. There are 4 MHS alumni whose lives have been sacrificed in Iraq. A moment of silence at this grave brought emotions to the surface and tears moistened every eye.

The mother of Robbi Dann Travis, MHS; 1970, one of the alumni whom was honored, visited her son’s grave on Veteran's Day and was moved to tears when she read the tribute from her son's classmates. "We don't get there very often and to find the flowers on his grave was so wonderful. We thought it must be from another relative and were so surprised when we read the card and saw it was from his high school classmates."

Attending the ceremony were the widow, daughter and granddaughter of Vietnam Veteran Delbert "Woody" Wood, MHS;1969 who was killed in action in 1972. Sadly, Woody's daughter Tammy, was only 3 years old when her Father was killed in Vietnam, and doesn't have many of her own personal recollections and memories of her Father and was touched by the honor.

Over 100 deceased alumni were respectfully remembered with actual placement of flowers and cards at each of their graves in 10 cemeteries valley wide by volunteer alumni of various years. All deceased alumni Veteran names were included in the reading of names of those being remembered and honored in a ceremony that was held at NMCA on 11/05/2005, with the branch of service and rank of each of them.

The project was funded and sponsored by a handful of Maryvale Alumni Association members headed by Melody (Johnson) Baker, Class of 1972,
who also created the online MHS Alumni Memorial website data.

Check back here frequently for future updates and news.

 
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