Table of Contents
This is the webpage for Golden High School (GHS) class of 1976 (GHS '76) in Golden, Colorado.
This page can be found by searching for "Golden High School 1976". This webpage should be the first result.
If you build it, they will come.
(slightly misquoted from
Field of Dreams)
Left: What GHS currently looks like. The buildings that existed during the GHS '76 years were removed (in August of 2009), and an entirely new campus was created. Life goes on....
The improvements would make even a Demon (pun alert!) turn green with envy! (Demons are the mascot of GHS.)
GHS now has a "Mountain Bike Engineering" class. (In our day, we didn't even have mountain bikes! =:0)
Some classmates lived in a region that were supposed to go to Wheat Ridge High School, but requested special permission to attend Golden High School instead.
Thanks GHS, for all that you did for us!
Recent news: Girls Basketball: Championship Participants to be Recognized in 50th Anniversary of State Tournament - Colorado High School Activities Association.
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The 50 year reunion will be in Golden, Colorado on , .
Below is the proposed itinerary.
| date | day | time | event | activities | venue | cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 August 2026 | Friday | 5 p.m. | Happy Hour | meet and get reacquainted | TBD | free admission, possible cash bar |
| 29 August 2026 | Saturday | 3 p.m. | GHS courtyard | tour of the new GHS campus and possible slide show of memories in the cafeteria | Golden High School | free |
| 29 August 2026 | Saturday | 5 p.m. | dinner | dinner and possibly dancing | Golden Hotel | $50 per person |
| 30 August 2026 | Sunday | TBD, various | sightseeing | optional family-friendly sightseeing trips | sites of Golden | cost of attraction (some free) |
Please RSVP so we can determine the number of people to plan for.
There are two ways to RSVP:
Please RSVP even if you don't plan to attend so that we know you were at least notified of the event.
Hope to see you there!
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Dinner invitation view/save options:
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Below are classmates that have RSVPed.
So far, we have yes responses, guests, maybes, and nos; making a total of attendees (possibly ).
| # | last name | first name | née | confirmation | guests | comments | RSVP method |
|---|
Below is the XML used for the above table for XML-savvy stakeholders to copy/edit.
transcript
parsed xml
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The venue for dinner will be the Golden Hotel. Cost for parking (in their parking garage) is $10. The city of Golden also has ample parking in their parking garage for $10 a day.
The venue for the Meet and Greet has not been finalized. If you have any suggestions, let one of the organizers know.
Here are some local attractions you might want to visit.
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The following people are contacts for GHS '76 and are the organizers for the 50th reunion.
| contact | comment | contact method |
|---|---|---|
| Debbie Dalton | dal10dj@comcast.net | |
| Kurt Papenfus | kpapenfus30@gmail.com | |
| André van Meulebrouck | contact section on André's home page | avanmeul.github.io/home/#secToC |
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The following are resources for alumni information.
The following is a table of all known classmates.
If you aren't in this table, then we don't know about you.
If your entry in the "reachable" column is "no", then we don't know how to contact you.
You can do ctl-f in your browser to search for anyone you like, and the table (and/or XML) will scroll to the first hit.
| key | last | current | first | middle | short | prefix | suffix | title | reachable | comment |
|---|
The following is the sparse XML data for all known classmates that is used to populate the HTML table above.
Sparse herein means that empty nodes are left out of the XML to make it smaller in size.
The key field was originally determined by sorting all classmates in Excel by last (maiden) + first + middle names, and then incrementing a one-based ordinal.
However, students were later reported to us that we didn't know about (i.e. students that started with us, but didn't graduate with us), and other errors (i.e. spelling, name confusions, duplicate rows, etc.).
Hence, the key became a surrogate key; used to establish internal relationships within the program, but it no longer represents alphabetical order.
To solve that problem, a new field was created called "key sort"; which establishes alphabetic order (and therefore is subject to change).
This data can be imported into Excel and many other applications that consume XML.
The GHS '76 website is cited on the Golden High School Alumni website.
The GHS Facebook alumni site is a great resource.
Golden High School 125th anniverary (1873-1998) Alumni Directory 1998
This is a hardbound book listing classmates, the class they were in, and their contact information (when known).
It is believed to be out of print and unobtainable.
This is a hardbound book listing classmates, the class they were in, and their contact information (when known).
It is believed to be out of print and unobtainable. If anyone has a copy of this, please contact the organizers.
Classmates.com is a wonderful and very helpful resource that can help in researching classmates.
You can even purchase Yearbooks from them!
A free account is all you need to RSVP to reunion announcements, and to receive (and send) private messages between paid classmates.
We have a Google Shared drive with resources for our class, including the definitive spreadsheet of all known classmates.
The spreadsheet drew from the 1976 Yearbook, the 1998 Golden High School Alumni Directory, the 40th reunion RSVP list on Classmates.com, and includes current information given to us by classmates (including who is deceased).
If you would like access to this spreadsheet, please send André (or one of the other contacts) an email, and we'll add your email address to the access list for this share.
We anticipate eventually making the spreadsheet downloadable from this webpage. That would obviate the need to have access to the Google shared drive.
Currently we have deceased classmates in the GHS '76 spreadsheet, but this number is probably too low (due to lack of contact with many classmates).
Born on 2 March 1958, passed away on 9 February 2023. Gunnison Times: Richard Lee Ake.
Source: Van Marken (via André).
Source: Monica Mordja (née Moss) (via André).
Source: 2021 alumni directory.
Died of Leukemia on 23 October 2023 at age 62. HORAN & McCONATY obituary.
Source: Clinton Harman (via André).
Died around 2021 due to lung problems/cancer. Was an organizer for past reunions.
Source: André.
Started with our class, but didn't graduate with us. Passed away from cancer 3-4 years ago (as of 2026).
Source: Robert Tubbs (via André).
Passed away on 26 June 2022 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Thielen Obituary (2022) .
Source: Cindy Betz (via Debbie).
Passed away on 4 March 2019.
Source: Kathleen Moncrieff (via André).
August 1958 - 26 May 2017, age 58. Fast People Search: Marvin Brown, Legacy: Marvin Brown Obituary.
Source: André.
Passed away on 23 May 2014. Colorado Trust (2014) .
Source: André.
Passed away on 20 February 2021 at age 62 in Boulder City, NV. Boulder City Review Obituary (2021) . Brad stared at GHS, but graduated from Evergreen High School.
Source: André
Passed away on 29 August 1999 Sunday in a terrible head on car collision.
Source: Kevin Kroeger (via André).
Source: 1998 alumni directory.
Passed away on 22 January 2024. Legacy Obituary, Golden, Colorado; February 8, 2024 .
Source: André.
Passed away on 25 April 2025. Started with us, but didn't graduate with us. Changed her name to Caitlin Allen.
Source: Kathleen Moncrieff (via post on Classmates.com).
Passed away on 21 July 2015 at age 57. Canyon Courier: Rick Eagen .
Source: André
Passed away in December of 2006 at age 49. Fast People Search: Charles Frederick.
Source: André
August 1957 - January 2008. Fast People Search: Donald L. Haynes.
Source: André.
October 1957 - 3 April 2014. Fast People Search: Eric Hessner, The Denver Post: Eric Todd Hessner.
Source: André.
Passed away on 3 April 2025 in Mead, Colorado. Legacy Obituary .
Source: Cindy Betz (via Debbie).
Passed away on 19 June 2025 Thursday. B&G Mortuary Obituary: Steven Ray Hughes.
Source: 2021 alumni directory.
Source: 1998 alumni directory.
Source: 1998 alumni directory.
Passed away on 26 July 2008 at the age of 49 in Portland, OR. Has family living in Steamboat. Find a Grave: Peter George Lund.
Source: Robert Tubbs (via André).
13 February 1958 - 16 October 2021. Dignity Memorial Obituary: Lori Rae Hansen .
Source: Kathleen Moncrieff (via André).
Source: 1998 alumni directory.
Died of a heart attack on 2 April 2016.
Source: Kathleen Moncrieff (via post on Classmates.com).
Passed away in April 2004 at age 47. Fast People Search: Marvin Neilson.
Source: André.
December 1957 - October 2014, age 56.
Source: Fast People Search: Dana Reyna (via André).
Obituary: Guiding Eyes for the Blind (9 December, 2013).
Source: André.
Source: 1998 alumni directory.
Source: 1998 alumni directory.
Source: 1998 alumni directory.
Source: André.
Source: 2021 alumni directory.
7 April 1958 - 20 July 1996. Died from a work related incident while working for CDOT (Colorado Department of Transportation).
Source: Debbie.
Passed away 3 years ago (as of 2026). Classmate Wayne Wheeler would have details.
Source: Robert Tubbs (via André).
26 August 1958 - 21 June 2018. Passed away at age 59 from breast cancer.
Celebration of Life quote (courtesy of Julia):
She flew up to Heaven on the wings of angels. By the clouds and stars and passed where no one sees. And she walks with Jesus and her loved ones waiting. And I know she's smiling saying: Don't worry 'bout me'.
Excerpt from Sissy's Song by Alan Jackson
Source: Julia LaCassa, Diana's younger sister (via André).
Passed away 10 or 15 years ago (as of 2026). Classmate and sister Pam would have details.
Source: Robert Tubbs (via André).
Below are some interesting statistics about our class.
| # | statistic | value | description | comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | number of years we were in school | 3 | from September 1973 to June of 1976 | |
| 2 | number of people in our class | 517 | includes 5 people who started with our class but graduated elsewhere | the spreadsheet includes John Doe to reconcile with Classmates.com; also students that started with our class but didn't finish with our class (either due to dropping out or finishing elsewhere) |
| 3 | deceased | number of classmates known to be deceased | this figure is probably too low due to lack of contact we have with many classmates | |
| 4 | classmates in yearbook | 434 | number of classmates cited in GHS '76 yearbook | this excludes people that dropped out or finished elsewhere; the discrepancy with the number of people in our class seems inexplicably large |
| 5 | classmates in last alumni directory | 441 | Golden High School 125th Anniversary Alumni directory (1873 - 1998) | |
| 6 | classmates profiles on Classmates.com (according to Classmates.com) | 241 | a free account on Classmates.com is all you need to receive reunion invitations and RSVP | a paid account allows receiving messages on this system |
| 7 | actual classmates on Classmates.com | 203 | excludes duplicate profiles and John Doe | many people have duplicate profiles, probably due to sporadic use of this system |
| 8 | classmate with duplicate profiles on Classmates.com | 34 | Classmates.com allows duplicate profiles, even with the same names | |
| 9 | total duplicate profiles on Classmates.com | 38 | some classmates have more than one duplicate profile |
Relive past memories! Or, if you missed a past reunion, live vicariously through pictures and information about the event you missed.
If you have any information that we're missing, please let us know! Please help us piece together our class history.
Information about the 40th reunion can be found on Classmates.com .
Here's a brief summary:
Attendees (i.e. those that said yes on Classmates.com):
Note: we are trying to identify (and number) everyone in the above picture. If you can identify anyone that we haven't been able to identify, please let us know!
(Think of it as a team building exercise! =:0)
People in the picture that we can identify:
Note: we are trying to identify (and number) everyone in the above picture. If you can identify anyone that we haven't been able to identify, please let us know!
(Think of it as a team building exercise! =:0)
People in the picture that we can identify:
Relevant yearbooks for our class can be found online:
Printed Yearbooks can be purchased from Classmates.com.
Passed away in 2023
Deceased.
picture not in Yearbook
Deceased.
picture not in Yearbook
Died of Leukemia on 23 October 2023 at age 62.
picture not in yearbooks, using GHS wrestling picture (126 pounds)
picture not in Yearbook
picture not in Yearbook
Died around 2021 due to lung problems/cancer.
Picture not in yearbook; using recent picture from Classmates.com.
picture not in Yearbook
picture not in Yearbook
picture not in Yearbook
picture not in Yearbook
picture not in Yearbook
Started with us, but didn't graduate with us. Picture is from sophmore yearbook.
Passed away from cancer 3-4 years ago (as of 2026).
Passed away June 26, 2022 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Now picture courtesy of Kathleen Moncrieff. Stephen is on the left.
Passed away 4 March 2019.
picture not in Yearbook
picture not in Yearbook
Passed away in May 2017.
picture not in Yearbook
Passed away May 23, 2014.
picture not in Yearbook
Brad started with our class, but graduated from Evergreen.
No yearbook entries could be found for him in any yearbooks; so the following headshot was excerpted from a 1975 yearbook picture of him in band practice.
Brad passed away in 2015.
picture not in Yearbook
Passed away on Sunday, August 29th, 1999, in a terrible head on car collision.
Picture not in any yearbooks.
Using Dan's GHS '76 graduation picture, showing him standing in front of his family home on Lookout Mountain, with his (color matching) 1968 Mercury Montego MX Brougham behind him.
deceased
picture not in Yearbook
No senior picture, using junior picture. Now picture cropped from a Classmates.com picture.
picture not in Yearbook
No pictures in any yearbooks; using obituary picture.
Passed away on 22 January, 2024.
picture not in Yearbook
picture not in Yearbook
picture not in Yearbook
No official picture in Yearbook; headshot created from a picture in Yearbook.
picture not in Yearbook
Started with us, but didn't graduate with us. Picture is from sophmore yearbook. Changed her name to Caitlin Allen. Passed away on 25 April 2025.
picture not in Yearbook
picture not in Yearbook
No senior picture; using junior picture.
Passed away on 21 July 2015, at age 57.
picture not in Yearbook
picture not in Yearbook
picture not in Yearbook
Passed away in December of 2006 at age 49.
picture not in Yearbook
picture not in Yearbook
picture not in Yearbook
picture not in Yearbook
picture not in Yearbook
picture not in Yearbook
picture not in Yearbook
Now picture is from a 2022 article on Wikipedia: Greg Germann.
No senior picture; excerpt is from 1975 Yearbook random pictures.
picture not in Yearbook
No senior picture; using junior picture.
picture not in Yearbook
picture not in Yearbook
No picture in any yearbooks.
Deceased.
picture not in Yearbook
No picture in any yearbooks.
Passed away on 3 April 2014.
picture not in Yearbook
Passed away April 3, 2025 in Mead, Colorado.
picture not in Yearbook
Passed away 19 June 2025 Thursday.
picture not in Yearbook
picture not in Yearbook
Website: Jim Hutchins's Web Page
picture not in Yearbook
picture not in Yearbook
Picture not in any yearbooks.
Using junior picture; didn't graduate with us.
picture not in Yearbook
picture not in Yearbook
picture not in Yearbook
deceased
Picture not in any yearbooks.
deceased
Passed away on July 26, 2008 at the age of 49 in Portland, OR.
No yearbook pictures for senior nor junior years; using sophmore picture.
Passed away 16 October 2021.
deceased
Died of a heart attack on 2 April, 2016.
No senior picture; using junior picture.
Now picture is from IMDb: Christie Mossman. See also Fuller House Fandom: Christie Houser.
No pictures in any yearbooks.
Passed away in April 2024 at age 47.
Deceased (1957 - October 2014).
Passed away in 2013.
No senior picture, using junior picture.
deceased
Picture not in yearbooks.
Deceased.
deceased
Passed away in 2015.
No senior picture, using junior picture.
Deceased.
No picture in Yearbook, using Classmates.com "then" and "now" pictures.
Passed away on 20 July 1996.
Passed away 3 years ago (as of 2026).
Passed away in June 2018. Now picture courtesy of Julia LaCassa.
No pictures in any yearbooks; using now picture from Classmates.com.
No senior picture; using junior picture. Now picture is from 2010. Website: Home page of André van Meulebrouck. Video of technical talk given at λ-conference 2024 at Estes Park, Colorado: A Lazy Scheme in Haskell.
Passed away 10 or 15 years ago (as of 2026).
See also Wikipedia article: Arthur Frank Witulski.
No picture in any yearbooks; now picture is from Classmates.com.
Herein, we will replicate portions of the yearbook (without permission, hopefully we're covered under the rubric of reasonable use).
However our version will have amendments, corrections, additions, and updates.
We welcome your updates! Did you miss the chance to get your picture in the Yearbook? Did you have a bad hair day? No problem, we've got you covered! =:0) Also: please send your now pictures.
Unlike the online (or printed) version of the Yearbook, our version is software friendly.
Names are listed (as much as possible) as they appeared in the yearbook. Women are alphabetized by maiden names.
All classmates who are deceased, or have given us any type of RSVP, currently have a picture in this section.
Please pardon our (geeky) dust for this work in progress!
Eventually, we hope to list the teachers that taught our class and recognize them too.
go back to Table of ContentsThe mascot has undergone many transformations over the years.
The 1998 Alumni Directory has an excellent one page summary of "Demons through the Years" on page xi.
The history of the demon mascot is described in an article that appeared in "Golden Today".
This is Demon Dan (in color) which was the mascot during our days.
Our actual mascot may have been black and white.
The original painting (1963) of Demon Dan can be seen in the Golden High Alumni gallery.
This picture is from memorabilia during our days; featuring two different mascots.
The demon on the left is the 1958 mascot.
The demon on the right is affectionately known as Demon Dan and was introduced in 1970.
Some people think the demon mascot is too dark and sinister.
As long as the mascot is fair game to undergo transformations, here is a joyful mascot.
It would be interesting to hear what fellow classmates think of the GHS mascot!
go back to Table of ContentsWe had a lot of feel good music getting air play during our 3 years of high school (1973-1976).
The following are songs that André thinks are noteworthy.
(Note: these selections should not be construed as an endorsement of any mores or ideas in the music. The selections were picked for their musicality.)
There were songs that came out prior to our time, that got air play during our time; those are considered fair game herein.
The order of the music is chronological, from earliest release date.
Some of this music might be new to some classmates. Even if not, it might be interesting to see live historical performances that you might never have seen before; and to learn more about the music.
| song | group | release date | comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hello It's Me | Todd Rundgren | Released on the album "Something/Anything?" in February 1972, and as a single in September 1973. The song originally appeared as a slower ballad B-side for his band Nazz in October 1968. Source: Wikipedia: "Hello It's Me" article. | A timeless, uplifting, anthemic, feel good song that will never grow old. |
| Nadia's Theme | Originally "Cotton's Dream", from the Soundtrack for Bless the Beasts and the Children, and the soundtrack for the TV soap opera The Young and the Restless; it was written by Barry De Vorzon and Perry Botkin Jr. | Released 1971, it became known as Nadia's Theme after the 1976 Summer Olympics in honor of Nadia Comăneci. | Moving, uplifting; filled with proud memories of a stellar Olympics performance. |
| Day by Day | Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak from the musical "Godspell" | 1971, released 1972, film version 1973 | Moving. Uplifting. A classic. |
|
Summer Breeze |
Seals and Crofts | released 1972, subsequent live performances | Anthemic classic; uplifting, harmonious, evocative. |
| Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing studio | Stevie Wonder | 3 August 1973 | Funky, spunky, anthemic, upbeat. Well done! |
| Photograph | Ringo Starr and George Harrison | 24 September 1973 | Delightful and nostalgic. |
|
Ashes Are Burning
|
Renaissance (band) | 10 October 1973, best: "Live at Carnegie Hall" | Learned of this after high school. Wow! Hypnotic, mesmerizing. Great lyrics. Example: "Your sins you won't remember, and all you'll find there is love.". In memory of classmates no longer with us. |
| Love's Theme | Barry White (Love Unlimited Orchestra) | December 1973 | Beautiful, anthemic, timeless. |
| Bluebird | Paul McCartney and Wings | 1973 | Ebullient. Pedagogical (explains Rhythm Box). |
| Come and Get Your Love | Redbone | 1973, 1974 | Nostalgic, got lots of air play; great feel good tune! |
| Jazzman | Carole King | 1974 | Fabulous upbeat hit with great lyrics. The lyric line "a touch of Georgia slide" presumably refers to a slide guitar as played in Georgia; but can't confirm this. |
| Leonid and Friends (Chicago cover) | February 1974 | Ethereal, uplifting. | |
|
Us and Them |
Pink Floyd | recorded 1 June 1972 - 9 January 1973, released 4 February 1974 | Trenchant political polemic in the style of an exquisite ballad. |
|
Rikki Don't Lose that Number |
Steely Dan | April 25, 1974 | A classic! |
| So Sad | George Harrison | 4 December 1974 | Fantastic song by an underrated Beatle. Pattie Boyd's dancing is reminiscent of the times. |
| The Hustle | Van McCoy | 1975 | Upbeat. Great dancing. Superb choreography. |
| Rainbow City | Tim Weisberg | 1975 | Beautiful, flowing, upbeat instrumental piece. |
| Entre dos Aguas (between two waters) | Paco de Lucia | 1975 | Learned of this after high school. Canoncial flamenco. Excellent. |
| I'm Not in Love | 10cc | 11 March 1975 | Nice ballad. |
|
Old Days
|
Leonid and Friends (Chicago cover) | 24 March 1975 | Nostalgic and upbeat. Leonid and Friends does Chicago better than Chicago! Drummer version in memory of deceased drummer and classmate Brad Byers. |
| Karla Bonoff | Recorded March 1976, released November 1976 | Hauntingly beautiful, evocative, pensive. |
