Karen Hennessy Morgan

After graduating from YSU, teaching jobs were scarce in the late 70s/early 80s so I worked for various non-profits. I reconnected with Carlos Rosario at our 10th year high school reunion and moved to northern California (where he lived) in early 1981. As many of you know, he died tragically in December of 1982. We had married and I was 8 months pregnant at the time of his death. Carlos, our son, was born in January, 1983. While living here in Silicon Valley, I worked at an electronics start-up company (teaching jobs weren't any easier to find at that time either) where I met my current husband, Bob. We married in November of 1985 and he accompanied me to our 15th high school reunion later that month. Our son, Devon, was born in 1987. After taking some time off to raise the children, I began teaching in Santa Clara Unified School District in 1994. I received my master's degree in Administration and Teacher Leadership from San Jose State University in 2002 and currently am a 1st grade teacher at Pomeroy Elementary School. As I update this today (3-1-14), I'm about to transition to part-time teaching with an aim to completely retire next year. When I first got to California, the 49ers were in their heyday. It was the days of Eddie DeBartolo, Carmen Policy, and Bill Walsh. I always felt that Youngstown connection. I don't know who enjoyed Carlos' years at Southern Cal more - him or us. He was lucky to end up rooming with David Ellison (son of Larry, founder of Oracle), a Disney child actor, and the godson of Neil Young (Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young). He became friends with Neil's daughter (one night early on he came home telling us of this old guy, Amber's Dad, who cooked up some steaks for them and taught Carlos the chords to "Rockin' in the Free World". Would we happen to know what band he'd been in?!). Along the way, Larry bought some real estate in Malibu and moved the guys out there. It took me a long time to get over being star-struck while watching the likes of Leo DiCaprio, Courtney Cox, and Dr. Dre strolling on the beach outside the home's back patio! While not quite empty-nesters yet, Bob and I have now become very active in the Porsche Club of America-Loma Prieta Region (I've given up racing although Bob still enoys trips around the Laguna-Seca Racetrack near here in Monterey). And, yes, I've lived through many earthquakes (most aren't that bad, with the exception of a big one in 1989). We've also extensively traveled throughout this beautiful state and many others with the Porsche Club. In March of this year (09), I brought Carlos' grandmother from a nursing home in Youngstown to live with us here in San Jose. She suffers from diabetes, high blood pressure, and vascular dementia. We are hoping to make her final years peaceful. (update: Ara wanted to return to Y-town because she said she missed the snow! She now resides at Liberty Manor in Liberty). If anyone is traveling out this way (San Jose is near San Francisco-although now I guess I should just say I live in "Silicon Valley"), please get in touch. My Dad still lives in the same house in Youngstown (Mom died in 2008) and I get back to Ohio every now and then. This past summer, I was on UHS's campus where my niece was performing in the new (to me) theater. Oh, the memories! My sincere thanks to all of you who have worked so hard to make this website so easy to navigate and use. You rock! Go Irish!

One of my favorite funny school stories involved a religion class. I'm not sure I can remember the names of all those involved, but I think it happened our sophomore year. While on the bus going to school, it became apparent that none of us (I think Lynn Philibin, Mary Barb Kelty, and myself were involved) had read an article from the Catholic Exponent as required for homework. Somehow we talked Nancy Decker (?) into volunteering to report on an article and then fake a fainting spell. We figured that would cause a commotion enough that the sister would become so distracted she would not get to the rest of us. To our amazement, the nun simply stepped over Nancy's prostrate body, said she'll be alright, and who would like to continue? As a teacher, I find it humorous we actually thought she would fall for such a trick! So many other memories abound. The trip to Europe in the summer after our junior year that ended up the beginning of a life-long friendship with Margi Hannon Metzger. Proms and plays. Masses, pep rallies, and assemblies. Football and basketball games and dances. And, of couse, I met Carlos Rosario at Ursuline.