Oceanside High School Foundation/Alumni Association

Academics

Born in Detroit, MI, Dr. Edward Fisher became an Oceanside resident after moving with his family to North County in 1944.  He earned his Oceanside-Carlsbad High School diploma in 1956, and two years later graduated from Oceanside-Carlsbad Junior College before enrolling at UC Berkeley.  In 1961, he completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering.  In 1965, four years after finishing his undergraduate studies, Dr. Fisher graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a Ph.D in Chemical Engineering.  That same year, he joined the Orsted Institute of the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.  In 1966, he accepted a research position at the General Electric Space Sciences Laboratory in King of Prussia, PA.  He began his academic career two years later as an Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering at Wayne State University in Detroit, MI.   Dr. Fisher was named Professor of Chemical Engineering in 1974 and Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Programs for the school’s College of Engineering programs in 1978.   His path in the field of education led him to Michigan Technological University in 1985, where he remained until his retirement in 2003.  During his time at MTU, he served 13 years as Chair of the school’s Chemical Engineering Department and one year as Interim Dean of Engineering.  He retired as Professor Emeritus and as an elected member of the Distinguished Academy of Chemical Engineering.  During his career, he successfully directed the research work of eight Ph.D. students and seven students pursuing their Master’s degree.   Dr. Fisher remains active in his profession, serving on committees in support of chemical technician education.  He is also a Life Trustee of the Michigan Tech Fund.  Following retirement, Dr Fisher became active in municipal government as a member of the Village Council since 2000 and as Village President since 2008.   He and his wife, Nancy, live in Lake Linden on the Keweenaw Peninsula of Upper Michigan near the shores of Lake Superior. 

Since her graduation from OHS in 1966, Janice Tait Schultz has dedicated nearly four decades of her life to the field of education.  During the past 39 years, she has worked as an elementary school teacher, elementary school principal, curriculum coordinator, assistant superintendent of educational services, reading specialist, school improvement coordinator, associate superintendent, and most recently superintendent of the Fallbrook Union Elementary School District.  As a Pirate, her involvement in OHS student government and senior class council led her to the University of Southern California where she completed her Master’s of Science Education degree in 1971.  As her career continued to flourish, Janice used the motivation from her role as school improvement coordinator to earn her Doctorate of Institutional Management from Pepperdine University, where she would eventually serve as an adjunct professor.  Her career as an educator has taken her far beyond the walls of a classroom and the duties of the various administrative posts she has held.  Her diverse background has benefited many community groups, professional committees and service organizations.  Janice has served on the Board of Directors for the Boys & Girls Club of Fallbrook, and as President of the Rotary Club of Fallbrook.  Her expertise in the field of education has led her to the speaker’s podium at a variety of professional forums.   For Janice, the one constant throughout her career has been her love for remaining directly involved with the students she served, no matter her position.  While superintendent in Fallbrook, she spent her Friday afternoons teaching art to students in the Santa Margarita Academy, a school for students going through difficult and challenging times in the mainstream school setting.   Her education career culminated the way it started:  with a deep commitment to making a difference in the life of every student she served.

Arts

Aida Maureen Mancillas might best be remembered as a creative force and vocal advocate for public art.  With her father stationed at Camp Pendleton, she and her family settled into the Oceanside community.  In 1971, Aida proudly obtained her OHS diploma.  As a Pirate, she was a member of the California Scholarship Federation and Senior Class Council President.  Her four years at OHS laid the groundwork for what would become her ongoing commitment in merging art and community.  Aida moved on to complete her B.A. in Visual Arts from Humboldt State University, and a Master’s of Fine Arts from UCSD.   Before passing away in February 2009 at the age of 55, Aida enjoyed a distinguished career and exhibited her work widely.  She was featured in two major traveling exhibitions in the 1990s:  “La Frontera/The Border:  Art About the U.S. Border Experience” and “Ceremony of the Spirit:  New Expressions of Latino Spirituality.”   In 1991, she was one of only 17 individuals nationwide to be granted a national fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts for her project, “Works on Paper.”  Her public works garnered her Orchid Awards from the American Institute of Architects for the Vermont Street pedestrian bridge (1995), the Escondido Medical Arts Center (1996), and North Park Elementary School in San Diego in 1998.  She was also honored in 1995 by the American Planners Association for Excellence in Planning.  Aida’s last large-scale project was a collaboration of the public art components of “Solara,” a nationally awarded, all-solar low-income family housing project in Poway.  She also served as a commissioner for the San Diego Commission for Arts & Culture, and was past president of the Centro Cultural de la Raza in San Diego.  Additionally, Aida co-founded Public Address, a public art advocacy group.  She was always most proud of her projects that connected people to the places where they live.

Athletics

Longtime baseball fans will always recall the dramatic and monumental home run slugged by New York Yankees first baseman Chris Chambliss in Game 5 of the 1976 American League Championship Series.  His first pitch, ninth inning blast off Kansas City’s Mark Littell lifted the Bronx Bombers to their first American League Pennant in 12 years.  For those who grew up in the North County watching the talented all-around athlete, the ALCS Game 5 drama was no surprise.  The 1966 OHS graduate was always known as a “clutch hitter.”  In 1971, as a member of the Cleveland Indians, Chambliss was named the American League Rookie of the Year.  Prior to his selection by the Tribe as the No. 1 overall pick in the 1970 free agent draft, Chambliss was a three-sport letterman for the Pirates – lettering in baseball, football and basketball.  Chambliss played baseball at MiraCosta College and UCLA, earning All-American honors.   Before making the majors, he was elected as a Charter Member to the Bruins Hall of Fame in 1984.  During 17 major league seasons, Chambliss won two World Series titles with the Yankees (1977 and ’78), driving in 90 runs for each of those World Series teams.  He was named an All-Star in 1976, and captured a Gold Glove in 1978. Playing for the Indians, Yankees and Atlanta Braves, Chambliss appeared in 2,175 games, slugged 185 home runs, drove in 972 runs and finished with a career batting average of .279.  He earned an AA in Communications and his Bachelor of Science degree in Recreation.  His three brothers also graduated from OHS, and his father served as the keynote speaker for the OHS Class of ’62 commencement ceremonies.  Today, Chambliss serves as manager of the Charlotte Knights, a Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox.  Three times he has been named Minor League Manager of the Year.   He and his wife Audry reside in Alpharetta, GA during the off-season.

Herb Gabriel’s family came to North County in 1911.  Eight years later he was born here in Oceanside, the youngest of six children.  The son of a road master for the Santa Fe Railroad, Herb graduated from Oceanside-Carlsbad Union High School as the senior class president in 1937.  After attending Oceanside-Carlsbad Junior College for one year, he transferred to UC Berkeley before moving on to the University of California, San Francisco to study dentistry.  In 1943, Herb graduated with a B.S., D.D.S. and Curriculum II certificate in Orthodontics.  That same year, he entered the U.S. Army Air Force, Dental Corps. He began his own private practice in Oceanside in 1949, continuing until his retirement in 1987.   A Life Member of the American Dental Association, Herb was widely known and recognized in both the Oceanside community and within the dental field.  He became a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics, honored as a Life Fellow of the Pierre Fouchard Society, and Fellow of the American College of Dentists.   Herb is a member of the College of Diplomates, American Board of Orthodontics, and is also a member of the Charles H. Tweed Orthodontic Foundation.  The same commitment he showed to the field of dentistry also was evident in his commitment to education.  From 1956 to 1971, he served as a member of the Oceanside Union School District Board of Trustees.  As a longtime member of the Kiwanis, he held the post of president of the group in 1957.  Today, Herb is president of the All Saints’ Cemetery Association, San Luis Rey, and a member of the Oceanside Public Library Foundation Board of Trustees.   A lifelong member of the Episcopal Church, he and his wife Betty proudly raised three sons.

As a Pirate, Raymond Austin Raub defined the true essence of a “student athlete.”  A three-sport letterman (football, baseball, basketball), Ray graduated from OHS in 1969 as the class valedictorian with numerous academic scholarships from which to choose.  He accepted an offer to Cornell University where he was recognized as a Cornell National Scholar from 1969 through 1973.  His early accomplishments paved the way to major success as a businessman in the North County.  He returned home in 1975, and for the next 18 years, successfully managed masonry businesses in the area.  Subscribing to the philosophy “Whatever it Takes,” Ray, and new business partner William Gibney (OHS Class of ’76), formed Modern Builders Supply, Inc., in San Marcos.  As Chairman and C.E.O. of the company, he helped turn the venture into a leading innovator in the natural stone business in San Diego County.  Through his business, Ray helped pioneer the development of natural stone thin veneers.  His company also developed, supplied and trademarked the Padre Gold Sandstone, which decorates the exterior of Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres.  Outside his own office, Ray serves on the boards of numerous non-profit organizations, including the board of Pro Kids Golf, the First Tee of San Diego.  In the 1980s, he helped co-found Harbor Days, an annual Oceanside Chamber of Commerce event that still takes place today.  During the past decade, Ray has been recognized for major contributions to the Moonlight Amphitheatre in Vista.  His firm has donated three major construction projects to the facility and has served as the organization’s Corporate Title Sponsor for a number of years.  His dedication to such civic organizations has helped turn the facility into one of the finest community theatres in the country.  Ray’s dedication to giving back to his community has also extended to a number of high schools in North County, including his alma mater, OHS.

Community Service

A third generation Oceanside resident, John Daley has spent most of his life living in and serving the community he has always called home.  A Class of 1967 OHS graduate, John soon embarked on what would become a highly successful real estate career.   At the age of 18, he obtained his real estate license and within two years was exclusively selling land for residential development.  He was a listing agent during most of the 25 years he worked selling properties.  John’s involvement in the downtown Oceanside business community began at the age of 8, selling newspapers along Highway 101.  One year later, he moved into an indoor job in the real estate office of longtime community member John Steiger. Today he continues to operate as a partner in the Café 101, the oldest café situated along California’s historic Highway 101.  John was also instrumental in encouraging the State of California to designate U.S. Highway 101 as “historic” and still holds the office of Chairman of the Highway 101 Association.  As a flourishing business and community member, he was selected in 1972 to the first Oceanside Redevelopment Committee, a group focused on changing the business climate of downtown Oceanside.  His strong ties to the community helped transform a volunteer business watch group into the Downtown Business Association (DBA).  During the mid 1980s, John’s experience and knowledge in the community was put to use in planning Oceanside’s centennial celebration.  As the city’s unofficial historian, John is a founding member of the Oceanside Historical Society.  He continues to serve on the board and works as the group’s official photo archivist.   He has also volunteered his time on behalf of the San Diego Historic Society, the California Preservation Foundation and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.  John was also instrumental in helping the DBA to officially designate Oceanside as an official California Main Street City.  In 2001, he received the Governor’s Main Street Award for Leadership..

Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, Michelle Bray Davis and her family relocated to the U.S. mainland following the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941.  An Oceanside resident from 1947 until her graduation from OHS in 1959, Michelle enrolled at UC Santa Barbara and earned a B.A. in Sociology and a Master’s Degree in Rhetoric and Public Address.  She also obtained a Lifetime Junior College Teaching Credential.  While residing in Santa Barbara, Michelle taught at UCSB, worked as a reference librarian for the public library system, and served as a consultant for Hope School District.  For 14 years she was employed as a sales agent for Pitts & Bachmann Realtors.  In 1990, Michelle returned to Oceanside and coordinated student well being programs for the Carlsbad Unified School District.  She has coordinated and developed the Community Healthcare Advisory Council program at Tri-City Medical Center and today serves as the Community Development Coordinator for North County Health Services (NCHS).  Throughout her life, Michelle has been instrumental in establishing and supporting numerous coalitions aimed at working to improve the lives of those in need.   Her efforts as a community advocate led her to the post as a Fifth Supervisory District Representative to the County of San Diego Health Services Advisory Board.  Michelle also earned recognition as a Public Health Champion by the county and a Community “Star” by the North County Region of the Health and Human Services Department.  In 2007, NCHS named Michelle its Employee of the Year; twice she was nominated for the North County Times Women of Merit Award.   Michelle still finds time to assist with the Oceanside Harbor Days celebration, Main Street Oceanside, and serves as a member of the Oceanside Library Friends, and Friends of the Women’s Resource Center.   She is a member of the KOCT Board of Directors, served two terms as president of Soroptimist International of Oceanside-Carlsbad, and was honored as Soroptimist of the Year in 2007.

Twenty-eight years after earning his diploma as part of the OHS graduating Class of 1960, Judge Gilbert Nares was elevated to the Court of Appeal, 4^th District, Division I.  As of 2009, that is where the former Pirate continues to serve.  Born in Oceanside, Gilbert completed his undergraduate studies at the University of San Diego in 1964, majoring in Economics and Philosophy.  Three years later, he earned his Juris Doctorate from the USD School of Law.  In 1968, he was admitted to the California Bar and soon entered into private practice in Oceanside with the firm of Daubney, Banche, Patterson & Nares.  Gilbert continued to elevate his career in the legal field and was appointed to the Municipal Court bench in 1976.  The following year, he was the Presiding Judge of the Municipal Court’s North County Judicial District.  In 1978, he was promoted to San Diego Superior Court Judge.  During this time on the bench, Justice Nares served on the Appellate Department in 1986 and 1987, and was Supervising Judge for the court’s North County branch in 1981.  In 1988, after being appointed by then-California Governor George Deukmejian, he began serving in his current position with the Court of Appeal, 4^th District, Division I.  Gilbert’s distinguished law career earned him a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Bar Association of Northern San Diego County in 2009.  Outside the courtroom, Justice Nares has generously given of his time to the Boys Club of Oceanside and served on the Board of Trustees of the Oceanside Public Library and the San Diego County Law Library.  He has also served as President of the North County Bar Association and on various committees of both the California State Bar Association and the San Diego County Bar Association.