Oceanside High School Foundation/Alumni Association

Academics

A 1956 graduate of OHS, Dr. Wayne Alley and his family moved to South Oceanside in 1946.  As a youth growing up in the North County, Dr. Alley learned the value of hard work early on, spending many days assisting his family’s painting business and mowing lawns with his brother Val.  When the time came to embark on his pursuit of higher education, he would go on to establish himself as a longtime professor and expert in the field of biological sciences.  Five years after leaving Oceanside, and following a brief stint at Oceanside Junior College, Dr. Alley earned his B.A. in Zoology at the University of California, Berkeley.  In 1964, he completed his Master’s in Biology at San Diego State University, and four years later, he finished his Ph.D. in Fisheries Biology at the University of Michigan.   He moved into the classroom in 1969, where through 2003, he served as a Professor of Biology at Cal State University Los Angeles.  In his professional vitae, Dr. Alley wrote: “I took a vow before I taught my first course that I would always teach quality courses that met the academic and grading standards of the university’s biological sciences, and I would treat students with the respect and courtesy that I expected when I was a student.”  Throughout his distinguished career in education, his student evaluations consistently ranked among the best among the faculty members in his department.  He also found time to serve as a trustee with the Rosemead School District, and contribute to research projects at Fort Irwin, and the Desert Tortoise Investigations studies in the Mojave Desert.  His expertise in his field even led the Environmental Protection Agency to request his service as an expert witness in a case involving reserve mining in Minnesota.  Dr. Alley has written and published numerous papers on the subject of biological sciences, while serving on a variety of collegiate, city, state and federal committees.  He and his wife Lillian are parents to two children, a son Glen and a daughter Lana. 

Arts

A graduate of the OHS Class of 1965, Eliane Weidauer has devoted her life to helping youth discover their creative talents through the world of the performing arts.  A product of a variety of performing arts programs in Oceanside, Eliane has spent more than 40 years teaching theatrical classes and workshops to young people in the North County.  A talented vocalist and actor, she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in drama and a teaching credential in English instruction at SDSU.  From 1978 through 1987, she worked as the director and instructor for the MiraCosta College Jr. Players.  In 1987, she returned to her alma mater, and for a 10-year period served as the Pirates’ Drama Coach and Director.  As the director of the Oceanside Centennial Pageant, she created the show’s concept and cast more than 300 community members.  Using her artistic talents, she is responsible for the development of Stage Door Kids, a local, highly popular youth theatre company, which she directed from 1997-2001.  Inspired by Eliane’s talents and leadership, the group’s video performance of “Romeo and Juliet” can be viewed at the famed Shakespeare Museum in England.  Since 1992, she has served on the OCAF Board of Directors.  As the Performing Arts Chair of the Oceanside Days of Arts, she oversaw the festival from 1992 until 2001.  Beginning in 2004, Eliane also found time to take on the post of Chair of the Oceanside Music Festival, where her duties included creating the program for the two-week event, while managing performers, venues and publicity.  From 1999 through 2009, she taught drama, creative dramatics and drama tech at the Army and Navy Academy in Carlsbad.  Since 2007, Eliane has been a part of the board of directors for Spotlight Circle, and during this past year, she became the Chairperson of Write On, Oceanside!, an Oceanside-only authors’ book fair.

A three-sport letterman for the Pirates in football, basketball and track, Charles Louis Dimry, III, played 12 seasons as a corner back in the National Football League.  After graduating OHS in 1984, Charles took advantage of a scholarship opportunity to continue his football career as an Exercise Science major at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Four years later, the Atlanta Falcons selected him in the fifth round of the NFL draft.  After three years with the Falcons, he then moved on to Denver and Tampa Bay, spending three seasons with each franchise.  After one year with the Eagles in 1997, Charles returned to Southern California, playing his final two NFL campaigns with his hometown San Diego Chargers.  Throughout a career that spanned 183 games, Charles intercepted 21 passes, including consecutive picks against Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway.  His individual accomplishments include twice being named the Chargers Most Inspirational Player, and being a two-time recipient of the NFL’s Ed Block Courage Award.   In 2008, the North County Times named him one of the North County’s Top 100 Prep Football Players of All Time.  With a passion for high school sports, Charles served as a correspondent for the highly popular KUSI Channel 9 Prep Pigskin Report, hosting his own segment, “Hog Huddle.”  Putting his college education to use, Charles founded Velocity Sports Performance in Carlsbad in 2006.  Through his endeavor, Charles offers young athletes the opportunity to train at an elite level normally reserved for professional athletes.   As a sponsor of numerous youth clubs and high school sports foundations, Velocity Sports Performance was named a finalist for the 2007 Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year award.  A former member of the Board of Directors of the Encinitas YMCA, Charles continues to give of himself as a supporter of the Oceanside Boys & Girls Club.  He and his wife Erin reside in Carlsbad with their six children.

Marc was born in Los Angeles, and moved with his family to Oceanside in 1958.  He received his OHS diploma in 1968.  His contributions as a Pirate included significant participation in student government, athletics and a variety of clubs, including serving as ASB President, a member of the General Dynamics Math Team, Speech Team and Model U.N.  He received the OHS Most Service to the School Award in 1968, and was a two-year varsity member of both the football and baseball squads.   Utilizing his diverse academic and extracurricular experiences, he finished his undergraduate studies at Stanford University in 1972, earning a B.A. in Psychology. After college he became a Deputy Sheriff, while completing his studies in Public Administration at the University of Southern California.  In 1979 Marc married his wife Ella in La Mesa.  The following year, Marc entered the private business world as a sales manager for Scott Machinery.  In 1987, he joined the scaffolding industry, initially working as a Branch Manager for Waco Scaffolding in Phoenix.  In 1990, Marc went to work for Safway Scaffolding based in Waukesha, Wisconsin.  After three years as the company’s Western Regional Vice President, he was appointed to the position of CEO.  Today, Safway is the largest scaffolding company in North America and is recognized world-wide as an industry leader.  As President and CEO, Marc has lead Safway’s growth from 26 branches and $65m to 90 branches and $900m. Safway’s products and services are used on construction and industrial projects of all types, including refineries, power plants, airports, hospitals, churches, schools and sports arenas.  Current projects include Moffitt Field, NASA Space Center, Madison Square Garden and the Freedom Tower in New York City.  Marc and his wife have two daughters, Denise and Molly (Ricks), and a grand-daughter, Aniston.  He now resides far from the waters of the Pacific Ocean on his a 35-acre horse farm in Dousman, Wisconsin. 

Born in Pomona in 1925, and an Oceanside resident from the age of 4, John “Jack” Cassan earned his OHS diploma in 1943.  After graduation, Jack enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving as a seaman for two years.  A World War II veteran, his call of duty included 18 months in the Pacific aboard the USS Yorktown.  Upon his return stateside, Jack enrolled as a student at MiraCosta College.  With an interest in the salvage business since the time he was a child, Jack became well-known in the Oceanside community through his longtime business, J.F. Cassan Auto Wrecking, located on Airport Road.  Those who knew him best described him as a humble man with a huge love for old cars.  Following several top-10 finishes in the Great American Road Race, Jack’s 1914 Dodge, painted to resemble an Oceanside police cruiser, finished first in 1985.  He promptly donated his $100,000 winnings to the Prince of Peace Abbey.   Former Oceanside Mayor Dick Lyon called Jack “the essence of a friend,” a man who quietly and regularly helped his community expecting no thanks in return.  Lyon also classified Jack as someone who “probably knew more about the city than anyone else.”  From 1986 to 1990, Jack served as an Oceanside City Planning Commissioner.  A huge supporter of the Oceanside Airport, Jack was also instrumental in the development of the city’s harbor.  But it was his initiative to lead an effort to build a bridge out of railroad flat cars in 1981 after a crossing washed out in the San Luis Rey River for which he is so well remembered.  The makeshift “Cassan’s Crossing” was finally replaced by the city in 1997 with what became known as the Benet Road bridge. Following his passing on May 18, 2008, City Councilman Jack Feller said, “Jack was very much a part of the development of the city,” adding that Jack Cassan was representative of “a man’s man, whose handshake was his word.”

Jim Schroder attended school in the OUSD from kindergarten until earning his OHS diploma in 1963.  Born in San Diego, Jim and his family moved to Oceanside in 1946.  His parents opened and operated Marty’s Steakhouse in the city’s downtown until 1964, the restaurant providing Jim a taste of the business world he would one day join.  The day after graduation, Jim embarked on a two-and-half month European excursion, a trip that would set the stage for his lifelong love of traveling.  As a seasoned world traveler, 125 countries, he continues to believe in the one lesson continually reinforced from his travels: “friendship moves the world.”  After attending MiraCosta College, Jim earned his bachelor’s degree in economics and business administration at Chapman University.  For many years, Jim served as general manager for his family’s hotels and restaurants.  Today, he and his brother own and manage commercial properties throughout Southern California.  On four separate occasions, Jim served as the past chair of the Oceanside Economic Development Commission, and he is the past president of the California Lodging Industry Association.  His community business ties extend to Oceanside’s San Luis Rey Shriners Club, Rotary, the Chamber of Commerce and the Oceanside Sister Cities Foundation partnership with Ensenada, Mexico, Japan and Samoa.  With the foundation, Jim was instrumental in helping numerous orphanages south of the border.  He was the first person to receive the Honorary Ambassador Award for the city of Tijuana, and has been named an Honorary Member of the National Chamber of Commerce of Mexico.   In 1989, Jim was named Business Person of the Year by the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce.  While serving on the Mission San Luis Rey 200-year anniversary committee, Jim helped bring the Vatican Choir to perform at the celebration, the choir’s only U.S. appearance.  His travels and business savvy contribute to his passion to positively affect thousands of people from all walks of life.

Born and raised in Oceanside, John DeRohan earned his Pirate diploma with a 4.0 GPA in 1974.  Inspired by a family with a strong background in the field of law enforcement, John went on to forge his own stellar 31-year career as an officer of the law.  He learned the true value of hard work early on as a paperboy delivering the Oceanside Blade Tribune, and serving as a custodial assistant during his summers as a student at OHS.  After attending MiraCosta College and completing his undergraduate studies at National University, he earned his Master’s Degree in Public Sector Leadership at San Diego State University.  In 1979, he joined the Oceanside Police Department as a reserve officer.  One year later he became a full-time member of the force, where he spent the next 12 years patrolling the city in which he grew up.  During his tenure in Oceanside, John became the city’s first School Resource Officer (SRO).  He was subsequently responsible for developing the model for the current SRO program for Oceanside schools.  John also coordinated a program to unify the community in its battle against substance abuse, leading a grass root coalition known as C.H.O.O.S.E, or Citizens Helping Oceanside Obtain a Sober Environment.   In 1989, this effort led to him being named the SD County Citizen of the Year and the recipient of the California Governor’s Crime Prevention Award.  In 1992, John became Commander of the Pismo Beach Police force, serving as acting chief for one year.  Ten years after his move to Pismo Beach, John was named Chief of Police in the city of Morro Bay.  As an officer, John always recognized the need to give back to the communities in which he served.  As a little league coach and community volunteer, he continually supported organizations that work to benefit the lives of minority community and youth.  John was twice named Employee of the Year by the City of Pismo Beach, and in 2008, was named Rotarian of the Year by the Morro Bay Rotary Club.