Kirk Lamb

“It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out of your door. You step into the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there is no telling where you might be swept off to.” — J.R.R.Tolkien
I desperately wanted to go to UCLA, but alas. Not a good enough athlete to get a scholarship, nor smart enough nor poor enough to get one. So it was off for my freshman year at “High School with Cigarettes” (aka Pierce Jr. College). But I did well and continued to work part time. It took a year to finally get what it took to transfer (grades & money in the bank). So off I went to Westwood as a sophomore. Man, was that a shock! Huge classes and reading lists and loads of kids as smart or smarter than me. Still had to work part-time to pay expenses. Then there was the culture shock: anti-war, cultural revolution, flower power, civil rights; marches and demonstrations right and left. I was like Dorothy in Oz. (Sound familiar, anybody?) Barely made it through that year. But I managed to right the ship for my Junior and Senior years which went quite well, amazingly. Class of ’69. Even stayed for two more years to get my teaching credential. By now I was so comfortable on campus, I just couldn’t leave. (Never taught professionally, though.)
By ’71 I found myself, of all things, a Stereo Salesman. We rode the wave in the heyday of great music and high-end stereo (at a place called The Federated Group, remember them?) I loved both the music and the gear, and being around others that also loved it. And the company took off. Long story short: I stuck around for 17 years; ended up as V.P. of Store Planning. We went from 1 store to 72 in that time. Went public, got bought, taken private, went bust. Twelve years of retail store design for other outfits followed. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
In ’73 I went on yet another blind date (the fifth or sixth; they all went well, so what the heck.) But this one threw me for a loop. Straight out of the New York folk music scene came Nina; ex-wife of the founder of Elektra records; close friend of Theo Bickel, Judy Collins, Tom Rush, Tom Paxton and all the Elektra artists (yes, Jim Morrison, too). She was also into classical music and jazz, as was I by then. She was totally irresistible! Two kids. Looking for a stable guy (me? well, yes, as it turns out—who knew?). 42 years later here we are.
Flashback: In ’97, still working full-time in retail store design, I went back to school. UCLA, of course, (Extension this time) to study computer graphic design. It went super well (though for three years I existed on about 4 hours of sleep a night.) Got clients right away. All in print work, no Web stuff (I’m still behind the curve there.) Got swept up with work during the real estate boom. It’s been great work and paid the bills nicely. So, all’s well.
Meanwhile, Nina and I became stereotypical Bi-Coastals. Back to Manhattan once or twice a year to visit Nina’s old friends and family. It’s like a second home to me now (who’d’a thunk it?). Step-son Adam lives in the Bronx with his wife Jane. Their son Russell is at The New England Conservatory of Music. All three are musicians (Adam, a synth virtuoso, was with Miles Davis ’85 to ’89, afterwards with Michel Petrucciani, Chaka Kahn, Grover Washington Jr., Wallace Roney; now he’s in the British Prog-Rock Band “The Steven Wilson Band”. Jane, guitar, has her own band, just released her forth CD; Russell is the drummer, Caverns is his band. They’re all on iTunes.) Step-daughter Jaclyn is an internet marketing guru, author and general cyber know-it-all; lives in Irvine now.
Nina and I are very fortunate to live in Santa Moinca (for 35 years.) We’ve traveled loads (mostly New York, Hawaii, Europe and Africa.) But always happy to come home to our dogs and the city that keeps getting better. Sweet home Santa Monica.
And I’m still connected to Cleveland, happily and unexpectedly. When Mr. Anderson retired from full-time teaching in 1995, a former student, Dr. Mark Daniel (class of ’67), established a scholarship in Mr. A’s name. I became a contributor early on and in 2005 took over the reins. Over these 19 years we have awarded about $200,000 to 40 deserving students. Mr. A has continued volunteering, notably sponsoring Knights & Ladies. All scholarship contributions come from former CHS students. I’m happy to say that the class of ’65 is well represented, but there’s room for more. You should join us. Contact me.
I desperately wanted to go to UCLA, but alas. Not a good enough athlete to get a scholarship, nor smart enough nor poor enough to get one. So it was off for my freshman year at “High School with Cigarettes” (aka Pierce Jr. College). But I did well and continued to work part time. It took a year to finally get what it took to transfer (grades & money in the bank). So off I went to Westwood as a sophomore. Man, was that a shock! Huge classes and reading lists and loads of kids as smart or smarter than me. Still had to work part-time to pay expenses. Then there was the culture shock: anti-war, cultural revolution, flower power, civil rights; marches and demonstrations right and left. I was like Dorothy in Oz. (Sound familiar, anybody?) Barely made it through that year. But I managed to right the ship for my Junior and Senior years which went quite well, amazingly. Class of ’69. Even stayed for two more years to get my teaching credential. By now I was so comfortable on campus, I just couldn’t leave. (Never taught professionally, though.)
By ’71 I found myself, of all things, a Stereo Salesman. We rode the wave in the heyday of great music and high-end stereo (at a place called The Federated Group, remember them?) I loved both the music and the gear, and being around others that also loved it. And the company took off. Long story short: I stuck around for 17 years; ended up as V.P. of Store Planning. We went from 1 store to 72 in that time. Went public, got bought, taken private, went bust. Twelve years of retail store design for other outfits followed. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
In ’73 I went on yet another blind date (the fifth or sixth; they all went well, so what the heck.) But this one threw me for a loop. Straight out of the New York folk music scene came Nina; ex-wife of the founder of Elektra records; close friend of Theo Bickel, Judy Collins, Tom Rush, Tom Paxton and all the Elektra artists (yes, Jim Morrison, too). She was also into classical music and jazz, as was I by then. She was totally irresistible! Two kids. Looking for a stable guy (me? well, yes, as it turns out—who knew?). 42 years later here we are.
Flashback: In ’97, still working full-time in retail store design, I went back to school. UCLA, of course, (Extension this time) to study computer graphic design. It went super well (though for three years I existed on about 4 hours of sleep a night.) Got clients right away. All in print work, no Web stuff (I’m still behind the curve there.) Got swept up with work during the real estate boom. It’s been great work and paid the bills nicely. So, all’s well.
Meanwhile, Nina and I became stereotypical Bi-Coastals. Back to Manhattan once or twice a year to visit Nina’s old friends and family. It’s like a second home to me now (who’d’a thunk it?). Step-son Adam lives in the Bronx with his wife Jane. Their son Russell is at The New England Conservatory of Music. All three are musicians (Adam, a synth virtuoso, was with Miles Davis ’85 to ’89, afterwards with Michel Petrucciani, Chaka Kahn, Grover Washington Jr., Wallace Roney; now he’s in the British Prog-Rock Band “The Steven Wilson Band”. Jane, guitar, has her own band, just released her forth CD; Russell is the drummer, Caverns is his band. They’re all on iTunes.) Step-daughter Jaclyn is an internet marketing guru, author and general cyber know-it-all; lives in Irvine now.
Nina and I are very fortunate to live in Santa Moinca (for 35 years.) We’ve traveled loads (mostly New York, Hawaii, Europe and Africa.) But always happy to come home to our dogs and the city that keeps getting better. Sweet home Santa Monica.
And I’m still connected to Cleveland, happily and unexpectedly. When Mr. Anderson retired from full-time teaching in 1995, a former student, Dr. Mark Daniel (class of ’67), established a scholarship in Mr. A’s name. I became a contributor early on and in 2005 took over the reins. Over these 19 years we have awarded about $200,000 to 40 deserving students. Mr. A has continued volunteering, notably sponsoring Knights & Ladies. All scholarship contributions come from former CHS students. I’m happy to say that the class of ’65 is well represented, but there’s room for more. You should join us. Contact me.
Please click on photos to enlarge
Comments
Dear Kirk, I so enjoyed your very open story! I so love the photos of you & Nina & good to read the story of how you two met. I am proud of the work that you do for The Anderson Fund. I have met several of the recipients & know what a difference the scholarships have made in their lives. Had we have had this, you would have zoomed right into UCLA! I am trying to recall how many elections I lost to you in high school? Hmm....I am so glad that we have had so many opportunities to reconnect & look forward to seeing you in October...just hard to believe it has been 50 years!
"glo"
"glo"
"What a life!! So happy you met Nina - life partner, kids that round out life and music too! Living in one place - have not had that experience until 1987 as we moved to Seattle - now I am part of this fabric as you are of Santa Monica.
We were buds at Cleveland and after - will be great to get reacquainted and to meet your bride. I think most of us find that special one eventually! Love to you my old friend-Chris VL
Chris Van Laar
We were buds at Cleveland and after - will be great to get reacquainted and to meet your bride. I think most of us find that special one eventually! Love to you my old friend-Chris VL
Chris Van Laar