Class of 1950

Tom Kelsey

(updated July 19, 2025)

Hi Everyone at the Alumni Assn-  Last Sunday, June 15, 2025 was the 75th anniversary of the graduation of the Class of 1950.  It's hard to believe it has been that long ago. How do I remember so easily?  I have a wrist watch, given to me by my parents, as a graduation gift, that is engraved 6-15-50 on the back. 

Who am I? Where am I? And what am I up to?  I'm Tom Kelsey.  I'm in the Town of Center Harbor, New Hampshire, where I have a summer home. I'm enjoying the 27th year of my retirement from an insurance company, Chubb Insurance. I moved to NH 23 years ago after living in New Jersey for 45 years. It's a beautiful and relaxed place to live plus it has no sales tax nor income tax

While it is customary for people from NJ to move to Florida, I chose NH as all three of my adult children live near me or in NH. That makes it easy for them to keep tabs on me and see me often. Then, too, they have 8 children between them, giving me another 8 grandchildren to visit and keep me up to date on their activities. All of them have now graduated college so their lives have taken on a new flavor which I find fascinating.

Here's hoping there are still some other '50s out there doing well as 90+ year-olds. We were a great bunch of classmates and I still remember many of them. My best wishes to all for many more years of good health anf hsppoiness.    ........Tom

Class of 1958

Peter Roepke
(updated July 20, 2025)

Born Mills Hospital, Burlingame, 1940

Class of 1958, Burlingame High School

Married to Elizabeth 1961...Celebrated 64 years, April 4, 2025 

Gradated University of Arizona...1962

2 years sales, Procter & Gambel, Southern California

17 years Hall Roepke Company   (Food Brokers)

Sold Company and invested with 3 different Food Brokers over 9 years

1990 to current 2025,     35 years.... Owner. Gavilan Kennett Roepke Food Brokers.  Semi-retired

3 grand children

3 great grand children

Live in same home Hillsborough since 1959

President Trinity Lutheran Church Burlingame past 7 years

President Northern California Food Brokers Association... 1997

Elected Food Broker of the Year 2004 

Class of 1973

Brian Ackley and Melody White (Ackley)

Three Generations and a Lifetime of Memories at BHS

For our family, Burlingame High School isn’t just a school, it’s part of who we are. Since we first became a pair in April 1973, it’s only fitting that our stories and our roots in BHS are intertwined. Bryan Ackley ’73 and Melody White Ackley ’73 both graduated from BHS and went on to build careers, raise a family, and stay deeply connected to the community that shaped us. Bryan became a Master Optician and owned Johnsen & Bruun in San Mateo for over 40 years, all while making time to coach Fast Pitch Softball for two decades, 10 of those years at BHS. He had the joy of coaching our daughters, Heather Ackley Wilson ’99 and Amanda Ackley Santana ’03, through their BHS high school playing years. Melody earned her degree in Accounting and Economics, eventually taking over as owner of LeaseMobile in Burlingame with her sister MaryAnn White Storek ‘65, where they worked until their retirement in 2024.

Together, we supported BHS athletics through the Boosters from 1996 to 2003 and remain active with the BHS Alumni Association. Melody also helped plan the BHS Centennial and co-chaired the Friday Night Block Party, a highlight of the celebration.

Today, it’s incredibly meaningful to see our grandchildren—Fiona Wilson ’27 and Preston Wilson ’30—walking the same halls we once did. We’re proud to now be part of a third generation of Panthers, with hopes that Savannah (4) and Stella Santana (2) will follow in their family’s footsteps.

Their father, Hugo Santana ’01, is also a BHS alumni. After all these years, we never truly left BHS. It’s where we met, where we grew, and where our family’s story continues.

Thank you, BHS, for all the great memories—and for the ones still to come.

Class of 1976

Lee Dresser
(updated July 23, 2025)

After finishing at BHS I attended Cal and graduated in 1980 with a degree in anatomy and physiology. I then worked for a year as an emergency medical technician in Santa Barbara where I lived with BHS classmates Mike Kohn and Mike Jarrett. Since I was living right on the ocean I decided it would also be good to learn to surf. From 1981-1983 I earned a masters degree in biology at UCSB and practiced my surfing. At that point I had to make the tough decision to either join the pro surfing circuit or attend medical school. After much soul searching I decided I might have a longer career in medicine and thus from 1983 through 1987 attend the Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. I subsequently completed my residency and fellowship in neurology at Duke University, where I met my wife of 36 years, Michelle. Our first son was born just as we were leaving Durham and I then worked 4 years for Kaiser Permanente in Martinez, CA. My next job was in Wilmington, Delaware where I would work for the next 27 years. It turns out Delaware is a small state on the East Coast and is one of the United States! Who knew? After 27 years my practice partners of 27 years retired and semi-retired so I was free to move back to Winston-Salem and start working for Wake Forest, my old medical school, and where we are very happy to be near our oldest son and his wife.

Jeff Gates
(updated July 20, 2025)

After BHS, I went to college at USC where I became student body president and earned a degree in economics.  I attended law school at UCLA.  I was a litigator at a large firm in Los Angeles, then went to work at Honda to defend product liability cases.  I then joined Porsche at its U.S. HQ in Atlanta, Georgia as Associate General Counsel, where I  was responsible for worldwide product liability , as well as North American government relations, and where I got a new Porsche car of my choice to drive every 6 months - a wonderful perk!  I also got to travel all over the world to defend Porsche in many exotic locales from Shanghai to Sydney, from Rio to Johannesburg, from Casablanca to Paris, and, of course, a lot of trips to Stuttgart, Germany.

I retired from Porsche in January 2025 after 30 rewarding years there. 

I am married to a former lawyer and have two adult children (twins):  a daughter in NYC who is a jazz musician and a son in Albuquerque, NM who is an education policy analyst  for a non-profit. 

I live in Atlanta and am currently consulting and working on a book project. 

Mike Jarrett
(updated July 15, 2025)

I feel incredibly fortunate not only to be a graduate of Burlingame High School, but also to be part of a multi-generational Panther family. My son, Andrew (Class of 2025), and daughter, Katie (Class of 2026), are both BHS students, and watching them experience the school I once walked through has been a gift beyond words.

I served as President of the BHS Parents Group for the 2024–2025 school year, and I continue to stay involved through the BHS Alumni Association. Being so engaged in the school community today has deepened my appreciation for how special Burlingame High truly is. While much has changed—new buildings, new programs—the spirit of BHS remains remarkably familiar. 

My wife, Sherri, and I have lived in Burlingame since 2005, and we continue to be amazed by the strength and heart of this community. After graduating from UCSB and getting a graduate degree from San Diego State, I spent my career in technology and have lived in the Bay Area since the 1980s. It’s been wonderful to come full circle and now see my own kids grow up here.

I'm still in touch with many of my high school friends—Mike Kohn, Chris White, and Steve Rosston—all of whom still live nearby. I also stay connected with Lee Dresser and recently reconnected with Jeff Gates. 

BHS has given me a lot— great memories and life-long friendships.

Class of 1977

Eric Levy
Passed away August, 2023

From Jimmy Levy, class of 1975:
Eric maintained a passion for touring motorcycles, connecting him to the world on lesser travelled routes.  He was an accomplished jazz drummer, with associations to renowned jazz artists.  Eric followed his love for snow sports, always grace and finesse on long skis; and later through his executive work at Alterra Ski Corporation based in Denver Colorado.   While modest in character, Eric had far-reaching influence, and the esteem of his peers; always caring, generous, discreet.  And he did accomplish his ambition of owning a turbo Porche, though his bikes took precedence. More

Class of 1999

Heather Wilson (Ackley) ’99

Three Generations and a Lifetime of Memories at BHS

For our family, Burlingame High School isn’t just a school, it’s part of who we are. Since we first became a pair in April 1973, it’s only fitting that our stories and our roots in BHS are intertwined. Bryan Ackley ’73 and Melody White Ackley ’73 both graduated from BHS and went on to build careers, raise a family, and stay deeply connected to the community that shaped us. Bryan became a Master Optician and owned Johnsen & Bruun in San Mateo for over 40 years, all while making time to coach Fast Pitch Softball for two decades, 10 of those years at BHS. He had the joy of coaching our daughters, Heather Ackley Wilson ’99 and Amanda Ackley Santana ’03, through their BHS high school playing years. Melody earned her degree in Accounting and Economics, eventually taking over as owner of LeaseMobile in Burlingame with her sister MaryAnn White Storek ‘65, where they worked until their retirement in 2024.

Together, we supported BHS athletics through the Boosters from 1996 to 2003 and remain active with the BHS Alumni Association. Melody also helped plan the BHS Centennial and co-chaired the Friday Night Block Party, a highlight of the celebration.

Today, it’s incredibly meaningful to see our grandchildren—Fiona Wilson ’27 and Preston Wilson ’30—walking the same halls we once did. We’re proud to now be part of a third generation of Panthers, with hopes that Savannah (4) and Stella Santana (2) will follow in their family’s footsteps.

Their father, Hugo Santana ’01, is also a BHS alumni. After all these years, we never truly left BHS. It’s where we met, where we grew, and where our family’s story continues.

Thank you, BHS, for all the great memories—and for the ones still to come.

Class of 2003

Amanda Santana (Ackley) ’99

Three Generations and a Lifetime of Memories at BHS

For our family, Burlingame High School isn’t just a school, it’s part of who we are. Since we first became a pair in April 1973, it’s only fitting that our stories and our roots in BHS are intertwined. Bryan Ackley ’73 and Melody White Ackley ’73 both graduated from BHS and went on to build careers, raise a family, and stay deeply connected to the community that shaped us. Bryan became a Master Optician and owned Johnsen & Bruun in San Mateo for over 40 years, all while making time to coach Fast Pitch Softball for two decades, 10 of those years at BHS. He had the joy of coaching our daughters, Heather Ackley Wilson ’99 and Amanda Ackley Santana ’03, through their BHS high school playing years. Melody earned her degree in Accounting and Economics, eventually taking over as owner of LeaseMobile in Burlingame with her sister MaryAnn White Storek ‘65, where they worked until their retirement in 2024.

Together, we supported BHS athletics through the Boosters from 1996 to 2003 and remain active with the BHS Alumni Association. Melody also helped plan the BHS Centennial and co-chaired the Friday Night Block Party, a highlight of the celebration.

Today, it’s incredibly meaningful to see our grandchildren—Fiona Wilson ’27 and Preston Wilson ’30—walking the same halls we once did. We’re proud to now be part of a third generation of Panthers, with hopes that Savannah (4) and Stella Santana (2) will follow in their family’s footsteps.

Their father, Hugo Santana ’01, is also a BHS alumni. After all these years, we never truly left BHS. It’s where we met, where we grew, and where our family’s story continues.

Thank you, BHS, for all the great memories—and for the ones still to come.