Susan Trefethen

Way too much. College at San Jose State. I married way too young, 1962 to Michael Bogan. Molly was born that year and Christopher in 1966.
We bought our first house in Piedmont believe it or not. We paid $22,000. Michael still lives in the house on Manor Drive. Many memories there as the children grew. Michael and I ended our marriage in 1972. Sad for all of us. I returned to school and took care of the children and got a job all at the same time. Wonder Woman!
I became very involved with the first women's Groups and then all of the other groups that flourished in the 70's and 80's. The human potential movement I believe we called it. From Gurus to Gestalt! Do I dare admit that I took the early EST Training? Don't hold it against me please.
I remarried in 1978 to Douglas Hill. Sharon Gilbert Gillin introduced us and she hasn't stopped apologizing yet!
In fact much of it was wonderful and exciting. A new world of travel opened up to me and I started my new life in Berkeley where I still live.
8 years later I divorced once again. Not fun, divorce. I wouldn't recommend it. During the marriage I started a business being naive as to what owning a business entailed. I believe that naivety is the only way to undertake new and unknown projects. If we knew what we were getting ourselves into we would never in a million years start anything new! I met a woman who became a partner in Rosebud a woman's lingerie shop we opened on Piedmont Avenue in 1978. Neither of us had any experience in retail but we learned quickly and had a really great time.
By golly, the business quickly became successful and before we could catch our breath we owned 3 stores!! 2 in Berkley and the original Piedmont Ave shop.
We soon morphed into women's clothing as neither of us was trained in fitting bras and selling woman's crotchless undies! We called it Rosebud Unmentionables and wouldn't you know, that small operation called Victoria's Secret stole that name from us!
I loved the challenge of running a business even though being a retailer means you are putting out fires all the time.

I eventually bought out my partner and ran the 3 stores myself.

I worked hard and traveled to New York 5 times a year and Los Angels the same. Trying to figure out what women want to wear is always a challenge.

Doug Hill and I split up in 1984 and what did I do? Why I opened up a 4th store in Montclair of course!
The following year was my annus horribilis!
I shuttered all of my stores and began the task of putting my life back together.
I suppose that is a constant in all of our lives.

I traveled abit and took time to reflect and to prepare for what was in store for me.
Once again I opened a store in Berkley in Walnut Square and named it Molly b, after my daughter.
Once again hope triumphed over experience!

My business thrived and I loved the women's clothing business once again.

I bought my wonderful house a few years later and I am still here 21 years later. I live in the Berkley Hills not far from Tilden Park.

About 14 years ago the opportunity arose for me to open another branch of Molly b on Berkeleys bustling Fourth Street. I am still there today shlepping clothes back and forth and putting out fires.
I assume I will keep this up until my body or the economy collapses. Which goes first is anybodys guess. It's been quite a ride.

It is extremeley difficult to wrap my mind around the fact that we are about to celebrate our 50th class reunion! How can that be?

I am extremely grateful for having the good fortune to have spent the many school years in Piedmont with all of my classmates.
What a group we were and still are!
I hope I have the time at the "event" to say hello and give each one of you a hug.