Albert R Feers

Al Feers A Tribute to the Kindest and Smartest Man I Have Ever Known Al was born in Iowa on September 10, 1920 but raised in Southern California. His father was unique in being an M.D., D.V.M., and chiropractor, all at the same time. His mom was a homemaker. At the time Al was a kid, his father was primarily involved in his veterinary practice, so Al was surrounded by animals, and thereby planning for a career as a vet. Al's father was afraid to have Al ride a bike so Al had to run everywhere. This probably helped him get a track scholarship to UCLA where he eventually achieved many records in track. Graduating at the beginning of World War II, he was selected for officer training and sent to Midshipman School in Chicago. Winter was hard on a California kid, and he developed a terrible cough finally resulting in scarlet fever. He was medically discharged in 1944 and returned to California. There he married his first wife, Cecile, and fathered two children, Al Jr. and Maureen. Al and Cecile divorced shortly thereafter. Lucky for her, Bonnie met Al on a blind date in 1950, married him in 1951, and moved into their first home. Al's friend Harold was appalled that Al did not know the plants he had in his yard, so Al, embarrassed, enrolled in Pierce College and finally achieved a degree in landscaping. This came in very handy as the Bel Air fire wiped out most of the beautiful homes and yards and Al found himself in great demand to restore and replant in this lucrative area. He continued teaching P.E. during the year, as well as promoting school discipline as Boys Vice Principal. Bonnie taught science at Reseda High School during those years and dreamed of one day having a summer to travel. Finally a brochure offered a two-month (63 days) trip to Southern Europe - 15 countries for $1,100 - including air fare. Bonnie called and signed up! What a wonderful time they had, and what a surprise to find Bonnie pregnant with a daughter, Kristy, born in June 1964. The landscape business resumed and continued successfully until the summer of 1970 when a fellow teacher convinced Bonnie to join the group of 12 teachers who had built summer homes in McCall, Idaho. Al and Bonnie bought a travel trailer and camped on Lake Payette for a week when Al decided to quit the landscape business and enjoy the many delights of summers in McCall. They bought a lot, secured a builder, and planned a cabin - all in a week, and then had to return home for Bonnie to teach summer school. After summer school, they returned to McCall to find the cabin built except for the interior and painting. Thus began their 27 years in glorious McCall where they built two homes, fished, swam, hiked, and camped. Al enjoyed every minute of that outdoor lifestyle, and much of his creative poetry was written there. After retiring, Bonnie and Al moved to Orange County to escape the summer heat of the Valley, and both of them offered themselves as substitutes in the Irvine schools. They often found themselves at the same school and built a group of friends who also "subbed." They both retired when they hit 85, and no longer liked those really early morning calls - Uni High started at 7:30 a.m. Altogether a wonderful life for a wonderful man who touched so many lives.