Chris Caufman
1968
Name in High School: Chris Caufman aka Christopher to some
Favorite High School Memories: Fun fashions from granny dresses to go-go boots, pink lipstick so pale it almost looked white, clouds of hairspray to hold our “Flip.” I remember that us girls weren’t allowed to wear our dresses or skirts above our knees nor pants of any kind. I don’t recall jeans being allowed, but casual slacks and cords were the ticket for you boys. You had to keep your shirts tucked in and your hair trimmed around your ears and above your collars. Dress codes and regulations changed the following year. Dang! Playing Ping-Pong with Dick Pearce. Evidently, looking old enough that Liz Cook asked me to buy her beer. I must have; she thanked me in my yearbook. Hanging out for hours on end in my go-to place, the art department, where I accidentally threw away my bite plate in a wad of paper towel, which is why my two front teeth are slightly crooked. Later in life, my nickname became “She Who Wads”… that’s one way to track me down! Chairing the art staff of the Veridian arts and poetry publication and co-chairing ”Sugar Pops are Tops” Dad and Daughter Banquet with sweet Marilyn Hirte. Chats with Chris Corneil (rip) about all kinds of fun stuff, especially collaborating on an awesome restaurant concept after we graduated. Being a Trojane was a “kick” my junior year; a few of us girls towering in the center were Janet Twitchell, Diane Lewis and me a little shorter at 5’7”. Being a go-go dancer in a school play. I can’t recall the year or production, but it was lots of fun dancing the “pony” in a cage wearing a shimmy dress. Flying to San Francisco during Spring Break with Vickie Maki. We saw the Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane playing in concert together and went to Haight Ashbury. Jeff DiGangi and Vicki Pearson introducing me to the art of smoking pot and holding it in… I laughed ‘til I cried.
Favorite Teachers: Art teacher Mrs. Borden for her inspiration and encouragement to try my hand at expressing myself through different mediums. I really liked my counselor Mrs. Lokting. I was one of those wallflowers she gently nudged to get more involved.
Now…
2018
Name: Lee Erickson (‘09) fka Cris Bisch
Spouse/Partner: Cliff Bisch (’74)
Children: Skye Rianna (’76) and Effie Ana (’79)
Grandchildren: Sephira Lee (’08), Leif Kohl Ericson (’10), and Max Aidan (’05)
Occupation: Aromatherapist
Favorite Pastimes: Street photography, cycling, sailing, singing sea shanties, traveling, reading, ever learning…
Highlights of My Life Since High School: Moving a lot over the years has afforded me many opportunities to enjoy living and working in places like Hawaii, Alaska and around the Pacific NW as far north as Port Townsend in Washington and as far east as Mt. Hood and Bend in Central Oregon. I’ve skydived over sugarcane fields, skied Alyeska, sailed the Puget Sound and in Mexico, camped on a Glacier in Switzerland, and most recently to see the Grand Canyon again 60 years later. I’ve enjoyed traveling to cities like London, Berlin, Paris, and Prague, and driving back roads from Amsterdam to Bandol. We raised our two girls in and around the Seattle area where we put roots down for about 20 years and started a manufacturing company. I reinvented myself with a variety of career changes over the years including owning and operating a B&B, which most of that can be seen on my Linkedin profile if interested. I returned to school late in life to graduate alongside my son-in-law in 2000 at the age of 50. After a car accident in 2009, I finally did it. I legally changed my name, something I always wanted to do, to honor my grandfather Leif (Lee) Henry Erickson.
Even though I didn’t own a bike at the time, I founded the Edmonds Bicycle Advocacy Group in 1994 that continues to this day, and having only listened to my dad’s sea chantey album while growing up in Portland I seized the opportunity to organize a Sea Shanties song group in 2011 that still holds sing-alongs on the Olympic Peninsula and organized a committee to publish a songbook … and why not? My favorite quote is: “Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.” Henry Van Dyke
The greatest highlights of my life that far outshine all the rest… married to the same sweet, handsome man for almost 44 years, raising our two daughters and watching them grow into amazing, beautiful, talented women, and enjoying being an integral part of my grandchildren’s lives. I call them my “nutty buddies.” It takes one to know one!
Sorry I’ll miss another reunion. I hope you all have a grand time reminiscing and catching up. Cheers! Our 50th reunion just happens to fall on the weekend we celebrate our granddaughter’s 10th birthday, and I wouldn’t miss that for the world. If you’re a grandparent, you’ll completely understand.
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Hi Lee,
I would love to connect if you are in the Portland area?
We missed you at the reunion but I am certain your granddaughter’s birthday party was fun!
Nancy
Lee, I really enjoyed reading your memory book and it made me wish I would have known you better since we share several interests – Americana music, cycling & sailing. I became good friends with Chris Corneil as freshmen at U of O – he was a wild character back then. My wife and I love Port Townsend and spend time up there every summer. Sorry to hear you can’t attend the reunion – see you in 2028. Cheers, Rick
Thank you, Rick. How very kind of you to say. We probably crossed paths in PT without knowing it. I worked for the community radio station there and was involved with the maritime community, so I was always out and about the town quite a bit. Did you attend any of the annual Wooden Boat Festivals there? I was so saddened to learn of Chris’ passing. What a truly special person and the sweetest guy friend! Lee
Lee, I’ve been to five or six PT Boat Festivals over the years, from one of the first in the late 70’s to just last year. I love boats, especially wooden boats. If I were wealthier I’d for sure own a vintage wooden sailboat. As it is I’ll settle for my little 24′ trailerable sailboat which I plan to start exploring the Salish Sea with. We usually camp out at Fort Worden, a gem of a S.P. as you know.
Nice, Rick! If you haven’t already, be sure to check out the Pocket Yachters and their 2018 Pocket Yacht Palozza and Crooza coming up this July: https://goo.gl/rNgnrJ. Great group of people with small sailboats to connect with in PT.
Cris…Lee,
What wonderful adventures you have had! Sorry we won’t see you at the reunion but your priorities are right on target!
Nancy
Thank you, Nancy! It’s wonderful to see what an extraordinarily beautiful, accomplished woman you are all these years later. I remember how smart, happy and sweet you were in HS. A “can do girl, always with a smile.!” Lee