Class of 1981

JULIE ANNE ALMY (Hall)
(16 Nov 1963 — 30 Nov 1994)

Julie Hall, 31 singer, children’s choir director, had cancer

Julie Almy Hall entered a beauty competition four years ago in hopes of earning enough to help pay her way through Sonoma State University. She won the contest, reigning as Miss Sonoma County of 1990.

But her biggest victory appeared to be the one she was winning against brain cancer, which she had battled since the disease was diagnosed last February.

“The cancer was under control and we felt there was a good chance she would recover,” said her mother, Doris Almy of Encinitas.

But Mrs. Hall’s health began to deteriorate in September after a chemotherapy treatment caused inflammation in the lining of the lungs. She died of pneumonia last Wednesday at Green Hospital of Scripps Clinic in La Jolla.

“It was like she beat the cancer and the cure killed her,” said her husband, Michael Hall, who works in computer programming for a San Diego mortgage company.

Mrs. Hall, 31, was a San Diego native and lived in Escondido. She had performed with Up With People, a youth singing group that presents concerts worldwide, and had directed the children’s choir at St. John’s Catholic Church in Encinitas.

When Mrs. Hall was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiform cancer, following nine months of increasingly debilitating headaches, she was without medical insurance.

A Julie Hall Trust Fund was established at St. John’s Catholic Church, where a benefit concert was held last April featuring the Palomar College Chamber Singers and Brass Ensemble. It raised more than $10,000.

Medical insurance began to take effect last summer, defraying additional expenses.

Mrs. Hall, a graduate of San Dieguito High School, had studied music at Palomar College for three years. Her musical skills earned her a $5,000 scholarship, which — along with her beauty contest winnings of $2,000 — enabled her to complete studies for a bachelor of arts in music at Sonoma State.

She recently was employed by Kelly Temporary Services, working for Hewlett-Packard in Rancho Bernardo as an administrative assistant. Her goal was to return to school for a master’s degree in music and specialize in music therapy for disabled and emotionally challenged children.

Kelly Temporary Services, Hewlett-Packard and Up With People helped Mrs. Hall and her family through the difficult times, paying medical bills and providing food and house-cleaning services.

“It’s amazing how many people were there for her,” said her mother. “She was the kind of person who touched so many lives.”

Mrs. Hall had undergone chemotherapy every eight weeks and radiation every six weeks since last March with no ill effects until September, said family members.

“It was a very rare cancer for someone so young, with a poor cure rate,” said Michael Hall. “That’s why we wanted to hit it full force.” She had been undergoing a unique protocol, he said, because of the severity of the disease.

“She tolerated it well, until the last chemotherapy treatment,” her mother said.

“This was so unexpected. We didn’t expect to lose her that way.”

Mrs. Hall is survived by her husband of two years, Michael; two stepchildren, Mikey and Crystal Jean Hall; her parents, John and Doris Almy, of Encinitas; a sister, Darla Almy, of Pacifica; and a brother, John Almy, of Joplin, Mo.

Services were Saturday at St. John’s Catholic Church, Encinitas.

The family suggests donations in Mrs. Hall’s name to St. John’s Catholic Church.

—by John Williams, San Diego Union Tribune, December 7, 1994

BLAKE JOHNSON

Blake Johnson, 47 LEUCADIA– Clinton Blake Johnson passed away Saturday, May 29, 2010 from a stroke. He was born on June 24, 1962 in Oceanside, Calif. Blake graduated from San Dieguito High, Class of 1981. He was a member of the Mustang Surf Team. He was a plumber by trade and enjoyed playing drums with friends. Blake was preceded in death by his mom, Susie Johnson in 2001. He is survived by his dad, Clint Johnson; sister, Paige Johnson; niece, Rachael Hodge, all of Leucadia, Calif. There will be a paddle out in Blake’s honor, at 11 a.m., Sunday, June 20, 2010, at Granview Beach, Leucadia.

From Legacy.com