Remembering Brian

Brian Patterson was born on May 26, 1970 and raised in Pleasanton. He was well liked by everyone. He never had a bad thing to say about anyone. His friends would joke with him that he was too nice. Brian was a talented basketball player at Amador.  He attended Fairlands Elementary, Pleasanton Junior High and Harvest Park before going to Amador.  During the summers, he worked at Shadow Cliff waterslides.  After graduation Brian eventually moved to Santa Barbara and enrolled at Santa Barbara City College.  He eventually transferred to Cal State Long Beach. Brian had a zest for life, loved to laugh and have fun. He loved his family, friends, music, especially his keyboard. He was a gifted musician.  He played the guitar and had a great voice. He enjoyed playing hoops, eating his dad’s bbq (rumor has it he was seen consuming two super monster burritos at Freebirds in Santa Barbara) and sleeping ( the dude could get his z’s on).   

In the fall of 1991, he was realizing  his dream and was breaking into the entertainment business. He was hired as a production assistant for Dick Clark Productions.  Unfortunately, he was  diagnosed with cancer on February 19, 1992.  Despite the diagnosis Brian successfully recorded a song and never lost his zest for life. After a hard fought battle he succumbed to the illness with great dignity on July 19, 1992 at his childhood home in Pleasanton Meadows.

Remembering Emily

Emily Morgenroth was a great friend, was kind hearted and lived life to the fullest with no regrets.  She loved to be with her family and friends.  Emily was very athletic and had a love for playing soccer and softball.  Emily had a laugh that was contagious.  She grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio prior to moving to Pleasanton in 1985.  Emily went to UCLA right out of High School and earned a B.S. in Political Science.  She studied Japanese and German in college, and then spent two years in Japan teaching English.  It was a great experience. Emily enjoyed traveling and seeing the world.  Emily lived her life with a lot of determination.  She also loved to help people and was always worrying about everyone.  She excelled in everything she put her mind too.  Emily was interested in going into the FBI to become a detective, so she joined the Sacramento Police Department.  She had many friends and was in a serious relationship at the time of her death.  Emily had been an officer for 2 years.  She was responding to a felony vehicle-stop, when a drunk driver pulled out in front of her and her patrol car hit a telephone pole.  She was killed instantly.  Emily was very respected and was the first woman killed in the line of duty in Sacramento.  Emily touched many people’s lives and will always be remembered for putting her life on the line to protect.  Emily was 26. She was born December 5, 1970 and passed away October 17, 1997. 

Remembering Chris

Chris Sharp brought joy and laughter to everyone he met. He was born in Kansas City on June 14, 1969.  Chris spent his youth growing up in Colorado and Pleasanton.  Many remember Chris in High school for his harmless pranks; love of dirt bikes, and off road four-wheel adventures in his Toyota 4X4. Chris’s love for the outdoors did not cease when he left AVHS. 

Chris graduated from California State University, Chico in 1993. He was a member of the Theta Chi Fraternity where he made a lasting impression to this day. Following college, Chris moved to San Diego and has always remained close to the beach. Chris was known for his love of life. You name the sport or activity and he probably tried it. He fell in love with the outdoors, dirt bike riding, camping and surfing.  Chris was always a positive person who could never resist the fun things life had to offer. Chris's positive attitude was infectious and he carried it over to work where he excelled in sales and moved into management.

After exhausting the freedoms of bachelor life Chris married his wife, April Spiers Sharp, in 2000, They were a perfect match for each other as they enjoyed the same interests and even started new ones together like sailing.   They spent time rebuilding a beautiful house close to the Ocean in San Diego where he could continue surfing.  The couple celebrated their four-year wedding anniversary on August 12, 2004 and had plans to start a family.

Sadly three days later on the morning of Sunday August 15, 2004, Chris passed-away from a motorcycle accident at the El Cajon Racetrack. He wore the right protective equipment and was an experienced rider, however, this was not enough to prevent the accident that fractured his neck and spinal cord.

All those close to Chris knew he had died the way he would he would have wanted; outdoors, playing and having fun. Hundreds of people gathered for his memorial services that were held at the beach just blocks from his home. A bench at surfer’s point in San Diego forever marks the place Chris surfed and enjoyed the sunset. He will always be remembered by his laughter, gentle nature, and love of life. He was a great husband, brother, son and close friend to many. He would like all of us to live our lives to the fullest to truly honor his remembrance.

Memorial Pages for former Classmates, Teachers and Administrators; each with an opportunity to post your personal memories, anecdotes or comments.  

Christy Kazarian (Loscutoff) has volunteered to be in charge of honoring our classmates that are no longer with us. She will create a poster board with pictures/info and include photos in the slide show. Any info you'd like to share or suggestions.

If you have a photo you would  like to share or a story about your friend, please email herdirectly at  christyandgabe@comcast.net or mail anything you'd like to be included in the memoriam. 

Resting in Peace, Living in Memory

Kurt Burkard
David DeBernardi
Jennifer Ice
Emily Morgenroth
Brian Patterson
Eric Peters
Carrie Pluff
Chris Sharp
Irina Tullis

Eric Peters passed away around 1992 while he was hiking up at Mt. Diablo with his girlfriend.  He was rock climbing when he accidentally fell. 

(More information will be added as it becomes available)

Jennifer Ice – Jennifer passed away between 1988 and 1993. (More information will be added as it becomes available ) 

Kurt Burkard was hilariously funny, witty guy who had a sharp mind and a gentle soul. Throughout high school he loved rock music, cool cars and war movies -- in fact, he had an encyclopedic knowledge of war movies that impressed all of his friends. was very nice, loving and a gentle soul. He was an avid reader and was always curious about learning and exploring new things.  He earned a B.S. In Business Administration from Cal State East Bay and became a licensed Real Estate Agent and Mortgage Broker. Kurt was born November 5, 1969 and passed away May 23, 2007.  He was 37.  

Carrie Pluff LaSalle was a great person and always fun to be around.   Carrie attended Las Positas College and then transferred to Sonoma State, where she graduated in 1993.  She married Joey LaSalle (AVHS class of 1990) in 1997, and they lived in Livermore.  In the summer of 2001, Carrie and Joey moved to Franklin, TN, to pursue a career in Christian music.  On December 8, 2001, Carrie and Joey were in a car accident and Carrie was killed instantly.  Carrie was around 31 years old.