Audrey Ramsay

Audrey Ramsay

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Question Answer

Your name Audrey Ramsay Prest

Your name in school, if different Audrey Ramsay

Email aramsayp@sbcglobal.net

Current occupation (e.g., retired, working full/part time, volunteering, caring for family, other) I’m still putting my journalism skills to use as editor of the quarterly newsletter for the Los Angeles Branch of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society. I also serve as its recording secretary and produce fliers and other printed materials. Also, for four years I’ve volunteered at the Burbank Tournament of Roses Association, the non-profit that builds the city’s Rose Parade float. I was just elected a director of the association. For the past two years I served as assistant decorating chair, and I’ve also contributed to the newsletter.

Describe your family/extended family My children are Jeffrey Karraker, a graphic artist in Northern California, and Julie Karraker West, who works in the financial industry in Des Moines, Iowa. Julie’s children are Cierra, 16, and Connor, 12.

What special interests and/or activities have you enjoyed during the last half century? I am a genealogist and belong to the Southern California Genealogical Society and the San Fernando Valley Genealogical Society. Researching my family roots qualified me to join the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), where you have to prove a direct ancestor was a Revolutionary War patriot. I’ve got one verified and am working on the proof for two more.

Please share the highlights of the places you've lived or traveled My travels have taken me to Singapore, Hong Kong, Tunisia, Monaco, Spain, Italy, England, Scotland, Canada, the Bahamas, St. Maarten, St. Thomas — and to 46 of the 50 U.S. states.

What is your favorite AHS Memory? Alhambra High’s English and journalism teacher “Mr. T.”, Ted Tajima, was a significant influence in my life. Because of him I attended USC on a journalism scholarship and graduated cum laude. Most of my career was spent at local newspapers — perhaps not the most lucrative choice, but definitely interesting.

How do you spend your quality time? In retirement, I’m having fun with scrapbooking, sewing and quilting. I also learned to crochet in order to make scarves for Operation Gratitude, an amazing organization that has sent more than a million care packages to U.S. troops serving overseas and to wounded veterans.

What else would you like to share about yourself? For 36 years, I worked at the Los Angeles Daily News, where I held positions ranging from women’s staff writer and travel writer to assistant bureau editor and news editor. When I retired in 2009, I was the late night editor, with the authority to call “stop the presses!” After Alhambra, I lived in South Pasadena and Glendale and then moved to Reseda in the west San Fernando Valley to be closer to work. When my job was moved to West Covina, it was time to retire. I free-lanced for more than two years for the Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau. It was a treat to work at home “in my fuzzy slippers” for them.

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Question	Answer
Your name	Audrey Ramsay Prest
Your name in school, if different	Audrey Ramsay
Email	aramsayp@sbcglobal.net
Current occupation (e.g., retired, working full/part time, volunteering, caring for family, other)	I’m still putting my journalism skills to use as editor of the quarterly newsletter for the Los Angeles Branch of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society. I also serve as its recording secretary and produce fliers and other printed materials. Also, for four years I’ve volunteered at the Burbank Tournament of Roses Association, the non-profit that builds the city’s Rose Parade float. I was just elected a director of the association. For the past two years I served as assistant decorating chair, and I’ve also contributed to the newsletter.
Describe your family/extended family	My children are Jeffrey Karraker, a graphic artist in Northern California, and Julie Karraker West, who works in the financial industry in Des Moines, Iowa. Julie’s children are Cierra, 16, and Connor, 12.
What special interests and/or activities have you enjoyed during the last half century?	I am a genealogist and belong to the Southern California Genealogical Society and the San Fernando Valley Genealogical Society. Researching my family roots qualified me to join the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), where you have to prove a direct ancestor was a Revolutionary War patriot. I’ve got one verified and am working on the proof for two more.
Please share the highlights of the places you've lived or traveled	My travels have taken me to Singapore, Hong Kong, Tunisia, Monaco, Spain, Italy, England, Scotland, Canada, the Bahamas, St. Maarten, St. Thomas — and to 46 of the 50 U.S. states.
What is your favorite AHS Memory?	Alhambra High’s English and journalism teacher “Mr. T.”, Ted Tajima, was a significant influence in my life. Because of him I attended USC on a journalism scholarship and graduated cum laude. Most of my career was spent at local newspapers — perhaps not the most lucrative choice, but definitely interesting.
How do you spend your quality time?	In retirement, I’m having fun with scrapbooking, sewing and quilting. I also learned to crochet in order to make scarves for Operation Gratitude, an amazing organization that has sent more than a million care packages to U.S. troops serving overseas and to wounded veterans.
What else would you like to share about yourself?	For 36 years, I worked at the Los Angeles Daily News, where I held positions ranging from women’s staff writer and travel writer to assistant bureau editor and news editor. When I retired in 2009, I was the late night editor, with the authority to call “stop the presses!” After Alhambra, I lived in South Pasadena and Glendale and then moved to Reseda in the west San Fernando Valley to be closer to work. When my job was moved to West Covina, it was time to retire. I free-lanced for more than two years for the Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau. It was a treat to work at home “in my fuzzy slippers” for them.