CSD's 150th anniversary mural series - California School for the Deaf

This mural shows Theophilus d’Estrella taking a photo of a
group of restless middle school students. He was one of the
first students to be enrolled at CSD in San Francisco. He had
been an important part of the CSD community for more than
50 years as a writer, artist, ASL storyteller, traveler,
photographer, and teacher. He was called “The Magic Lantern
Man” because CSD students loved to watch the slide show of
d’Estrella’s photos. He is truly a Renaissance man.
The students in the mural are: Andre Nathaniel, Jenniferrose
Jones, Nereyda Rodriguez Meza, Alejandra Cisneros, Natalie
Brentham, Daniel Cease, and Andrew Cho.
Photographer: Alison Taggart-Barone
Ella Mae Lentz is a well-known poet, author, and Deaf
advocate. She is one of the authors of the hugely popular
Signing Naturally series (ASL curriculum and textbooks). She
also produced several popular ASL poetry and story telling
videos. She is a strong advocate for Deafhood. This mural
shows Ella Mae Lentz giving balloons to students to enlighten
them about Deafhood. Several students who got the
balloons are flying free, while a line of excited students wait
for their turn to become enlightened. The mural is located on
the school cafeteria’s side access wall, next to the quad.
The students in the mural are: Nicky Lim, Ben Joss, Alexandria
Brinkley-Green, Blanca Barron, Jordan Sandoval, Malvana
Ramborger, Izcali Esparza, Donny Camp, Luke Bella, Malia
Zornoza , and Cristina Mabuyo.
A Labor of Love
Photographer: Ken Norton
What have members of the alumni of CSD accomplished
in their adult lives? Not surprisingly, each individual has
had his or her own unique way of accomplishing his or her
dreams and goals fruitfully. Features about their
accomplishments have been disclosed widely in magazines
and newspapers, in small towns and big towns, and in
newsletters across the nation.
One of the two most important accomplishments of the
CSD alumni was to install a popular exhibit in the CSD library
featuring historic photographs of the sports teams.
The other most important accomplishment is that Eugene
Rianda, a ’46 graduate, has for the first time, painstakingly
brought together a collection from the archives of individual
photographs of CSD graduates circa 1871 to 2010. The
collection is now on display in the library hallway, along with
the revolving case of sports photographs. The Donald Parodi
Memorial Charitable Trust assisted in purchasing the
revolving cases for these displays.
Eugene Rianda decided that the collection of photographs
of CSD graduates was too good to have only in the
CSD library, so out of his pocket, he ordered the collection
of pictures be transformed into the form of a book (called
a scrapbook by Kinko’s). The book is entitled “Album of CSD
Graduates 1871-2010.” There are a few of these books still
available. Anyone wishing to purchase an album of CSD
graduates (from 1871-2010) can send your request to:
Eugene Rianda
12108 Gold Pointe Ln
Gold River, CA 95670
Email Eugene at:
genbet@comcast.net
The books are $25, which includes the cost to ship it to
you.
Ken Norton, Class of ‘45
California News | November 20, 2009 25