Jane Norkus Cass '68
I have fond memories of football games, fraternity parties, Delta Zeta sorority activities including 49er Days as an actor in a winning olio (melodrama), the Penny Mile fundraiser for Shell & Oar, and taking underprivileged kids on new adventures with Spurs. My fondest memory is of meeting my husband, Jerry. He was a member of the Varsity Baseball Team and TKE fraternity. We enjoyed many amazing experiences together at State. We married in December 1967 and recently celebrated our Golden Wedding Anniversary.
Throughout my years at State, I was a member of a variety of clubs and organizations including Delta Zeta sorority, corresponding secretary; Spurs, recording secretary (service organization for sophomores); Shell & Oar, chairman for fundraiser (auxiliary for the Crew team); Rallies commission; Daughter of Diana (auxiliary for TKE fraternity), American Marketing Association; and the Deans List.
Some of my favorite student events included 49er Days, Greek events, and football games. They were always so much fun to attend and I was able to spend that time with all of my good friends.
Dr. Raymond, Dr. Stutville, Dr. Simonson, all inspired me in my management, Marketing, AND Economics classes.
It provided me with an excellent education and Beach traditions that make me proud to be a LB State grad. My college experience prepared me for life.
My career began as a Buyer/Manager for Sears. I retired to fulltime Mom/Wife with the birth of our first son, and then 15 months later we were a family of four with the arrival of our second son. For 8 years, I volunteered in the classroom, teaching math and chaired the major fundraisers for the schools. For personal growth, I attended academic and fitness classes. However, my most challenging endeavor was managing all phases of construction for two homes as a general contractor. These were challenging but financially rewarding! With our youngest son off to UCLA, I returned to fulltime employment where I was a top producer for Nordstrom for five years. During these years, we also supported our son’s activities at UCLA where he played football for four years and was president of his fraternity. Upon UCLA graduation, he left for Tulane University Law/MBA. Our other son was in college in Hawaii. It was time for me to pursue my “real career” in banking. I became an Executive VP in Private Banking, where I earned multiple securities licenses.
My husband and I retired in Hawaii but returned to California to buy our current home in Carlsbad. We later sold our Hawaii home, but still visit the islands annually. In our 50 years of marriage, we have purchased, decorated, and landscaped 18 homes, but still managed time for tennis, water skiing, snow skiing, and the theatre. Now we focus on travel with visits to 90 countries. We have six grandchildren; the eldest will earn her MBA this year and our youngest will be a Kindergarten grad. Our eldest son and family live in Carlsbad and our youngest son lives in NY City. We love visiting Manhattan but prefer staying at the beach in their vacation home in the Hamptons. Also, not to be forgotten, we always look forward to seeing our good friends we met at Long Beach State.
