Julie Casaletto ‘68

As a graduate of Long Beach’s Wilson H.S. and with the family residence being on the old Bixby Ranch property or ‘in the backyard’ of LBSC, I was excited to receive an invitation to participate in Panhellenic orientation in August 1962.  The round of sorority teas and parties was fast paced and lots of fun. Days later we were in line and having cards pulled for our classes.

Campus activities abounded in every direction and getting involved was easy. Classes started and we all faced a variety of academic challenges. College life ‘on the Hill’ was now a fact, and life choices now quadrupled.

All 4 years I was a member of Alpha Phi and Cal State’s Forensic Team. They each carried maximum rewards and were each time consuming. From pledging to being president of the chapter, my Alpha Phi friendships (and those from other Greek organizations) have been life-long. All Greek houses were required to be off campus. Our house overlooked the ocean. A large, picture window provided perfect forecasting for beach volleyball, relaxing in the sun or having a morning cup of coffee with a Sister before heading to campus. It was an awesome place! 

Some fondest memories include “49er Days,” in which a mining town was built by Greeks and Dorms on lower campus. Structures ran from saloon to jailhouse to schoolhouse and members of a group would dress accordingly in period costume. One year we wore black & white Temperance attire & another year we were adorned in green & white gingham complete with matching hats & parasols as schoolteachers! 

The annual campaigns to select Pete’s Gulch Black Bart and Lotta Crabtree were competitively fun. Overall, it was a total blast! The Forensic Team, on the other hand, stretched my speaking skills as well as the ability to think on my feet.  Luckily, for me & for Cal State, my 1st place rewards were numerous, and for two consecutive years, I received the Coachs Award. For one San Francisco area competition, the coaches teamed Steve Martin and me. Unknown to either of us, he worked at Knott’s Berry Farm and I worked at Disneyland. 

As a team, our presentation took 1st place. It was a great experience and one more trophy in Cal State’s display case. Other organizations include two honor societies: Spurs (sophomore year) and Cap & Gown (jr. & sr. years).

Football games at Veteran’s Stadium were a favorite. Our 49er team provided more in the winning column than usual & gave us reasons to cheer.  Homecoming games saw our creative efforts to build themed floats. Can you say chicken wire & tissue paper? Hours of fun!!

In the music world, Hootenanny competitions, music dept. presentations (large productions like “Oklahoma” & smaller practice sessions…Karen & Richard Carpenter) and college dances (the popular “Righteous Brothers” performed at one…a member of their group had a girlfriend at Cal State…lucky us!)

The campus was very different in the 60s and our gathering places were more limited. The Cafeteria had, it seemed, an unlimited number of long tables, and organizations selected their location to gather. Each sorority, each fraternity and each dorm had their chosen tables. There was an unspoken and generally well-acknowledged order. No matter what time of day you came by the Cafeteria, some of your people would be at your table(s) and ready to share news of the day. 

When the weather permitted & was pleasant, we frequented what was called ‘the Hill’ among the budding trees and on the great, green expanses of lawn. That’s just one advantage of sunny, Southern Cal!  If truth be told, there were also nearby off campus hang-outs: the small pub on PCH & 7th St (sorry cannot recall the name) where beer & pool were it. Drive somewhat further and there was Joe Jost where cold beer & awesome pickled eggs made a game of pool perfect! Never let it be said that 49ers don’t know their territory!

Dr. Rita Gilbert, Dr. Steven M. Buck, Forensic Coach Fred Rodgers, and Dean Meg (Margaret) Schwartz. Each of these educators provided guidance and assistance when needed. Their patience and understanding of my goals continue to mean the world to me. At the start of my college days, I was an English major, but I soon decided to get a 2nd major in Communications. Our world was experiencing the Vietnam war. Politics was not simply an academic concern. For far too many, having their draft number call them to service was a reason to question what was personally happening. 

My attention focused on mass media and the role it played in local and national efforts. How did persuasion, propaganda and bias change the message? In 1964-65, I was a junior at Cal State & had just completed my mid-terms (my first time to have straight As). Suddenly I was given the opportunity to travel the world widely as a representative for Disneyland, Disney Productions and Walt Disney himself. I departed CSCLB with the determination to return and complete my basic degree, but for the near future to sign the Disney contract and see the world through others’ eyes.

That decision continues to have significant impact on my life even today. By the way, I did return to campus and participated in all the same activities and organizations, just with a different perspective, but with the same advisors and professors, the same majors, and my graduation date moved forward to ’68.

CSCLB provided a strong foundation that allowed me to go further in my studies. When I first started college, I knew there was a lot for me to learn. By the time I had earned my first degree, I was aware of how much more there was to learn and that I had only scratched the surface. Education is the key.

I attended Purdue University for degrees in Communications and English. Since then I’ve taught school/college level, continued doing some PR and marketing work, married my best friend, Jim Casaletto, a mathematician-computer scientist. We moved to Virginia where Jim was stationed at the Pentagon during his Army years (Vietnam era). We raised two daughters who continue to make us very proud. Our oldest daughter is a clinical physician, a Trauma 1 ER doc, and the youngest is Micro-Immunologist as a research doc in oncology. 

We are retired, doing lots of travelling and enjoying our grandchildren. Over the years my Disney experiences continue to grow. Walt said he wanted to help me reach all my five goals. He surely helped me reach one of the first goals. I wanted to be independent, pay my own way for anything in my life rather than depend on my parents. The contract with Disney Productions satisfied that goal very quickly. He wanted me to actively continue with his company, but that was rather difficult with a husband stationed in Virginia. 

We opted for my participation in PR or marketing when I was able. My life has definitely been sprinkled with Pixie Dust. Some years ago I received a call from the Disney Studio. They were preparing  to hold a celebration for the women in Walt’s life who had made an impact. They requested my likeness be included in a large poster with his wife, Lilly, his daughters, Diane & Sharon. I was both amazed and honored with their request.

Much more recently, the Disney Company honored me as a Disney Legend. Again, I’m deeply honored and humbled with such a designation. Of course, my grandsons are even more impressed than I, for they have been able to meet George Lucas, R2D2,C3PO, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Darth Vadar, etc, etc. up close and personal. As one of the grandsons said, “Nana, you have lots of friends!”