George Zigenis Zigounakis george

Profile Updated: November 6, 2013
George Zigenis
Residing In Inverness, CA USA
Spouse/Partner Cassandra Bernstein
Occupation Retired shop teacher and prototype maker
Children Hether, born 1975 w/ 2 children

Dylan, born 1978 w/3 children
Yes! Attending Reunion
Comments

Though I fooled around more than I studied at OHS, I luckily managed to get in to San Jose State. I earned a teaching credential in Industrial Arts (my dream since the first day I stepped into woodshop back at Westlake Jr. High). Teaching shop there on the East Side was probably the most rewarding job I ever had, but my former wife (also a teacher) got a bit burned out after several years (fifth graders - can you blame her?) and we decided to take a break.

S.F. was where I heard the action was so we moved there. I had many interesting experiences working as a substitute all around the Bay Area while looking for a teaching job, but despite what we were told in school, the world didn't need teachers at that time. A shop teacher can always make a living as a carpenter and so I did, even getting a contractor's license. My children were both born in S.F., my son in our home.

By then, the country was where I heard the action was, so I cashed in my teacher's pension, bought a piece of land out at Pt. Reyes and built a modest house there. Too many carpenters and certainly no shop teacher jobs in West Marin, but I lucked into a job running the town's water system. This was a great job too. Later, I even operated some of the EBMUD's water treatement plants for a few years while I lived in that trailer park on High and McArthur (one of the safest places I've ever lived - but that's another story).

I then lived in Crete for several years doing many things like making olive oil and grappa and finally, maintaining the recreation facilities for the U.S. Navy base there. In Crete, a good part of the population are Zigounakis (distant cousins) so I took back that original family name.

I returned to Oakland where my daughter graduated from Mills. She fell in love with Oakland and lived in our old neighborhood around the lake for many years. My son played ball at Sonoma State and now lives with his family near Carson City.

Back here in Inverness, I thought I'd try using the shop I had built and the skills I had learned to make prototypes for inventors and this has been my most recent occupation. Very rewarding and oh, so funny sometimes (google Toilet Tank Aquariums to join in the mirth). But between the sharks preying on the poor inventors and the patent office botching my Crazy Guitar patent, I've phased that out.

I lucked out one more time and met a lovely lady. I still repair a collectable or two for mad money, but mainly I try to keep my car running and finish that modest house.

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