George Kastner was born in Fresno, CA and died with his loving family beside him on Saturday at University Medical Center in Fresno, CA, as a result of a fall at his home on the previous day.
Tink was the son of Christopher Kastner and Georgia Emma Bell, of Clovis. Tink's mother died four days after his birth, and he and his sister, Elizabeth, grew up in the household of his uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. J. Wise Browne of Clovis. His youthful education was received at Nees Colony School, Pollasky School, and Garfield School, after which he entered Clovis High School. While at Clovis High, Tink excelled in athletics, earning multiple varsity letters in both football and track. For many years he held the Clovis High half mile run record, and he was the Fresno County half mile champion in 1936 and again in 1937.
Tink was involved in many other Clovis High activities as well, serving as Assistant Editor of the first Clovis High 'Cavalcade' yearbook and also as Student Body President.
His very active life continued at Fresno State College, where he earned three varsity letters in track and was the Far Western Conference Champion in the mile run in 1939.
In 1942 he graduated with a B.A. degree in History, but the most important event of his college career was his meeting his classmate Thelma Virginia Londgreen, of Fresno.
In December, 1941 Tink entered the United States Army Air Force, completing pilot training in 1942 in Victoria, TX where he and Thelma were married on June 20th of that year.
After further training in the United States, Tink went into combat with the 527th Fighter-Bomber Squadron of the 86th Fighter-Bomber Group (Dive) in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy, ultimately flying 83 combat missions (the Mediterranean Theater record at the time)in a P-51A dive bomber.
He returned to the United States a decorated soldier, and after various assignments, including being base commander in Lafayette, LA, Tink was discharged from the Air Force in 1945.
His career as a history instructor and as a football and a track coach at Clovis High was interrupted by the Korean Conflict, and in January, 1951 he was recalled to active duty.
He and his family traveled to many duty stations throughout the country, Tink eventually concluding his active tour at the Strategic Air Command Headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, NB.
Tink remained in the Air Force Reserve, serving as Group Commander of the 9372nd Reserve Wing for Central California and Southern Nevada, retiring as a Colonel in 1979.
Tink's civilian career was devoted to the Clovis Unified School District, where he served ably in many capacities, including as Director of Guidance, Vice-Principal, and Principal of Clovis High School, and then as Assistant Superintendent of the Clovis Unified School District. His final position was that of Associate Superintendent for Educational Services of Clovis Unified.
Throughout this period he supported and worked with the Sequoia League and Yosemite League athletic organizations.
He retired from the district in 1979 and received the greatest honor of his many careers--having Kastner Intermediate School named after him. He was always proud to be a Kastner Thunderbird. After his retirement from Clovis Unified, and Thelma's retirement from Fresno Unified, Tink to a took a 'part-time, temporary' job with the Cook family at Grundfos Pumps, and then worked there as Personnel Director for seven satisfying years.
Within the community of Clovis, Tink was an active member the Clovis Rotary, including being a Paul Harris fellow. He was also a Mason and active in the Boy Scouts. He loved being part of the Clovis-Big Dry Creek Historical Society, where he was honored as a "Living Legend."
Tink was especially proud to have helped with the founding of the Old Town Clovis Farmer's Market.
These commitments had to be fitted in between Tink and Thelma's many travels throughout the world, flying to distant places and cruising the oceans, often visiting far-flung family throughout the United States and in Europe.
Most recently they sailed across the Atlantic and up major rivers of the Continent. Tink loved vacationing near home, too, and he spent many happy days fishing in Huntington Lake, visiting at Wawona, and watching the ocean waves from the family home in Santa Cruz.
Tink's marriage to Thelma lasted 64 devoted years. Tink is also survived by his sons, George W. Kastner Jr. and his wife Victoria, and Eric C. Kastner and his wife Ann; grandchildren include Kevin Kastner and his wife Dena, Jason Kastner and his wife Jennifer, Krista Kastner and her fiancé Sinisa Domazet, Gage Kastner and his wife Inger, Brett Kastner, Abigail Kastner, and Cole Kastner; great-grandchildren are Tia and Ronika Rotsten, and Tavin and Blaise Kastner.
Tink was never happier than when he was in the company of his family. A Memorial
Service honoring Tink Kastner's life will be held at the Clovis United Methodist Church, 1726 Pollasky Avenue on Saturday, April 8, 2006, at 11:00 a.m., with a reception following at Kastner Intermediate School, 7676 N. First Street in Fresno.
In lieu of flowers, the family would be grateful if you would send donations to the Kastner Foundation at Kastner Intermediate School.
NEPTUNE SOCIETYOF CENTRAL CA CREMATION - MEMORIAL CHAPEL(559)222-7764 (800)225-1604
--------------------------------------
Kastner, ex-Clovis Unified official, dies at 86
Intermediate school in Fresno is named after the man who helped organize school district and vitalize the city of Clovis.
By Jim Steinberg / The Fresno Bee
(Updated Saturday, April 8, 2006, 6:43 AM)
George "Tink" Kastner lost his mother four days after birth, but grew to lead a life of victory in peace and war, in Fresno and Clovis classrooms and in the skies, strafing and dive-bombing over Italy during World War II.
Mr. Kastner served as associate superintendent of the Clovis Unified School District during tumultuous organizational years in the 1960s.
Mr. Kastner, for whom Kastner Intermediate School in Fresno is named, died April 1 after a fall at home. He was 86.
A memorial service will be held at Clovis United Methodist Church at 11 a.m. today.
Raised by an aunt and uncle, Mr. Kastner competed in football and track at Clovis High School, holding the record for years in the 880-yard run. He was the Fresno County 880 champion in 1936 and 1937.
Just a few years later, he was competing against Italian and German enemy pilots and dodging anti-aircraft flak with the future of Western civilization at stake.
Mr. Kastner didn't talk much about the war, says his son, George Kastner Jr., but his actions late in life made clear that the killing and dying he had seen stayed with him.
"In his later years, he led a tour group with his squad to the places they had been," George Kastner Jr. says. "They wanted to visit friends' grave sites."
When Mr. Kastner did refer to his role in the war, he liked to say, "We did what we had to do," his son recalls.
Mr. Kastner was not one to accept adversity passively. Floyd "Doc" Buchanan, longtime Clovis Unified superintendent who is now retired, recalls an early encounter with Mr. Kastner — on the Clovis High track: "He had been a track star and coach. First thing I got here, he took me to the starting line of the 100-yard dash. He said, 'Buchanan, look at this. This point is 18 inches lower than the finish line. I'm tired of my kids running uphill.'"
Buchanan found it hard to believe that Mr. Kastner could determine such a gradual incline — until Buchanan had the track surveyed. Mr. Kastner was right.
Eric Kastner, another son who is a Palo Alto lawyer, thinks family members would agree that the most important thing to say about Mr. Kastner is "that he was a great guy," father and husband to his wife, Thelma.
Beyond that, Eric Kastner says, his father played a central role in changing the Clovis community from the sleepy town it had been in the 1950s.
"You don't often see people make such an impact as he did with the revitalization and expansion of Clovis Unified," Eric Kastner says.
"The high schools, the developments — it's like night and day. I think that is my dad's contribution, that Clovis became a wonderful place to live."
Pete Mehas, Fresno County schools superintendent, began his administrative work in Clovis Unified, learning from Mr. Kastner.
Mehas says: "I think he personifies what Tom Brokaw calls the greatest generation. He was a hometown boy, great athlete, World War II pilot, great educator, Clovis Hall of Fame.
"I owe so much to him. He could chew you out, then put you together again."
Buchanan, himself a Clovis school namesake, says of Mr. Kastner: "He was a great administrator and, I would say, one of the architects of the Clovis school district."
---------------------------------------
As taken from the Clovis Independent Newspaper, September 2005: "Kastner Intermediate Celebrates 25 years".
In part it reads, "The true guests of honor were George W. "Tink" Kastner and his wife Thelma. The crowd was treated to a black and white video Kastner had made years ago in which he described his exploits as a World War II Air Force pilot and detailed how he flew his A-36 dive bomber, named "The Strawberry Blonde" in honor of his wife, on missions over Italy during his military service.
While serving, he flew a record 83 missions, earning him a Certificate of Valor. He retired a Colonel in 1963.
His work in Clovis Unified began at his alma mater (Class of 1937), Clovis High, where he taught American History. When he retired from the District after 36 years, he had been serving as an assistant superintendent.
In 1979, a motion was made by then Governing Board president Gerald Walker to name the new intermediate school after the recently retired Kastner, according to eighth grade AB core teacher Cliff Nitschke, who has done extensive research on the school's history. "Gerald said there were three men responsible for making this District what it is: [former Deputy Superintendent for Administrative Services] Dave Cook, [former superintendent] Doc Buchanan and George Kastner, and that if it hadn't been for them, we wouldn't be here today," said Nitschke.
The Kastners received two surprises at Sept. 22's rally. The first was the introduction of the two new Thunderbird mascots – named "Tink" and "Thelma."
The second tribute was a plaque celebrating George Kastner's life and accomplishments that will be placed outside the main office.
Tink was the son of Christopher Kastner and Georgia Emma Bell, of Clovis. Tink's mother died four days after his birth, and he and his sister, Elizabeth, grew up in the household of his uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. J. Wise Browne of Clovis. His youthful education was received at Nees Colony School, Pollasky School, and Garfield School, after which he entered Clovis High School. While at Clovis High, Tink excelled in athletics, earning multiple varsity letters in both football and track. For many years he held the Clovis High half mile run record, and he was the Fresno County half mile champion in 1936 and again in 1937.
Tink was involved in many other Clovis High activities as well, serving as Assistant Editor of the first Clovis High 'Cavalcade' yearbook and also as Student Body President.
His very active life continued at Fresno State College, where he earned three varsity letters in track and was the Far Western Conference Champion in the mile run in 1939.
In 1942 he graduated with a B.A. degree in History, but the most important event of his college career was his meeting his classmate Thelma Virginia Londgreen, of Fresno.
In December, 1941 Tink entered the United States Army Air Force, completing pilot training in 1942 in Victoria, TX where he and Thelma were married on June 20th of that year.
After further training in the United States, Tink went into combat with the 527th Fighter-Bomber Squadron of the 86th Fighter-Bomber Group (Dive) in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy, ultimately flying 83 combat missions (the Mediterranean Theater record at the time)in a P-51A dive bomber.
He returned to the United States a decorated soldier, and after various assignments, including being base commander in Lafayette, LA, Tink was discharged from the Air Force in 1945.
His career as a history instructor and as a football and a track coach at Clovis High was interrupted by the Korean Conflict, and in January, 1951 he was recalled to active duty.
He and his family traveled to many duty stations throughout the country, Tink eventually concluding his active tour at the Strategic Air Command Headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, NB.
Tink remained in the Air Force Reserve, serving as Group Commander of the 9372nd Reserve Wing for Central California and Southern Nevada, retiring as a Colonel in 1979.
Tink's civilian career was devoted to the Clovis Unified School District, where he served ably in many capacities, including as Director of Guidance, Vice-Principal, and Principal of Clovis High School, and then as Assistant Superintendent of the Clovis Unified School District. His final position was that of Associate Superintendent for Educational Services of Clovis Unified.
Throughout this period he supported and worked with the Sequoia League and Yosemite League athletic organizations.
He retired from the district in 1979 and received the greatest honor of his many careers--having Kastner Intermediate School named after him. He was always proud to be a Kastner Thunderbird. After his retirement from Clovis Unified, and Thelma's retirement from Fresno Unified, Tink to a took a 'part-time, temporary' job with the Cook family at Grundfos Pumps, and then worked there as Personnel Director for seven satisfying years.
Within the community of Clovis, Tink was an active member the Clovis Rotary, including being a Paul Harris fellow. He was also a Mason and active in the Boy Scouts. He loved being part of the Clovis-Big Dry Creek Historical Society, where he was honored as a "Living Legend."
Tink was especially proud to have helped with the founding of the Old Town Clovis Farmer's Market.
These commitments had to be fitted in between Tink and Thelma's many travels throughout the world, flying to distant places and cruising the oceans, often visiting far-flung family throughout the United States and in Europe.
Most recently they sailed across the Atlantic and up major rivers of the Continent. Tink loved vacationing near home, too, and he spent many happy days fishing in Huntington Lake, visiting at Wawona, and watching the ocean waves from the family home in Santa Cruz.
Tink's marriage to Thelma lasted 64 devoted years. Tink is also survived by his sons, George W. Kastner Jr. and his wife Victoria, and Eric C. Kastner and his wife Ann; grandchildren include Kevin Kastner and his wife Dena, Jason Kastner and his wife Jennifer, Krista Kastner and her fiancé Sinisa Domazet, Gage Kastner and his wife Inger, Brett Kastner, Abigail Kastner, and Cole Kastner; great-grandchildren are Tia and Ronika Rotsten, and Tavin and Blaise Kastner.
Tink was never happier than when he was in the company of his family. A Memorial
Service honoring Tink Kastner's life will be held at the Clovis United Methodist Church, 1726 Pollasky Avenue on Saturday, April 8, 2006, at 11:00 a.m., with a reception following at Kastner Intermediate School, 7676 N. First Street in Fresno.
In lieu of flowers, the family would be grateful if you would send donations to the Kastner Foundation at Kastner Intermediate School.
NEPTUNE SOCIETYOF CENTRAL CA CREMATION - MEMORIAL CHAPEL(559)222-7764 (800)225-1604
--------------------------------------
Kastner, ex-Clovis Unified official, dies at 86
Intermediate school in Fresno is named after the man who helped organize school district and vitalize the city of Clovis.
By Jim Steinberg / The Fresno Bee
(Updated Saturday, April 8, 2006, 6:43 AM)
George "Tink" Kastner lost his mother four days after birth, but grew to lead a life of victory in peace and war, in Fresno and Clovis classrooms and in the skies, strafing and dive-bombing over Italy during World War II.
Mr. Kastner served as associate superintendent of the Clovis Unified School District during tumultuous organizational years in the 1960s.
Mr. Kastner, for whom Kastner Intermediate School in Fresno is named, died April 1 after a fall at home. He was 86.
A memorial service will be held at Clovis United Methodist Church at 11 a.m. today.
Raised by an aunt and uncle, Mr. Kastner competed in football and track at Clovis High School, holding the record for years in the 880-yard run. He was the Fresno County 880 champion in 1936 and 1937.
Just a few years later, he was competing against Italian and German enemy pilots and dodging anti-aircraft flak with the future of Western civilization at stake.
Mr. Kastner didn't talk much about the war, says his son, George Kastner Jr., but his actions late in life made clear that the killing and dying he had seen stayed with him.
"In his later years, he led a tour group with his squad to the places they had been," George Kastner Jr. says. "They wanted to visit friends' grave sites."
When Mr. Kastner did refer to his role in the war, he liked to say, "We did what we had to do," his son recalls.
Mr. Kastner was not one to accept adversity passively. Floyd "Doc" Buchanan, longtime Clovis Unified superintendent who is now retired, recalls an early encounter with Mr. Kastner — on the Clovis High track: "He had been a track star and coach. First thing I got here, he took me to the starting line of the 100-yard dash. He said, 'Buchanan, look at this. This point is 18 inches lower than the finish line. I'm tired of my kids running uphill.'"
Buchanan found it hard to believe that Mr. Kastner could determine such a gradual incline — until Buchanan had the track surveyed. Mr. Kastner was right.
Eric Kastner, another son who is a Palo Alto lawyer, thinks family members would agree that the most important thing to say about Mr. Kastner is "that he was a great guy," father and husband to his wife, Thelma.
Beyond that, Eric Kastner says, his father played a central role in changing the Clovis community from the sleepy town it had been in the 1950s.
"You don't often see people make such an impact as he did with the revitalization and expansion of Clovis Unified," Eric Kastner says.
"The high schools, the developments — it's like night and day. I think that is my dad's contribution, that Clovis became a wonderful place to live."
Pete Mehas, Fresno County schools superintendent, began his administrative work in Clovis Unified, learning from Mr. Kastner.
Mehas says: "I think he personifies what Tom Brokaw calls the greatest generation. He was a hometown boy, great athlete, World War II pilot, great educator, Clovis Hall of Fame.
"I owe so much to him. He could chew you out, then put you together again."
Buchanan, himself a Clovis school namesake, says of Mr. Kastner: "He was a great administrator and, I would say, one of the architects of the Clovis school district."
---------------------------------------
As taken from the Clovis Independent Newspaper, September 2005: "Kastner Intermediate Celebrates 25 years".
In part it reads, "The true guests of honor were George W. "Tink" Kastner and his wife Thelma. The crowd was treated to a black and white video Kastner had made years ago in which he described his exploits as a World War II Air Force pilot and detailed how he flew his A-36 dive bomber, named "The Strawberry Blonde" in honor of his wife, on missions over Italy during his military service.
While serving, he flew a record 83 missions, earning him a Certificate of Valor. He retired a Colonel in 1963.
His work in Clovis Unified began at his alma mater (Class of 1937), Clovis High, where he taught American History. When he retired from the District after 36 years, he had been serving as an assistant superintendent.
In 1979, a motion was made by then Governing Board president Gerald Walker to name the new intermediate school after the recently retired Kastner, according to eighth grade AB core teacher Cliff Nitschke, who has done extensive research on the school's history. "Gerald said there were three men responsible for making this District what it is: [former Deputy Superintendent for Administrative Services] Dave Cook, [former superintendent] Doc Buchanan and George Kastner, and that if it hadn't been for them, we wouldn't be here today," said Nitschke.
The Kastners received two surprises at Sept. 22's rally. The first was the introduction of the two new Thunderbird mascots – named "Tink" and "Thelma."
The second tribute was a plaque celebrating George Kastner's life and accomplishments that will be placed outside the main office.
George Kastner was born in Fresno, CA and died with his loving family beside him on Saturday at University Medical Center in Fresno, CA, as a result of a fall at his home on the previous day.
Tink was the son of Christopher Kastner and Georgia Emma Bell, of Clovis. Tink's mother died four days after his birth, and he and his sister, Elizabeth, grew up in the household of his uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. J. Wise Browne of Clovis. His youthful education was received at Nees Colony School, Pollasky School, and Garfield School, after which he entered Clovis High School. While at Clovis High, Tink excelled in athletics, earning multiple varsity letters in both football and track. For many years he held the Clovis High half mile run record, and he was the Fresno County half mile champion in 1936 and again in 1937.
Tink was involved in many other Clovis High activities as well, serving as Assistant Editor of the first Clovis High 'Cavalcade' yearbook and also as Student Body President.
His very active life continued at Fresno State College, where he earned three varsity letters in track and was the Far Western Conference Champion in the mile run in 1939.
In 1942 he graduated with a B.A. degree in History, but the most important event of his college career was his meeting his classmate Thelma Virginia Londgreen, of Fresno.
In December, 1941 Tink entered the United States Army Air Force, completing pilot training in 1942 in Victoria, TX where he and Thelma were married on June 20th of that year.
After further training in the United States, Tink went into combat with the 527th Fighter-Bomber Squadron of the 86th Fighter-Bomber Group (Dive) in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy, ultimately flying 83 combat missions (the Mediterranean Theater record at the time)in a P-51A dive bomber.
He returned to the United States a decorated soldier, and after various assignments, including being base commander in Lafayette, LA, Tink was discharged from the Air Force in 1945.
His career as a history instructor and as a football and a track coach at Clovis High was interrupted by the Korean Conflict, and in January, 1951 he was recalled to active duty.
He and his family traveled to many duty stations throughout the country, Tink eventually concluding his active tour at the Strategic Air Command Headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, NB.
Tink remained in the Air Force Reserve, serving as Group Commander of the 9372nd Reserve Wing for Central California and Southern Nevada, retiring as a Colonel in 1979.
Tink's civilian career was devoted to the Clovis Unified School District, where he served ably in many capacities, including as Director of Guidance, Vice-Principal, and Principal of Clovis High School, and then as Assistant Superintendent of the Clovis Unified School District. His final position was that of Associate Superintendent for Educational Services of Clovis Unified.
Throughout this period he supported and worked with the Sequoia League and Yosemite League athletic organizations.
He retired from the district in 1979 and received the greatest honor of his many careers--having Kastner Intermediate School named after him. He was always proud to be a Kastner Thunderbird. After his retirement from Clovis Unified, and Thelma's retirement from Fresno Unified, Tink to a took a 'part-time, temporary' job with the Cook family at Grundfos Pumps, and then worked there as Personnel Director for seven satisfying years.
Within the community of Clovis, Tink was an active member the Clovis Rotary, including being a Paul Harris fellow. He was also a Mason and active in the Boy Scouts. He loved being part of the Clovis-Big Dry Creek Historical Society, where he was honored as a "Living Legend."
Tink was especially proud to have helped with the founding of the Old Town Clovis Farmer's Market.
These commitments had to be fitted in between Tink and Thelma's many travels throughout the world, flying to distant places and cruising the oceans, often visiting far-flung family throughout the United States and in Europe.
Most recently they sailed across the Atlantic and up major rivers of the Continent. Tink loved vacationing near home, too, and he spent many happy days fishing in Huntington Lake, visiting at Wawona, and watching the ocean waves from the family home in Santa Cruz.
Tink's marriage to Thelma lasted 64 devoted years. Tink is also survived by his sons, George W. Kastner Jr. and his wife Victoria, and Eric C. Kastner and his wife Ann; grandchildren include Kevin Kastner and his wife Dena, Jason Kastner and his wife Jennifer, Krista Kastner and her fiancé Sinisa Domazet, Gage Kastner and his wife Inger, Brett Kastner, Abigail Kastner, and Cole Kastner; great-grandchildren are Tia and Ronika Rotsten, and Tavin and Blaise Kastner.
Tink was never happier than when he was in the company of his family. A Memorial
Service honoring Tink Kastner's life will be held at the Clovis United Methodist Church, 1726 Pollasky Avenue on Saturday, April 8, 2006, at 11:00 a.m., with a reception following at Kastner Intermediate School, 7676 N. First Street in Fresno.
In lieu of flowers, the family would be grateful if you would send donations to the Kastner Foundation at Kastner Intermediate School.
NEPTUNE SOCIETYOF CENTRAL CA CREMATION - MEMORIAL CHAPEL(559)222-7764 (800)225-1604
--------------------------------------
Kastner, ex-Clovis Unified official, dies at 86
Intermediate school in Fresno is named after the man who helped organize school district and vitalize the city of Clovis.
By Jim Steinberg / The Fresno Bee
(Updated Saturday, April 8, 2006, 6:43 AM)
George "Tink" Kastner lost his mother four days after birth, but grew to lead a life of victory in peace and war, in Fresno and Clovis classrooms and in the skies, strafing and dive-bombing over Italy during World War II.
Mr. Kastner served as associate superintendent of the Clovis Unified School District during tumultuous organizational years in the 1960s.
Mr. Kastner, for whom Kastner Intermediate School in Fresno is named, died April 1 after a fall at home. He was 86.
A memorial service will be held at Clovis United Methodist Church at 11 a.m. today.
Raised by an aunt and uncle, Mr. Kastner competed in football and track at Clovis High School, holding the record for years in the 880-yard run. He was the Fresno County 880 champion in 1936 and 1937.
Just a few years later, he was competing against Italian and German enemy pilots and dodging anti-aircraft flak with the future of Western civilization at stake.
Mr. Kastner didn't talk much about the war, says his son, George Kastner Jr., but his actions late in life made clear that the killing and dying he had seen stayed with him.
"In his later years, he led a tour group with his squad to the places they had been," George Kastner Jr. says. "They wanted to visit friends' grave sites."
When Mr. Kastner did refer to his role in the war, he liked to say, "We did what we had to do," his son recalls.
Mr. Kastner was not one to accept adversity passively. Floyd "Doc" Buchanan, longtime Clovis Unified superintendent who is now retired, recalls an early encounter with Mr. Kastner — on the Clovis High track: "He had been a track star and coach. First thing I got here, he took me to the starting line of the 100-yard dash. He said, 'Buchanan, look at this. This point is 18 inches lower than the finish line. I'm tired of my kids running uphill.'"
Buchanan found it hard to believe that Mr. Kastner could determine such a gradual incline — until Buchanan had the track surveyed. Mr. Kastner was right.
Eric Kastner, another son who is a Palo Alto lawyer, thinks family members would agree that the most important thing to say about Mr. Kastner is "that he was a great guy," father and husband to his wife, Thelma.
Beyond that, Eric Kastner says, his father played a central role in changing the Clovis community from the sleepy town it had been in the 1950s.
"You don't often see people make such an impact as he did with the revitalization and expansion of Clovis Unified," Eric Kastner says.
"The high schools, the developments — it's like night and day. I think that is my dad's contribution, that Clovis became a wonderful place to live."
Pete Mehas, Fresno County schools superintendent, began his administrative work in Clovis Unified, learning from Mr. Kastner.
Mehas says: "I think he personifies what Tom Brokaw calls the greatest generation. He was a hometown boy, great athlete, World War II pilot, great educator, Clovis Hall of Fame.
"I owe so much to him. He could chew you out, then put you together again."
Buchanan, himself a Clovis school namesake, says of Mr. Kastner: "He was a great administrator and, I would say, one of the architects of the Clovis school district."
---------------------------------------
As taken from the Clovis Independent Newspaper, September 2005: "Kastner Intermediate Celebrates 25 years".
In part it reads, "The true guests of honor were George W. "Tink" Kastner and his wife Thelma. The crowd was treated to a black and white video Kastner had made years ago in which he described his exploits as a World War II Air Force pilot and detailed how he flew his A-36 dive bomber, named "The Strawberry Blonde" in honor of his wife, on missions over Italy during his military service.
While serving, he flew a record 83 missions, earning him a Certificate of Valor. He retired a Colonel in 1963.
His work in Clovis Unified began at his alma mater (Class of 1937), Clovis High, where he taught American History. When he retired from the District after 36 years, he had been serving as an assistant superintendent.
In 1979, a motion was made by then Governing Board president Gerald Walker to name the new intermediate school after the recently retired Kastner, according to eighth grade AB core teacher Cliff Nitschke, who has done extensive research on the school's history. "Gerald said there were three men responsible for making this District what it is: [former Deputy Superintendent for Administrative Services] Dave Cook, [former superintendent] Doc Buchanan and George Kastner, and that if it hadn't been for them, we wouldn't be here today," said Nitschke.
The Kastners received two surprises at Sept. 22's rally. The first was the introduction of the two new Thunderbird mascots – named "Tink" and "Thelma."
The second tribute was a plaque celebrating George Kastner's life and accomplishments that will be placed outside the main office.
Tink was the son of Christopher Kastner and Georgia Emma Bell, of Clovis. Tink's mother died four days after his birth, and he and his sister, Elizabeth, grew up in the household of his uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. J. Wise Browne of Clovis. His youthful education was received at Nees Colony School, Pollasky School, and Garfield School, after which he entered Clovis High School. While at Clovis High, Tink excelled in athletics, earning multiple varsity letters in both football and track. For many years he held the Clovis High half mile run record, and he was the Fresno County half mile champion in 1936 and again in 1937.
Tink was involved in many other Clovis High activities as well, serving as Assistant Editor of the first Clovis High 'Cavalcade' yearbook and also as Student Body President.
His very active life continued at Fresno State College, where he earned three varsity letters in track and was the Far Western Conference Champion in the mile run in 1939.
In 1942 he graduated with a B.A. degree in History, but the most important event of his college career was his meeting his classmate Thelma Virginia Londgreen, of Fresno.
In December, 1941 Tink entered the United States Army Air Force, completing pilot training in 1942 in Victoria, TX where he and Thelma were married on June 20th of that year.
After further training in the United States, Tink went into combat with the 527th Fighter-Bomber Squadron of the 86th Fighter-Bomber Group (Dive) in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy, ultimately flying 83 combat missions (the Mediterranean Theater record at the time)in a P-51A dive bomber.
He returned to the United States a decorated soldier, and after various assignments, including being base commander in Lafayette, LA, Tink was discharged from the Air Force in 1945.
His career as a history instructor and as a football and a track coach at Clovis High was interrupted by the Korean Conflict, and in January, 1951 he was recalled to active duty.
He and his family traveled to many duty stations throughout the country, Tink eventually concluding his active tour at the Strategic Air Command Headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, NB.
Tink remained in the Air Force Reserve, serving as Group Commander of the 9372nd Reserve Wing for Central California and Southern Nevada, retiring as a Colonel in 1979.
Tink's civilian career was devoted to the Clovis Unified School District, where he served ably in many capacities, including as Director of Guidance, Vice-Principal, and Principal of Clovis High School, and then as Assistant Superintendent of the Clovis Unified School District. His final position was that of Associate Superintendent for Educational Services of Clovis Unified.
Throughout this period he supported and worked with the Sequoia League and Yosemite League athletic organizations.
He retired from the district in 1979 and received the greatest honor of his many careers--having Kastner Intermediate School named after him. He was always proud to be a Kastner Thunderbird. After his retirement from Clovis Unified, and Thelma's retirement from Fresno Unified, Tink to a took a 'part-time, temporary' job with the Cook family at Grundfos Pumps, and then worked there as Personnel Director for seven satisfying years.
Within the community of Clovis, Tink was an active member the Clovis Rotary, including being a Paul Harris fellow. He was also a Mason and active in the Boy Scouts. He loved being part of the Clovis-Big Dry Creek Historical Society, where he was honored as a "Living Legend."
Tink was especially proud to have helped with the founding of the Old Town Clovis Farmer's Market.
These commitments had to be fitted in between Tink and Thelma's many travels throughout the world, flying to distant places and cruising the oceans, often visiting far-flung family throughout the United States and in Europe.
Most recently they sailed across the Atlantic and up major rivers of the Continent. Tink loved vacationing near home, too, and he spent many happy days fishing in Huntington Lake, visiting at Wawona, and watching the ocean waves from the family home in Santa Cruz.
Tink's marriage to Thelma lasted 64 devoted years. Tink is also survived by his sons, George W. Kastner Jr. and his wife Victoria, and Eric C. Kastner and his wife Ann; grandchildren include Kevin Kastner and his wife Dena, Jason Kastner and his wife Jennifer, Krista Kastner and her fiancé Sinisa Domazet, Gage Kastner and his wife Inger, Brett Kastner, Abigail Kastner, and Cole Kastner; great-grandchildren are Tia and Ronika Rotsten, and Tavin and Blaise Kastner.
Tink was never happier than when he was in the company of his family. A Memorial
Service honoring Tink Kastner's life will be held at the Clovis United Methodist Church, 1726 Pollasky Avenue on Saturday, April 8, 2006, at 11:00 a.m., with a reception following at Kastner Intermediate School, 7676 N. First Street in Fresno.
In lieu of flowers, the family would be grateful if you would send donations to the Kastner Foundation at Kastner Intermediate School.
NEPTUNE SOCIETYOF CENTRAL CA CREMATION - MEMORIAL CHAPEL(559)222-7764 (800)225-1604
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Kastner, ex-Clovis Unified official, dies at 86
Intermediate school in Fresno is named after the man who helped organize school district and vitalize the city of Clovis.
By Jim Steinberg / The Fresno Bee
(Updated Saturday, April 8, 2006, 6:43 AM)
George "Tink" Kastner lost his mother four days after birth, but grew to lead a life of victory in peace and war, in Fresno and Clovis classrooms and in the skies, strafing and dive-bombing over Italy during World War II.
Mr. Kastner served as associate superintendent of the Clovis Unified School District during tumultuous organizational years in the 1960s.
Mr. Kastner, for whom Kastner Intermediate School in Fresno is named, died April 1 after a fall at home. He was 86.
A memorial service will be held at Clovis United Methodist Church at 11 a.m. today.
Raised by an aunt and uncle, Mr. Kastner competed in football and track at Clovis High School, holding the record for years in the 880-yard run. He was the Fresno County 880 champion in 1936 and 1937.
Just a few years later, he was competing against Italian and German enemy pilots and dodging anti-aircraft flak with the future of Western civilization at stake.
Mr. Kastner didn't talk much about the war, says his son, George Kastner Jr., but his actions late in life made clear that the killing and dying he had seen stayed with him.
"In his later years, he led a tour group with his squad to the places they had been," George Kastner Jr. says. "They wanted to visit friends' grave sites."
When Mr. Kastner did refer to his role in the war, he liked to say, "We did what we had to do," his son recalls.
Mr. Kastner was not one to accept adversity passively. Floyd "Doc" Buchanan, longtime Clovis Unified superintendent who is now retired, recalls an early encounter with Mr. Kastner — on the Clovis High track: "He had been a track star and coach. First thing I got here, he took me to the starting line of the 100-yard dash. He said, 'Buchanan, look at this. This point is 18 inches lower than the finish line. I'm tired of my kids running uphill.'"
Buchanan found it hard to believe that Mr. Kastner could determine such a gradual incline — until Buchanan had the track surveyed. Mr. Kastner was right.
Eric Kastner, another son who is a Palo Alto lawyer, thinks family members would agree that the most important thing to say about Mr. Kastner is "that he was a great guy," father and husband to his wife, Thelma.
Beyond that, Eric Kastner says, his father played a central role in changing the Clovis community from the sleepy town it had been in the 1950s.
"You don't often see people make such an impact as he did with the revitalization and expansion of Clovis Unified," Eric Kastner says.
"The high schools, the developments — it's like night and day. I think that is my dad's contribution, that Clovis became a wonderful place to live."
Pete Mehas, Fresno County schools superintendent, began his administrative work in Clovis Unified, learning from Mr. Kastner.
Mehas says: "I think he personifies what Tom Brokaw calls the greatest generation. He was a hometown boy, great athlete, World War II pilot, great educator, Clovis Hall of Fame.
"I owe so much to him. He could chew you out, then put you together again."
Buchanan, himself a Clovis school namesake, says of Mr. Kastner: "He was a great administrator and, I would say, one of the architects of the Clovis school district."
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As taken from the Clovis Independent Newspaper, September 2005: "Kastner Intermediate Celebrates 25 years".
In part it reads, "The true guests of honor were George W. "Tink" Kastner and his wife Thelma. The crowd was treated to a black and white video Kastner had made years ago in which he described his exploits as a World War II Air Force pilot and detailed how he flew his A-36 dive bomber, named "The Strawberry Blonde" in honor of his wife, on missions over Italy during his military service.
While serving, he flew a record 83 missions, earning him a Certificate of Valor. He retired a Colonel in 1963.
His work in Clovis Unified began at his alma mater (Class of 1937), Clovis High, where he taught American History. When he retired from the District after 36 years, he had been serving as an assistant superintendent.
In 1979, a motion was made by then Governing Board president Gerald Walker to name the new intermediate school after the recently retired Kastner, according to eighth grade AB core teacher Cliff Nitschke, who has done extensive research on the school's history. "Gerald said there were three men responsible for making this District what it is: [former Deputy Superintendent for Administrative Services] Dave Cook, [former superintendent] Doc Buchanan and George Kastner, and that if it hadn't been for them, we wouldn't be here today," said Nitschke.
The Kastners received two surprises at Sept. 22's rally. The first was the introduction of the two new Thunderbird mascots – named "Tink" and "Thelma."
The second tribute was a plaque celebrating George Kastner's life and accomplishments that will be placed outside the main office.
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