I knew your Uncle Ken. We grew up in the same neighborhood in Lakewood, California, and we both attended Lakewood High School. As a younger person, I remember Ken riding his bike through the neighborhood while reading a book as he went. He was brilliant, athletic (basketball and tennis), and friendly. We were not close friends, but he was always friendly and engaging. We were the same age, but he graduated the year before me in 1960 and went on to Caltech. I did not see him again until May 1964 at Long Beach City College. I ran into him at the library and had one question for him “What are you doing here?” because I thought he had gone to Caltech. He explained that he had some academic problems and was working on his grades. I told him that I was transferring to Cal in the fall, and he indicated that he had recently enrolled there and thought I would enjoy the University. He wished me well and I never saw him again. I did learn later that he had passed on but did not know why or when.
I did enroll at Cal in the fall of 1964 and graduated in May 1966, so I remember the sit-in in December 1964 but was unaware that he was there. As I remember it, most of the student body supported the right to organize on campus but did not agree with the sit in. At best, the sit-in was a curiosity for students going to and from classes. I remember the students outside Sproul Hall applauding as the cops arrested the demonstrators. Whatever, Free Speech was going to be upheld and it was. One last comment on the article is that I do not remember any significant drug activity at Cal at that time. No doubt that changed.
What happened to your Uncle Ken was an absolute tragedy. He clearly suffered from schizophrenia. I can tell you this as the father of a 52-year-old son who has also suffered with schizophrenia for over 30 years. I can tell this from the sidebar next to a picture of him on page 46 of the article. What Ken is describing in this paragraph is his inability to focus. This is what my son told me after he drop out from Oregon State University in 1990. My son said he could try to study for hours but nothing would come through to him. He had been a successful student before that time.
You are correct about the genetic component of schizophrenia. Alcohol and drugs are commonly used by schizophrenics (self-medication) to deal with what is happening but makes their condition much worse.
I am so sorry for what happened to your Uncle as he had so much promise. Unfortunately, serious mental illness strikes about 5-percent of our population, and we should try to do more to help them.
Thank you for the article as I now know what happened to Ken.
Andrew:
I knew your Uncle Ken. We grew up in the same neighborhood in Lakewood, California, and we both attended Lakewood High School. As a younger person, I remember Ken riding his bike through the neighborhood while reading a book as he went. He was brilliant, athletic (basketball and tennis), and friendly. We were not close friends, but he was always friendly and engaging. We were the same age, but he graduated the year before me in 1960 and went on to Caltech. I did not see him again until May 1964 at Long Beach City College. I ran into him at the library and had one question for him “What are you doing here?” because I thought he had gone to Caltech. He explained that he had some academic problems and was working on his grades. I told him that I was transferring to Cal in the fall, and he indicated that he had recently enrolled there and thought I would enjoy the University. He wished me well and I never saw him again. I did learn later that he had passed on but did not know why or when.
I did enroll at Cal in the fall of 1964 and graduated in May 1966, so I remember the sit-in in December 1964 but was unaware that he was there. As I remember it, most of the student body supported the right to organize on campus but did not agree with the sit in. At best, the sit-in was a curiosity for students going to and from classes. I remember the students outside Sproul Hall applauding as the cops arrested the demonstrators. Whatever, Free Speech was going to be upheld and it was. One last comment on the article is that I do not remember any significant drug activity at Cal at that time. No doubt that changed.
What happened to your Uncle Ken was an absolute tragedy. He clearly suffered from schizophrenia. I can tell you this as the father of a 52-year-old son who has also suffered with schizophrenia for over 30 years. I can tell this from the sidebar next to a picture of him on page 46 of the article. What Ken is describing in this paragraph is his inability to focus. This is what my son told me after he drop out from Oregon State University in 1990. My son said he could try to study for hours but nothing would come through to him. He had been a successful student before that time.
You are correct about the genetic component of schizophrenia. Alcohol and drugs are commonly used by schizophrenics (self-medication) to deal with what is happening but makes their condition much worse.
I am so sorry for what happened to your Uncle as he had so much promise. Unfortunately, serious mental illness strikes about 5-percent of our population, and we should try to do more to help them.
Thank you for the article as I now know what happened to Ken.
Best Regards,
John R. Martin,
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, 1966