Densho Digital Archive - Dennis Bambauer Interview II (denshovh-bdennis-02-0012)

<Begin Segment 12>

RP: I just wanted to return to, to your life in Bishop. You said you, you went to Occidental College and graduated.

DB: Yes.

RP: And eventually you came back to Bishop and became a teacher.

DB: That's correct.

RP: And, what motivated you to get into teaching?

DB: I don't know whether it was a stroke of brilliance or just a stroke. But as a young man and promulgated by my friend John Nagayama, I, he was a minister and this didn't, it wasn't something that happened because of the two of us, but under his guidance as a small child I... and he, and he became a minister, I decided that I would go into the ministry because of what my friend John had done. And so that's, that was my intent. And then I began putting the dots together and crossing the t's and the i's and decided that I didn't think I could afford to be a preacher. And so I said to myself, "Where is the next area that you can effectively impact on the lives of somebody?" And so I decided that teaching was the way to do it. So I trained to become a teacher, became a teacher, taught for thirteen years, when a new calling opened. And it was the calling of union advocacy on behalf of teachers. And so from 1973 until I retired in nineteen... oh, yeah, 1996? I was active and worked for the teachers union.

[Interruption]

RP: This is tape three of a continuing interview with Dennis Bambauer. And Dennis, we were talking about your plunge into teaching.

DB: My, oh, teaching.

RP: And I'm just curious to know, how did your, how did your experiences with the Children's Village at Manzanar and the previous experience with the other orphanage affect the path your life took? Or did it?

DB: Well, that's a, kind of a puzzle, which I have had difficulty putting it together. Because they say that we are a product of our experiences. And my experiences have for thirty years all been surrounded by advocacy. And I've often wondered what part any of this thing plays in our decision making process. The only thing that I can really tell you is that I tried to be the best and I loved every moment of it. And those are two qualities which I think would make anybody successful.

RP: What did you --

DB: I just have a burning desire to make things better and there are so many people with more problems than we have that I just hope to help 'em.

RP: What, what did you teach when you returned to Bishop and taught at the school, at the high school?

DB: No, I taught at the elementary school.

RP: Oh, you did. Okay.

DB: Which was right across the street from the high school so somebody might get the idea that I was teaching at the high school. But, at the elementary school level I taught fifth grade science and I taught physical education. My major in college was physical education. So, that was my natural instinct to go to.

RP: And how long did you teach in Bishop?

DB: I taught about six years there. I taught six years in Inglewood high school district.

RP: After, after Bishop?

DB: No, before I came to Bishop. Both Charlotte, my ex-wife, and I grew up in Bishop. She moved back to Bishop has lived there where my children have grown. And 'til a few years ago when she moved to the central valley area, Fresno.

RP: Then you married another lady who was, had moved to Bishop?

DB: Yes, Charlotte was my first wife. Sherrill is my second wife. And Sherrill and I met at Bishop where we were both teaching. And in 1973, 1971 -- I hope I get that right -- we married and have been joyously happy ever since.