Called To Serve

For Bill Crabtree ’85 (PLTS ’89) and Sandy Gessner-Crabtree ’85, October has typically been a very busy time in their careers. So they have only made it back for one other Homecoming—their fifth.

This year, they’ve decided to come back—just in time to celebrate their 30^th reunion! Both are excited to see old friends and Sandy has promised her former roommate (Becky Adams ’85) that she will be there. They’ll also be able to visit with their daughter Katy ’15, a student in the MPPA program (Master of Public Policy and Administration). 

Reflecting back on their time at Cal Lutheran, they both felt called to serve. Bill discovered he wanted to be a pastor, and Sandy found a way to live her faith through a career in education. Bill now serves as pastor of Silverdale (WA) Lutheran Church. Sandy, whose original goal was to be a child psychologist, became a teacher and principal, and is now the Director of Teaching and Learning forthe Olympic Educational Services District in Washington.

“Our daughter Katy has lived out what we experienced in many respects during our time at Cal Lutheran—a concern for service, a concern for making a difference in the world, learning to think critically about our world, and a rich relationship with faculty and staff,” Bill said.

“Cal Lutheran has been an important part of our lives,” Sandy said. Both she and Bill are looking forward to their Homecoming in October, and hoping other alumni (including Sandy’s sister, Chris Gessner ’75 Easton) will join them!