My family moved to San Leandro in early 1954 and I entered L3 at Roosevelt School. I was instantly struck by something I had not before experienced. One of the students was blind; that young man was Steve Protti. Roosevelt may have been the only elementary school in the system which integrated children with sight impairments into the regular classroom.
Steve was bright and inquisitive. He would bang away on his braille typewriter. We got used to the noise. Later on he had a regular typewriter. We got used to that too. He was very independent and able.
We never left Steve behind. He was always included even when we played softball. One classmate would hit for him and then Steve would hold on to the waist of another student and we would lead him around the bases.
He was a very nice young man and he will be remembered.
BEING A HOPELESS SENTIMENTALIST, I TOO OFTEN THOUGHT OF STEVE AND WONDERED WHATEVER HAPPENED TO HIM, WHERE LIFE TOOK HIM, ETC. WHEN I GOT AROUND TO TRYING TO FIND OUT, I REALIZED HE HAD PASSED. HE WAS A GREAT JOY IN MY LIFE THROUGHT SCHOOL. REST IN PEACE BIG GUY.
I used to go over to Steve's house on Broadmoor Ave. and tutor him and help him with his school work. He never ceased to amaze me. He was an accomplished pianist which very few people knew. I'll never forget him playing "Flight of the Bumble Bee". I was astonished at his talent. He also used to get on one of those big sit-on lawn mowers and mow the back yard which was quite huge. I'm sorry he's gone. He was a joy to work with.
Monique Stevenson
My family moved to San Leandro in early 1954 and I entered L3 at Roosevelt School. I was instantly struck by something I had not before experienced. One of the students was blind; that young man was Steve Protti. Roosevelt may have been the only elementary school in the system which integrated children with sight impairments into the regular classroom.
Steve was bright and inquisitive. He would bang away on his braille typewriter. We got used to the noise. Later on he had a regular typewriter. We got used to that too. He was very independent and able.
We never left Steve behind. He was always included even when we played softball. One classmate would hit for him and then Steve would hold on to the waist of another student and we would lead him around the bases.
He was a very nice young man and he will be remembered.
Mary Little (McCormick)
Steve was in my French Class. Very intelligent and always smiling. I am very saddened to hear of his passing.
Jim Engelhardt
BEING A HOPELESS SENTIMENTALIST, I TOO OFTEN THOUGHT OF STEVE AND WONDERED WHATEVER HAPPENED TO HIM, WHERE LIFE TOOK HIM, ETC. WHEN I GOT AROUND TO TRYING TO FIND OUT, I REALIZED HE HAD PASSED. HE WAS A GREAT JOY IN MY LIFE THROUGHT SCHOOL. REST IN PEACE BIG GUY.
Gary Kukus
I used to go over to Steve's house on Broadmoor Ave. and tutor him and help him with his school work. He never ceased to amaze me. He was an accomplished pianist which very few people knew. I'll never forget him playing "Flight of the Bumble Bee". I was astonished at his talent. He also used to get on one of those big sit-on lawn mowers and mow the back yard which was quite huge. I'm sorry he's gone. He was a joy to work with.
Gary Kukus