Paly ~ Class of '61

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65th Reunion

Friday -Saturday, September 18 -19, 2026

 For current information and updates on all things Paly, check out the Alumni and Friends of Palo Alto High School website: direct link, click HERE or here > www.palyalumni.net

                                      A NEW BOOK FOR YOUR SUMMER READING 

                                        WOLF EXPRESS:
           Young Czech Jew Poses as a Priest to Battle Nazis
                                                by Kent Hinckley

                         SPECIAL: thru JULY 10 - Kindle version $.99 cents  
                           Available on Amazon in Paperback and Kindle. 
                       

A coming-of-age story starting in 1939 about Zev Kadish, a 23-year-old during the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia. Zev joins the Resistance after Nazi Germany invades his country, and the villain, a Gestapo enforcer, kills Zev’s mother and kidnaps his girl friend. He rescues his girl friend thereby incurring the Nazi’s obsession for revenge.

After a series of perilous encounters, Zev grows into a battle-hardened and resilient insurgent under the guidance of a mysterious 19-year-old woman. He disguises himself as a Catholic priest and leads Jews to Palestine via the railroad. On another mission, Zev’s survival is threatened when he sneaks the Czech Communist leader out of the country. Despite the betrayal by a comrade, Zev fights against Nazi assassins to accomplish his task. In 1945, the Gestapo enforcer ignores the armistice to exact his revenge when he confronts an unarmed Zev.

THE ROAD TO TANGIBLE HOPE:

An Ethiopian Woman's Tale of Survival, Strength, and Inspiration  - October 2023

   Author: Telile Yoseph with Janet Graham Dean
  Audio Book: Narrated by Janet Graham Dean                                          Available in all formats - Amazon

The Road to Tangible Hope 

“Lily Yoseph puts the lie to ‘there’s nothing we can do.’ Beginning by finding sponsors for poor girls from her native Ethiopia, she has assembled a cracker-jack team, now serving 140 girls, who are dedicated not only to their learning, but their safety. She’s a force of nature. The shape of compassion itself. Read this story and be prepared to be moved.” 

—Peter Coyote | Zen Buddhist priest, author and actor 

“The Road to Tangible Hope chronicles the remarkable life of author Lily Yoseph: a moving tale of one woman’s indomitable determination to survive amidst some of the darkest hues of the human experience.” 

—James Redford | filmmaker, environmentalist 

Note from the author: Sadly, James Redford passed prior to this printing. He was actively encouraging me to share my story and I will forever remember his warm and thoughtful support. 

“Lily Yoseph's book is a powerful testament to the indomitable human spirit and the strength that lies within each of us to overcome adversity. It serves as a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always a glimmer of hope. 

Moreover, Lily's commitment to helping young girls in Ethiopia is nothing short of inspiring. Her selfless efforts to uplift and empower others demonstrate the profound impact that one person can make in the lives of many. Through her initiatives, she is creating real change, providing hope, and opening doors to a brighter future for these girls. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone seeking inspiration, courage, and a reminder of the boundless possibilities that exist when we find our own way.”    —Lisa Kristine | Humanitarian Photographer 

 Note: Lily was awarded the Unsung Heroes of Compassion Award by the Dalai Lama in 2014.  - Janet was able to be present at the awards ceremony

A note from Janet: "I wrote a book with my dear friend, Telile Yoseph. The Road to Tangible Hope, An Ethiopian Woman's Tale of Survival, Strength and Inspiration. It's up on all platforms. And, I recorded the AudioBook myself, also up on all platforms. Not bad for 80!  (Editor: Indeed!) I didn't put my name on the cover because I wanted Telile to own her own story and be able to use it to enhance fundraising for our work educating girls in Ethiopia. So I'm sort of a ghost writer although how we wrote the book together is in the introduction below.

Introduction: I met Telile Yoseph, nicknamed Lily, about ten years ago when I attended an inspiring presentation she gave about the work she was doing with young girls in Ethiopia. She first showed us pictures of sick, undernourished, sad little girls. Then we saw pictures of the same girls after she provided them with health care, nutrition, education, and personal mentoring. In the second set of pictures, the girls were glowing with health and confidence. I was sitting there with tears running down my face. I had to help. Soon Lily and I became close collaborators on this mission. Since Lily spoke four languages—two Ethiopian languages, Dutch and English—I became the native English speaker who put Lily’s thoughts on paper. So it was that Lily told me she had amazing stories from her life that she had told no one. Even people close to her did not know the heart-wrenching, life-threatening experiences she had endured. My husband Floyd and I decided to rent a cottage on Vancouver Island, Canada and take Lily there so I could record her life story. Every morning, Lily would cook breakfast for Floyd and me and then he would take off for the day, leaving Lily and me to work on her story. Lily would lay on the floor, her story unfolding in her lovely, low, melodious voice. I would sit on the couch with my computer on my lap recording this amazing, twisted tale of her incredible strength, survival, and especially, her spirit. Please note that this manuscript is short but dense and intense and it is written in direct, short sentences in the cadence of Lily's speech when she speaks in English. In a way, you are hearing Lily speak. This is Lily’s story."

 -  Janet Dean, Tangible Hope Foundation Board Member

ATTENTION - Paly Veterans et al:  Hoping you can provide some additional information for this Paly senior who has done a yeoman's job researching and gathering photos and articles for his book.  If you're interested in contacting him, you can use the Contact Us form and I'll send you his email address or for those who have my email address, contact me directly. 

Many thanks in advance for being willing to help this student out.   Pam  

"When we're connected to others, we become better people."

-- Randy Pausch, The Last Lecture