【A图片 09.06.08】MercuryNews:Frank Ganz终于在83岁高龄取得高中毕业

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Frank Ganz finally earns his high school diploma at age 83
http://www.mercurynews.com/topstories/ci_12544135

By Dana Hull Mercury News
Posted: 06/08/2009 12:03:26 AM PDT Updated: 06/08/2009 05:40:52 AM PDT



Frank Ganz dropped out of high school in the ninth grade.

That was more than six decades ago. Now he's finally getting his high school diploma — at the age of 83.

Members of his extended family — which includes four children, 12 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and a soon-to-be-born great-great-grandchild — will gather for his June 17 graduation ceremony. A boisterous after-party is planned at Buca di Beppo, "Papa's" favorite restaurant.

"I always told my grandchildren 'Make sure you graduate high school,' " said Ganz, who ran an auto parts store in Los Gatos until his retirement. "But inside it always burned that I didn't finish. I was always embarrassed. When my grandchildren started going off to college, I made up my mind. I said 'I'm going to do it.' "

So Ganz, who dropped out of school to work during the Great Depression, walked into the offices of the Metropolitan Adult Education Program on Pearl Avenue in San Jose on Aug. 11, 2004. Here, adults — many in their 20s and 30s — earn a high school diploma through a self-paced independent study program; its Web site exhorts that "It's never too late!!" and "You're never too old!!"

But graduation isn't the end. Though Ganz has a busy life that includes cruises and casinos, he might take other classes, and the adult education program is hoping to lure him back as an American history tutor.

"You have to get it in your mind that you're going to better yourself," Ganz said. "My grandchildren inspired me. Some of my granddaughters are really good at speaking Spanish. So I might take a Spanish class."