For proposal, middle school sweethearts return to stage of memories

It was 1963 and then-new Albert Einstein Junior High on Conrad Avenue in Clairemont was home to two sweethearts, Linda and Joseph. They met on the stage of the school's state-of-the-art cafetorium, a combination cafeteria and auditorium. The next year, Joe promoted to Madison High School and the two drifted apart.

Fast-forward a half century. Einstein is now home to the Creative Performing and Media Arts Middle School (CPMA). The old cafetorium is yesterday's state-of-the-art and is being torn down. It will be be replaced by a new, multi-million-dollar performing arts center.

But Joe and Linda are still around and on May 13, on the same stage where they met and with today's middle school students singing "Going to the Chapel,"Joseph Martinez finally proposed to Linda Streeter.

"Joseph got down on one knee and nervously asked the girl he fell in love with, oh, so many years ago, to be his wife," said Principal Scott Thomason, who was in on the surprise. "Her answer was yes!"

Through the years, Einstein turned into Kroc Middle School, named for the late McDonalds founder, San Diego Padres owner and supporter of San Diego education. It became CPMA in 2007. But the story of Linda and Joseph reminds all of us of the importance our schools have to students – both past and present.

"Joseph has asked that when the stage is torn down later this year," said Thomason, "that a small small piece of the flooring be saved for him to remember the occasion by. One thing is for sure, those of us who participated in the joyous event will not soon forget what love is all about."