More than Memories
Returning to school—this time with a goal
and purpose—he earned an education creden-
tial, then landed a gig teaching fourth grade at
Patton Elementary School on the former Fort
Ord. Why that grade? "Because that's when the
schools began teaching California history." He
quickly grew frustrated with the required text-
books—and wrote the story of Monterey him-
self. "More Than Memories: Histor y &
Happenings of the Monterey Peninsula" was first
published in 1985. In a unique, nonprofit pub-
lishing scheme, scores of businesses and individ-
uals, inspired by Reinstedt's passion, donated
funds to allow 30 copies of the book to be dis-
tributed—free of charge—to every fourth-
grade classroom in the area.
Recently, Reinstedt reenacted this feat, but
with a twist. "Over the years I have been
approached by parents who became acquainted
with the book when their children brought it
home from school," he says. "They loved it and
wanted copies of their own." So, after securing
funding, a call went out to the community, asking
potential recipients to submit a few sentences
stating why they wanted a copy of the book. The
response was huge—and heartwarming. He had
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C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • H O L I D A Y 2 0 1 4
(Top) This 1948 MG has been in Reinstedt's garage since he paid $500 for it in the mid-1950s. (Right) Dashboard plaques issued to Concours
participants. (Left) Readers often bring artifacts found while diving on the shipwrecks described in Reinstedt's books.
