The McGraths Talk Parents and Schools, Part 4 (VIDEO)

The McGrath family that grew up in a cul-de-sac in Studio City all fondly remember their parents, particularly their mom who was a teacher and raised the eight children mostly alone.

"We owe a lot to our mom," said Teresa McGrath.

"I would have given us away," kidded her twin sister Mary.

Mary McGrath, who writes the column recalled Walter Reed Middle School, and the difficult time in her life when the patriarch of the family died.

We used to have the Cotton Hop and Father-Daughter dances. They were both held in the gym. I was ashamed that I had no father, since my Dad had died when I was 12, so I used to bribe one of my three brothers to go. I don't remember which one came with me to these dances. I probably had to pay them, as they were in their early 20s and had better things to do.

Walter Reed was fun, but it was a turning point for many of us. We were all on the verge of defining who we were, what we wanted to be, and how we meshed with the social order of junior high.  There were jocks, orchestra people, bad boys, bookworms and the social ones who usually gravitated into school politics.

Now, Jack McGrath, former president of the Studio City Chamber of Commerce and local fixture, is moving away, but he promises to be back to bug the locals every once in a while.

The McGrath Clan Chronicles: