</s>fighting with other students who teased him about his name and foreign birth. Sikhan Sirhan informed Hornbeck that his mother spoke very little English and that he had taken it upon himself to visit Hornbeck to discuss Munir's difficulties. Hornbeck stated Sirhan continually spoke of the honor of his family and the importance of preserving it. Sihan appeared to consider Munir's misconduct as threat to the family honor. Hornbuckck recalled Sirhan as being very intense and said Sirhan would visit him from time to time for no reason other than to chat with him. The visits ceased after Munir Sirhan left Longfellow. Hornbeck did not recall ever talking to Mrs. Sirhan. On September 27, 1958, the Sixhan family moved and Sirhan trans- ferred from Marshall to Eliot Junior High School, 2184 North Lake Street, Pasadena. Sikhan fulfilled his Junior High High School requirements there and graduated from the tenth grade in June, 1960, with a C+ average. Classes completed included English, Social Studies, General Science, Mathematics, Typing, Advanced Drafting, Crafts, German and Algebra. Several witnesses were located who recalled Sirhan from his attendance at Eliot Junior high School. Samuel Soshomonian, now, a Social Science teacher at Pasadena City College, taught Sikhon Sirhan English and Social Studies ten hours a week during the 1959-1960 school year. He stated that at that time, the student body was one-hundred percent Caucasian and Sirhin, being of swarthy complexion and foreign appearance was unique. He appeared to be a loner and scienced very obedient and well behaved. Other students tensed Sirhan because of his nationality and did. -354- 2025 RELEASE UNDER E.O. 14176

Summary  
Sirhan Sirhan’s life prior to the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy is detailed through his educational background, employment history, financial activities, religious beliefs, political associations, and interactions with individuals and organizations. He attended Eliot Junior High School (1958–1960) and John Muir High School (1960–1963), where he faced social isolation due to his foreign appearance and nationality. He enrolled at Pasadena City College in September 1963 but was dismissed in May 1965 for poor academic performance and attendance. Employment roles included newspaper delivery boy, gardener, waiter, service station attendant, stable hand, exercise boy, and salesman. Financial records show savings accounts managed by United States Bank (Pasadena Branch), with withdrawals linked to gambling at Santa Anita Race Track. A labor complaint against John Weidner (Organic Pasadena employer) was dismissed in 1968. Sirhan’s insurance claim for a horse fall injury on September 25, 1966, resulted in a $17,705 payout from Argonaut Insurance Company in April 1968, which he cashed at Crocker Citizens National Bank. Medical examinations by multiple physicians confirmed injuries sustained during the incident. His car, a 1956 De Soto (license number JWS 093), was non-operational at the time of the payout. Sirhan’s family home in Pasadena was purchased in 1962, with Mary Sirhan as sole owner by 1963. He expressed political frustrations over U.S. foreign policy, particularly regarding Israel and Arab relations, and received pro-Communist literature from the Arab Student League. Religious affiliations included interactions with First Baptist Church members, Seventh Day Adventist associates, and the Rosicrucian Order (AMORC), where he applied for membership in 1966, paid dues until April 1967, and reactivated his membership in 1968. The FBI reviewed his requests for theosophical texts like "The Secret Doctrine" and "Talks on the Path of Occultism," which were deemed to promote brotherhood rather than violence.  

Key People  
- **Sirhan Sirhan**: Central subject; described as a quiet, isolated student with social challenges, later involved in horse racing, insurance claims, and political discussions.  
- **Mary Sirhan**: Mother; sole owner of family home in Pasadena by 1963.  
- **Adel Sirhan**: Father or sibling; mentioned in context of financial transactions.  
- **James Burn**: Associate pastor at First Baptist Church of Pasadena (1960–1965); noted Sirhan’s atheism and potential influence from an unidentified teacher.  
- **Deborah D. Mohakharan**: Church member who speculated the Sirhan family may have been Muslim using the church for material benefits.  
- **Henry F. Peters**: Seventh Day Adventist associate; conducted Bible study sessions with Sirhan, who expressed skepticism toward religious concepts.  
- **Frances Holland**: Southern California Grand Counselor of the Rosicrucian Order (AMORC); handled inquiries about Sirhan’s membership.  
- **Louis Shelby**: Restaurant owner; discussed U.S. foreign policy and political frustrations with Sirhan.  
- **Robert J. Licher**: Mailman; delivered pro-Communist literature from the Arab Student League to Sirhan’s residence.  
- **John Weidner**: Employer at Organic Pasadena; terminated Sirhan’s employment on March 7, 1968.  

Key Locations  
- **Eliot Junior High School** (Pasadena, CA): Sirhan attended from 1958–1960.  
- **John Muir High School** (Pasadena, CA): Attended from 1960–1963; described as a quiet student with no extracurricular involvement.  
- **Pasadena City College** (Pasadena, CA): Enrolled in September 1963 and dismissed in May 1965.  
- **Granja Vista Del Rio Ranch** (Corona, CA): Employed as an exercise boy from June 2, 1966, to December 1, 1966.  
- **Organic Pasadena** (Pasadena, CA): Part-time employment from September 1967; full-time from November 1967 until March 7, 1968.  
- **Santa Anita Race Track** (Pasadena, CA): Linked to Sirhan’s gambling activities and horse racing involvement.  
- **First Baptist Church of Pasadena** (75 North Marengo Avenue, Pasadena, CA): Site of interactions with Burn, Mohakharan, and the Sirhan family.  
- **Seventh Day Adventist Church** (1280 East Washington Boulevard, Pasadena, CA): Venue for Bible study sessions between Peters and Sirhan.  
- **Akhnaton Chapter**, Rosicrucian Order (AMORC) (2031 East Villa Street, Pasadena, CA): Meeting attended by Sirhan in May 1968.  
- **Corona Community Hospital** (Corona, CA): Site of medical treatment for Sirhan’s horse fall injury.  

Key Events  
- **School Attendance**: Social isolation at Eliot Junior High and John Muir High due to foreign appearance and nationality.  
- **Employment Conflicts**: Dismissed from multiple jobs, including service station attendant disputes with Carol O. Lambrecht and termination at Organic Pasadena in 1968.  
- **Insurance Claim**: Received $17,705 from Argonaut Insurance Company for injuries sustained in a horse fall on September 25, 1966; cashed check at Crocker Citizens National Bank.  
- **Medical Examinations**: Multiple doctors assessed Sirhan’s injuries from the horse fall incident.  
- **Religious Interactions**: Bible study sessions with Peters and Mohakharan’s speculation about the family’s potential Muslim ties.  
- **Rosicrucian Membership**: Applied for membership in 1966, reactivated in 1968; attended a meeting but left before engaging with officials.  
- **Political Discussions**: Engaged in debates on U.S. foreign policy, Middle Eastern politics, and the Baath Party; received pro-Communist literature from the Arab Student League.  
- **Financial Transactions**: Savings accounts at United States Bank (1966–1967); no records found during 1966–1967 employment gap.  

Key Organizations  
- **Rosicrucian Order (AMORC)**: Non-religious, non-political organization; Sirhan applied for membership in 1966 and reactivated it in 1968.  
- **Theosophical Society**: Promoted brotherhood and nature mastery; texts requested by Sirhan were reviewed by the FBI.  
- **Arab Student League**: Source of pro-Communist literature delivered to Sirhan’s residence.  
- **California Horse Racing Board**: Issued a "Hot Walkers" license to Sirhan in 1966.  
- **California State Division of Labor Law Enforcement**: Handled the labor complaint filed by Sirhan against John Weidner.  
- **United States Bank** (Pasadena Branch): Managed Sirhan’s savings accounts.  
- **Crocker Citizens National Bank**: Site of insurance payout transaction in 1968.  
- **Pasadena Police Department**: Interacted with Sirhan in 1963, 1965, and 1968.

RFK Declassified Files

56-la-156_sec_001_ser_06-1968-02-1969-part_9_of_9.pdf

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