July 19, 2019

Marilu Henner, if memory serves, was once interviewed by David Letterman about her photographic memory.  She has the ability to remember every day of her life.  He asked her if she could recall what she was doing on July 20, 1969.  She turned red, sputtered, and allowed as how she had lost her virginity in a shower in Chicago.  “Why did you pick THAT date,” she asked.  “Well,” replied David, “it’s the day man first set foot on the moon.”  (Not trusting my memory I tried to authenticate this story using Google.  I was pretty close, except the internet said she was interviewed by Johnny Carson. Or Tom Snyder. Or Bob Costas.  No mention of David Letterman.)

I wanted to share news of a memoir about Mr. Richard Brosio that his widow Martha sent to me. It is the story of his life -- including time at Crawford -- their relationship, his scholarship, his dementia, and the choice to die.  It is both incredibly touching and also very informative.   I was a big fan of his in high school and even had a chance to visit with him and Martha in Milwaukee, WI where they lived after retiring from Ball State in Muncie, Indiana.  Martha knows that he was a popular teacher in San Diego and wants to share her story with people he touched -- June Reznikoff '66

The Last Ten Days: Academia, Dementia, and the Choice to Die is a heartrending memoir of love, scholarship, dignity, courage, and the choices one is forced to make when given the devastating diagnosis of a terminal illness. Spanning sixty years, this extraordinary book recounts the love story of Martha Risberg Brosio and her husband, Richard Brosio, Ph.D., a brilliant scholar and college professor whose communication skills dazzled all with whom he came in contact. Teenage sweethearts who went their separate ways after high school, Martha and Richard reconnected twenty-six years later over a friendly dinner that sparked into passionate love. They married in 1983, enjoying a vibrant life together. Then tragedy struck. In late 2013, Richard was diagnosed with Primary Progressive Aphasia, a type of dementia similar to Alzheimer’s that affects the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. The disease impacted Richard’s ability to communicate. There was no cure. Determined to have a dignified death at the time and in the manner of his own choosing, Richard hastened his death two years after his diagnosis by voluntarily stopping eating and drinking, seeking only palliative and hospice care until the end. 

Click HERE to go to Myers Educational Press.  Use code MEP25 to receive 25% off on your purchase.

Where Does The Time Go?  Bill Wolf '68 posted this photo montage on Facebook:  Born in Reno in 1950 but moved to San Diego shortly after • My fire engine! 50th & El Cajon Blvd • Had moved to near downtown and first family picture •  Crawford High School as a Senior.  I met my future wife there -- Kathleen Lally!! • Basic training 1968 at Ft Ord - 17 years old! • 129th Assault Helicopter Company, Door gunner and crew chief 1969-70 • Drill Sergeant back at Fort Ord, 1970-72 •  Sergeant with San Diego Police Department for 27 years, 1974-2001 •  At my son's wedding wearing my military ribbons and wings.

You're looking at a 101-year old aerial photograph of Mission Cliff Gardens, where the streetcar turned at Adams Avenue and Park Boulevard.   At the right is the Bentley Ostrich Farm.  I wondered about the football field.  Nancy suggested, and I'll bet she's right, that it's where they held the ostrich races.

This week's Golden Oldie features a photo of the late Coach Jim Sams and his 1963 CIF Championship basketball team.  Click HERE to see the picture enlarged -- plus a bonus shot.

Richard Morse ’66 passed away Sunday, July 14, 2019, after a 2-year battle with cancer.  He was living in Sonora, CA with his wife Deborah -- Ron Morse ’64

Eileen Gianola ’76 died June 29, 2019 after a long illness.  Born on November 5, 1957,  Eileen grew up in the Oak Park area of San Diego, the fifth of eight children, and attended Holy Spirit School. Her entire working career was with the City of San Diego Parks and Recreation Department, retiring as a Supervising Recreation Specialist with the Aquatics District in 2017. 

July 12, 2019

Cartoonist and Crawford grad Scott Shaw! ‘68 will once again be a Special Guest at San Diego's Comic-Con International, doing presentations and meeting his fans.  Comic-Con begins Wednesday and ends Sunday.

And since it's the event's 50th anniversary, there will be a number of other Crawford alumni attending as Special Guests, many of whom were instrumental in founding the San Diego Comic-Con in 1970: Science fiction author Greg Bear ‘68; wine and spirits authority and poet David Clark ‘69; scientist, educator and author Roger Freedman ‘69; and illustrator and fine artist John Pound ‘70.   

Three of those -- David, Roger, and Scott -- were also turned into comic book characters by the most respected creator in that industry, cartoonist Jack Kirby. In the pages of SUPERMAN'S PAL JIMMY OLSEN No. 144, the world was introduced to "The San Diego Five String Mob", a rock band from the planet Apokolips sent to Earth to assassinate Superman -- and Roger, John, and Scott were members! 

To celebrate the fictitious band's reunion -- all six former San Diegan members are Special Guests at this year's CCI since they were all founding members of the convention -- Scott's even created a new "tour" T-shirt to celebrate the occasion.  That's the artwork above.

 At any rate, if you're going to be in attendance Scott would love to have you seek him out and say hi.

Turns out I'm not the only one having a hissy-fit over the desecration of the cheeseburger.  When they have to put a giant toothpick in it to keep it from falling over, something is very wrong.  Anyway, comedian Jim Gaffigan did a great opinion piece on CBS Sunday Morning last week.  If you CLICK here you may be able to enjoy it.

It's Summer Time, so I guess that means reruns from the Memory Page.  This color shot of '62 grads Helga Ritter, Bruce Parker, Barbara Holewinski, Beverly Swaim, Renee Ames, Buddy Power and Sue Knoll is from one of my first attempts at building a web page.  Click HERE to check it out.

Maria Elena Wantoch posted this shot of Mission Valley on the Growing Up In San Diego Facebook Page, although I see the Vintage San Diego imprint also.  Anyway, I assume the photographer was documenting the progress of the 805 bridge construction.  As often happens in these cases, he or she captured a lot of other interesting sites.  Montgomery Ward and May Company take center stage, and Valley Ho and the old ice rink can be spotted at the far left.  My favorite though, and right down front on the left, is the Jolly Ox Restaurant.

Linda Lee Hester '71, according to the Crawford Foundation website, passed away April 4, 2019.

July 5, 2019

I try to avoid sharing bad news about Crawford graduates, but sometimes I can't help myself.  Linda Blake Morrow '70 and her husband were recently apprehended in Israel, having been on the run since 2017 -- charged with fraud.  Click HERE to read all about it.

I thought this was a better version of a Palisade Gardens photo we've seen before, but it's a different image posted on Facebook by Brooks Wilson who found it on the Library of Congress web site.

Max Van Horn put this photo on Facebook, adding "I borrowed these from the Midway and Campus drive-ins on the nights they closed. If they ever re-open I will return them. The one from the Midway says so but the Campus was marked United Cal, I believe it was an owners group."

I misspoke last week when I said the photo below was taken in front of the downtown library at 815 E Street.  It was taken in front of the downtown post office at 815 E Street.  I snagged a snippet of a 1947 Howard Rozelle aerial that shows the post office.  You're also looking at the back of the Carnegie Library that preceded the one most of us grew up with.  I suppose that mailbox is down there somewhere.

Maria Navarro Coyle ’67, my childhood friend of 60 plus years, and neighbor growing up on 49th Street, passed away June 25th.  After numerous bouts with cancer over the years, the big evil C has taken her from us.  I was one of her bridesmaids in 1967 and was honored to attend the 50th wedding anniversary of Maria and Marshall Coyle in September 2017 in Madison, Alabama, where they have lived since leaving San Diego many years ago.  I was also able to visit with her the first week of June, along with her sister Anita Navarro Baldwin '63 and brother Jose Navarro '68.  Maria will be sadly missed -- Kathy Keeyes Antus ’68

June 28, 2019

Yippee!!!  I got Naked Ladies in my front yard.  Apparently they also are known as Amaryllis.

Ernie Cowan '62 has at least two email addresses.  He uses ernie@packtrain.com for his Outdoors Column in the San Diego Union-Tribune.  My favorite is the one he uses for his Bird Watching Column -- BirdandErnie@gmail.com

Here's one last look -- I think -- at the San Diego International Airport, circa 1960.  I still don't know who Pea Hicks is, but he frequently gets credited for gorgeous color shots on the Vintage San Diego Facebook page.  The three below popped up this week.

Not San Diego International Airport, but San Diego Municipal Airport, on Pacific Highway circa 1952.

The University of California Extension at 1345 6th Avenue.  I see a 1957 Chevy.  I'm not sure of the make or year of the brown car, but it's got the old black letters on yellow background license plate.  I assume the El Cortez, peeking over the building at the left, was still the tallest building in San Diego at this time.  A close eye can spot the curb feelers on the Chevy, which aren't doing much good on the left side of a one-way street.  I never knew 6th Avenue to be one-way.

Remember when mailboxes were brown -- or olive drab, I guess.  This photo was supposedly taken in front of the downtown post office at 815 E Street, but it doesn't look right to me.  The shot was taken in the 1940s, so the Model A in the background probably wasn't yet a collector's item.

June 21, 2019

How's your Summer going so far?  Here on the West Coast it begins at 8:54 AM.  I can hardly wait.  Hold on -- doesn't that mean the days will be getting shorter?  There's always a catch.

Wikipedia says the San Diego International Airport moved to its current location from the above site on Pacific Highway in 1967.  It also says it was formerly known as Lindbergh Field.  It still says Lindbergh Field if you want to look up flight information.   Click HERE if you'd like to read a lot more about it.

A couple of folks let me know that the Ford in the airport photo was a '59 like the one above, not '57 as I surmised.

I was surprised to learn that the Yellow on Black California license plates existed only from 1963 to 1969, followed by Yellow on Blue.   A couple of classmates recalled going with Mom to get new plates -- at the Bank of America on University!  Click HERE if you'd like to read the complete history of license plates in California.

Members of the Class of ’69 Carol Reardon Grant and Sharon Whitley Larsen celebrated at the RITZ (Rendezvous In the Zoo) fundraising gala last Saturday evening.  Carol's on the committee.  Friends since 7th grade at Lewis Junior High, Carol and Sharon were on the Pacerettes Drill Team and are looking forward to the 50th reunion August 17th at the Bali Hai.  Says Sharon, “It's always fun to see Joan Embery '67 at the RITZ event, entertaining and educating party-goers about various animals as she did with Johnny Carson on his popular TV show”.  

I should have posted this a couple of weeks ago.  Then it would really have been 50 years old.  It's the June 4, 1969 Boss 30 list of top records from KGB.  Click HERE to check it out.

Beverley Pope Wagner ’64 passed away from incurable cancer on February 8, 2019.  She was born on August 20, 1946.   She leaves three wonderful daughters, and her loving husband Mike Wagner.  I always enjoyed getting a Happy Birthday call from Bev.  My sister had more friends then anyone I ever knew.   Bev’s daughters loved her dearly also.  They will all miss Beverley.  Bev especially enjoyed Mike.  They were married in 2006.  Every picture with Bev and Mike had them both smiling.   Bev went to Pasadena College (now Point Loma College).  She also went to Moody Bible Institute and Mesa College -- Rolfe Pope ’62

June 14, 2019

I'm not exactly sure how you're supposed to celebrate Flag Day -- but enjoy!!

The flags are just a coincidence, but I thought you might like to revisit the web page I posted on School Savings Stamps, Green Stamps and Blue Chip Stamps.  Click HERE to check it out.

Sharon Whitley Larsen and Janet Chelberg Burgess (Colts from the Class of '69) recently had dinner near the London Eye with their respective spouses, Carl and John.  Janet's once again involved in planning the Class of '69's reunion --t he 50th! --on August 17th at the Bali Hai.  (I had to look it up.  That's the London Eye below.  I wonder what they had for dinner -- Bubble and Squeak?)

Here are four '70 classmates at the Lake Elsinore Storm baseball game Tuesday night.  From left, Craig Juleen, Gary Gallerstein, Harry Krewsun and Wayne Zucker.  Game time temperature at 6 PM was 98 degrees, so no sweaters needed for these geezers!  

Remember when the airport was on Pacific Highway?  This photo popped up on Facebook this week and I thought I'd share it.  I'm not sure what year it is.  That looks like a '57 Ford with the trunk lid up.  The VW at the right has one of the old yellow on black license plates.  

I've just learned of the passing of Bill Graham '64 on March 1, 2018 following heart surgery.  Bill went to Majuro, in the Marshall Islands, as a Peace Corps Volunteer in 1969.  In his obituary in the Marshall Islands Journal, it said he “spent over three decades of his life fighting for nuclear testing justice for Marshall Islanders”.  He died on the 64th anniversary of the Bravo hydrogen bomb test at Bikini Atoll.  Click HERE to read the complete obituary.

June 7, 2019

Dan Burton '66, Butch Higgins '65, Kemp Ipsen '66 at Latitude 22 The Roadhouse, Cabo San Lucas, May 14, 2019.

Tom Lutz, Laurie Koosed, Bob Lutz, Janis Irvine, and Faye Sarfan pose for a snapshot outside the Hotel del Coronado during the Class of 1964 Senior Luncheon on June 17, 1964.  Click HERE to see additional photos.

Speaking of the Class of '64, they'll be having a 55-Year Reunion on August 24, 2019 at Elks Lodge #1812 in El Cajon at 6PM.  Go to the Reunion Page for scads of information.  If all else fails contact Barbara Stebbins Wilson 619-871-2944 or Charlene Krebsbach Clark 619-990-1884

I've added the program for the 1964 Oak Park 6th Grade Promotion to Leatha McGowan's Oak Park page.  Click HERE to view it again.

It may have been tongue-in-cheek, but someone on Facebook wondered what the funny looking pole was in this circa 1972 photo.  Hint:  They were Air Raid Sirens.  Someone said they still use them in the midwest when tornadoes threaten.

Glen Miller appeared at the Pacific Ballroom, 1725 Pacific Highway, almost on this date -- June 3 -- in 1941.  Click HERE to listen to a portion of the concert -- the very popular Perfidia.

Wanna check out the Graduation Issues of the Pacer 50, 55, and 60 years ago?

Click HERE to read the Pacer from June 9, 1959

Click HERE to read the Pacer from June 10, 1964

Click HERE to read the Pacer from June 12, 1969