For people who attended Crawford High School or would have attended if they hadn't
moved -- or just have fond memories of San Diego in the '40s, '50s and '60s.

Check out the Crawford High web site.

Friday, June 28, 2013

Now on their respective email pages are Tim Scroggs ‘62, Miki Kipnis ‘67, Patti Morawitz Jacobs ‘68, Elizabeth Malkind Mitchell ‘69 and Charles Farris ‘71.  Subscribing to the quarterly newsletter were Dennis Frieden ‘59, Bill Kronberger ‘59, Ann Schoonover Bernhardt ‘59, and David Ellison ‘70


What?  Twinkies are back?  But I stockpiled 18 cases in my attic when they quit making them.  Guess I'll have to double up on my daily intake.



I was telling a friend one of my favorite stories, which took place when the “new” Sears store opened in Hillcrest in 1959.  Nancy immediately cut me off and said the story couldn’t have happened because the Hillcrest store didn’t open in 1959.  I’ve looked it up and of course she was right.  A least I’ve learned not to bet money anymore.  The story, by the way, was told to me by one of you out there who spotted Horace Mann shop teacher Mr. Olive demonstrating woodworking tools at Sears.  What’s your guess as to the year it opened? 

Speaking of things I thought I did but must not have because the math isn’t penciling out.  If it doesn’t get dark until 8 O’Clock — and have you noticed the days getting shorter since last weekend? — there’s no WAY I ever sat through a Triple Bill at the Ace Drive-In.  8 O’Clock is about when I fall asleep in my easy chair these days.  What time would I have gotten home if I survived three movies at the Ace?


I don't have any photos of the Ace Drive-In, but I did take shots of movie marquees in 1979 and 1980.  Click HERE to take a look.  Click HERE to read Field of Screens, Jay Allen Sanford's history of San Diego Drive-In movies.



Friday, June 21, 2013

It had to happen eventually.  This week’s Fry Day missive is nothing but obituaries.  On a happier note, Ann Schoonover Bernardt ‘59 and David Ellison ‘70 are new subscribers to the quarterly newsletter.  The JFK photo has taken on a life of its own and I’m walking away.  Yesterday brought a well thought out email that concluded the photo was taken on University Avenue.  Last week’s brought one insistent that it was taken on “Pill Hill”.  I DID get two folks who thought the steakhouse in the area was Dookie’s.  I believe the restaurant is still there, on the southwest corner of Marlborough and El Cajon, but it may offer Mexican cuisine.


Mom passed away last Friday morning.  She had been at Renown Health, a residential Alzheimer’s Facility for the last three years.  The last year she didn’t know who I was.  The first two years she was angry at me for putting her there.  I feel as though I’ve emerged from a long drive in a dark tunnel into sunshine and warmth.  I’m sure Mom’s in a better place too.  Thanks to all of you who’ve asked about her over the years.  Please don’t offer your condolences.  I’m afraid it will only make me feel bad.  I’ve paid the price of a small car to put an obituary in this Sunday’s U-T with the high school graduation photo above.


Richard Nash '59 passed away "last week", according to his brother Gerry.  I'm still hoping for additional details.


Char Krebsbach Clark '64 says her classmate Richard Couch passed away in January.  Richard was predeceased by his wife and classmate Jean Klock in 2001.  I have no details on Dick's passing but you CAN sign the Guest Book.


Friday, June 14, 2013


Owen "Wes" Western passed out 3-D glasses at yesterday's Class of '63 Reunion meeting then later emailed a photo of the group.  I hope you've got an old pair laying around.


We're still trying to figure out where this picture of President John F. Kennedy was taken.  The business at the left has a phone number that appears to be AT-2-7721.  Barbara Bright Wilder '62 thought it might be that portion of El Cajon Blvd. that was cut away to make room for the I-15.  Bob Belanzon '70 thinks he can spy a portion of a steak house that used to be there.


Click HERE to see a gorgeous enlargement of a 1912 La Mesa photo from the San Diego History Center.  Sadly I don't know my way around in La Mesa, so someone will have to tell me which way this photo is pointing.



Dave Folck '67 has written a book entitled: MRSA, MRSA Me! A First Person Story of Gross Negligence Medical Malpractice, the Lawsuit Which Followed, Thoughts on Fighting Back and Reform. 




David Bieber '69 has probably made it to Washington, DC on his WWII Harley Davidson by now.  He posed for this photo with a couple of guys from the 1st Airborne Division in Grand Island, NE on June 4th.



I've just learned that Suzanne Laycock Fares '68 passed away last September in Pleasanton, CA.  Click HERE to read the obituary written by her husband.

Friday, June 7, 2013


The Wandering Wingo Women checked in late yesterday from Virginia City, Montana.  Nancy says she'll be back in San Diego for the Class of '63 Reunion Planning Luncheon on Thursday.  


Susan Marshall Gordon '64, my Foundation connection, found a home at Crawford for the collection of 3-ring binders that I inherited -- and she came and got them.  The next day I was scouring Casa Frita (can you make the translation?) in desperate need of a 3-ring binder.


The June edition of the quarterly 12-page Alumni Newsletter went in the mail last week so, if you're a subscriber, you should have it in hand.  Since the Class of '73 will be celebrating the 40th Anniversary of its graduation before the next newsletter, I put in a couple of pages of photos from the 1973 Centaur. Pacerettes Paula Davis, Dyane Culver and Peggy Fransaw are pictured above.  New subscribers include Sandra Beeson Benson '65, Bruce Carlquist '65, Sydney McVay Drumel '65, Gary Miller '65, Robert Phillips '65, Ken Sheldon '65, John Sweet '66, Winifred Ward Whitaker '66, Deborah Goldberg Todhunter '70 and John Schroyer '70


I'm guessing Marv Abrams '65 spotted the above baseball photo in the newsletter.  He's emailed some corrections, located himself in the photo, and thinks he may have thrown a ball that broke Bill Paxton's finger.  Click HERE to read all of what he wrote.



It can't be a coincidence that Dan Schrecht sent me this photo of JFK on El Cajon Blvd on June 6, 1963.  That was 50 years ago Thursday.  Dan and his brother, both Kearny graduates, learned in 1984 that they had a big sister -- a 1960 Crawford graduate.  Click HERE to learn who it is, and to see the above photo enlarged.  I'd be curious if anyone can identify where the photo was taken.  I let my fingers walk up El Cajon Blvd in my 1956 City Directory to no avail.  Even cruised The Boulevard via Google Earth.  Boy, that red building looks familiar!!!

Click HERE to read the June 9, 1972 edition of the Pacer.  The 6-page publication is the last one from the collection donated by Velinda Clanton Peterson '72.  The collection is now in the archives at Crawford.



A rather cryptic email last week asked me to take Cathy Johnson Slater '66 off the email list.  "She passed away on Mother's Day".