April 4, 2014

I wanted to share this from last Friday’s U-T crime column.  Mrs. Bruner would have sent this back for re-write.  Us guys know just how painful it can be to take a blow to the Valencia Park.

The Chocolate “Cigar” at Terra American Bistro was voted one of the 25 Best San Diego Desserts in yesterday’s Night and Day U-T Magazine.  Located at 7091 El Cajon Blvd., the eatery is owned by my classmate Mike Rossman ‘62.  

One of these ladies, gathered in Palm Springs for the Follies, is NOT from the Class of ‘63.   Click HERE for the details.

Russ Flynn, swinging a baseball bat on the Sports Page, was the only name I recognized in the April 9, 1964 Golden Anniversary edition of the Pacer.  Click HERE to peruse all four pages.

I have just heard of the passing, on September 10, 2007, of Ronald Yardley ‘65.  There were no details.

Linda Thaler Neiman ‘66 died on March 23, 2014, seven weeks after being diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer.  Click HERE to read an obituary and sign the guest book. 

March 28, 2014

IT’S STILL DARK IN PACIFIC BEACH but the sun should come up in a while.  My Mom passed away last July and I’m still working through probate.  Nancy and I will stop by the lawyer’s office in OB then head to the Midway Post Office to mail the Class of ‘66 newsletter renewal envelopes.  There’s a good chance we’ll breakfast at Broken Yolk on Midway.  You may remember it as Bit ‘O Sweden smorgasbord.

There will be a Crawford Foundation booth at the 18th Annual Rolando Street Fair this Sunday, March 30th.  Don’t ask me for directions — I assume it’s on Rolando Blvd.  Click HERE for more information.

Speaking of Rolando, here’s a photo of yours truly in 1966, shortly after moving into College Village Apartments, 4881 Rolando Court.  Hard to believe, but the women stayed away in droves.

Get back to me if you’re interested in a DVD copy of the 1959 Centaur.  Click HERE to send me an email.

Linda Coleman Peterson has a 5 PM reservation for the back patio of the Mission Valley Buffalo Wild Wings for the Class of ‘69 Reunion August 23rd.  You may remember it as Seau’s.  She’s keeping it real simple, but would like to hear from you if you plan to be there. Click HERE to send her an email.

I’ve just learned of the passing of Judy Sisler Pedro ‘66 last year on July 8th. Click HERE to sign the Guest Book

Belated word of the passing of Eileen Oshefsky Sommers ‘69 also arrived, with only a date — February 1, 2010

April 3rd is the First Thursday at the Amigo Spot.   Don’t forget your Colts Club at the Spot card for a 10% discount — or pick one up on your arrival.  If you’re an Early Bird, this is your crowd.  With Daylight Savings Time it may still be light when they head home.

March 21, 2014

IT’S STILL DARK IN PACIFIC BEACH, but that’s OK because it stays light late now!!  Nancy and I will try to breakfast at Green Flash.  It will soon be changing hands.  They claim their won’t be big changes, but I’m always suspicious.  China Inn, my favorite Chinese restaurant, lost its lease, and will be closing next week.  Not a good month for little Johnnie Fry.

Spring arrived yesterday at 9:57 AM PDT and not a moment too soon.  San Diegans were fearful of having to suffer through another one of those 85 degree Winter Weekends we had weekend before last.

Jay Easton is in Julian — and now on the Class of ‘66 Email Page.   Janice Levine Zalewski checked in from Overland Park, Kansas and can be found on the Class of ‘67 Email Page.

Remember last July 4th when the Colt Corral blog talked about Twinkies, the drive-in movies, and exactly what years the Sears store existed in Hillcrest. Click HERE to revisit that conversation and check out two photos of Sears from Paul M Bowers.

A growing number of Colts are accessing the Colt Corral via Facebook.  At least three folks asked to join the Crawford Colt Corral this week and may not have been successful.  I pushed the button on my end, but weird things happened and I’m not sure those people had a success experience.

Gerritt Hollman and Tetsuo Tajima were the featured Senior Sketches in the March 19, 1964 Golden Anniversary Pacer, while Gary Phillips was the March Athlete of the Month.  There’s lots more to read in this 6-page edition of the student newspaper.  Click HERE to check it out.

March 14, 2014

Crawford Foundation member Susan Marshall Gordon says Crawford is having some sort of Parent Community Open House today.  If you’d like to stop by and visit the campus make sure you check in at the main office.  

Kim Reynolds Baum ‘65 is a new subscriber to the quarterly newsletter.  

If you called Sherry Jarvis Daigle about cooking lessons you probably struck out.  The correct phone number is 619-654-1840.

The folks who showed up at last week’s First Thursday party at the Amigo Spot were the first to receive their Colt Club at the Spot cards, entitling them to 10 % off future purchases.  Make sure you ask for yours the next time you stop in.

If you’re a subscriber to the quarterly newsletter, you should be receiving your copy of the March issue.  It went in the mail on Tuesday.  Click HERE if you'd like more information about the 12-page publication.

Dave Duncan '63, pictured with son Shelley, is back in baseball as a special coach with the Arizona Diamondbacks.  Click HERE to read a nice article about him on the azcentral.com web site.

This photo of Old Town is a little muddy, but it’s 140 years old.  Click HERE to view a much larger version, and get a little background.

March 7, 2014

IT'S NOT FRY DAY -- IT’S THE FIRST THURSDAY of the month, and the Amigo Spot will be jumping.  Paul Caston is back with his smooth guitar stylings.  Manager Enrico Lopez is preparing my favorite Chile Relleno Casserole.  Elaine Robinson Davis ‘61 is departing snowbound Bozeman, Montana to be with us and she’s bringing a friend.  She told me who, but I forgot.  The invitation says 5 PM and some folks will be earlier.  I will be first in line when the casserole comes out of the kitchen at 5:30.  Toodles.

Sherry Jarvis Daigle ‘63 forwards a rather lengthy email which I’ll publish in its entirety in the 12-page June alumni newsletter.  She talks about the passing of her mother Shirley (that’s her photo above), who worked at Leeds Shoes in College Grove.  Shirley passed away shortly after the Sherry’s 50th Anniversary reunion, having encouraged her to attend.  She convinced Sherry to “do the things you always wanted to do”, which apparently includes teaching people to cook.  If you know someone (why are you looking at me?) who could benefit from cooking lessons, contact Sherry for details.  Click HERE to email Sherry.  The phone number is 619-654-1640.

Russ Magnuson ‘64 believes he is “the dude in the red trunks next to Jack Baker” in the 1964 Ocean Beach surf shot.  Click HERE to take another look at the photos submitted by Alan Osborn

I hope you can read all the goodies in the snazzy poster above.  The Class of ‘74 will have its 40th Reunion festivities at Admiral Baker Clubhouse, from 6 to 10 PM on August 2nd.  Special room rates are available for Crawford Alumni at the King’s Inn.  Contact them at 619-297-2231.  Click HERE to email the Reunion Committee.   Click HERE to check out the Class of '74 Email Page.  Click HERE to go to the Class of '74 Missing Page.  Maybe you can locate some of the folks on the list.

February 28, 2014

IT’S STILL DARK AND DRIZZLY IN PACIFIC BEACH and I’m awaiting the big storm.  I hope Nancy and I can breakfast at the Green Flash because I understand it’s been sold and, I assume, will change.

Yesterday’s U-T Business Section featured an article about a fabulous new restaurant coming to Little Italy.  It’s Called “Juniper & Ivy”.  It’s on Kettner Blvd, perhaps between Juniper and Ivy.

Paul Caston, pictured here at Spanish Village, will return for First Thursday at the Amigo Spot.  That’s March 6 at 5 PM.  I may try to talk the cook into preparing my very favorite Chile Relleno Casserole.

Remember the photo Bill Paxton submitted of his parents' liquor store?  The mystery of its location has been solved thanks to the world wide web -- and Bill Mondigo, a 1979 Hoover grad.  All is revealed if you click HERE.

Jane Newberry was named March Girl of the Month, John Dovey’s ‘39 Ford was Heap of the Week, and Bill Graham, John Benson, Eric Watkins and Tom Lutz had a Beatles Cover Band.  Click HERE to read all six pages of the February 27, 1964 Golden Anniversary Pacer.

Jay Theskin ‘69 sends word of his mother’s passing on February 15th at age 90. Florence Theskin Carson taught at Horace Mann in the 1960s, then went to PB Junior High as VP.  Click HERE to read more about her and sign the guest book.

Jerry Reisinger ‘62 passed away January 17th in Thousand Oaks.  His career as a CHP motorcycle officer was spent in the San Fernando Valley.  Click HERE to read more about him and sign the guest book.

February 21, 2014

YIPPEE!!  THE WATER TO MY NEW KITCHEN was hooked up late yesterday.  I’m about to sit down with my first cup of morning coffee in 27 days (but who’s counting).  Not much to report this week.

Here’s the KDEO Top 40 list for August 9, 1963.  What an eclectic mix, certainly in the top four — Wipeout, Mockingbird, If I Had A Hammer, and Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah.  Click HERE to read the rest of the hits.

We mentioned last week that services for Walt Harvey, coach and counselor, will be held at La Vida Real, where he lived in Rancho San Diego tomorrow at noon.  The address is 11588 Via Rancho San Diego, El Cajon CA 92019.  In the meantime a very nice obituary appeared in the San Diego U-T along with an on-line guest book.  Click HERE to read the obituary and HERE to read or sign the guest book.

February 14, 2014

IT’S STILL DARK IN PACIFIC BEACH on this Valentine’s Day -- Day 21 of my kitchen remodel. I’m still drinking out of the toilet. The good news is the floor is down, the cabinets are in  and the refrigerator is no longer in the living room.

On August 31, 2013 I totaled my Toyota and turned in my driver’s license.  The good news is my “MR FRY” license plate now occupies the position of honor at the Palapa Bar of my contractor/friend J C Wilding.  I gave it up with the proviso that any memorial services after my death be held in the Wilding’s back yard.

I can’t stand the suspense.  The headline in the February 13, 1964 Golden Anniversary Pacer says Finalists Named For Co-ed Honor.   In the running for Co-ed of the Year were: Jacque Donaldson, Carol Crane, Kathy Slater, Jane Newberry, Joan Clark and Jan Irvine.   Click HERE to read the paper.

Speaking of 1964, Alan Osborn has submitted three longboard photos taken in 1964.  This one features Bob Zito ‘64 and what may be a mystery Colt.  Click HERE to look at all three prints.

Pat Edwards ‘67 is the 2014 Cartouche Award Recipient, given by the Society of American Period Furniture Makers.  Pat is widely recognized as a leader in the field of French Marquetry.  Click HERE find out what all of this means.

All will soon be revealed on the August 2nd Class of ‘74 40th Reunion.  If you want to be in the loop contact Kim McGee

Faculty Member Virginia Wilcoxon passed away last Friday, February 7th, nine weeks shy of her 100th birthday — and she was born in Mercy Hospital!!  You’ve probably already missed her services, which are being held this morning at 10:30 at St Vincent Catholic Church in Mission Hills.  Click HERE to read a wonderful obituary and HERE to read the guest book.

Walt Harvey, coach and counselor, also passed away last Friday.  A memorial service will be held at La Vida Real, where he lived in Rancho San Diego, on Saturday, February 22, at noon.  The address is 11588 Via Rancho San Diego, El Cajon CA 92019

February 7, 2014

IT'S DARK AND WET in Pacific Beach -- Day 14 of the Kitchen Remodel.  The guy comes today to measure for the granite countertops.  I wonder if I'll have running water by Valentine's Day

Carol Traficanti Waldron ‘66 is trying to locate Carol Swenson ‘65.  Ace Investigator Mary Gale Rogers thinks she may have moved to Texas.  We were unable to find her. 

Sue Weetman ‘68, who apparently got some nice responses in her quest for Centaurs, is looking for Jay Easton ‘66.  I did a quick Google search and came up with a Jay Easton who played for the San Diego Symphony.  A lovely fellow — who graduated from high school in 1993.  My database lists 4 Eastons — Jay, Marjoree, Steven and Weston (I’m not making the last one up) -- all of whom are on my missing lists.

Nick Canepa’s piece in this past Wednesday’s U-T talks about Bill Center ‘63, who has apparently retired after 47 years on the U-T Sports Desk.  That’s Bill on the right with the ‘63 CIF Basketball champs and Coach Sams.  Click HERE to read Nick Canepa’s article and HERE to see an enlarged copy of this photograph.

This has nothing to do with Crawford High, or even East San Diego, but I’ve begun to upload — on a daily basis — the best of several thousand photos I’ve taken in and around Pacific Beach over the last 35 years.  I’ll put the link on the Colt Corral blog or you can Google.  I took the above photo of Dunaway Drugstore, on the northwest corner of Garnet and Cass, on December 21, 1989.  It’s been a sushi bar for the last 20 years.  Click HERE to check out some of the other photos.

January 31, 2014

’M IN THE SEVENTH DAY of a two-week kitchen remodel.  As soon as the workers show up Nancy and I are getting out of Dodge.  I’m voting for breakfast in Pine Valley.

Susan Weetman Belair ‘68 is looking for Centaurs from 1964, 1967 and 1969. Contact her at mabesu90@yahoo.com or click HERE if you can help

Class of '69 Colts, and current Colorado residents, Kirk Kiloh, Tony Alfano and Tom Kapchinske are all smiles after the Broncos win over the Seahawks.  I guess we know who they’ll be rooting for this weekend.  Tom forwarded a story too lengthy to share here.  I’ll publish it in the March quarterly newsletter.  Click HERE if you'd like to see a larger photo of the trio.

Emily Harvey Shepard ‘72 forwards a photo of herself kayaking off the coast of Belize last December.

Nathan East ‘73 poses with Daft and Punk at this week’s Grammy Awards.  Nathan played base on their award-winning album “Get Lucky”.  Click HERE to read more.

The late Evie Balderman is February Girl of the Month, Joe Falconer is January Athlete of the Month, and Larry Okmin is one of nine Colts named to the All California Orchestra in the January 30, 1964 Golden Anniversary Pacer.  I believe I saw Larry Okmin quoted in this past weekend’s obituary for local clarinet legend Bobby Gordon.  Click HERE to read the paper.

Janet Rizzo Reeve ‘67 passed away April 13, 2013 from cancer.  Her friend Janice Landry Cox ‘68 sent me the news.

Guitarist Paul Caston has returned to the Amigo Spot on Thursday nights, so Nancy and I will surely be in attendance on First Thursday.

January 24, 2014

IT’S STILL DARK IN PACIFIC BEACH and I’m gonna be flying solo today.  A birthday dinner, shortened work week and out of town guests — and my laziness — are to blame for the lack of information this Fry Day.  Oh, and I only got one entry for publication.  Next week will be chock full of goodies.  Enjoy your weekend.

January 17, 2014

NIPPY NIGHTS are turning into warm and sunny days.  Nancy and I will probably breakfast somewhere between the beachfront and Pine Valley.

Where is Sharon Coleman?  WHO is Sharon Coleman?  Eric Sarkela ‘60 inherited a 1959 Centaur with her name in it and he’d like to get it back to her if possible.  I don’t have a Sharon Coleman in my database.  Can YOU help?

Richard Schwarz ‘59 shares HIS Tijuana Burro photo, taken with his Mom around 1944.  Click HERE to see all of the burro photos, plus another look at Sharon Cramer Sceper’s toy burros.

Bryan Lanois ‘68 forwards a 1959 team photo of the Rolando Park Dodgers.  He’s far left in the second row.  Click HERE for a bigger picture.

Giovanna DeSanti Medina ‘72, in white, shares a Christmas photo of her cousins.  Giovanna DeSanti Alioa, in red, went to Point Loma.  Giovanna DeSanti in black is a San Diego High grad.  Giovann DeSanti Hauser, in blue, is a Class of ‘68 Colt.  Click HERE to view an enlargement.

Welcome back from vacation.  The January 16, 1964 Golden Anniversary Pacer has lots of goodies.  I was captivated by the Sports Page, which has photos of Basketball star Bob Boone (who knew?) and Sophomore Handball standout Doug Kvandal.  Click HERE to read all four pages.

Joanne Collura ‘60 passed away earlier this month according to Sharon Jobb Reynolds ‘71.  That’s about all I know, except that she lived in Lake Arrowhead and was a Godmother to Sharon’s son.

Nadyne Lieberman McDermott ‘60, I’ve just learned, passed away in 2012.  It’s not too late to sign the on-line guest book.