June 20, 2014

Yippee!! Tomorrow’s the longest day of the year — the first day of summer.  Boooo!! It’s the  beginning of the long, slow slide into darkness.

Good news!!  Barry Penn sends this photo from Hawaii’s North Shore.  He claims it’s the (almost) final destination of all Colts.

I believe the big Mark 4 party is still on for this Sunday.  Apologies to Joan Antofte Augsburger whose last name I mispelled and and Mark Elson, whom I left out altogether.  Appropriately, he was the one in charge of publicity. Contact Alan Novidor if you’d like to attend.

Was there REALLY an airport at Alvarado Estates?  Joe Naiman’s article about Robert Hume’s appointment to the Fallbrook Airpark Advisory Committee has an answer.  Click HERE to read the article.

The newsletter subscription envelope sent to Joe Luna ‘59 was returned by the post office -- “deceased”.  All Mary Jane Rogers could learn about the local musician is that he died December 29, 2013.

Linda Zawacki ‘70 passed away June 7th in Winchester, VA.  Click HERE to read a complete obituary and sign the guest book.

June 13, 2014

Happy Friday the 13th.  It’s getting light outside here in Pacific Beach.  Nancy will be coming down from Escondido later and we’ll head to the Waffle Spot for a late breakfast.

The 8th Annual Mark 4 Classic Rock Gigathon will take place on Sunday, June 22, from 1-4 PM — and you’re invited.  Joan Antofte Augsberger (that’s her in pink), Rick Simons, Alan Novidor, Gary Orlansky and Phil Catalfo will be reprising the hits they first played in 1968. Email Alan Novidor if you’d like to attend.

Dennis Frieden ‘59 checked in from Julian.  I couldn’t resist sharing his business card.

Here’s the KCBQ Top 40 from June 3, 1958 — before Harry Martin became Happy Hare.  The top five included: All I Have To Do Is Dream, Purple People Eater, Witch Doctor, Return to Me and Secretly.  Ralph James and Jack Vincent it the mark on their picks to click — Yakety Yak and I Wonder Why.  Click HERE to check out a larger version.

I’m not sure when Mary Smith ‘62 left San Francisco, but she recently stopped in Parker, Colorado to visit Karola Braunagel Randolph and her husband Don. Mary, or rather her dog Tiffany, is keeping a blog along the way.  “I can’t get away with saying some of the things she reports,” says Mary. That’s Don holding Tiffany and Karola holding their dog Fritz.  Click HERE to look at some more photos as the pair make their way to Disney World.

Here’s the KCBQ Top 40 from June 3, 1958 — before Harry Martin became Happy Hare.  The top five included: All I Have To Do Is Dream, Purple People Eater, Witch Doctor, Return to Me and Secretly.  Ralph James and Jack Vincent it the mark on their picks to click — Yakety Yak and I Wonder Why.  Click HERE to check out a larger version.

The final Golden Anniversary issue of the 1963-1964 Pacer is the June 10th Graduation Issue — minus the first two pages.  Maybe you have a copy and can help make this issue complete.  Click HERE to read the 6 remaining pages. 

Gloria Dutra sends word of the belated passing, on June 2, 1998, of her aunt Frances Schneider Van Maren Trujillo ‘61 after a long battle with cancer.

June 6, 2014

Ann B. Davis died last week.  I was hazily aware that she played housekeeper Alice Nelson in The Brady Bunch from 1969 to 1974.  I was busy teaching and grading papers during those years, so I may never have actually seen the show.  Some of us older folks have fond memories of her as Charmaine “Schultzy” Schultz on the Bob Cummings show, which ran from 1955 to 1959.

I loved this photo in this week’s LA Times of a 1950 bust of drag racers in the Los Angeles “river”.  It accompanied an article on the early history of drag racing.  Click HERE if you'd like to read it.

Jean Peacock Graham ’71 can’t remember how she acquired 1973, 1974 and 1975 Centaurs belonging to Gene Brooks ’75.  “They’re in only fair condition, but I'm loathe to just throw them away,” she said.  No problemo.  I emailed Gene in Albuquerque and learned that I was in possession of an invalid email address.  I quickly went to the web and came up with three phone numbers, the first two of which were no longer in service.  A lovely lady answered the third number.  It turns out I was calling Gene’s mom on her cell phone as the two of them were driving.  Gene called back on a land line a little apprehensively.  I quickly put him in touch with the other Jean.  She thinks the other Gene might have left the yearbooks behind in a rental property owned by her father.  All's well that ends well.

 “Hey, I just got your PB book,” writes Dave Sleet ‘61.  “You should tell others about it and put an ad in the newsletter.”  Thanks, Dave.  I’m sure you can find my Images of America: Pacific Beach on line.  If you’d like to support the author, and get your copy autographed, click HERE.

Award-winning chef Katherine Humphus is a 2006 graduate of Crawford — and the daughter of Robert Humphus ‘75 and Jo-Ann Harb Humphus ‘74.  She was featured in a nice article this week in the San Diego U-T.  Click HERE to check it out.

Melissa Varney (that’s her above), the 18-year old daughter of  Cathy Rule Varney ’61, has severe hypotrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy and will need a heart transplant.  Cathy has set up a transplant fund.   “All donations are tax deductible and deeply appreciated,” says Cathy.  “If the fund brings in $5.00 that will be $5.00 more than we have now.”  If you’re doing the math and trying to figure out how Cathy came by an 18-year old daughter, it’s a bit complex.  Cathy married Grossmont grad Ron Varney and acquired three boys in the process -- Bryan, Brad, and Richie -- all of whom graduated from Crawford.  Melissa, in fact, is Brad’s daughter, who went to live with her mother after her parents divorced.  Says Cathy, “I took Melissa in when her mother was terminally ill and adopted her when her mother died.”  Contact Cathy at roncathvarney@aol.com if you have questions or go to www.cotaformelissav.com  if you’d like to help.

John McMullen has added names to the 6th grade faces from the 1957 Hardy Graduation photo — names like Marsha Madrigal, Gary Byrnes, Deborah Nichols, Zeller Waymire, Howard Toole, Mary Ann Roskos, Richard Christensen, and Gail Latham.  Janey Barrett and Joan Campbell are here too, but John’s not absolutely certain he’s got them right.  Go to the Hardy Elementary Page to see the results.  Or you can click HERE.

Wayne Zucker attended Hardy from 1959 to 1964 and shares all six class photos — but no names.  I’ll assume one of them is Wayne.  Click HERE to check out the big pictures.

Paul Governali Jr ‘70 was laid to rest this week at Holy Cross Cemetery, not far from his father Paul Governali Sr., 1942 All American Quarterback.  John Hermes says his classmate died April 17th of natural causes.  

May 30, 2014

Greetings and Salutations!!  How was YOUR week?  When I heard that Castro had been nominated as Secretary of HUD by President Obama, I wondered if he’d chosen Fidel or Raul.  Turned out to be Julian -- the Mayor of San Antonio.  I NEVER get these right.

“It’s looking tired and outdated,” said the headline in the U-T Building Section this week. Turned out they were talking about the Uptown District that replaced the old Sears store, the 1953 opening of which many of us recall with searchlights in the night.  The NEW center will be called HUB — Hillcrest Uptown Block.  I’m feeling a little tired and outdated myself.

Steve Stone ‘72 found his Oak Park 6th Grade Graduation program while going through his retirement papers.  I’ve posted it to the Oak Park Elementary School page.  Click HERE to check it out.

I got so caught up in the Memorial Day festivities I forgot to upload the May 21, 1964 Pacer, which features a nice little biography of Will C Crawford.  I guess it’s now the Golden Anniversary -- plus one week -- Pacer.  

“Mac” McLaughlin, pictured here in the 1961 Centaur, passed away May 1st — six days after his beloved Eleanor lost her battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.  They were living in Georgia near their daughter Carol McLaughlin Bachman.  Services are tentatively set for the weekend of July 24th at Fletcher Hills Presbyterian Church.  I'll keep you posted.

John Dovey ‘64 passed away May 18 after a lengthy battle with cancer.  Click HERE to view or sign the on-line guest book.

I’m not sure who Bonnie Blackwell is, but she has informed me of the passing of Michael Paul Ziliankoff '65 at Fort Bragg, California on July 27, 2011.  It’s still possible to sign the guest book.  Click HERE.

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SPEAKS FOR ITSELF!!  BE THERE — OR BE SQUARE!!
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May 23, 2014

I’m trying to think happy thoughts this Memorial Day Weekend as I recall folks who did not return from Vietnam and am sharing this photo I took of Ron Davidson in the swimming pool at College Village Apartments, probably in 1967.  Some of you had him as a coach at Horace Mann.  He left teaching to join the Marine Corps.  I drove him to Camp Pendleton when it was time for him to ship out.  He was killed on August 5, 1968.  I hope you can make your way to the “Colts Who Died in Vietnam” page and watch the video put together some years ago by the Crawford AV class.  Enjoy your weekend.

Billy Woods ‘65 shares a couple of Horace Mann Intermural photos.  I think that’s 8th Grade Softball on the left and 9th Grade Football on the right.  Click on the red links to see bigger photos with caption.

Have you ever wished you could buy your way out of exercising?  Scott Shewmaker ‘74 says the old Crawford track will soon be razed and a new facility will be constructed across the street.  He and Yale Strom (that’s him in the front row third from the left) have organized a 24-hour marathon that will begin at 8 AM tomorrow morning May 24th.  If my math is correct, it will end at 8 AM on the 25th.  This will be a fundraiser for the Athletic Department.  Scott says they held several of these in the mid-’70s during the time Crawford’s Cross Country team was a regular CIF champion.  He’s encouraging classmates from the ‘70s and ‘80s to stop by, suit up and hit the cinders.  I think older folks can just bring a folding chair and their wallet.  You might bring a thermos of coffee after darkness falls.  Click HERE to email Scott or HERE to email Yale 

Hey Gary Juleen!  Doug Kvandal ’66 sees your Dennis Mitrovich '67 and raises you one. The photo above shows the band “Sequoya”, with Dennis on the right playing guitar, next to Joe Dyke ’65 on trumpet.  Doug is on the far right behind the Hammond B-3.   Says Doug, “We played mostly big venues as warm-up for the likes of Boz Scaggs, Neil Young, Gabor Szabo, and Sha-Na-Na.”

John McMullen ‘63 shares his 6th Grade class photo from Hardy Elementary.  I think he said Zeller Waymire was #2 in Row 2.  I believe John’s the last one in Row 3.  Surely we can fill in the names on this one.  Click HERE for the enlarged version.

Rod Dunbar ‘64 passed away from cancer in Norfolk, VA on November 4, 2011.  Rod served three tours in Vietnam in search and rescue with the US Air Force.

Just a reminder for those Facebook users who don’t want to get off the couch and turn on the computer, you can access the Colt Corral on your smart phone or tablet.  You may have to search for Crawford Colt Corral. 

May 16, 2014

How hot was it yesterday in Alpine?  Stephanie Rose Petersen doesn’t care. The ‘74 graduate is on an Alaskan Cruise.  “Brrr,” was all she said.

Kathy “Ka’chi” Lobo ‘65 is looking for a 1960 Horace Mann Cougar.  Here's the cover of Bob Richardson’s 1958 Cougar just to put you in the mood.  If you have a 1960 Cougar but don’t want to part with it, perhaps we could copy it and post it to the web.

Charlene Krebsbach Clark ‘64 was effusive in her praise after I posted her updated reunion flyer, then allowed as how there were two last-minute changes:  the Marriott reservation phone number (877-622-3056) and Web Site

I couldn’t resist this ad from the May 17, 1964 KCBQ Top 40 List.  I think I went to the Ice Capades at Glacier Gardens, but had no clue — and find it hard to believe — that they appeared at Westgate Park.  By the way, “Love Me Do” was the #1 hit that week.  You can read both pages if you click HERE.

1964 classmates Bob Boone and Ron Layton, with the rest of the team in the background, are pictured in the May 23, 1964 San Diego Union after capturing the San Diego CIF Baseball Championship the day before.  Ron Layton submitted the clipping.

Gary Juleen shares a photo of his band “Cheryl and the Progressives”.  We’re not sure of the date, but Colts in the band are — from right to left — Dennis Mitrovich ‘67, Mike Hoover ‘65 and Gary Juleen ‘64.  Cheryl was from Chula Vista and the rest of the band went to Mount Miguel.  I'll publish the rest of Gary's letter in the June 12-page alumni newsletter.

Sandy Liflander says her 1959 classmate Mary Lou Smith Erwin died on May 9th.  A memorial service will be held tomorrow (May 17th) at 11 AM at Living Faith, 7225 N Coyote Springs Rd in  Prescott, Arizona.  Click HERE to sign the on-line Guest Book.

Reid Cooper sends word of the recent passing of Margie Poe Snipes.  Click HERE to read a remembrance from Margie’s son Jonathan. (You'll need to scroll down a bit after you get there).

May 9, 2014

I didn’t know there WAS an Academy of Law at Crawford.  The Class of 2016, led by teacher Steve Luttbeg ‘66, will be part of a mock trial at the Jefferson School of Law, Hon. Dwayne K Moring presiding, on Thursday, May 15th, from 5:15 to 7 PM -- and you are invited.  A bus will leave Crawford at 4:30 PM or you can park downtown at the Padres Parkade.  The Jefferson School of Law is located at 1155 Island Ave.  The trial will be in Moot Court Room 219.  Click HERE to email Steve Luttbeg if you have questions.

The May 7, 1964 Golden Anniversary Pacer is an 8-page extravaganza, featuring ads for prom corsages, the Land of Odin, and the International Rod-Custom Show at the Electric Building in Balboa Park.  It also contains the ASB Election Sample Ballot.  Click HERE to check it out.

Char Krebsbach Clark ‘64 has asked me to share the above “flyer” with you, I believe to remind members of the Class of ‘64 of their 50th Anniversary Reunion coming up in September.  You can find a larger version on the Reunion Page of my Crawford web site. 

Shirley Strum ‘65 is off to Africa to study baboons — for the 42nd time.  Click HERE to read Monday's article in the San Diego U-T and HERE to read Shirley's UCSD Faculty biography.

Billy Wood went to Euclid and Horace Mann and now lives in Norman, Oklahoma.  He is still hoping to connect with his childhood buddy Donald McCormack ‘65 (that's him up above).  I think we tried once before without success, but maybe someone out there can help — maybe you know of a sibling that can aid in our search.