September 26, 2014

The Grand Opening of the Emerald Gallery C in Coronado on October 3rd will feature the art work of Elaine Robinson Davis ’61.  She hopes you can attend the opening, because she won’t be able to.  She and Charles had previously booked a trip to Croatia, so there you go.  The address of the gallery is 1331 Orange Avenue and the party goes from 5 to 9 PM.  Take pictures (if it’s allowed)

Where were you 56 years ago tonight?  OK – tomorrow night!!  Horace Mann 9th grader Lynn Routt was at Hoover Stadium rooting for the Colts.  Actually I’m just assuming all of this.  Lynn was the one who loaned me the program from the game.  Click HERE to check out all four pages.

John McGuigan was in town for the ’64 Reunion and took his wife to Sushi Time on Federal Boulevard near College Avenue.  He got to thinking about a house and a grave site that once stood on a knoll near the intersection.  “There was always a large American flag flying there,” he recalled.  John asked if I knew anymore.  Oui -- but of course.  When I was a toddler in Spring Valley, we often drove by that site well before Highway 94 caused it to be relocated.  Polish Princess Filomena Wojciechowski Sledzinski was buried there.  Click HERE for "The Rest Of The Story".

Curses!!  I should have run this LAST week!!  It would have been 50 years to the day.  It’s the KDEO Top 40 for September 19, 1964.  Click HERE to see an enlarged version.

Ed Schoenberg sent me some Pacers a while back, three of which were not already posted.  I’ll share the October 17, 1969 issue today.  Click HERE to read all four pages.

Buddy Sharp ‘60 died September 5th at his home in Hermiston, Oregon.  He was a retired aircraft mechanic for PSA and, later, USAir.

Barbara Earley Powell ‘64 sends the sad news that her classmate Sharon Angus Piscopo, wife of Phil Piscopo ‘63, passed away May 22, 2014.  We believe more details will follow.

I have just learned of the passing, on October 10, 2010, of Joanne Lindsey Crispell ‘67.  At the time of her death she was survived by her mother Lenora and brother Bill ‘59.

FIRST THURSDAY AT THE AMIGO SPOT WILL BE OCTOBER THE TOOTH.  It says 6 PM, but the regulars are halfway through dinner by 5:30.

September 19, 2014

IT’S DARK AND — FINALLY — COOLING OFF in Pacific Beach.  Remember last week how I thought we’d stay near the ocean.  I decided it would be cooler to drive to Pine Valley and have breakfast at Major’s Coffee Shop.  We were air conditioned for a couple of hours at least.  I imagine we’ll hit the Waffle Spot tomorrow, now that the Summer visitors have gone.

Last week’s photo of San Diego State brought back a special memory for Bob Richardson ‘61.  You can read it HERE.

Peggy Workman Welch’s query about Dennstedt Village brought an outpouring of memories and some squiggly Google photos from Richard Cone.  Click HERE to check them out.

Doug Kvandal ‘66 says the sketch artist did a great job capturing my likeness — except for the fact that I appear to be smiling.

Jerry Fogel ‘64 would like folks to know that he has a rock band — Takillya -- that does covers of Tom Petty, Van Morrison, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and Santana.  “You get the picture,” says Jerry.  The photo above shows the band performing at the Chico Club, 7366 El Cajon Blvd.  Jerry says they love to play and don’t charge much.   Click HERE to email him or call him at 619-669-1935 or 619-977-1935  Don’t call him this weekend — he’s at the Class of ‘64 Reunion.

What are YOU doing the rest of the weekend?  Don Anderson ‘64 will be racing his Bobsy-Porsche in Group 7 at the Coronado Speed Festival.  When he’s not on the track he’ll be receiving guests at Paddock Space F-1.  If you miss him there you can catch up with him at the Class of ‘64 Reunion Saturday night.  I’m getting tired just writing about it. Maybe I’ll take a nap.  Click HERE if you want more information on the Coronado Speed Festival.

Hold on to your hats!!  If you graduated in 1965 you’re going to be reminded on a regular basis that it was 50 YEARS AGO!!  The initial Golden Anniversary Pacer dates from September 17, 1964.  Bob Boone and Maria Long were the initial Senior Sketches.  Click HERE to read more!!

Glynn Curry ‘71 passed away September 5th.  He is survived by siblings Phyllis Curry Mann ‘65 and Dennis Curry ‘69.

September 12, 2014

T’S DARK IN PACIFIC BEACH but still cool.  That ain't gonna last.  I guess it will make sense to stay near the beach today, maybe even venture into an air-conditioned supermarket.

Turns out there was a phantom artist in the crowd at last week’s First Thursday gathering at the Amigo Spot.  He thrust this in front of me, then retreated to one of the booths.  Turns out I look a lot more like Woody Allen -- or possibly Walter Brennan -- than Brad Pitt.  Every one in my party insisted it was a great likeness, so I paid the man.

This is what San Diego State looked like when I enrolled in the Fall of 1962.  Well, sort of. You COULD drive north on College Avenue through the campus and park, if you got lucky. Adare McAllister took this photo in March of 1952, possibly on the same roll of Kodachrome he used to take last week’s photo of Mission Valley.  I’m thinking these are the dates stamped on the box when he got the developed slides back.  Click HERE if you’d like to see this photo greatly enlarged.

Dudley Mills ‘59 returned to Colina del Sol Park a couple of years ago to replicate the photo taken of him long ago with his 1940 Ford.  Here’s a chance to revisit the Cars We Drove to School Page.  

Peggy Workman Welch writes: "My father managed Lou's Liquor house at 54th and Redwood in the ‘50s until the late ‘60s. Do you have any pictures of the area from back then? There was a gas station, owned by Frank Monetta, a small grocery store, cafe, maybe a bar and more in that little shopping area. I think it was called Dennstedt Village." 

Kris Pruski Wood mailed me a copy of the June 12, 1967 Graduation Issue of the Cougar Times loaned to her by Bill Manning.  Click HERE to read all 10 pages.

David Cymberg ‘73 is a new subscriber to the quarterly newsletter.  Thanks, David.

Remember the guy who spun the plates on the Ed Sullivan Show.  Sometimes I feel like that guy.  Last week I posted two photos of recently departed Colts, hoping I would get additional information to share.  Scott Shewmaker ‘74 sent a recent photo and additional information on his sister LuEllen Shewmaker Blum which I posted on the 1972 Obituary Page.

September 5th

IT’S STILL DARK IN PACIFIC BEACH.  I’m almost certain Nancy and I will breakfast at the Waffle Spot then run some errands in Mission Valley and some errands in Pacific Beach.  I’m sure we’ll be ready to take the day off by noon.

Gail Kade Cleaver Grundman checks in from Dallas, Texas and is now on the Class of ‘59 Email Page.  She’s also planning to attend the Class Reunion on October 7th.

The September issue of the quarterly 12-page newsletter went in the mail on Tuesday.  If you’re a paid subscriber you should have your copy in hand as we speak.  Speaking of which, Larry Jaffe ‘60 is a new subscriber.  Thanks, Larry.

When I was asked to write the chapter on Crystal Pier I had no idea that Piers of the California Coast would turn out to be such a gorgeous book.  The author hired a helicopter to take the photos he used.  Click HERE to look at the photos -- and find out where to purchase the book.

It may have been twenty years ago that Adare McAllister, then a teacher at Mission Bay High Schools, showed slides at the Pacific Beach Historical Society that he had taken in the ‘50s and ‘60s.  Most, but not all, were taken in Pacific Beach.  I pestered Adare to loan me the slides, to no avail.  After his passing in 2012 I pestered his wife Gerry.  She finally relented last week — and wants them back now.  I was able to scan the ones I wanted and will share them with you.  Click HERE you’d like to see a 9 x 12 copy of this 1952 shot of Mission Valley.

Kim McGhee shares this photo from the Class of ‘74 40th reunion.  Click HERE to watch a Picasa slide show of the event.

LuEllen Shewmaker ‘72 passed away August 27, 2014.  “John, her husband of over 22 years, was with her, along with her brother, Scott '74, and John's brother Jim, a retired pastor, who was such a comfort to them, and for which we are all very grateful.  Our family, Colorado, and the world are greatly diminished; and I've lost the very best of little sisters” -- Terry Shewmaker '68

Margie Eaton ‘73 died Saturday, August 30, 2014.  “She was a good lady” -- Dave Engle

August 29, 2014

 IT’S DARK, BUT STILL WARM at the beach — and gonna get a lot warmer.  Nancy and I might stop at Broken Yolk on Midway enroute to what’s left of the Midway Post Office. 

Sandy Robbins Knox ‘61 and -- from the Class of ‘69 -- Linda Dederman, Keith Froehlich and Greg Thomas have checked in and are now on their respective email pages.  In addition, Linda subscribed to the quarterly 12-page newsletter.  Thank you, Linda.

Someone sent me a photo of their Crawford auto taken at Colina del Sol and their current truck photographed at the same location.  I’ve forgotten who it was and erased the email thinking I’d downloaded the information  Please send it again.

n response to the troubles in Ferguson, MO the U-T ran a piece about five deadly encounters faced by San Police over the years.  One of them led to the death of Officer Denis Allen ‘60.  Click HERE to read the article.

Jeez, they look like twins!!  Kathy Keeyes Antus ‘68 and brother Joe Keeyes ‘63 pose for a photo at Joe’s residence in Chino Hills, CA.  Visiting from Fredericksburg, TX Kathy also visited brother Bob Keeyes ‘67 and sister-in-law Arlene Cymberg Keeyes ‘69 in San Diego.

f you live in Escondido you might want to oil up the walker and clank your way over to Orange Glen High School.  They will be hosting Crawford’s Football Team tonight at 7 PM.  Click HERE if you want to read the 2014 Prep Football preview that appeared in Wednesday’s U-T.

Yikes!!  Next Thursday is THE FIRST THURSDAY at the Amigo Spot, so there will be a contingent of Colts in the mix.  I’m thinking of forming a backup group for guitarist Paul Caston.  I’m going to call them the Castonettes.

August 22, 2014

I GUESS WE’RE HEADED TO WINTER.  It’s dark now when I go out to get the paper at 5:30.  Nancy and I ended up eating at the Coco’s on Balboa in Clairemont last Friday.  I’m not sure what false clue to submit this morning.  Albie’s Steak and Eggs, next door to the Waffle Spot, is a good fall-back position when we can’t get in to the Waffle Spot.  What did Yogi Berra say?  “Nobody goes there anymore.  It’s too popular”.

George and Jackie Creore Jackson have returned to San Diego after a 20 year absence, have subscribed to the quarterly newsletter and are now listed on the Class of ‘67 Email Page.  They hope to make the next First Thursday at the Amigo Spot.

Warwick’s Bookstore in La Jolla is hosting the “launch event” for the new book by Susan Vreeland '63 on Tuesday, August 26th, at 7:30.  I’m not certain what a launch event is, but you’ll need to make reservations.  Call 858-454-0347.

The much-anticipated 45th Anniversary of the Class of ‘69’s graduation is only hours away. Tomorrow at 5 PM at the Mission Valley Buffalo Wild Wings (formerly Seau’s Restaurant). Try to behave yourselves.

Ed Schoenberg ‘70 is downsizing.  He’s retired from the Otis College of Art and Design and accepted a position as a college counselor at Bellarmine College Preparatory School in San Jose.  He will be sending his Crawford memorabilia to me.  I will try to find a good home for it.  This week’s offerings include a 1966 Horace Mann Cougar and two copies of the program from The Boyfriend.  I’m not sure if that was the Senior Play or not. I had previously posted the program on the Memories Page of my Crawford High web site.  Click HERE to check it out.

Three people in this photo are NOT from the Class of ‘71 and one isn’t even from San Diego.  The attractive assemblage gathered recently at the Grant Grill to hear Archie and the Archtones.  That’s Archie with the sax.  He’s a 1980 Patrick Henry grad.  Click HERE to access an 9 x 12 version of this photo WITH a caption.  

Are you a BS'er?  If you graduated from Blessed Sacrament School in 1964 you’re invited to a reunion to be held September 26th and 27th.  For more information contact Susan Weetman or Tom Graciano 

August 15, 2014

THERE’S BEEN A WAIT AT THE WAFFLE SPOT for breakfast, so who knows where Nancy and I will dine.  Maybe it’s time for a drive to Pine Valley.

I’m not planning to attend the Class of ‘69 function at the Mission Valley Buffalo Wild Wings August 23rd.  If you are one of the folks who had hoped to chat with me, I’ll be at the Amigo Spot that night from 6-9, and from 5:30 to 9 on Thursday the 21st.  Feel free to cross over the I-8 (that's the Kumeyaay Highway on GPS) and visit.

Linda Burns Kehew checked in from Winterville, North Carolina and is now on the Class of ‘67 Email Page on my Crawford High web site.   She and husband Eric have lived in Botswana, Germany, Greece, the Philippines and Morocco.  I’ll include her complete letter in the September issue of the 12-page quarterly Alumni Newsletter.

One of these people is not from the Class of ‘63, gathered at the Amigo Spot to socialize with Zeller Waymire on his visit from Australia.  Click HERE to find out who the imposter is and check out some more photos of the event.

August 8, 2014

NANCY’S SWOLLEN KNEE returned to normal just in time for her to take to her bed with a cold and 104 degree fever.  That seems to have passed and now she’s barking like a seal with a bad cough.  Hopefully she’ll be well enough to venture down from Escondido for breakfast at the Waffle Spot.

Tom Lutz ’64 sends word that twin brother Bob will be honored as the Warren M. Christopher International Lawyer of the Year by the State Bar of California International Law Section on September 13th -- a week before their class reunion.  This award is presented annually by the International Law Section to a California lawyer for outstanding achievement within the field of public or private International Law.

Debbie Friedli Ruiz ‘65 shares a screen grab of her son Jett Ruiz pitching to Baltimore Oriole teammate Adam Jones in the 2014 All Star Home Run Derby on July 14th.

Did you graduate from Horace Mann in 1966?  You might be able to see yourself in this photo from Barbara Goetz Cook ‘69, especially if you go to the 8 x 10 enlargement.  She also shared snapshots from Rolando Park in 1963 as well as 6th Grade Camp.   As if that wasn’t enough there are six surfing photos from Windansea Beach circa 1969.

I wonder how thick the carpeting is at Charles Wax’s office on Waxie Drive?  I’m pretty sure the ‘68 grad is enough of a golf fan that he might practice putting while at work.  It would appear that he attended the Championship Tour stop last weekend in Minnesota and picked up some driving tips from the club pro.  Oh, wait — that’s Jack Nicklaus.

August 1, 2014

UESS WHO NANCY AND I MET last night at the Amigo Spot.  Barbara Zaitzow, that’s who.   She and her husband were fresh off the plane from North Carolina, in town for the Class of ‘74 reunion.  She was of the opinion that San Diego was a lot hotter and muggier than North Carolina.  Nancy and I should have got a room, ‘cause I suspect we’re headed back to the King’s Inn this morning for a late breakfast at the Waffle Spot.

Next Thursday is First Thursday at the Amigo Spot.  Members of the Class of ‘59 may or may not be in attendance to check it out as a venue for the 55th Anniversary of their Graduation.  Nancy and I will be there for the food (Oh, the irony — the Amigo Spot has one of the best burger and fries combos I know of) and to hear Paul Caston on the guitar.

Did you happen to watch the 2014 Baseball Hall of Fame induction on MLB?  Tony LaRussa’s induction was preceded by a nice video talk from Dave Duncan ‘63.   Click HERE if you'd like to watch it.  Make sure you're sitting down -- Dave's grown a goatee.

Bob Mardon ‘64 is getting rid of his Horace Mann Cougars from 1959, 1960, and 1961 (I put up Bob Richardson's 1958 Cougar just to get your attention).  If you’d like them, contact him at 619-461-1677 or rgmardon@cox.net

Friends for over 50 years, and 1964 classmates, Janie Newberry Smith, Meri Pierce Knight and Laurie Koosed Ratner celebrate Meri’s birthday on July 18th at the home of Janis Irvine Ricards.  I’m pretty sure Janis prepared the meal — and took the photo.  Click HERE to find out what they’re eating and view a much larger photo.

Phillis Dudick ‘60 let me know last week that her sister, Mary Ellen Dudick Cagan ‘68 (above), passed away April 11, 2001.

July 25, 2014

IT MUST BE SUMMER VACATION.  I haven’t heard from anyone and have little to share.  Nancy spent much of Monday in the Emergency Room after stumbling and breaking the fall with her left knee. She says the swelling has gone down and she should be able to drive down from Escondido. I’m not sure how that’s gonna affect our Friday brunch.

If you’re a San Diegan you must have noticed the painted utility boxes all over town, some of them quite clever.  Nancy and I stopped to pick up some chicken pies at — you guessed it — the Chicken Pie Shop and she spotted THEIR utility box.   Looks like a Chicken With An Attitude to me.  You can check out some of the other utility boxes at Urban Art Trail and  Utility Box Art

The Class of ‘69 Colt 45 (Get it -- 45th Reunion?) is less than a month away and, despite the fact that I’ve posted the information on the Class of ‘69 Missing Page, the Class of ‘69 Email Page and the Reunion Page of my Crawford High web site, George Sorenson says a lot of folks are confused about things like the date, time and location.  George reminds you (“Shut up in the back or I’ll keep you after school!!”) that the event will take place on August 23rd at the Mission Valley Buffalo Wild Wings at 5 PM.  If you’re still confused call George in Oregon 818-472-8966 or email him at george.sorensen@me.com 

Frank and Patty Mendivil were in town from Scottsdale last weekend.   They are old friends and musical partners of Doug Kvandal ‘66, keyboard player for Live Jazz, which plays each Saturday night at the Amigo Spot.  Patty sang a few numbers with the band Saturday night and the next day at the upstairs 65th birthday party for Gail Schindler Fogelman ‘67.  I had a chance to chat with Patty and learned she was a Crawford Colt.  Turns out she is Patty Knudson ‘71 and was stunned and delighted to learn I knew her brother, the late Pete Knudson ‘61.  It’s a small world I guess.

I’ve got a lot of left over stamps, but none from 1958.   These came affixed to a Class of ‘61 newsletter renewal envelope.  Speaking of which, Barbara Cagley Thomas and Edward and Walter Pease, all from the Class of ‘64, are first-time subscribers to the 12-page quarterly publication.  Deanna Darlene Dean Vogel is no longer missing.  She’s living in Yakima, Washington and is now on the Class of ‘67 Email page.

July 18, 2014

I SUSPECT NANCY AND I will brunch at the Waffle Spot, then spend the rest of the day doing nothing.  I’m tired already.

Tom Cassie ‘62 forwards a “Remember the '50s” video with an East Coast slant (White Castle and Esso Gas).  It’s still fun to watch.  Click HERE to check it out.

Services for Merrill “Mac” McLaughlin will be held a week from today — July 25th — at 2 PM, Fletcher Hills Presbyterian Church, 455 Church Way, El Cajon, CA 92020.  Daughter Carol McLaughlin Bachman looks forward to meeting you.  Mac was an original member of the Crawford faculty, finally leaving in 1980.

Anybody want the June 12, 1969 10-page Graduation Issue of the Pacer?  Perhaps it could be raffled off at the August 23rd reunion.  Email ME if you're interested.