October 9, 2015

Yowee!!  The Colt football team trounced Southwest High last Friday 60-0.  Brings back memories of our game against San Diego my Sophomore Year -- except the score was reversed.  The next football game will be the Homecoming Game against Holtville on October 16th at Lincoln High School at 6:30 PM

Some folks impugned my integrity by claiming they couldn't see my shoe at the left in the postcard photo above, so I've enlarged that portion of the shot.

Are you happy now?

The drinks are on me -- or maybe not.  I received my biannual royalty check from Schiffer Publishing for my book on the USS Saratoga CV-3.  It was in the amount of $26.05.

Another blast from the past from the Jagodinski Archives.  Ron Jagodinski '62 stands next to the model railway train in Balboa Park in September 1952.  Click HERE to see an enlarged version, plus some color photos from Bill Ross '65.

Greg May posted this bus photo on his Vintage San Diego Facebook page.  Can you tell why he added it to his Oscar's Drive-In Album?

Mike Poulson '73 sends word of the belated passing, in 2011, of his next door neighbor Mike Sentovic '74

October 2, 2015

Overheard at Starbucks: "Halloween must be coming up.  They've got the Christmas decorations out at Walmart".

"Honey, they're playing OUR song."  I think it was "Moon River" when I graduated in 1962.  I read in this week's Los Angeles Times that the lovely Rihanna has a new tune, "Bitch Better Have My Money".  Awwwww.  Makes you wanna cry.

Diane Bell, in yesterday's U-T, congratulated Bob Watkins '61 on his induction into the U. S. Rugby Hall of Fame.  I wonder which Crawford coach he credits for his rugby success.  Click HERE to read Diane's column.

Crawford's football team lost to Monte Vista last week 21-14.  They play at Southwest High School tonight  at 7 PM

Unbelievable!!  You can buy a picture of my foot on EBay for $1.50.  Actually it's a picture of my shoe.  Well, it's really a postcard of me chatting with Julie Curren on her bike at the end of Reed Avenue around 1975.  A really sharp eye can spot the tip of my shoe atop the seawall at the very left.

It's not very often that I see something that knocks my socks off.   Jon Tonnesen posted to Facebook the link to a model railroad replica of downtown San Diego as it looked in 1908 when the Great White Fleet anchored in Coronado Roads.  Click HERE to be astonished and amazed.

Here's another great Jagodinski photo taken on San Diego Bay.  Ron Jagodinski '62 and his mom Midge pose in front of three destroyers at Broadway Pier in late 1952.  Click HERE for an enlargement and additional details.

Doug Payne stumbled onto the Crawford web site and thought he'd forward a photo of his favorite grandpa -- Marcus Frye '60 -- who passed away in 2008.

A full obituary for Lynn Elliott Townsend was published in last Sunday's U-T.  Click HERE to read it.

Janet Nipper '62 passed away in Riverside, CA on September 24, 2015

September 25, 2015

Could you feel it when Summer gave way to Autumn this past Wednesday?  Me neither.  I'm sure the cool weather will be along any day now.

Susan Marshall Gordon is not getting the response she's hoped for regarding convertibles for the October 16th Homecoming Parade.  Let me know if you can help -- or have any ideas.

Paula Wroclawski Masters and Donna Foster Westfall purchased my last two '65 Centaurs.  I will be sending a check for $100 to the Crawford Foundation.  And hats off to original yearbook advisor Jesse Morphew for donating them in the first place.

Crawford plays Monte Vista tonight at 7 PM.  They lost last week to La Jolla Country Day 42-18, so their record is now 3-1.

Did you hear me last week on NPR's "Only A Game"?  Bill Littlefield asked me to read from an email I sent about Draftkings.com.  Click HERE if you'd like to listen in.  

Apparently spurred on by last week's photo of "Cowboy Johnnie" Fry, Ron Jagodinski discovered a 1953 shot of himself at Monte Hall's Playland.  Click HERE to see an enlargement and caption.

Here's another University and Euclid streetcar photo from Greg May's Vintage San Diego Facebook page.  This one's in color and was contributed by East San Diego expert Gary Mitrovich '76.  That's the Silverado Ballroom behind the west-bound trolley.

Here's a different view of University and Euclid, a fund-raising car wash, taken in July 1971 and posted on Facebook by Dan Palermo.  That's the Silverado Ballroom at the right.

Photos continue to pop up on Facebook of the area around Euclid and University, lately of the Tower Bar.  Click HERE to see some historical photos, and HERE to see recent shots by photographer extraordinaire Julie Vaughn.

Lynn Elliott Townsend '62 passed away last week.  In June Lynn learned that her cancer had returned.  Treatment was unsuccessful. Two weeks ago, Lynn was moved from home hospice care to a lovely Hospice House in Del Cerro.   Additional details should be forthcoming.  Condolences can be sent to her sons Bobby and Chris Townsend, 4816 Adams Avenue, San Diego  CA  92115

Catherine Heil Petersen '69 died in Kalispell, Montana on August 19, 2015.  Click HERE to read her obituary.

Reggie Adams '74 passed away August 30, 2015.  He was a resident of Mansfield, Texas and had served his country in the United States Army for 21 years.

September 18, 2015

Remember when folks showed up in the neighborhood with a pony and a camera?  This 1948 shot of "Cowboy Johnnie" Fry was taken right at the front door of our Quonset Hut in the 32nd Street Naval Housing.

I'm pretty sure you've seen this photo of the Loma Theater before, but I'll run it by you again.  Click HERE to look at some other movie marquees I photographed around 1980.  Remember leaving the movies without disconnecting the speaker?  Remember when one stalled car could keep almost everyone from leaving the lot?

Crawford defeated Kearny last Friday 35-28 and remains unbeaten.  Tonight's game against La Jolla Country Day starts at 7 PM.  I'm pretty sure La Jolla Country Day is right next to the San Diego Police Department's Northern Division in case those Country Day kids try any rough stuff.

Craig Juleen '70 checks in from Alpine, a little upset that he missed his class reunion.  He especially hoped to make contact with Brian Seltzer and Randy Naiman.  I don't have emails for them.  Do you?

It's a darn shame.   The Class of '65 reunion is next weekend and I still have five untouched copies of the Centaur given to me by Jesse Morphew.  I had hoped someone on the committee would want them as door prizes, but they politely declined.  Any ideas?

John Dunbar '64 died March 31, 2015 according to his daughter Amber Dunbar-Truehart

Kathy Houser Nolan sends word of the passing of her cousin Patricia Parker Headley '64, who did not survive her most recent bout with cancer.  Click HERE to sign the on-line Memory Book.

September 11, 2015

WHY AM I HAVING DREAMS about my babyhood in Florida and the year I spent in Guam?  Oh, maybe because it's unbelievably hot and muggy in Pacific Beach.  Well, the Waffle Spot is air-conditioned.  Nancy and I went last Fry Day and were excited to see that the lobby was finally open. Too bad it was a 35 minute wait to be seated.  We went next door to Albie's Steak and Eggs.  Last time this happened we didn't find parking until we reached Brother's Restaurant on Waring Road.

Crawford scored 25 unanswered points in the 4th quarter to beat Escondido Classical Academy 32-19 last Friday and are now 2-0.  They'll play Kearny at Kearny tonight at 6:30 PM

Susan Marshall Gordon is looking for convertibles for the Homecoming Game to be played Friday, October 16 at 6:30 PM vs Holtville.  Because Crawford's field is still under construction, the game will be played at Lincoln's (almost) new facility.  Call or text Susan at 619-865-3410 or click on her underlined name to email her.

Speaking of snazzy cars, John Ramsey '60 has written an article entitled Three Porsches In My Life for 912 Registry Magazine.

Greg May posted this photo to the Streetcars Album of his Vintage San Diego Facebook page.  He says it was taken June 1, 1948, which he may have deduced from the Rodeo advertisement on the front.  It's the #7 car headed west on University Avenue, leaving the Tower Bar and Euclid Avenue in its wake.

Turns out Greg May even has a Chicken Pie Shop Album on his Facebook page.  Gives me an excuse to show the photo Nancy took of the Utility Box Artwork outside the current Chicken Pie Shop.  That chicken looks to me like he's biding his time before taking his revenge.  Click HERE if you'd like to look at some more Utility Box Artwork.

Services for Harry Longdon ’65 will be held at 3 pm Saturday, September 12th, in the chapel at City View Church, 8404 Phyllis Place, San Diego, CA 92123.  He succumbed to adult leukemia on August 26, 2015.  A celebration of his life will follow at the home of his long-time friend Rick Bonnett in Serra Mesa.   Click HERE to read the complete obituary.

September 4, 2015

Enjoy your Three Day Weekend.  I hope -- like me -- every day is a Weekend Day for you.  Wait a minute!! I spent all weekend folding, tabbing and labeling 485 copies of the September Alumni newsletter.  If you're a subscriber your copy is in the mail.  It features a cover article on singer/songwriter Stephen Bishop, a '69 graduate of Crawford.  Click HERE for information on how to subscribe.

Classes don't start for another week, but the football season is underway and Crawford's already a winner. They thrashed Orange Glen High School last Friday in a game played at Hoover.  Click HERE to read all about it.  They play Classical Academy, another Escondido team, at Hoover today at 3:30.

If I understand correctly, there are legions of Facebook fans who don't believe there ever was an East San Diego.  Ed Fazio, whom I don't know, posted this photo of the #7 bus in the rain on Broadway enroute to EAST SAN DIEGO.

Facebook, on almost a daily basis, has new, old photos that excite me.  Greg May just added this photo of Farrari's Dairy and Jack Murphy stadium under construction to the Mission Valley Album of his Vintage San Diego Facebook page.

We already mentioned the passing of Randy Robbins '67, but the Union-Tribune has now published his obituary.  Click HERE to check it out.

August 28, 2015

IT'S DARK AND COOL IN PB -- and I wish it would stay that way.   Well, at least the cool part. Nancy and I will give the Waffle Spot another run this Friday morning.  Last Friday there was no parking, so we peeled off to the nearby Adams Steak & Eggs.

This Harry Bliss cartoon from last week cracked me up.  I wonder if it's the first of a new genre -- gay Boy Scout cartoons.  Maybe he's metrosexual.

A few members of Crawford's Class of ‘70 met at Kaffee Meister in Santee Wednesday to hear Guy Gonzales and the "The Gypsy Swing Cats"  Pictured are L to R: Debbie Mitton, Patty Crohn, Barbara Alvarez, Wayne Zucker, Debbie Picon, Guy Gonzales, Geneene Thornton, John Pacheco, and Kris Pruski.  We plan to meet every fifth Wednesday   -- September 30th, December 30th, March 30th, etc.   All Crawford alumni are encouraged to attend.

Greg May continues to post great stuff on his Vintage San Diego Facebook page.  Here's a shot of the Carnation on Ohio and El Cajon Blvd.   Now if we could find a photo of the Carnation near El Cajon and Montezuma that the Crawford kids frequented.

Remember Big Oak Ranch in Harbison Canyon?  Greg May has an album of photos taken by Jerry May.  I wonder if that's his brother.  Would it have killed him to sneak some shots of the Swallows' Club?

Randy Robbins ’67 passed away at home in El Cajon on July 18th, according to his sister Beverly Robbins Lachman ’68.  He had been very sick with various ailments for more more than a decade.  He won four Emmys for directing The Young and Restless soap opera in the 1980s.

August 21, 2015

IT'S STILL DARK IN PACIFIC BEACH but it looks like it will be a beautiful day.  The Wingo Women have returned, so I'm hoping Nancy will take me to the Waffle Spot, even though the lobby at the "Winchester House" King's Inn is still undergoing a "remodel" and a special path is required to get to the restaurant.

Dana Moffat -- granddaughter of Mike Fry and Karen Kees --  and her three boat-mates, bought home the gold in the World Rowing Junior Championship on August 8th.  Now, Dana -- second from left in the photo above -- will be rowing in senior matches with the UC Berkeley rowing team. A much sought-after young rowing powerhouse, she was awarded a full-ride four year scholarship to Berkeley.

Remember "The Tin Man" that stood atop the gas station on 32nd and University?  Greg May has a photo of it on his Vintage San Diego Facebook Page and, better yet, a Ken Kramer "About San Diego" story on its history.

Greg continues to add photos to his Jack-in-the-Box album, including a few taken by yours truly and at least one from my web site.  

Alan Osborn '64 forwards a snapshot of his English class, taught by E T Ross in Room 202.  Maybe you can help ID some of the students.  Click HERE to get to work.