November 9, 2024

I'm not sure this needs any explanation.

Here’s a photo of me that was taken ten years ago.  I must not be aging well.  My friend  Tom gave me a ride to the doctor yesterday and she asked if he was my son.  We’ve often been mistaken for brothers, even twins.  We were both born on October 4th — and he’s a year older.  My blood pressure was still excellent, even after that affront.

I had a “Waylon” moment this week.  I call them that because of the time my friend Jeff Dalrymple encountered an acquaintance whose name slipped his mind.  He knew it was the name of a country singer and called him Waylon.  His name was Conway.  Anyway, Lulu Anaya Summers wondered how much the rent was here at Novellus Clairemont.  $5500 a month, I said.  She allowed as how her mother paid $6000 a month 10 years ago at her place in Rancho Bernardo.  I reminded Lulu that I had gone with her to visit her mom.  “Wasn’t it called Winchester House,” I asked.  Nope.  The Remington Club.  Wrong firearm.

Shame on me, for the pilot died, but I burst out laughing at the just-issued government report on the crash of an F-35 stealth fighter in South Carolina last year.  It took more than 24 hours to locate the wreckage, partly because of the fighter’s stealth technology.

Here’s a word I’ve seen used a thousand times and never used: sanguine.  I’ll be darned, it means “optimistic”. Maybe I’ll start using it, but then people will just look at me funny.  Oh, wait — that’s happening now.

Joel "Davy Crockett" Dennstedt remembers the College Restaurant.  He's even got a photo of himself attacking a stack of pancakes as a young boy.  Click HERE to take another look at the College Restaurant page.

This 1965 photo looking east on University at Central is making the rounds again.  Click HERE to take another look at a larger version and an update.

Remember Pep Ribbons — and sticking yourself with straight pins?  Click HERE for a look back.

November 1, 2024

There are SO many good Halloween cartoons.  Here's one of my favorites.

Did you ever eat at the College Restaurant, 6695 El Cajon Blvd?  It's still there, doing business as The Daily Grind.  Click HERE for an enlarged photo and a couple of newspaper clippings.

I never got out to the City of El Cajon much, but I sure like this photo taken around 1965.  The marquee touts Whitney's, Sir George's and De Falco's.  In the background is Oscar's Drive-In.  Click HERE for a larger photo.

Homecoming Queens made the front page of Pacers from 65 and 60 years ago.

Click HERE to read the Pacer from October 29, 1959

Click HERE to read the Pacer from October 29, 1964

 

October 25, 2025

This is just silly, which I guess is the root of most humor.  If you can't read what Abe Lincoln has written, it's a warm-up to the Gettysburg Address:  "And so the bartender says, 'Hey that's not a duck' (pause for laughs)"

Sharon Cramer Sceper was in town, and even came to visit me.  Here's what she had to say about book covers.  I used paper grocery bags like so many other people.  But, I was so proud of one purchased cover that I located in one of those goofy gift stores in the malls, like Spencers Gifts. Front, Spine and Back cover for a book entitled 101 Things to Make with Human Skin.The pictures on the cover were of Lampshades, Wallets, Belts, bookmarks, coasters. It was so well done as look like the real thing. It grossed out everyone who saw it. Truthfully, I cannot recall if I was still in Junior High, or all "grown up" at Crawford.  Geez, it was fun!

This ad from a 1966 Old Town tourist guide showed up on Facebook.  I'm not sure our family ever got to eat in Old Town when I was younger.  Actually I would have been a Senior at SDSC in 1966 and I still don't recall eating there.  It wasn't long afterwards that I started hanging out at Presidio Golf and eating at Casa de Pico.

We've seen this 1955 photo before, when Casa de Pedrorena was the Mexican restaurant at 2616 San Diego Avenue.

Somewhere behind those pepper trees is 2616 San Diego Avenue today, part of Old Town State Park.

Sabra Clardy Bordas ‘60 passed away September 28 in Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach from leukemia.  Sabra graduated from San Diego State in 1965 and taught school in Long Beach for five years. After her marriage to Pete Bordas in 1968, she devoted her life to volunteer work, including Brownie and Cub Scouts, the National Charity League and her current association with the Philharmonic Society of Orange County

October 14, 2024

I remember the match books and the “Draw me” ad! I wanted to be an artist when I was young and after retirement, I finally took some lessons from two amazing artists! Here is a story about one of my art adventures! This is Ernie, he was the oldest known living giraffe when I spent three days painting him at Safari West in Santa Rosa, CA. His bones are now at the Smithsonian. His head looks funny and lumpy because he had arthritis. Ernie could lay down in the barn at night but he couldn’t get up in the morning, so his keeper would use a hoist to pull him up. Ernie would then walk around all day in the sunshine. One time I displayed Ernie’s painting in an art show and a man got up real close, really checking him out.  I went and asked if I could answer any questions. He said no, that Ernie just looked like his giraffe! Turned out he was Ernie’s keeper! He recognized the arthritic bumps! Other viewers just thought I messed up! LOL! I would never sell Ernie!!  --  Jeannine Berger Passenheim ’60

My brother David Farnell '63 passed away on July 5, 2024 after a brief illness.  While at Crawford, he played French horn in the orchestra, marching and honor bands.  Dave was a master electrician with King Soopers grocery chain in Denver for many years and enjoyed RVing after retirement.  He is survived by his wife Cherie (who kept him plied with meat loaf and gravy), three daughters, 10 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, a younger brother Jim and myself,

Judi Farnell Brown ‘65 

October 12, 2024

 

Roxana Popescu
Union-Tribune
September 25, 2024


In Normal Heights, the owners of Nickelodeon Records marked the shop's 40 years not with a party or promotions, but memories and spunk. In an interview at the record boutique last week, the owners talked about how their business stayed the course despite challenges from technology, thieves and ageism. One of the owners is Ruthie Bible, age 82. "B-I-B-L-E, like the book," she said. The other owner, age 79, is Betsy Scarborough, "like Scarborough Fair”. Bible said shoppers sometimes underestimate them. They walk in looking for the owners, not grasping that the two women are in charge. "'They come in and say, 'Oh, are you the great grandparents?' No, you little, . . . .”   She stopped short of using salty language. They opened the store in 1984 in a 200-square-foot space. Rent: $200. It later moved to a bigger space at 3335 Adams Ave, where the walls are now covered with vintage posters, photos, bumper stickers, memorabilia and LPs. It was a second act for both. Bible had been working for a bank and Scarborough was a high school English teacher. They loved music and had a lot of records, and they decided to make that into a business. “  We knew we weren't going to get rich off them (the records), but it was what we loved," Bible said. "We were in the minority, believe me," she added. Not long after they opened, CDs became popular and LPs were trending down. In 1988,CDs outsold vinyl LPs, "and by 1989 they outsold prerecorded music cassette tapes for the first time ever thus becoming the most popular audio format," according to Retro Manufacturing, an audio supply store.
People would walk by the record shop and say, "No wonder no one's in there, they don't have CDs," Bible said. Asked how she felt when people suggested that vinyl was old news, Bible laughed. "We're just little rebels,” she said. Their business survived, but other record shops have closed, including Off the Record, which had opened in 1978 and shut down in 2016. Given that closure, Nickelodeon Records is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, record store in San Diego. They named other challenges, including the pandemic and shoplifters. During the pandemic, Bible pivoted and wrote a book about records. One hundred copies were published, and she saved one for the shop. As for shoplifters, Scarborough shared a story about two customers who used to stroll in and change the price tags "and make their own sales.” She confronted them. Love is what sustained the business through those and other upheavals, including the eventual arrival of MP3s, Napster, then YouTube and Apple Music. Also: deaths of relatives, pets, and all the richness and complications of growing older and running a business well past the standard retirement age. It's not just their love of vinyl, but the fact that other people love it, too. Vinyl has staying power because the audio quality is unmatched, Scarborough said. These days record shoppers prefer original LPs, not reissues, because "I mean, even though they're brand new, they really don't seem to have the depth that the original vinyl did. A lot of the older vinyl may look whipped and still sound good.”


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My brother Richard M. Robinson ’70 passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack on September 10, 2024.   He and his wife Paula had retired to Portland, Oregon five years ago — Julie Robinson Zurek, ’67

August 9, 2024

 I'm taking a break this week, but here's a Far Side cartoon.

August 2, 2024

 

I'd barely posted last week's photo of Lerner's Shops, at 3055 University, when this shot of Woolworth's, at 3067 University, popped up.  Click HERE to see an enlargement and a current view.

Tom Isom shares a 1918 view of the Santa Ysabel country store.  I've added a current view.  Click HERE to see both.

Dale Mann ’68 passed away unexpectedly June 10, 2024 in Rancho Bernardo.  He was born in San Diego and grew up in La Jolla and San Carlos.  He was a gifted and talented illustrator and nurtured a deep appreciation for the arts. He attended Grossmont Junior College and California State University, San Diego majoring in graphic design with a minor in business administration. Dale ventured out on his own to establish a retail art supplies business in Escondido known as Vintage Arts. He designed and produced products for the Maritime Museum, the San Diego History Center, the Coronado Historical Association, the La Jolla Historical Society and the Flying Leathernecks Aviation Museum.  His work with the Flying Leathernecks was especially dear to him. Over the past few years, Dale worked tirelessly to support the Aviation Museum and gift shop. Dale made friends easily throughout his life, and he especially enjoyed the Flying Leathernecks community of friends.   He is survived by his sister Linda Mann Urmacher ’67

July 26, 2024

Cartoonist Scott Shaw! '68 posted this on Facebook.  I thought it might bring back memories.

A great photo of a Douglas F4D Skyray over North Island.  Click HERE for an enlargement and some interesting information.

I've shared this photo of Lerner's in North Park before.  I love to hear the stories of young ladies taking the bus there, before there were shopping centers elsewhere.  I've added a photo of what's there now.  Click HERE to check it out.

 

Jerry Ellis ‘61 died May 3, 2024 in Fairfax, Virginia after a short illness. He was born in San Diego and was one of three siblings, his sisters Joan and Barbara having passed before him.  Upon graduating from San Diego State University in 1967, he joined the Navy and in 1968 he was designated as Radar Intercept Officer in the F-4 Phantom and made two combat tours in Vietnam.   Upon return from his military service, he continued his career and worked his way up the ranks at Western Airlines, starting as a ramp and cargo operator in 1966 and ending as SATO manager – responsible for all the official and personal travel of the McChord Air Force Base in Tacoma, WA. When Delta Air Lines acquired Western in 1988 he continued his service by working in Military and Government Sales. At Delta, he became the Global Account Manager in which he was responsible for the coordination and administration of Delta’s participation in the General Services Administration’s (GSA) City Pair Program (CPP) Federal air travel contract.  One of Jerry’s favorite jokes was that he couldn’t die because the Lord didn’t want him, and the Devil didn’t want the competition. His friends and family can imagine him quipping that a compromise must have been reached, and “they” found him a golf resort where it’s always a perfect day for golf, no wind, and your drives are flying long and straight. However, the clubhouse often runs out of prime rib and mashed potatoes.  Those of us who have survived Jerry will be missing his humor, his kindness, and his faithful presence.

July 19, 2024

 

Don't ask me for a hint.

We used to visit my father's aunt in Long Beach, California.  I think I remember Noah's Ark on the right side of 101 as we returned to San Diego.  Click HERE for a larger view.

I spotted this in a 1949 newspaper article on growth in San Diego.  It shows homes going up somewhere along 54th Street.  Click HERE for an enlargement.  Maybe you can tell where the photo was taken.

What are the chances?  Last week I spotted a Channel 8 Throwback that featured my old councilor Walt Harvey.  Here's a recent interview with San Jose State's retired Professor of Choral Music Charlene Archibeque.  I'm sure a whole lot of Colts have fond memories of her at Crawford.  Click HERE to watch the interview.

I spotted this photo of coaches and athletes in the 1967 Centaur when I was snagging a shot of Bob Petretta (see below).  It appears that the coaches are wearing blue blazers and the athletes are sporting uniforms.  I'm guessing the naked guys are swimmers.  Click HERE for an enlargement.

Jerry Brooksher ’64 died April 26, 2024, surrounded by the love of his life, Kathlyn and family.  He was born in Chickasha, Oklahoma, moving at age 6 to San Diego.  Jerry's distinguished academic career began at Crawford, graduating as Salutatorian. He then completed his Master's Degree in English Literature and Art at San Diego State University. After serving as a civilian employee with the US Navy as the Technical Director of the Navy's Operational Test and Evaluation Force, Pacific, he was transferred to the Naval Underseas Warfare Center based in Hawaii, where he retired after completing 25 years of service.  After “failing retirement”, Jerry continued for 25 more years as a Test and Evaluation Engineer with private companies. In 1996 Jerry met Kathlyn McDougal Erickson at Bully's Steak House. They married in 1999 and lived a full, happy and loving life overlooking Lake Murray.  Jerry will be remembered for his generous, kind heart, his quick wit, his deep love and commitment to his family, friends and country.

Please contact Lila, at lilamcd@gmail.com for information on the Celebration of Jerry's Life to be held July 20, 2024. 

Jerry was a faithful supporter and donor of 2 scholarships to SDSU. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the annual SDSU Brooksher Memorial Scholarship. https://tinyurl.com/zv4pad2s Jerry was also a Benefactor of the San Diego Zoo.  Donations may be made in his name to the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. sdzwa.org/memorial

SAVE THE DATE. Bob Petretta ’67 passed away December 11, 2022.  His sons Tim and Bobby are hosting a Celebration of Life at the Brigantine Restaurant in La Mesa on Friday, August 9, 2024 from 6-9 PM.  

July 12, 2024

 

I couldn't wait until Halloween to share this.

Click HERE for an enlargement of the best fireworks photo ever.  It was taken last Thursday from Point Loma.

Here's a 1962 photo of a Rugby match at San Diego State.  I didn't even know there was a Rugby team, but I loved the view of the college as I remember it.  Click HERE for a larger view.

A recent Channel 8 News Throwback featured a long-ago interview with 1936 Hoover graduates Roy Engle and Walt Harvey on a return visit to the school.  Coach Harvey was my counselor at Crawford.   Click HERE to watch the interview on YouTube.

In 1950 some early models of the Convair B-36 were flown to San Diego to have jet engines added.  Click HERE for before and after photos.

Turns out it was an autosuggest malfunction.  I thought it strange that my childhood pal Ken Ptack -- a Naval Academy graduate who still lives in Maryland -- texted me to find out how old Annapolis was.  Turns out he'd seen a recent Facebook photo of my friend Anna and wanted to know how old SHE was.  Click HERE to see why.