IT'S STILL DARK IN PACIFIC BEACH, but they say it's gonna be a scorcher in San Diego.  Nancy and I were at the Amigo Spot TWICE yesterday.  Once for lunch with the Class of '63 Reunion Committee and again in the evening to hear Paul the Guitar Player (I forgot his last name).  The hotel was hosting a Clown Convention and it turns out that Veronica the Desk Clerk and Rosa the Hostess are both terrified of clowns.  A sit-com ready to be written.

Once again, Elaine Robinson Davis '61, who allegedly lives in Montana, will be part of the local art scene.  She will be participating in the 7th Annual University Heights Arts Open this Sunday, September 16th from 11-5.  Her studio is located at 4576 Maryland St.  Her work will include both San Diego and Montana paintings.  She hopes you'll stop by and say "hello".

Tim and Peggy Crowe Castagna have been missionaries in the Philippines for 27 years.  They're planning a two-month visit to San Diego next Spring and want to know if, perchance, the Class of '73 will be having a reunion at that time.  

GRACIOUS SAKES ALIVE, people sure can be testy!!!  I heard from a lot of folks who pointed out that Earl Altschuler is not in the middle of the photo above.  It did occur to me that he looked really good, but I just assumed he'd had some "work" done.  Guess that's Earl on the right.

CRAWFORD'S FOOTBALL TEAM made the front page of last Saturday's U-T Sports Page, just like the good old days of 1961.  Well, not exactly.  Turns out they lost to San Pasqual Academy, a school with 101 students -- 39 of them boys.  It's a nice article, nonetheless, talking about two schools' efforts to "keep a team on the field".  Click HERE and enjoy!!

A while back my long-time pal Jeff Dalrymple, who didn't go to Crawford but plays at the Amigo Spot on Saturday nights with George Fogelman '63 and Doug Kvandal '66, sent me a photo and running commentary he copied from his Facebook account.  It showed a concert, featuring a band called The Contrasts.  Jeff was of the opinion that it's members went to Crawford.  I made some inquiries and was soon inundated with so much information I felt like I was back in 8th grade science with a volcano experiment gone horribly wrong.  The photo above features Bill Keller on sax, James "Skinny" Bolan on rhythm guitar, Don "Little Donny" Arnold on drums, Jan Tonnesen on lead guitar and the late Kenny Jiamba on bass.  Apparently they knew each other at Horace Mann.  Don Arnold was Class of '69, Jan Tonnesen's family moved and he went to Helix.  All the rest are Class of '68.  I have every hope of unscrambling this mess and sharing much more about The Contrasts.

School's back in session, so it's time for the Golden Anniversary Pacer, issued on September 13, 1962.  Click HERE to read all four pages.

A WOMAN TAKES HER GRANDSON to the beach and turns her back on the child long enough to spread out the beach blanket.  A giant wave thunders on to the beach and takes the tyke back with it.  Horrified, the woman drops to her knees and beseeches the heavens to return her precious progeny.  Incredibly, the next wave deposits the child at her feet.   She clutches him in a heartfelt embrace then, holding him at arms' length, again raises her eyes to the skies.  "He had a hat" she said.

I was reminded of the joke as Nancy and I sat on the curb last Friday answering questions from the Paramedics.  We had decided to visit the Tall Ships on the bay after dropping off subscription envelopes at the Midway Post Office.  I swerved to avoid a car that stopped in front of me on Rosecrans and took out a number of trees in the center median before hitting one that stopped the car and set off the air bags.  Nancy and I emerged without a scratch, although I was missing the top button on my $10 Albertson's Hawaiian shirt.  

A good time was had at the Amigo Spot last night by both the Class of '66 contingent and a cadre of '62 classmates who gathered to fete a visiting Helga Ritter Skinner.  They may have convinced her to leave her Tennessee lair for the reunion next month.

It's back to the Midway Post Office this morning to deliver 576 copies of the September Crawford newsletter.  At noon Nancy and I are being treated to lunch at the China Inn by Penny Bobrof and Lynn Routt Swanson.  (No I don't know why,  I'll have to assume it's my good looks)

Stan Keniston '66 shares a link from KPBS entitled "Meet Crawford's New (And Only) Principal".  That's right, the campus has reverted to a one-size fits all school.  Click HERE to read the article.

Susan Weetman Belair '68 spotted her classmate Earl Altschuler (that's him on the right) in a recent issue of the North County Times.  Click HERE to read the article.

That's John Schroyer '70 behind the wheel of his 1929 Mercedes Gazelle.  Says John, "With a Mustang II chassis and new Ford motor, this car zips along on any freeway".  He also says you can find him on "any given Sunday in front of the IHOP in Martinez, California.

Don't miss the First Thursday fiesta at the Amigo Spot.  Ron Klein can answer all your questions about San Diego Style hot dogs.

Turns out Owen Western '63 DIDN'T go to another school after 2nd Grade at Andrew Jackson.  He'dbeen too busy to scan the rest of his class photos.  Click HERE if you want to see 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th.

It would appear that Chie and Setsuo Tajima touched base with the Nesbit twins while they were in town.  Click HERE to see a couple of snapshots.

Here's the KGB 'Boss 30' for September 4, 1965.  Help me with the math. That's, um, 47 years ago.  #1 song was "Liar, Liar" by one-hit wonders The Castaways.  Click HERE to read the rest of the list. Click HERE to hear the Castaways belt it out, with dance interpretation from the Gilligan Island girls.

We've established the fact that San Diego Style burrito are all the rage in the American Northwest, but Ron Klein '66 learned about San Diego Style hot dogs earlier this month -- in Copenhagen, Denmark.  Click HERE if you wan't to see the photo enlarged.  

FINALLY!! It's grey and drizzly in Pacific Beach.  A good day to stay inside and watch TV -- after a late breakfast at Green Flash, or maybe Good Time Charlie's.

Leilani "Lani" Brugger Berry '61 passed away August 15, 2012 at her home in Howe, Oklahoma.  You can read a bit more, and sign the guest book, on the Class of '61 Obituary Page.

This is the last photo taken of Larry Teter.  He left school after his Junior Year to join the Air Force and a year later, on August 1, 1962, was killed in a roll-over accident in Louisiana.  His sister Nancy Teter Stubbs '62 says Larry was 16 months older than her but, for reasons unknown to her, they started school together and Larry would have graduated with the Class of 1962.  

Tom Christensen '63 says he can't remember anybody from his 1958 Guaranty Chevrolet Pony League team, but I think he's the tall guy in the rear.  Bill Montejano '62 and John Allison '62 might be on the left.  Click HERE to see an enlargement.

Owen Western '63 must have moved from Andrew Jackson after 2nd Grade.  At any rate he's shared his Kindergarten, 1st Grade and 2nd Grade class photos.  Click HERE to check them out.

Wow, I wonder what THAT was like?  Setsuo Tajima's father sent him from Japan to the United States to get an American education.  Must have worked out.  He and his lovely wife Chie recently returned to the 'hood and visited with classmates Bob and Susan Roskos Mardon '64.  Click HERE to see a couple of snapshots.

Peter Thompson '65 shares a couple of snapshots of him practicing guitar at age 17.  Click HERE to check out the photos and learn what he's doing now.

IT'S WARM AND STILL OVERCAST in Pacific Beach.  I've visited Mom three times this week.  She's somehow more confused and, at the same time, a little more verbal.  Go figure.  Looks like Nancy will have the delightful task of running errands with me on this Fry Day.

Marilyn Jameson Schupp '61 has subscribed to the quarterly newsletter.  Did you know that she and her twin sister Carolyn came to Crawford from Fallbrook during their Senior Year?  Perhaps their parents thought they could get a gooder education in the big city.

Victor Perez '71 has sent an explanation about the Blue Mews in last week's photo of his classmates at Petco Park.  Blue Mews is Petco's cat mascot.  Their dog mascot goes by the name of Red Ruff.

My husband just purchased these postcards on eBay. I thought I might share them with you.  He picked them up because he is a "bus fan" and these also share bus station locations in San Diego -- Lynne Earhart Miranda ’72

Looking Up Broadway, San Diego, California:  San Diego "where California Began" is California's third largest city. The city includes the beach resort communities of La Jolla, Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, and Ocean Beach. San Diego is one of the outstanding Naval operating bases in America.

U. S. Grant, San Diego, California:  This Famed hotel is located in the heart of downtown San Diego and faces Horton Plaza which has been a place of interest since 1870.

(Thanks, Lynne -- Your husband might enjoy the photo Nancy's father took of the first busses arriving at the Adams Avenue car barn as well as the color photos of some of the old San Diego streetcars -- JF)

Ron "Red" Thrash '68 passed away unexpectedly on August 6th.  A memorial service was held at the Yorba Linda Community Center on August 12th.  Click HERE if you'd like to sign the guest book.

IT'S SUNNY and still cool in PB and Nancy's not coming down until this afternoon.  Her daughter Leanne is heading home from a visit to Syracuse, by way of Cincinnati, and is due in at 10 PM on Delta.  That flight landed at 12:30 last night.  My bed time is 10 PM.  Could be a problem on the horizon.

I'm still chuckling over the fellow yesterday who was heading to Del Mar for the races.  "Sure hope I break even," he said, "I could really use the money."

Elaine Robinson Davis '61 has returned from her new home in Missoula, Montana to be the featured artist at Gallery 23, Southwestern Art, Spanish Village in Balboa Park, from August 16th to the 31st.  Gallery hours are 10-4:30.  She hopes old friends will come down and say hello.  While you're there, you might want to ride the carousel or the miniature railroad.  Oh, wait -- maybe they don't allow adults on those rides.  A good excuse, though, to have you CHECK OUT the train photos Bill Ross '65 shared some time back.

Some time ago Doug Kvandal '66 sat with me at The Amigo Spot and told me his heart condition had gotten bad enough that he was going to be admitted to Sharp Hospital and would not be getting out until he had a new heart.  Less than a week later -- on Easter Sunday no less -- word filtered back to me that the deed was done.  Three months later Doug was behind the keyboard for the Live Jazz concerts at The Amigo Spot on Saturday nights.  On September 15th he will be taking part in Heart Walk 2012 in Balboa Park and would like you to join him, or perhaps just purchase one of the cool T-Shirts seen above.  Click HERE to learn more about Doug's story and the 22nd Annual Heart Walk.

Talk about the "Elephant in the Room"!!  Victor Perez '71 forwards snapshot of a few of his classmates gathered this past Tuesday at Petco Park for the Chicago Cubs game.  That's Victor on the left, then Lewis Galpert, the Blue Mews (David Feeley), Phil Piscopo and Robert Leidolf.  I guess I could Google it, but I'm gonna wait for Victor to explain what a Blue Mew is.

Richard Lidbom '62 sends a photo of the Horace Mann Boys' Chorus from the 1956-1957 school year. That's director Alan Frank on the piano bench.  Click HERE for a larger view.

Tom Christensen '63 found a couple of photos from the 1963 CIF Basketball Championships.  Click HERE to check them out in Vista-Vision and to read what Tom has to say. 

Lenny Como '70 shares two photos of Summer League Softball Championship teams chock full of Colts from the late '60s and early '70s.  Click HERE to take a look.

Salvatore Cordileone '74 will be named Arch Bishop of San Francisco tomorrow and will be officially installed on my birthday, October 4th.  It's also the feast day of Saint Francis of Assisi, which is probably why they chose it.  Classmate Chet Carney points out that, with only two more promotions on Sam's part, the Class of '74 can claim a pope.  Holy Mackerel!!  Click HERE to read the article in the Los Angeles Times forwarded by Anne Wigdahl Subia '63

Kenneth Roberts '69 passed away July 9, 2012, reports his ex-wife Charlene Little Roberts '70.  He is survived by his wife Karen, brother John Roberts '70, plus children and a grandchild.

Cliff Harrison '71 had a heart condition and died in his sleep July 14, 2012 according to Adele Spirz Delgado '71.  She says they knew each other beginning at Webster Elementary.

How the time flies!!  Next Thursday is the First Thursday get together at the Amigo Spot.  I only heard from one person interested in showing off their automobile, so I guess I'll put the car show concept on hold.

Tuesday will mark the 10th Anniversary since Marla Bennett, daughter of Michael and Linda Ackerman Bennett, was the innocent victim of a terrorist bomb.  Marla's legacy was outlined by Diane Bell in yesterday's Union-Tribune.  Click HERE to read her column.

I'd heard about it, but I hadn't seen it.  Apparently you can print your own postage stamps.  At least I think that's what Dave Sleet '61 has done.  Don't even have to use the correct postage either.

Bill Rainey '62 shares a bit of trivia.  The officer in charge of the Rolando Park School Patrol was the brother of English Channel swimmer Florence Chadwick.

Jim Smith '63 was down from Montana for Over-the-Line, so a bunch of his classmates got together for lunch at the La Mesa Brigantine.  Seated: Martin "Tuffy" Stutz, Barry Houck and Jim Smith;  Standing: Ron Kroepel, Bob Kerns, Mike Alexander and Sharon Jarvis Daigle.  

At the request of brother Ken, I have added to the 1963 Obituary Page excerpts from an obituary for Duane Becht '63 published in Southern Utah's The Spectrum newspaper.  I've also added an ON-LINE GUEST BOOK if you'd like to share your memories

Tom Christensen '63 found his copy of the Pirates Little League team and discovered that his mother had put the players' names on the back.  Click HERE to take another look.

Misty Mellett '65 is back in town after 35 years of residence in Santa Barbara.  She's a San Marcos girl now and would like to hear from old friends.  Click HERE to send her an email.

Dennis Robberecht '68 poses with his "new" '37 Ford, powered by a Corvette engine.  That just doesn't sound right.  His wife says they enjoy traveling around their Sacramento neighborhood.

Tim Abbey '71 got so many requests for the Horace Mann LP he's gonna try to convert it to a digital format so it can be shared with more folks.

Steve Gunderson '75 (that's him on the left) appears in The Nightingale, currently showing at La Jolla Playhouse.  I don't get out much, so I didn't know the play is set in China -- and the actors are supposed to be Asian.  Click HERE to read all about it in Monday's Union-Tribune.

Fry Day July 20th

(Words or phrases in RED connect directly to emails or web sites)

You know it's time to clean off your desk when you have instruction manuals for two different cameras, produced 40 years apart, by a company that is going out of business.

Subscribing to the quarterly newsletter were Diane Dowling '61, Pomela Stewart Furtkamp '61 and Janis Irvine Ricards '64.  Thank you ladies.

From Spokane, Washington -- home of the finest San Diego Burritos -- Tim Abbey '71 sends word that his wife discovered a treasure while getting ready for a yard sale.  It's an LP entitled Horace Mann Junior High Advanced Band and Advanced Orchestra, Mr. Carlyle Hume, Director.  Tim's willing to send it to the first interested person, or perhaps to the person with the best story.  Click HERE to email your request.

I am in receipt of Henry F. Bugenhagen, Architect, a gorgeous coffee-table iBook published by his son Bill.  Henry designed many homes and businesses in Pacific Beach and La Jolla, including the condominium complex above for Sandy Shapery '61.

Fry Day July 13th

FRY DAY

July 13, 2012

(Words or phrases in RED connect directly to emails or web sites)

The San Diego Aston Martin advertisement in this week's Union-Tribune only had a web address.  As a matter of fact, the web site didn't list a street address.  It DID have the following statement, however:  Aston Martin San Diego is San Diego's only Authorized Aston Martin dealer.  We've invested heavily in our facility, which features a state-of-the-art showroom and a high-end, comprehensive service department.  The aim is to provide our clients with nothing but the highest quality automobile experience now and in the future.  I'm thinking they're trying to weed out the less-than-enthusiastic buyer. 

I've been using 29 cent postcard stamps and 3 cent stamps to mail postcards, but the 32 cent stamps finally came in.  It looks like the artist was inspired by my clothes closet.

Subscribing to the quarterly newsletter were Margaret Bemis Dennison '59, Shirley Ann Wright Crower '61, Jim '63 and Nancy Ford Mass '64, Ronald Gehlken, '64, Roberta Kleine Fine '64, Bill Paxton '66

Nearly 3000 people graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas last May.  One of them was  Colleen Hulette Bevilacqua '64.  You can read all about it in the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Norm Black '68 shares an aerial photo of the Waldo Canyon fire on June 26th as it approaches his house in Colorado Springs.  Click HERE to see the enlarged photo -- and Norm's email

Rolando Park 1956

Safety Patrol 1956

Piggly Wiggly baseball 1958

Richard Lidbom '62 shares three photos:  Rolando Park Elementary Sixth Grade and Safety Patrol 1956, and Piggly Wiggly baseball 1958.

The Class of '62 reunion committee was notified of the passing of Cathy Angelo in January 2012 from lung cancer.   Her neighbor has written a lovely remembrance, which I've posted on the Class of '62 Obituary page.

Greg Reed '64 died July 1, 2012 after a six-year battle with lung cancer.

Chet Carney shares the sad news that Larry Myles '74 lost his battle with cancer on July 9th.