March 3, 2023

Are all the ??????  intentional?  Some of you are getting blocks of question marks in your Fry Day emails.  I'm not putting them there.  Here's what I learned from Google:  The question marks indicate font substitution occurred because your computer does not have the same font that was used when the content was created. The substituted font does not have the glyphs that exist in the specified font that is not present.  Does that help?  I didn't think so.

Rose Mercurio Royster ’66, Butch Higgins ’65, Sally Marshall Hyde ’66 and Colt Mascots attended the ribbon cutting for Crawford’s new building on February 8th. 

The Boys' Volleyball team poses for a team photo with the new equipment purchased with alumni donations.  Click HERE for the BIG pictures.

Here's a photo that appeared on Facebook this week.  It looks eastbound on University at Central.  Click HERE to see an enlargement, plus a current shot in which nothing looks familiar.

Click HERE to take a look at the Crawford Pacer from March 4, 1958.  Yikes -- that's a long time ago!

 

February 24, 2022

 

A Bliss cartoon from this week

Three Crawford coeds -- Michelle Hazlewood ‘67, Candy Groves ‘66, and Judy Sage ‘66 -- behind the Candy Counter at the Cinerama Theater, 5889 University Avenue in 1966.  Click HERE for an enlargement, a color photo of the theater, and news clippings from the opening and closing of the theater.

Steve Gunderson and Kathy Najimy weren't the only ones to work with the late Burt Bacharach.  Dennis Bishop reminds me that his brother Stephen Bishop wrote the lyrics to It's Only Love -- Bacharach wrote the music -- for the soundtrack of the movie Arthur.  Click HERE to take a listen.

Ernie Cowan's Outdoors column tells you how to attract migrating birds and where to find Spring's wildflowers.  Click HERE to check it out.

Separated at birth?  Ray Barner (right) thinks he bears a resemblance to World Wrestling Federation star Ric Flair.

Marcia MacDonald '62 passed away October 16, 2022.  Her childhood neighbor Dan Donovan shares a lovely tribute to Marcia, which I've posted on the Class of '62 Obituary Page.  Click HERE to take a look.

John Floodberg ’62 passed away peacefully, on March 30, 2022.  Born in Oneida, New York, John moved with his mother to Chula Vista at the age of four.  He was a San Diego resident the remainder of his life.  John began undergraduate classes at Mesa College soon after graduation. He joined the National Guard and married his first wife, Judy Thomas, in 1965.  Between 1965 and 1972, John worked as a draftsman for several architectural firms.  The first blueprints John put his architectural stamp on were for the Grove Gallery at the UCSD Crafts Center, built in 1982.  It was a collaboration between John and his childhood friend, Ron Carlson ’62, the Center's Director.  John and his current wife, Nancy Dickinson Floodberg, met in 1971 when he volunteered to bring the San Diego Mental Health Association's halfway house up to code; Nancy was the Director of the halfway house. They wed two years later and moved to a home in Pt. Loma – the home he lovingly remodeled over the years and where Nancy, their eldest daughter and her family still reside. In 2005 he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. As with any challenge he faced, he met this diagnosis with grace and determination.  He was preceded in death by his brother Ron Robson ’71

Click HERE to read the complete obituary in the Union-Tribune

February 17, 2023

 

The passing last week of Burt Bacharach reminded Rose Mercurio Royster '68 of Back to Bacharach and David, the show put together by 1975 Colts Kathy Najimy and Steve Gunderson.  Click HERE to read all about it.

But wait -- there's more celebrity songwriter stuff!!

Remember last October when we shared video of Mike Schwartz appearing on American Bandstand in 1967?  Earlier this week I was reading Carole King's autobiography and got to the part where, divorced with two kids, she moves to the West Coast and finds a place in Laurel Canyon.  Click HERE to read about Carole meeting her neighbor Mike Schwartz '61.

Remember locker clubs?   If you were in the Navy you do.  Click HERE to see an enlargement of this shot of the 7 Seas Locker Club, 407 West Broadway.  I think there's a Crawford connection.  I KNOW there's a Mission Bay High connection.

Remember Cinema 21 in Mission Valley?  Click HERE to see a bigger picture, an ad for Youngblood Hawke, and a recent photo for what's in this location today.

A PACER TRIFECTA

February 18, 1958 -- 65 Years Ago

February 21, 1963 -- 60 Years Ago

February 15, 1968 -- 55 Years Ago

Bob Trolese ’65 passed away in October 2022 at his home in Nicaragua, where he had been working as a missionary for many years. He gave his life to Jesus Christ, and worked tirelessly for the indigenous native people of Nicaragua.  He was an old surfing buddy of mine -- Steve Brownell ‘64

February 10, 2023

 

People are wondering if January's rains will produce a superbloom of wildflowers in the desert come Spring.  This photo of Carrizo Plain, in San Luis Obispo, was taken in April 2017 by Los Angeles Times photographer Paul Roa

From Rhymes With Orange this week

1960 classmates Nilla Pate Hamilton. Sharon Bentley Ball, and Beverly Umholtz Wadman got together at Fallbrook's Grand Tradition Veranda on February 3, 2023

Bob Richardson ’61 received last week an email from Laura Montaldo, daughter of Darwin Montaldo ’60, Crawford’s first Exchange Student.  Darwin passed away in 2016.   Laura wanted to contact ASB President Ernie Griffin, whose family hosted Darwin during his stay here.  Bob put her in touch with Ernie, and wondered if she had a copy of her Dad’s 1960 Centaur.  She did not, but Bob was able to access an on-line copy at Ancestry.com and download a page featuring Darwin.  Turns out the on-line yearbook once belonged to our recently departed Marcia McDonald ’62.  Ancestry has a ’61 yearbook that also belonged to Marcia and one from ’62 that was the property of Londa Galley.  Bob wonders if anyone has a hard-copy of a 1960 Centaur that he can send to Laura.

OBITUARIES

Donna Foster ’65 died on January 29, 2023.  She was married in 1967 to Richard Westfall, also class of 1965.  Born in 1947 at Mercy Hospital, she went to Euclid Elementary, Horace Mann and Crawford.  She went to San Diego State, then transferred to Grossmont College School of Nursing.  As an RN she worked in the ER at Villa View Hospital, followed by Scripps Clinic, Sharp Hospital, Scripps Hospital La Jolla, Urgent Care and finally retiring from Kaiser Permanente.  Her interests included backpacking and camping in the Sierras, snow skiing, traveling around the world, and gardening. She is left behind by husband Richard, two sons and two grandsons. She struggled with pancreatic cancer in the end

Joe Ham ’67 passed away peacefully at home, on Sunday, January 29, 2023, surrounded by his family. He was born in San Diego to Charles and Kathleen Ham and was a lifelong San Diego resident.  He spent his career working for Brady Company for over 40 years.  The beach and mountains were his happy place, and he would often ride his bike along the boardwalk from South Mission Beach to Windansea after he retired.  He loved being outdoors in the sunshine and also enjoyed hiking. Joe was quite the dog and animal lover.  He always looked forward to watching his son play Over The Line at the beach, a sport he enjoyed playing himself for many years.

A celebration of life will be held Monday, February 13, 2023, at 4:00pm at Calvary Chapel, 7525 El Cajon Blvd., La Mesa, CA.

 Tim Darton ’69, a retired National City Police Department Detective, passed away in Chula Vista  December 29, 2022, surrounded by his family and loved ones.  Tim enjoyed his 21 years in law enforcement, and was thankful for the numerous anecdotes and friendships. He also worked for Sycuan Casino Resort for an additional 16 years before retiring.

February 3, 2023

Saudi Arabia, Palm Desert?  Nope.  It's sunrise over San Diego as photographed by Howard Lipin from Liberty Station.  It appeared in the Union-Tribune on February 1st.

Class of '68 Crawfordites at their monthly lunch get-together.  Clockwise from left:  Rich Mossay, Mike Meyer, John Risley, Steve Morgan and Rick Walsh.  Mike -- January 28, Rick -- January 25 and Steve -- January 27 were kind of celebrating their birthdays.  All attended Montezuma, Horace Mann and Crawford except for Rich Mossay (Horace Mann and Crawford).  Camera shy: Mike Tyndall '68 and Dave Margulis '67 

Mike Pieratt '68 had to remind me twice that his classmate Darrel Wenhardt was elected to the 2022 Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame.  Other inductees included Joe Buck and Terry Bradshaw.  Darrell was recognized for his behind-the-scenes work.   Click HERE to watch a fascinating testimonial.

Nick Watson '64 sent me a long, descriptive tale of him fighting the surf at Wind 'n Sea during Christmas Vacation 1963.  He recalls someone shooting film of the surf and seeing himself in the movie.  He thinks the Crawford Surf Club might have been part of the shoot.  If you can help locate this film let me know.

Mike Kennedy '61 sent this still from a movie showing cheerleaders Dottie Johnson and Virginia Sanderson at a football game in 1960.  I hope there IS a movie and he figures out how to share it.

Take a look at Pacers from 65 and 55 years ago.

February 4, 1958

February 1, 1968

January 27, 2023

Thank you for all the kind words about my Recognition Award.  Comments ranged from, Look forward to Fry Days, to Don't know what I'd do without my Fry Day email, to Who's gonna take over when you die?  As far as the last one, I'm happy to train anyone who's interested.  This has come up before and there haven't been any volunteers.  Carry on.

Pam Brooks Lawrence '67 shares some more of the funny signs outside Colorado's Indian Hills Community Center.  I haven't figured out a way to put them on the web site without going to a lot of work.  I can forward Pam's email to you on request.

Don Anderson '64 was invited to show his very rare Radical RXC 500 R at the recent San Diego International Auto Show.  Click HERE for enlargements and details.

The Weitzen brothers -- Larry ’73, Skip ’72, and Steve ’71 -- hadn’t played golf together for 40 short years, so they got together recently at Morgan Run in Del Mar.    Larry and Steve played on the golf team at Crawford, while Skip was a diver on the CIF championship swim teams.  Larry and Skip each shot 84, while Steve scored an 88.

Henry Clay was one of four elementary schools attended by Eric Watkins '65.  Click HERE to take a look at the class photos from all of them.

Bill Lee ’66 passed away Monday January 16, 2023 at his home in Santee California.  After graduation he went into the Navy, serving on the USS Coral Sea.  After an honorable discharge, he worked in the landscaping division of the San Diego School District for 35 years  --  Janet Lee Brack ’69

January 20, 2023

 

The surprise delivered in person to my house by Paul Dean and Ernie Dronenburg last Friday turned out to be a lovely Recognition Award.  I don't know if it is a coincidence that it was dated on my birthday in 2022.  Click HERE to see the plaque enlarged, plus a lovely water-color note by Paul Dean

Bob Lutz, Jeff Grossman, and Kent Jonas, all Class of '64, met for drinks and dinner at Kent's house on Saturday, January 7.  It was the first time the three of them had been together since Crawford days.

Marcia MacDonald ’62 passed away on October 16, 2022 in New York City after an acute asthma attack.  Her sparkle will be missed by all those who knew and loved her.  More information will be forthcoming from her family at a later date.

Zeller Waymire ’63 passed away in Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, South Australia on January 10, 2023.  Zeller served a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Australia. He always said it was the best two years of his life. Zeller returned to Australia after his mission and worked for Alcoa Australia before becoming a pilot for the Australian Royal Flying Doctor Service.  To do this he had to become a nurse.  Zeller loved to fly and was John Wayne’s personnel  pilot. He also shuttled planes for the U. S. government to Vietnam during the Vietnam War -- Maureen Waymire

January 13, 2023

I'm hoping it's my Lucky Day.  Paul Dean and Ernie Dronenburg are coming to visit this afternoon.  Paul says they have a surprise for me.  I've got my fingers crossed that it's Sharon Mass.  Failing that, I'll accept a pony or a fire truck.

Two Ernies -- No Waiting!!  After the recent posting of a Spotted Skunk named after Ernie Cowan, Charles Hansen sent me a photograph he took in the '80s for one of Ernie Dronenburg's political campaigns.  Possibly an Ernie mixup, but we still get a nice photo -- and just in time for today's visit.

My longtime school buddy Gary Bonwell called this week.  We hadn't chatted in a year or so.  He was following up on a rumor that I was dead.  Probably a typo.  The correct answer is deaf.

Another Cartoon for Intellectuals

The headline above from Monday's U-T caught my eye.  Turns out Bent was born in Estonia, where you probably didn't get beat up for having such a name.  I'm sure it's pronounced Kotch or Coke, but it reminded me of the travails of Johnny Cash's Boy Named Sue.  

Classmates James Daigh (formerly known as Weetman) and Ron Morse (formerly known as Morse) reunited at Jim’s Carlsbad home after 59 years. Endless history and stories were shared, along with good grub. Reconnection made, and more visits to follow, whenever Ron is visiting from his home in Vancouver, Washington.   Jim took me for a ride in his 2008 Porsche 911 convertible. We cruised from Oceanside to Leucadia on PCH.  As we entered a straightaway, Jim said hold on. Next thing I knew we were doing 103 on 101 -- Ron Morse '64

Click HERE to take another look at how Jim's photo of JFK ended up on the west side of Rudford's Restaurant.

Roy Mountain '68 shares a snapshot of the Cleveland Elementary kids at the 2013 Crawford Reunion.  Click HERE for names, plus Roy's 1st and 4th Grade class photos.