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!
Colt Corral
Friday, October 25, 2024
October 25, 2025
Monday, October 14, 2024
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
Saturday, October 12, 2024
October 12, 2024
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
Friday, August 9, 2024
Friday, August 2, 2024
August 2, 2024
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
Friday, July 26, 2024
July 26, 2024
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.
Friday, July 19, 2024
July 19, 2024
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.