January 1, 2014

 Looks like Cyndi Jo Mitton Means ‘68 and her husband Kevin (that's him above) are gonna be cranking up the motor home.  He retired last week after 20 years as a helicopter pilot for the San Diego Police Department.  Click HERE to read the article in the U-T.   Don't miss the video.

Joe Schlader ‘70 shares a 1969 family photo taken in Tijuana.  From left to right are Joe’s sister, Joe, Dad and Mom, and an uncle and aunt from Minnesota.

Don’t miss the First First Thursday of 2014 tomorrow night at the Amigo Spot, King’s Inn, Hotel Circle South, 5 PM

December 27, 2013

Season’s Greetings from Pacific Beach, where it’s dark and cold — but it’s gonna get light and warm.  This is a picture of Crystal Pier I took some years ago.

Looks like I’m having breakfast with the Quaker Oats guy this morning.  Nancy’s staying home in Escondido.  Apparently spending the holidays with The Grinch has taken its toll.

Class of ‘68 members Steve Ko, Brian Lanois and Susan Weetman Belair met in Escondido on December 19th.  Brian moved back to San Diego from Florida three weeks earlier and had a hankering for In ‘n Out burgers, so Susan set up the meet.  I can’t believe Brian held out for three weeks.

Gathered together for a Holiday Get Together at Casa Guadalajara in Old Town on December 23rd were Class of ‘71 cohorts David Feeley, Louis Galpert, Phil Piscopo and Victor Perez.  Victor added the snazzy graphics to the photo.

Bonnie Ipsen returned the newsletter subscription envelope I sent out to the Class of ‘62 earlier this month with a note that her husband Lynn passed away December 30, 2012 at their home in Bishop, CA.

Ed Herrmann ‘64 lost his battle with prostate cancer this week.  A standout athlete at Crawford, and 11 year baseball professional, Ed passed away December 22nd.  Click HERE to read the article Bill Center wrote in the U-T and HERE to sign the CaringBridge Guest Book

December 20, 2013

IT'S STILL DARK -- and 45 degrees -- in PB.  I think it's quit raining however.  Eggs Benedict at Green Flash in a couple of hours is sounding really good.

I’ll be autographing copies of my Images of America: Pacific Beach book from 11-2 today at the Morena Costco.  I can’t decide whether to wear the new Christmas hat Nancy bought me.

Wish I could have shown this to Mrs. Bruner, my 8th grade English teacher at Horace Mann

There are a lot of goodies in the 6-page Holiday Edition of the December 19, 1963 Golden Anniversary Pacer, but I couldn’t resist the ad for Cinnamon Cinder.  Click HERE to check it out.

Steve Ko forwards a link to his photos of the Class of ‘68 45th Reunion, held last October.  I think you may have to join Snapfish to view them.  That’s Steve in the yellow blazer with Darlene Wells Dise-Brucker.  Click HERE to get started.

Robert Menke died last week at the age of 92.  He may have been Crawford’s principal around 1981. Click HERE to sign the on-line guest book.

Chuck Swimmer, founder of Charco Construction, and husband of Carol Feurzeig '62, died of a heart attack Tuesday at Alvarado Hospital.  Click HERE to read the article in the U-T.

Maria Wieland Hughes ‘62 passed away December 9th.  She was married to Jon Hughes, also Class of ‘62.  Click HERE to sign the guest book.

Raymond Sliwa ‘72 died December 4th.  Click HERE to sign the guest book.

December 13, 2013

IT’S DARK AND COLD IN PACIFIC BEACH but supposed to warm up over the weekend.  And I think we’re a week away from the shortest day of the year, so it should start staying light a little longer.  I’m afraid that’s all the news I’ve got, save a photo of me and Nancy at the Waffle Spot earlier this week.

Jess “Bob” Colwell ‘70 died of cancer in 1999 reports sister Cathy Colwell Anderson ‘71.  I’ve removed him from the Class of ‘70 Missing Page and added him to the Class of ‘70 Obituary Page and have added Cathy to the Class of ‘71 Email Page.

December 6, 2013

I’M NOT GONNA get any sympathy from folks in Montana, but it’s cold in Pacific Beach.  Nancy and I are going to find a warm place for brunch, either before or after a visit to the Midway Post Office, then run a few more errands before heading back to the beach.

Every week a handful of Fry Day emails bounce.  If it happens two weeks in a row, I remove them from the address book and the web site.  jan@ssvic.com has bounced every week for the past three months.  The problem is — I don’t have it in my address book.  Any Cyber Sherlocks out there have an idea how to fix this?

Sandy Scheithauer Cook ‘63 has a new email address.  You can access it on the Class of '63 Email Page. Dana Carr ‘64 is now living in Murfreesboro, Tennessee and is listed on the Class of '64 Email Page

It’s been a while since I shared a historical photo.  This is a shot, taken in June 1917, of Del Mar’s old Stratford Inn.  Click HERE to see an enlargement

Holtville upended Crawford in the Division V Finals 42-6, even though they'd lost earlier in the season to the Colts.  Click HERE to read the article in the U-T.

Rodger Gredvig ‘64 saw Ron Smith’s handball photo from last week and thought he’d submit the clipping from the December 28, 1963 Evening Tribune featuring he and classmate Gary Stockton.  Click HERE to access the enlarged version.

Alan Pryor ‘66, Mark Mellinger ‘66 and Chuck Ham ‘65 enjoy brunch prepared by Mary Mellinger. You can see a larger version of the photo by clicking HERE.

I guess the confluence of Thanksgiving and Hannukkah got me out of whack.  That’s my excuse for not running the November 27, 1963 Golden Anniversary Pacer last week.  I could go on about the Senior Sketches and Girl of the Month, but I saw this ad for University Lanes and fell into a revery.  Click HERE to read all four pages.

Steve “Beanie” Bonwell ‘64 died of a heart attack on November 22nd.  Click HERE to sign the on-line guest book 

November 29, 2013

IT’S TURKEY DAY!!

AND HANNUKKAH!!

Hope your Thursday is the greatest.  The Wingo Women and I will be dining — guest where? -- at the Amigo Spot.  They’re like family to us.

Speaking of giving thanks, Susan Kirk ‘68 says brother Ray came through 12 hours of surgery last Friday cancer free.  She thanks all of you who sent good thoughts and prayers.

I sent out an email to the Class of ‘75 this week asking if they knew the whereabouts of Nina Hutchuk.

I received an email from Gary Hutchuk, who hails from Canada, hoping I could put him in touch as he is working on the family genealogy.  Turns out Nina Hutchuk is really Nina KUTCHUK, but was listed as Hutchuk in the ‘75 Centaur.  Gary’s out of luck, but I still don’t know where Nina Kutchuk is.

Phil Petersen, who is listed as Philip Peterson, also in the ‘75 yearbook, is now on the ‘75 Email Page.

And he is no relation to the late Horace Mann Vice Principal Phil Petersen.

Undefeated Crawford will play Holtville Saturday night at Mesa College at 7 PM

Shooting pool at Pal Joey’s on November 23rd were  Les Sandoval, David Feeley, Bob Leidolf, Carl Brealey, Louis Galpert, Victor Perez and Phil Piscopo.   Click HERE to see a larger version on the Photo Page.

No, I DIDN’T make a mistake.  Yes, there is a Phil Piscopo in the Class of ‘63 AND a Phil Piscopo in the Class of ‘71.  And don’t get me started on Giovanna DeSanti Hauser ‘68 and her cousin Giovanna DeSanti Medina ‘72.  And there are three other cousins named Giovanna DeSanti.  And a deceased paternal grandmother named Giovanna DeSanti.

Ron Smith ‘72 forwards shots of the 1967 Horace Mann 7th GradeTrack Champs as well as the 1968 8th Grade Handball Champs.  

First Thursday is BACK!!
Free hors d’oeuvres and cheap drinks!!

That's December 5th at the King's Inn Amigo Spot

You can enjoy the Fry Day emails on your tablet or smart phone using Facebook.  Search for Crawford Colt Corral.

Underlined words in red can be clicked on to send an email or access a web site

November 22, 2013

NANCY AND I GOT STOOD UP two weeks ago when we traveled north to San Marcos to meet with the folks where autistic daughter Lisa works.  We still got to eat at Fish House Vera Cruz however.  We’re headed north again today, but this time I’m holding out for George’s Burgers.

Checking in from Brookings, Oregon is Bill Fares ‘62.  Mary Margaret “Molly” Lee Richmond ‘66 says hello from Reno, Nevada.  They are both on their respective email pages.  

Susan Kirk ‘68 hopes you will think good thoughts for her brother Ray Kirk, also Class of ‘68, who is undergoing esophageal cancer surgery perhaps as we speak. 

Phillis Dudick is still hoping to find Florine Weiner, her best pal from Class of '60.  The quest has baffled Mary Gale "Sherlock" Rogers.  Can you help?

Debbie Nichols Poulos '63 lives in Davis, California.  She would like to hear from old friends.

It’s not a joke.  The high school football playoffs are underway and Division V Crawford will be part of it.  The undefeated Colts meet the Palo Verde Valley Yellowjackets tonight at 7 PM at San Diego High.  I believe Palo Verde Valley is near Blythe.

Yesterday’s U-T had a nice look back at President Kennedy’s visit to San Diego on June 6, 1963.  It also had a slide show of photos I hadn’t seen before, including the one above featuring students from Blessed Sacrament.  Click HERE to read the article.  Click HERE to look at the slide show.   In the meantime you might want to revisit the links to JFK’s visit to San Diego on June 6, 1963.

I guess it should come as no surprise that Elvis Presley is the new kid on the block on the KCBQ Top 20 Hit Paraders survey for November 24, 1956.  Click HERE for a copy large enough to read.

Carlynne Harvey Allbee graduated from Grossmont in 1965, but still has fond memories of Montezuma Elementary.  She’s started a Montezuma page on Facebook and I’ve refreshed the Montezuma link on the School Days Page.   Oh, this is 6th Grade Graduation in 1956, contributed by Frank Welch, who also ended up at a high school not named Crawford.

Folks working on the Class of ‘63 Reunion Memory Book asked if I knew anything about the passing of Yvette Muriel Vires.  I turned immediately to Mary Gale Rogers, whose research turned up only the fact that Muriel died on May 13, 1990 in Washington County, Oregon.  I’ve posted her photo on the Class of ‘63 Obituary Page.

Red words can be clicked on to send an email or access a web site

November 15, 2013

GEE, IT’S ALMOST WARM IN PACIFIC BEACH and still dark.  I suspect Nancy and I will have a late breakfast at the Waffle Spot then — who knows?

Boy, the November 14, 1963 Golden Anniversary Pacer is another 6-pager, and chock full of goodies. I especially enjoyed the interview with aging alumns Donna Musil, Steve Penn, Virginia Strange, Gail Balderman, Gail Bobrof, Lonni Kane, Gerry Ransom, Larry Orwig, George Pallas, and Bob Fox.
Click HERE to check it out.

Ken Unitt ‘76 passed away suddenly on October 29th at home in Estes Park, CO.  A celebration of his life will be held at Rocky Mountain National Park’s Beaver Meadows Visitor Center on Monday, November 18 at 10 a.m.  You can read more about his life in the National Park Service on the Class of ‘76 Obituary Page.

November 8, 2013

MY IPHONE SAYS IT'S 54 IN PB and should level out at a nice 72.  Nancy and I will head up the coast for an 11 AM appointment at Rex Industries for the annual progress review of autistic daughter Lisa.  I've got my fingers crossed it will be followed by lunch at Fish House Vera Cruz in Carlsbad, although I guess there's also one nearby in San Marcos.

I just learned there’s a golf tournament scheduled for Monday, November 25th in Rancho Bernardo, to benefit the Crawford Foundation and the Crawford Athletic Department.  You need to reserve your spot by Monday, November 11th.  For more information, please contact Darcel Glover, Crawford Athletic Director, at 619-583-2500 x4607 or via email at dglover@sandi.net   Click HERE to go to the web site.

Carole Shannohoff Wolanow invites you to view three Picasa slide shows from the Class of ‘63 Reunion, featuring the photographs of Barbara Strange McClue’s husband Sid.  Friday Night #1, Friday Night #2 and Saturday Night  You're on your own as far as names are concerned, although I am available for a small consultation fee.

Ernie Myers, Noel Confer, and Art Way were three of the DJs I remember — and “It’s Only Make Believe”, by Conway Twitty, was the #1 hit on November 7, 1958.  Let me do the math.  Oh, never mind.  It was a while ago.  Click HERE to read the other 39 hits.

November 1, 2013

BRRR -- IT'S 52 DEGREES AT THE BEACH, but it's suppose to warm up so I guess I can peel off my layers like a homeless person as the day goes on.

If you didn’t show up at the Amigo Spot last Saturday you missed seeing Stephanie dressed as a mermaid.  She looked ever so much like Peg Bundy in her attempts to walk.  By the way, she’s showing off her Kitty Litter Cake.  Just between you and me, I prefer German Chocolate.

 I don’t know if I mentioned that the first football game under the lights, the last game on the old field AND Homecoming on October 18th was cancelled when Calipatria called at the last minute and said they couldn’t make it.  All’s well that ends well, however!!  The game was rescheduled for the 25th and the Colts won their 8th straight game.  Bill and Chuck Rainey were among the alums in the crowd.  It all warranted a nice piece in last Saturday’s U-T, which you can read if you click HERE.

I acquired an email copy this week of the 1903 USGS La Jolla Quadrangle map and thought I’d share the part showing Pacific Beach.  In 1903 Duckville was in the south east corner of False Bay, the San Diego, Pacific Beach and La Jolla Railway AND the California Southern Railroad had tracks running up the east side of the bay, and the American Driving Park horse racing track still existed in east Pacific Beach.  Click HERE for the enlarged version.

Greg Birch and Evy Balderman were the Senior Sketches in the Golden Anniversary Pacer published October 31, 1963.  Ironically, I didn’t spot any Halloween articles.  Click HERE to read all six pages.

I received a call from Chris Bonwell this week and she shared details of the passing of Phil earlier this week.  He and a neighbor had been working in the back yard.  They called it a day, got cleaned up and were enjoying cold beers on the patio when Phil suffered a fatal brain aneurism.  She told me of a Memorial Website for Phil and I’ve added it to the Class of ‘66 Obituary Page.

October 25, 2013

IT’S STILL DARK IN PB and I’m wondering why I don’t send this out a little later.  When Nancy gets down from Escondido we’ll deliver books to Crystal Pier and mail to the Midway Post Office.  Where we brunch will depend on where we can park.

Come on by the Amigo Spot tomorrow night for Halloween.  Stephanie’s hired a DJ.  I’m afraid to ask what kind of creepy food will be on tap.  Nancy’s coming as a witch, Lisa’s coming as a purple witch, and I’m coming as a curmudgeon.

Here’s one of my favorite streetcar photos, taken by L K Dewein on July 21, 1924.  It was taken on the occasion of the first run of the “Mission Beach Special”.  For 75¢ you could zoom to Mission Beach, take a swim, grab a bite, and be back downtown in an hour and a half.  Click HERE to see this photo in its 9 x 12 glory.  

Remember entertainer Jimmy Gilmer?  Me neither, but he had the Number One single 50 years ago on the KGB 1360 Top 40.  Click HERE to see what it was, along with the other 39.

Can you name these members of the Class of ‘60 Reunion Committee?  They recently had lunch at MCRD.  Click HERE for a photo large enough to give you a fighting chance.

Tom Cassie wondered if I’d seen the photo of our classmate Bill Lamden in the Entertainment Section of Sunday’s U-T.  The article was about the financial health of the San Diego Symphony, with nice words about Bill’s wife, Evelyn Olson Lamden, chair of the orchestra’s board of directors.  I went back and reread the article and figured out why I missed Bill’s photo.  She’s wearing red in the photo below, which was elsewhere on the page.  Oh, that’s Bill and Evelyn at the left in the photo above. Click HERE if you'd like to actually read the article.

Did I say George last week?  Ron Smith ‘72 actually lives in Georgia, I assume the one in America, not the one in Russia.  At any rate he’s shared a 1962 team photo of the Rolando Park Tigers.  The thank you note to the team scorer contains the names of the players.  Click HERE to check them out.