December 30, 2016

Best wishes to you as the last few grains of sand disappear from the 2016 hourglass

I don't know if there are tax benefits involved, but you might want to end the year making a donation to the Crawford High Foundation.  Click HERE to learn more.

Newsletter subscription renewal envelopes went out to Class of '67 subscribers this week.  I no longer mail to all of the addresses in my database, so if you've been thinking about renewing click HERE for details.

I finally located a trifecta of Crawford aerials taken in 1957, 1960 and 1961.  I showed them once before, but thought they were worth another look.  Click HERE to check them out.

Did you ever hang out at the Admiral Baker swimming pool?  I took this shot in 1964 -- I think -- and recently shared it on Facebook.  

While looking for the Crawford aerials above, I came across a page of snapshots I shared some years ago and thought you might like to see them again.  I think Rob Wied is stuffing Gary Bonwell in a trash can.  Gary looks about 12, so this may have been taken at Horace Mann.  Click HERE to take a gander.

Speaking of Horace Mann, I learned this week that Math teacher Robert Press passed away on Christmas Day.  He was married to my classmate Cheryl Donk.  We think services will be held at Greenwood on January 7th.  I'll share details when I get them.

Mike Falconer '64 died on December 12th in Concrete, Washington, where he had lived for some years.  I'll have more details at a later date.

Joe Spry passed away November 29th in Kennewick, Washington.  Click HERE to read an obituary.

December 23, 2016

Winter arrived in Pacific Beach this past Wednesday accompanied by a light rain.  That's a good thing.  The fact that the days will not start to get longer is even better.

Yesterday's article in the Los Angeles Times about immigrants from around the world making their way to the border at Tijuana, featured a map showing the Red Light District.  Where was it when I needed it?  No, I don't know why the Red Light District was included.  Maybe I should go back and read the article.

Nur Karhan Deleman '61, your exchange student from Turkey, wants to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy New Year.  I'll bet iPad'imden gönderildi means "Sent from my iPad" in Turkish.  If you'd like to respond, Nur's email address is ndelemen@gmail.com

I saw the obituary for Clark Hyde. Clark and I were in the Boy Scouts and the Order of the Arrow part of Boy Scouts for years.  Interesting note, at least for me, is that Mr. Hyde, Clark's father, was active as an adult scout leader. He smoked a lot I remember, which as we know was all too common in the day.  Mr. Hyde ran my Boy Scout Eagle Scout board of review, where the scout sits in front of three adults and answers questions for about an hour.  One of the other adults on the panel was Mr. Henzie, the principal at Crawford you wrote about recently.  I remember both Mr. Hyde and Mr. Henzie to be easy to work with and kind at that time. When you're 14 all the adults are larger than life and can be overpowering. It's interesting at least to me to have been reminded of them both in your Fried Egg update -- George Sorensen '69

Turns out Winston Churchill DIDN'T say "Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others."  I still thought about the quote when I decided to encourage folks out there to sign up for Facebook.  I have to deal daily with Puppy videos and selfies of "friends" eating breakfast burritos, but the incredible bright side is getting to see photos of San Diego that I haven't seen before -- and then share them.  Just as important is the ability to comment on the photos and, sometimes, begin a running commentary.  Having said that, take a look at the photos below.

Greg May's Vintage San Diego Facebook page is a regular source of fabulous new old photos.  This color shot of the old Normal School, just north of the Education Center on Park Boulevard, popped up last week.  I don't have the dates, but I'm pretty sure this was Horace Mann Junior High before its replacement was built on 54th Street.

Photos of the 1953 Toyland Parade sent me looking for the photo I took of Barbara Addkison '62 who was Queen of the 1962 parade.  Click HERE to look at the 1953 parade on Facebook.

I recently posted some photos I took at La Jolla Shores in June 1962 -- or at least that's the date on the edge of the photos.  I thought I'd get comments from my male cohorts, but mostly it was girls waxing rhapsodic about the swimsuits, hairdos and -- who knew? -- purses.  Click HERE to see all of the photos on Facebook.

Also photographed in June 1962 was a beauty pageant, I think at College Grove Shopping Center. Click HERE to see the rest of the images I posted on Facebook.  I sure wish I'd copied down names, but I had my hands full with my Yashica-D camera.

Oscar Amezcua, John Hall and Bill Davis pose for a photo while recording "Pancho Raccoon" for a movie Oscar was making at Crawford.  "They gave credit for this stuff," says Bill.  "We put thumb tacks on the felt hammers of Mrs. Amezcua's piano for the authentic honky-tonk effect."  Bill calls your attention to the "high-end reel-to-reel recording equipment" -- and, yes, wishes he still had the hair.

December 16, 2016

Perhaps the lady above would like some of the stuff below.  I don't know what it is, but it's organic and it's 50% off at Sprouts this week.

Remember Anthonys on the embarcadero?  Word came down this week that the folks who own the Brigantine Restaurants have won the contract to build a new dining facility after Anthony's closes next month.  Click HERE if you'd like to read the article in the Union-Tribune

It sounded like "Carrying Coals To Newcastle" when I heard that Taco Bell was opening 45 Taco Bells in Spain.  Turns out there are 31 there already -- and tacos don't come from Spain anyhow.  My Google search turned up an interesting site:  12 Beautiful Taco Bells You Never Knew Existed

The photo above, illustrating an article in the LA Times on the new all-electric Chevy Bolt EV, caught my eye.  The gas station looked identical to a Richfield station my aunt and uncle ran near Malibu in the 1950s.  Turns out it's actually an electric recharging station.  Click HERE if you'd like to read the article.  

WALK FOR MANKIND

I remember the Walk for Mankind,   I did it!  And remember wearing out a pair of sandals – before we knew about athletic shoes, eh?  I was sore for weeks!  Yet, it was a good cause.  Do not remember the route, sorry!  Maybe Mission Bay?  Thanks for the memory -- Marsha Rubin Steinfield ’74

Oh, I remember that walk well.  I finished all 20 miles but it was grueling and my friend, Rose Ponce (’72), kept getting bursts of energy and was definitely much more up to the challenge than I was! I can’t remember the route, I was too busy being miserable --  Debra Rogers Park ’72

I remember that Walk for Mankind ! It was 30 miles, not twenty if I remember correctly.  There were times when I could only put one foot in front of another.  One step at a time.  I'm not positive, but we may have started in Balboa Park or on Mission Bay, or walked through these areas.  I remember walking Sunset Cliffs, but don't know where we ended.   I made a bet with my fellow high schooler's that I would walk the whole 30 miles... and... come to school the next day - and I did.   Thanks to the Epsom Salts my mom soaked me in I made it to school the next day, blisters and all.  I still remember the orange sandals I wore that day to school so I wouldn't rub my blisters .  I have told many people over the years about that walk, but I don't think they really believe that I walked 30 miles around San Diego.  It took about 8 hours to complete -- Susan Tell Damberger ’70 (Sacramento)

That's Michael Byrne '64 leading the Charles River Wheelmen on a warm September 2016 day in the apple country west of Boston.  I wonder what he's doing today.  The weather report for today in Framingham, MA -- where Michael lives -- shows a low of 11 degrees.  Luckily it's supposed to warm up to 17 later in the day.

Clark Hyde '65 passed away in 1989.  We know this because Jerry Lame, brother of my classmate Marcia, was heard a lecture about why certain people like certain music and recalled that Clark Hyde was the only person he know that liked opera.  Jerry learned that Clark is buried at Oberlin Westwood Cemetery in Ohio.  "I know it is the same Clark Hyde because he went to Oberlin College and I ran into him in Berkeley when he was at seminary," says Jerry.

December 9, 2016

I TOLD you this was going to happen eventually.  All I have this week is obituaries.  (Well, almost) I've tossed in a Bliss cartoon from last week, but even IT is kind of dreary.

David Kiley ’72 wonders if anyone else remembers the 1969 Project Concern "Walk for Mankind".  He was a Horace Mann 9th grader at the time and scored an extra $20 from his Godmother for finishing all 20 miles.  What was the route of the walk?

Lynne Earhart Miranda '72 sent news of her brother's death last week, hit by a Prius while driving his motorcycle near Santa Ysabel.  Lynne's family lived in Bayview Terrace Navy Housing in Pacific Beach and she attended Pacific Beach Junior High before the family moved to East San Diego.  Victor was a '65 graduate of Mission Bay High School and a world-renowned skateboarder.   Click HERE to read an account from East County Magazine.

Carolyn Burrell Kaczmarczyk  ’60  died of complications from pneumonia November 30, says her sister Nancy Burrell Williams ’62.  There will be no services nor obituary.

Services for Charlie Cattell '60 were held earlier this week.  He passed away November 25th.  Click HERE to read an obituary and/or send condolences.

Patricia Barrett '61 died of cancer on October 29th, according to M. Christine Navarro Hayes '61.

December 2, 2016

Those of you who subscribe to the quarterly newsletter should be getting the December issue in the mail this week.  Those of you who changed addresses or went on vacation should be on the lookout for the September issue.  Your copies were just returned to me this week and -- readdressed -- put back in the mail.  Those of you get your renewal envelopes in December should see them shortly.  Click HERE If you'd like information on how to subscribe.

"The Dybbuk for Hannah and Dave's Wedding", with original music written and performed by Yale Strom '75, is at the San Diego Rep November 23 to December 18th.  Click HERE for details.  (A dybbuk is a restless, usually malicious, spirit believed to be able to haunt and even possess the living.)

1971 classmates Carmen Buckles, Leslie Benjamin Wichers and Rachel Raizel Schoenberg (you may have known her as Rhonda Berg) pose with their dates at a party in honor of Rachel, who is visiting from Israel for a month.  Click HERE to check out a larger group photo -- and help with the names.

Remember book covers?  It's a slow Colt news week, so I thought I'd reprise a post from a while back -- Dietra Davis Anderson's book cover collection.  Click HERE to take a look.

On on-line obituary for Ron Roche surfaced since last week.  Click HERE to check it out and/or send condolences.

Art Flores '69 passed away last week from cancer and heart failure according to his brother Tony. There will be no on-line obituary or services.  Click HERE to see what Tony put on the Class of '69 Obituary Page.

November 24, 2016

It's Not Fry Day -- It's Turkey Day!!

Ernie Cowan '62 took this photo of Wild Turkeys in the San Diego back country.  It accompanied an article he wrote in the Union-Tribune.  Click HERE to check it out.

Tomorrow is Black Friday, which -- for folks who love to shop -- is a quite the deal.  It always conjures up images to me of the Bubonic Plague, the Stock Market Crash of 1929, or Black Flag insecticide.  That's what happens when you get old.

And another thing.  When did the Republicans become Red and the Democrats Blue?  Growing up in the '50s red was associated with Communism.  It was "Better Dead Than Red" and "You Commie Pinko".   Somebody changed the rules when I wasn't looking.  That's what happens when you get old.

As God is my witness I saw a commercial last night selling a product that cures your dog's bad breath.  It showed all of the other dogs avoiding the poor pooch.  Funny, it didn't show the part where they all sniff each other's butts.  

What do Garth Brooks and Bob Brown '67 have in common?  Ron is the proud possessor of a Garth Brooks guitar, autographed on stage during a recent concert.  Garth thanked Ron for his 40 years as an employee of the Sports Arena.  You can watch the presentation on YouTube.

Click HERE to check out the football program for November 24, 1960.  This was a Thanksgiving Day game between Crawford and Sweetwater put together at the last minute as a benefit for Jeff Greenleaf '62 who was paralyzed during a football scrimmage on September 28th.

The KCBQ Top 20 Survey for November 24, 1956 -- Holy Crap, that's SIXTY YEARS AGO!  -- ranged from Elvis Presley to Margaret Whiting.  Click HERE to take a look.

When Karen Conley Brockman '72 read, in the Fry Day email of October 20th, that Sharon Sklar Smith '75 had relocated to a spot near her on Whidbey Island, Washington she reached out to the fellow Colt.  They met for lunch, and included Sharon's sister-in-law Pattie Pepper Smith '68.  That's Karen, Pattie and Sharon in the photo above.

Air Force map-maker Joe Falcone sent in his service photo, as did some others.  Click HERE to check out the updated page.

Ron Roche '70 passed away November 16th in Spokane, Washington.  If you live in the area, a Celebration of Life will be held for Ron on December 5th, 4-8 PM at St. Joseph's Parish Hall, 138 River St., Rockford, WA 99030.  Click HERE to read an obituary and/or send Condolences.

November 18, 2016

I LOVE the Desert Island cartoon genre.

What do Bill Walton and Nathan East have in common?  Apparently they both have fond memories of the Sports Arena, which is celebrating its 50th Birthday.  The basketball legend and world-famous musician are both quoted in an article in last week's Union-Tribune.  Walton went to Helix and Nathan East is a Colt from the Class of '73.  Click HERE to wade through pop-up ads and a slide show and read, in bits and pieces, the article.

Ahoy sailor!!  A bearded John McMullen '63 responded to my request for photos of Colts who have served in the military.  Click HERE to read John's story and see who else responded.

Nancy's daughter Lisa was in the house at the most-recent First Thursday Colt gathering at The Amigo Spot.  Jan Bremner Hall '66 got her picture taken.

Crawford played El Capitan on August 17, 1961 at Aztec Bowl.  I believe they were victorious in this the final game of what was an undefeated season.  Click HERE to look at the lineups.

Mary Gale Rogers '67 shares a photo of Mission Valley taken by her mother in 1944.  Click HERE to view a much larger version, and links to other photos of Mission Valley on my web site.

Rick Gross '64 passed away in 2013.  His family and/or friends submitted a lovely obituary, published in the Union-Tribune this week on what would have been his 70th birthday.  Click HERE to read the obituary and to learn why August 1, 1960 was such a special day in his life.  You can also leave a condolence.

David Erickson '65 passed away October 11, 2016.  He is survived by his wife -- and classmate -- Rose Marie Nauenberg.