May 28, 2021

 

Here's an aerial of Crawford taken September 30, 1957 -- the first week it was open.  Click HERE to see it enlarged, plus two bonus aerial photos.  

The May 25, 1961 Pacer -- sixty years old -- is filled with news about folks from the Class of '62.  Click HERE to check it out.

Pat Edwards gets front page ink in the May 26, 1966 Pacer -- and he's the one who loaned us issues to post on the web site.  Click HERE to read the paper.

Don Edic ‘59 passed away May 17, 2021 after a battle with cancer.  He was my next door neighbor and close friend beginning when we were eleven years old.  He was a member of Crawford’s first cheerleading team.  He became an ordained minister and traveled the world with ESL Ministries teaching English literacy.  He was an accomplished oil painting artist in his later years and many of his works can be seen on his Facebook page.  I will greatly miss him -- Claudia Messerli Baker ’59

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, June 12, 2021 at 2:00 pm.  An in-person service will be hosted by Christ Presbyterian Church Rancho La Costa, 7807 Centella St., Carlsbad, CA. Guests may join virtually as well at https://christ-pres.church/

May 21, 2021

 

Class of '66 Vietnam Veterans Dan Burton, Mark Mellinger and Gary Crossland got together recently for lunch at Cass Street Bar & Grill in Pacific Beach.  I'm not sure what's in the bags.

Here's a 1967 color shot of Morena Boulevard, where it branches off to Linda Vista Rd.  It's a lovely billboard to be sure, but if you look carefully you'll spot a Kinney's Shoes, gasoline for 28 cents a gallon, Presidio Nursery -- and an Oscar's Drive-In.  Click HERE to see the enlarged view.

I'm sharing this photo of the Stardust Motor Hotel parking lot mostly because of the cars.  I can't decide if the car on the left is silver or Ice Blue, but -- as I comment inside -- you could smuggle a whole bunch of kids into the Ace Drive-In by the looks of that trunk.  Click HERE for the bigger view.

I think Claudia Messerli Baker '59 has some 'splaining to do.  This was her entry in the 1959 San Diego City School Quest magazine loaned by Sharon Culver Considine '60.  Click HERE to peruse all 49 pages.

Crawford's fourth consecutive CIF Swimming Title captured the headline on the Sports Page of the May 21, 1971 Pacer.  Click HERE to read the rest of the school paper published 50 years ago.

Carolina “Calina” Estrada Eckert ’59 passed away May 5th, at the age of 79, following a massive stroke while vacationing in Palm Springs.  Calina was born in Calexico, California, the only daughter of Gustavo and Leonila Estrada.  She was a member of Crawford’s first graduating class.  She helped coordinate numerous Class of ’59 reunions, staying close with many wonderful classmates.  In 1976 Navy Lt. Bill Eckert asked Carolina for a dance at the Admiral KIdd Club and a romance began, culminating in a military wedding in August 1977 and 43 wonderful married years thereafter, with enjoyable trips to many parts of the world.  Carolina was very proud of her Mexican heritage and maintained close relationships with family members in Mexicali, Tijuana, Los Angeles and New York City.  She shared many fun times with her San Diego girls’ sorority, the Iota Pi’s.

A Celebration of Life is scheduled for June 12, 2021 in the southernmost section of Paradise Point called Vacation Isle Park, on Hibiscus Lane, from noon to 3 PM.  All are welcome to attend and celebrate Carolinas life.  Lin lieu of flowers, please send donations to https://www.stjude.org/ Carolina’s favorite charity.

Ron Newport ’62 passed away May 10, 2021.  He was born in Nevada, Missouri and moved to San Diego in 1948 with his brother Larry and sister Linda.  Ron quickly adopted the Southern California lifestyle.  He received his education at San Diego State University.  As a youth, Ron became interested in the environment. Two of his interests were forestry and firefighting.  In 1963 Ron was hired by the California Division of Forestry. His initial assignment was with a dozer crew where he assisted in building fire roads, inspecting dams and learning the wildland firefighting trade.  In 1965, Ron was called to serve his country in the United States Army. Ron completed basic training and was stationed at Fort Polk, Louisiana as an orthopedic medic. His job included setting, casting, splinting, pinning, and treating soldier’s fractures and other orthopedic related injuries. Three months later, Ron’s brother was called to serve his country. His brother was deployed to Vietnam and was unfortunately killed in action while performing Special Forces duty.  After being discharged from the Army, Ron went back to work for the California Division of Forestry (CDF). His initial assignment as a seasonal firefighter was in San Diego County. In 1967 Ron was hired permanently as a firefighter in CDF/Orange County Fire Dept. Ron became a member of the crash fire rescue crew at the Orange County Airport (now called John Wayne Airport).  Ron married Merrilee Fortin in 1978, and had one daughter, Dani Newport Barker.  Ron enjoyed his time off with his family and friends water skiing and snow skiing and house boating. He played rugby many years, golf, and Senior Softball with the La Mesa League, along with many other sports.

May 14, 2021

Last week was Teacher Appreciation Week at Crawford.  The foundation paid for a Panera breakfast to be catered for the teachers on Monday and, on Cinco de Mayo, there was a catered lunch from Taquiza Jose.  Thanks to a large check from a '65 grad, and your donations, allowed gift cards to be passed out to an appreciative faculty.  Hey, isn't that the cafeteria on the right?  I got kicked out of there for shooting a straw wrapper.

Who knew?  I was scrolling through the guide on my television and noticed a kids' show on KPBS starring a donkey named Hodie.   I burst out laughing when I sounded out Donkey Hodie.

Recognize these ladies?  The Los Angeles Times on Tuesday, in an article asking if masks might no longer be necessary outdoors, took a photo of a fellow either putting one on -- or taking it off -- under the watchful gaze of some old friends at Knott's Berry Farm.

Boy am I confused.  Marcia Sleet '59 shares her 5th Grade photo from Rolando Elementary, not to be confused with Rolando Park Elementary.  Rolando Elementary, on Tower Street west of 70th, is still there -- but part of the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District.  Click HERE to see an enlarged version of Marcia's photo, with some names.

Click HERE to peruse all 6 pages of the May 12, 1966 Pacer.  By the looks of the ad below, Sports Editor Bob Zucker had a side hustle.  Remember LPs?  Remember 45s?  Remember dial phones?

Jeff Garrison '73 shares a photo of his sister Christie '68 on the cover of the June 1976 issue of PSA Magazine 

If you were heading east on Upas Street in the '50s, say from Morley Field or the Zoo, you would have spotted this gas station at 30th Street.  There's a Jack in the Box there now.  Click HERE to see an enlargement of this photo, which appeared on Facebook this week.

Remember Balboa Stables across from Navy Hospital?  This photo appeared on Facebook this week.  I'm not gonna enlarge it for my web site, but thought it might bring back memories for some Colts.  A 1959 newspaper article said it was going to have to move because of the proposed Crosstown and Switzer Canyon Freeways.  The Switzer Canyon Freeway was never built, but I think the Crosstown Freeway would be I-5. 

May 7, 2021

A guy posted a photo on Facebook last week of his Starbucks cup.  He told the barista his name was Marc -- with a C.  My friend Andrea goes by Andé.  She told the girl at Starbucks her name was spelled with an E.  She got her coffee and there it was -- ENDI!   Then there was the time my friend Tom LaShell told the server at Karl Strauss the spelling of his name was T3om -- but the 3 was silent.  He went on to add that if she looked in the dictionary under gullible there would be a photo of his friend John Fry.

Don't know if you saw Richard Lederer's column in last Saturday's U-T.  He shared the little-known back story to a popular Mexican holiday: 

In the early 1900s, the Hellmann’s Mayonnaise Company was all set to deliver 12,000 jars of the condiment to Veracruz. This would have been the largest single shipment of mayonnaise ever brought to Mexico, but the ship sank, and the cargo was forever lost. The people of Mexico, who were crazy about mayonnaise and were eagerly awaiting its arrival, were saddened by the tragic loss. Their anguish was so great that they declared a National Day of Mourning, which they still observe to this day — Sinko de Mayo.

There are three Weitzens in this College Park Bobs Coffee Shop Little League photo.  Click HERE to find out who is whom -- and see an ad for Bob's Coffee Shops.

AND he played drums later with the Cascades.  Click HERE to read some other articles from the May 11, 1961 Pacer.