FRY DAY

June 15, 2012


(Words or phrases in RED connect directly to emails or web sites)

My neighbor Sandy dropped by the other night to let me know that her renters, in the house next to me would soon be leaving, and that she was interviewing a new tenant but wanted to check with me first.  She's very considerate.  He's 30.  OK.  He's a musician who's been hired to play in the Summer Pops.  OK.  He'll need to practice during the day.  OK.  He plays the tuba.  Oh, really? That should be interesting.  I'll keep you posted.

NEW BUSINESS

Ken Kramer Interviews Jim Daigh

I wore my subtlest Hawaiian shirt to Rudford's Restaurant last week to hook up with Jim Daigh '64 -- and I almost blended in.  Jim was there to be interviewed by Ken Kramer about the day 49 years earlier when he took the great picture of John F. Kennedy in front of Rudford's.  You can revisit the site and see a couple of photos of the interview taken by Jim's wife Marla.  Nancy took the portrait of me, plus another shot on the web page.

Guess Which Colt Is Greek?

A Colt Mini-Reunion.  Victor Perez ’71, Alexandra “Sandy” Mouzas ’73, Phil Piscopo ‘71 and Irma Perez ’74 at the San Diego Greek Festival at Saint Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church on June 8, 2012.

Henry Clay Elementary

Ann Lebus Schmidt '74 finally figured out how to use her scanner, and forwards her 4th, 5th and 6th Grade (above) photos from Henry Clay Elementary School.  What a sweet sentiment she shares in saying good bye to Mr. Hill.  Reminds me of when I taught at Hale Junior High.  They loved me -- or so I thought.  I was paging fondly, not long ago, through one of my annuals and sat up straight when I spotted "You Suck Mr. Fry!!"  It was unsigned.  Ah, kids

OLD BUSINESS

Spray Nozzles?

Your continued work to keep all of us Colts connected is AWESOME!  Curious minds wonder if taking all the "spray net nozzles'' was for the fun of it or did they really serve a purpose?  Eileen Baumgarten Gaudette ’74

(If you have no idea what Eileen is talking about, join the club.  Turns out she actually READS the stuff I put out, including the Golden Anniversary Pacer, in which one John Fry willed his "collection of spray nozzles to the people from whom they were taken".  It must be true because it's in the paper, but I have absolutely no recollection of such a thing -- JF)

Profesora Brownell

Thanks for the heads up on Profesora Brownell.  I will send out a card this morning and maybe it will get to her in time! I went on to major in Spanish language and history at San Diego State.   I never used my Spanish for its intended use.  I wanted to be a teacher, just like Ms. Brownell.  I ended up marrying just out of college, having three kids (all who speak Spanish!!) and becoming a real estate broker when they were all in school! But, as someone famous once said "Educate a man, and you educate a wage earner; educate a woman and you educate the children of the world".  So Ms. Brownell taught me the love of the land and the language, and I passed it on to my kids!   I have used my Spanish on many, many trips to all parts of Mexico. so it never went to waste!!  Jaye Apcenski Munger ’60

You and your amazing website, and e-mail list.  Another wonderful stack of birthday greetings for Mom.  She enjoyed every one of them on her 101st Birthday.  Thank everyone who responded.  Steve Brownell ‘64

Where was the '64 Prom?

Yes the 64 prom was at the El Cortez when it still had a glass elevator.  That and the graduation ceremony were the only "senior" events I was able to attend -- Karen Richter Tolvo ’64

The '64 Prom was at the El Cortez. But I can’t remember the where the bowling alley the after prom was at. I know it was right beside Hwy. 8 -- Dennis Mullican '64

Tell Maureen Nepp Millman it was the El Cortez Hotel.   I recall riding the glass elevator up the side along with Carol Fisk -- Ron Dixon ‘64

Yes, it was held at the El Cortez complete with an actual Carousal in the ballroom!  I think "Carousal" was the theme! See pictures in the "64" Annual! Bob Zito ’64

Yep, ‘64 prom at El Cortez -- Julie Eskew Daniel ’64

Yes the '64 prom was held at the El Cortez......remember it well.....ok sorta....the after prom was at a bowling alley. I’m looking for info on prom date Michael Rundt -- Dotty Saladin Matz ’64

It was only 42 years ago but I thought I was at the El Cortez in 64 -- John Murphy ’64

The comment by Maureen reminded me of the saying "If you can remember the ‘60s, you really weren't there".  Thanks for the smiles every Fry day -- Pat Chambers ’60

Are you a Turtle?

John, if someone asks you "Are you a turtle" the correct answer is "You bet your sweet ass I am". I have no idea of the origins, but I believe it was in the mid sixties when I first heard it -- Rick Combs '59

John. the way I heard the story was: when somebody ask you if you were a turtle you had to say "you bet your sweet ass I am" If not you had to buy them a drink. ( An old astronaut joke) -- Jim Smith ’63

Miriam Kanter Plotkin '72 let me know that she is an authority on real turtles and tortoises AND, in fact, IS herself a turtle.  Well, she sent me some of the double-entendre questions.  I would share them but I can't for the life of me figure out clean answers to any of them.  Doesn't matter.  All is revealed in the next letter.

Hi John,Once again I had fellow Colts vouch for my memory and sanity. I heard directly from Donna E. Johnson ’62 and Leslie Benjamin Wichers ’71 who both are members of The Turtles Club.  Leslie sent a Wiki link and given your interest in military aviation you might find the WIKI LINK to be of interest.   Again thanks for providing me the opportunity to once more prove my sanity to my wife -- Ed Schoenberg  ‘70

FRY DAY

June 8, 2012


(Words or phrases in red connect directly to emails or web sites)

I spent much of last weekend and Monday folding, labeling, and double-stickering 550 Crawford Alumni newsletters.  On Tuesday Nancy and I took them to the Midway Post Office.  If you're a subscriber you should have gotten yours in the mail.  It was a spectacular day so we drove out to the Cabrillo Monument before lunching at Good Time Charlie's with the Class of '63 Reunion Committee.  A good time was had by all.  There are still venues to be investigated, with October 2013  as a probable date.

NEW BUSINESS

If you participated in the Rock 'n Roll Marathon, and thought you were having a near-death experience, that really WAS Lulu Anaya Bayless '63 on the 163 Freeway cheering you on while pounding on a Taiko drum.

Profesora Brownell (Archibald) will turn 101 on June 11th, notes hijo Steve Brownell '64.  If you'd like to pop a birthday card in the mail, send it to:  Frances Archibald, 5682 Kingsford Terrace, Irvine, CA, 92603 

Maureen Nepp Millman '64 says she's having a Senior Moment, or at least was having one when she couldn't recall if her prom was at El Cortez -- or somewhere else.  Thoughts?

OLD BUSINESS

Adele Spirz Delgado '71reports in:  "I've lived just above Lake Henshaw, on Mesa Grande, since 1976. Those turkeys were introduced without input from the public many years ago.   When they first were sighted by locals we asked if they were drinking Wild Turkey when they saw them.  When it became apparent they really were here and fish and game asked for comment, they had already done too well to do anything about it.  They are a non-native species, taking the  Quail niche habitat.  They have stripped my grape vines, taken my peacocks away with them, mowed down the outfields, damaged vehicles unlucky enough to run into them but they are good on the BBQ -- just stuff with sage, rosemary, apples and enjoy." 

"Are you a turtle?"  I guess not.  Someone said she was going to share the secret questions with me, but never got back to me.

GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY PACER

The party's over.  Here's the last Pacer for the Class of '62 Seniors, an 8-page extravaganza, published on June 4, 1962.  I've taken the liberty of showing my final page as Sports Editor above.   Click HERE to enjoy.

IN MEMORIAM

Marilyn Medak '63 died on April 29, 2012.  You can read a short obituary and sign the guest book on the Class of 1963 Obituary Page.

Janice Wilkerson Ziemann '63 passed away on May 29th due to complications from diabetes and kidney failure.  A few additional facts are available on the Class of '63 Obituary Page.

Susan Terdik Tippets '64 died on May 30th.  Sharrin Mass Miller '61 sent the sad tidings, noting that Susan and Sharon's husband discovered the Colt Connection when they worked together.

FRY DAY

June 1, 2012


(Words or phrases in red connect directly to emails or web sites)

Renewal envelopes for the quarterly newsletter went out this past Tuesday.  If you'd like to subscribe or renew on-line click HERE.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DREAMER

Hi John
I just wanted to thank you for all the hard work you do and the fun and interesting things that you post.  My husband Bob Biehler so looked forward to his “Fry Day!” email and made sure he had time to read it before getting started for the day.  Thank you for the smiles and memories that you gave him. The evening before he passed away, he talked on the phone to a man by the name of David Dickinson who has a website called The Old Car Nut.  He is collecting stories about car guys and Bob wanted to tell him some stories.  They had plans to meet but alas that was not to be.  Bob had started a list of things he wanted to tell David about.  I know some of the stories so David came to our house and met with me for hours.  He is publishing stories about Bob’s life and car things as I remember them and he can get them online.  His first story about Bob is called Southern California Dreamer.  Thanks again John for the memories you gave Bob and shared about him -- Tanya Biehler (360-491-3818)

WILHELMINA TELL

I was in adapted PE at Crawford because of my asthma.  I was fortunate enough, in my senior year (I think), to be introduced to the sport of archery.  Apparently I did well enough at it (which doesn’t say anything because not many were interested…nor did they consider it a sport…) that I was entered into the intra-murals…couldn’t tell you how many or which schools were involved.  All I know is that I won the blue ribbon.  There was an event (don’t know exactly what it entailed) to present the ribbons.  My parents wouldn’t let me go (they didn’t think it was note-worthy either).  It’s just that no one believes I won a “sport” ribbon!  And, I have no proof…except that my retired SDPD husband claims I’m a great shot with a handgun.  If anyone recalls anything about archery intra-murals in 1967 or 1968 I would like to hear from them. -- Kat Lally Wolf '68

ARE YOU A TURTLE?

Ed Schoenberg's long-suffering wife apparently had finally accepted the fact that Der Wienerschnitzel ads once urged you to "put a great big hot dog in your face", when Ed's PTSD acted up again.  I'll let HIM tell it.  

I again need your help with a check on my memory and/or sanity. The other day while watching TV someone on the show asked “Are you a turtle?” -- to which I immediately shouted out “You bet your sweet ass I am”.  Of course my wife gave me the “what -- are you crazy?” look and then asked “what was that all about?”.  I told her that in high school I was a member of the Turtles Club.  As I recall it was not a sanctioned club per se but -- when you became a member by answering four double entendre questions -- you got a Turtle Club card.  I remember that I became a member through my friends in the Play Productions class (so it may have been confined to the “drama types”) but I remember little else about it.  Once again my wife believes I’m making this all up so I’m appealing to the “Colt Community” to defend my memory and sanity once again by sharing what they remember about the “Turtles” -- Ed Schoenberg ‘70

1962 SENIOR PROM AND AFTER-PROM BIDS

Sharon Meiner Calton '62 shares the bids from the 1962 Prom and After-Prom -- 50 years to the day after the event.  The prom was held at the El Cortez and the after prom at Parkway Bowl.

IN MEMORIAM

Barbara Prout Fulton '62 died Saturday, May 19th at San Diego at San Diego Hospice.  She had suffered from cancer and dementia.  Barbara was buried at El Camino Memorial Park.  Click HERE to sign the on-line guest book.

FRY DAY, MAY 25, 2012

The problem with the Fry Day emails is that I never hear back from the folks who don’t get them.  Time-Warner will only let me send 500 emails in a batch, which means I have to send out six different batches.  (I know — hard to believe — but there are over 3000 Colts are on my list).  Sometimes a batch is rejected, with the mysterious “domain does not resolve” message.  Last week that happened with the last batch.  I was able to work around it, by emailing to individual classes.  “This is the first email I have received from you in a LONG time,” responded Linda Zweig ‘76.  “I have not received these in over six months,” said Marcia Williams Carver ‘76.  Hopefully I will start to get them again.”  

Well, ladies — here’s the deal.  Beginning this week I am going to try to post my entire Fry Day missive on the Colt Corral link.   That way it will always be just a click away.

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

Some of you may have had Coach Ron Davidson at Horace Mann.  I met him when he moved into College Village Apartments.  He called me Sloth.  He called everyone Sloth.   He didn’t mean lazy.  It may have been his favorite word.  My friend Jeff Dalrymple’s personalized plates say “SLOTHS” in honor of Ron.  We never could figure out why he quit teaching to join the Marines and go to Vietnam.  There was a rumor that he did it so his younger brother would not be drafted.  When it was time to ship out for Vietnam Ron asked me to drive him to Camp Pendleton.  He had his dress uniform in a plastic bag and told me he would be wearing it in his coffin when he returned to the states.  I started to argue with him — but you didn’t argue with Ron.  I’ll be thinking of him more than usual this Memorial Day Weekend.  There are some wonderful memories of him posted on the Colts Who Died in Vietnam page.  I hope you’ll take a look.  Get a box of tissues and watch the great video that the kids at Crawford put together also.

GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY PACER

Boy, it was a tough run for Pacer Editor-in-Chief Donna Ochiuto 50 years ago this month.  In the previous issue she wrote about Barbara Lamb getting lei’d.  This week, well — you’ll see — if you read the 6-page Golden Anniversary May 24, 1962 issue of the Pacer.

EUCLID ELEMENTARY CLASS PHOTOS

Rick Blaine ‘64 went to Euclid Elementary and has his 4th, 5th, and 6th Grade class photos to prove it.

ROLANDO PARK CLASS PHOTOS — AND TWAIN ELEMENTARY TOO

Alan Olson ‘64 has been removed from the ‘64 Missing List and added to the ‘64 Email Page.  In addition he shares his 3rd through 6th Grade Photos from Rolando Park Elementary -- AND Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd at Mark Twain Elementary. 

Click HERE to look at an enlarged version of Rozelle Mystery Photo #77.

Click HERE to take a look at the 1965 Vespers Program sent in by Bob Mardon '64

Click HERE to read Oak Park Poetry 55

Click HERE to read the the May 10, 1962 Pacer.

Click HERE to look at a schoolyard photo of Bancroft Elementary, in Spring Valley, from the late 1940s.  John Fry is interested in hearing from anyone who can help him identify the people in the photo.

Click HERE to look at five Autochrome color photos of the Braemar estate in Pacific Beach circa 1926.

Rozelle Mystery Photo #76

Click HERE to check out a photo Howard took in 1950.  I'm pretty sure it was taken downtown.  Davies Nash and Balboa Oldsmobile should be good clues.

Jackson Elementary: 1953-1959

Click HERE to enjoy all seven Jackson Elementary class photos from William Braxton "Joe" Dyke '65

April 26, 1962 Pacer

Click HERE to read the Golden Anniversary Pacer for April 26, 1962

Bob Biehler: 1942-2012

Bob "Mr Weld" Biehler '61 passed away unexpectedly at his home in Olympia, Washington on April 13th.  Click HERE to go to the Class of '61 Obituary page and read his obituary.  You can also sign the guest book.

44th and University 1945

Click HERE to check out the best Rozelle aerial ever.  If you have a hazy recall of the late 1940s and, like Nancy, went shopping with Mom in North Park, you may recognize the area Howard captured in this photo.

March 19, 1971 Pacer

Click HERE to find out what was happening at Crawford 41 years ago.

Leslie Herrmann: 1952-2012

A "Celebration of Life" for Leslie Herrmann '70, who passed away March 25th, will be held Sunday, April 22nd, 2 PM, at the Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center, San Diego State University.  Click HERE to read the obituary and HERE to sign the guest book.

KDEO Top 40 for January 3, 1962

Click HERE to check out the KDEO "Fabulous 40" list for the first week of 1962.  I'm pretty sure I'm NOT prejudiced.  These ARE the best songs ever recorded!

March 5, 1971 Pacer

Click HERE to take a gander at the 6-page Pacer from March 5, 1971.

¿Dónde está Hussong's?

Click HERE to see the photo Howard Rozelle took in Ensenada, Mexico on May 29, 1955.

Golden Anniversary Pacer

Penny Bobrof '62 is but one of many Colt Fillies featured in the 6-page Spring Fashion issue of the Pacer published on April 5, 1962.  Click HERE to have a gander.

Bob Mardon and Friends

Click HERE to see this and other photos enlarged -- and learn the stories behind them.

February 11, 1971 Pacer

Coke machines were returned to campus and Susan Wilkerson was honored for her science project.  Click HERE to read what else was newsworthy in the Pacer for February 11, 1971.

Leroy Zeke: The Coolest High School Band Ever

Tony Flores '72 thinks "Leroy Zeke", featured in the March 20th issue of The Reader had at least one, maybe two, Colts in the band.  I'm thinking David Good, author of the piece, is a Crawford graduate.  Click HERE to read the article.  Click HERE to check out the Leroy Zeke Myspace page.

Oddball Comics

"Crotch-Centric Cover Art?" Just one of the topics Scott Shaw '68 will address at his "Oddball Comics" show in Hollywood on April 7th.  Click HERE for details.

Alligator Farm

Ah, those were the good old days -- when loving parents would place their little darlings in a cage with an alligator, albeit with his jaws tied.  Click HERE to see all the gruesome details of the photo sent in by Sharon Cramer Sceper '68.

Golden Anniversary Pacer

Click HERE to read the Golden Anniversary Pacer -- March 22, 1962.

JFK in San Diego

Click HERE to watch the 30-minute Channel 8 video of President Kennedy's visit to San Diego on June 6, 1963, sponsored by Douglas Gasoline.

Neil Cunningham '61 at the Greek Bowl

Seriously, Bob Richardson '61 says there can't be but one or two of his photos left that we haven't seen.  He thinks he took this shot of classmate Neil Cunningham at San Diego State's Greek Bowl sometime during the 1958-1959 school year.  As an interesting aside, George Lincoln Rockwell, chief poobah of the American Nazi Party, was invited to speak at the Greek Bowl during Bob's Freshman Year at State.  You can read what happened -- and listen, too -- via links I've provided.  Click HERE to check it all out.

Campus Lab School 1955

Bob Richardson '61 adds a snapshot to his Campus Lab School 1955 Sixth Grade Graduation page.   Click HERE to check it out.

House Completion Party

Click HERE to see an enlarged photo of the folks who helped Bob Mardon '64 complete his house in 1991.

Ant Farm of Doom, by Scott Shaw '68

Click HERE to read Scott's graphic mini-novel about his ant farm.

College Avenue Der Wienerschnitzel

Click HERE read what folks had to say about Ed Schoenberg's memories of the Der Wienerschnitzel jingle.

January 22, 1971 Pacer

Click HERE to read the January 22, 1971 Pacer submitted by Velinda Clanton Peterson '72

Montezuma Elementary Field Trip

Click HERE to see the photo taken on the 1956 Montezuma Elementary field trip to NAS Miramar and read what Dennis Blackburn '62 had to say about moving BACK to the old neighborhood.

Dick Jackson: 1927-2012

Dick Jackson, my Trig teacher at Crawford and principal at Hale Junior High, passed away March 7th.  Click HERE to sign the guest book.

San Diego State 1968

Trust me, this 1968 aerial photo of San Diego State looks way better enlarged to 12 x 9.  Click HERE to see for yourself.

Golden Anniversary Pacer

Click HERE to read the March 8, 1962 Pacer.  Who knew it was also the 100th Anniversary of the battle between the Monitor and the Merrimac?

"Blades", by Rod Bankhead '63

Click HERE to take a look at "Blades", by Rod Bankhead '63.  It might even be a free Kindle download.

Colt Obituary

Craig Wallbrett '65 passed away March 3, 2012.  Click HERE to sign the on-line guest book.

Crawford Pacer for November 25, 1970

Click HERE to read the Pacer for November 25, 1970.

Chevrolet Roads to Romance

Chevrolet Roads to Romance: San Diego and the Ramona Country is a 3-minute color video shot around 1950.  There are great scenes of Coronado, the ferry, Cabrillo Highway and Ramona Country -- the San Jacinto Valley.  Click HERE to take a ride.