For people who attended Crawford High School or would have attended if they hadn't
moved -- or just have fond memories of San Diego in the '40s, '50s and '60s.

Check out the Crawford High web site.

Friday, March 15, 2013


Nancy and I attended last Tuesday's meeting of the Foundation, held in the school library.  I'm the seated Santa Claus.  The baseball coach dropped by and talked about coaching kids from East Africa in the fine points of America's pastime.  By the way, he doesn't have a full complement of baseballs, gloves, or batting gloves -- and he's missing a JV coach.


KPBS ran a piece this week about why Crawford went to four small campuses and why it went back to one big campus.  Click HERE to read the article.  Apparently you can also listen to the story.


From the collection of Ann Roskos Roffelsen '63 I've posted the program from "Tahitian Farewell".  I assumed it was the Senior Prom, but it looks like it might be the 1963 Senior Awards Ceremony.  Click HERE to check it out.




Ed Herrmann '64, pictured above as a New York Yankee in 1975, is battling cancer.  His wife Barbara invites you to go to Caring Bridge if you'd like to know how he's doing.



Bill "Cappy" Paxton '66 forwards a photo of his 1962 La Mesa Tool Colt League Baseball team.  Sad to report, he can only recognize one person in the shot and he's pretty sure it's himself.  Click HERE to check it out for your own self.   If nothing else you can enjoy the Chollas Radio Tower in the background.


Also from Cappy is this photo of the Paxton family home at 5704 Lindo Paseo circa 1953.  I've added it to the Howard Rozelle Photo #61 Page.


Guess how much a Big Mac and large french fries cost at the McDonalds on 54th and El Cajon in 1972?  No I'm not telling!!  You'll have to go to the March 17, 1972 Pacer donated by Velinda Clanton Peterson '72


Looks like the Class of '73 will celebrate its 40th Reunion on August 24th at the Bali Hai.  Email Debbie Leimbach Ciccati for more information.



"Want a garden on your wall?"  That's the headline over the article in the U-T this week featuring Jim Mumford '75 and his Good Earth Plants.  Click HERE read all about it.



Friday, March 8, 2013

IT'S DARK, COLD and rainy in Pacific Beach.  Nancy and I ended up in the old neighborhood last Fry Day and dined at the Kensington Cafe.  She remembered going to the Safeway in Kensington as a toddler.  I've learned not to question her memories.

Sorry about the brevity of this posting, but I spent Monday licking, folding and banding Crawford newsletter subscription envelopes for the Class of '65, which went in the mail Tuesday.  Wednesday and Thursday were taken up folding, double-tabbing, labeling and banding 550 copies of the March newsletter.  That went in the mail yesterday.

Original faculty member Jesse Morphew showed up at last night's First Thursday Festa at Nicolosi's and asked the first old person he saw if he went to Crawford.  Turned out he did, but didn't know there was a party going on.  There may well have been 40 folks in attendance -- and only one waitress.  The lovely Bianca never folded, despite my rough behavior.


Services for Larry Mabee '61, who passed away December 16th, were held January 5th.  An obituary appeared in the U-T this past weekend.  Click HERE to go to the Class of '61 Obituary page to read the obituary and/or sign the guest book.


Boy, the Golden Anniversary Pacer -- March 7, 1963 -- was chock full of goodies, from the retirement of Sgt. Kaltenbach to the Colts winning CIF in basketball.  Click HERE to read all about it.



Rick Pepin '73 wonders if plans are afoot for a Class of '73 40th Reunion.   I'm not sure how he'll get the answer, since he asked to be taken off the Fry Day list.



Friday, March 1, 2013


I've decided to start reporting on Nancy and my Fry Day breakfast plans after the fact, since we often end up not where we'd planned.  Last Fry Day we met Stephanie Rose Petersen '74 at Janet's Montana Cafe in Alpine, then drove past the snow-covered fields around Lake Cuyamaca.  The snow plows were still working when we drove through Julian on our way home.



It's been a while since I shared a historic photo of San Diego.  Here's a shot taken along old Highway 101 around 1928.  Can you guess where?  Click HERE when you're ready for the answer.



From Velinda Clanton Peterson '72, it's the Crawford High Pacer for February 25, 1972.  Click HERE to find out whether Mr. Foote "Can Be Trusted".



Burt Tate '70 sends word of the passing of his classmate Jeff Smith, who has been living in the Sacramento area for the past decade.  Plans for a memorial in San Diego are underway.

Mike Nesbit (or is it Mark?) is bringing all manner of Colt T-Shirts, hats, sweatshirts and other clothing.  The money earned will go to the school.  Also, if you're Class of '66 you'll be celebrating your 65th birthday -- whether you like it or not.  Nicolosi's, March 7th, 6 PM.  See you there.



Friday, February 22, 2013


Word came last night from Jim L Smith '63 of the passing of his sister Meredith Smith Sutherland '61 from the complications of MS.  Also surviving is Connie Smith Harrison '60.  I assume additional details will follow.


Click HERE to read the Pacer from February 21, 1963.   Senior Day promised a trip to the Cinerama Theater to see "The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm".  Be still my heart!!



I'm not sure Anne Roskos Roffelsen '63 got to see "The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm" but she did attend the 1963 ASB Ball.  Click HERE to learn what it said on the inside of the invite.



Judy Bale Pitts '64 passed away February 13th, according to her husband Gary.



The quilt above is one Judy Martin Bennett '68 made when she was nine years old.  Click HERE to visit her web site and see what else she's put together.   Click HERE to visit the National Quilt Museum web site, where 30 of Judy's quilts are on display.




Cheri Lynch Hamilton '71 has written a book about her daughter Bethany, who still surfs after losing an arm in a shark attack.  I guess Bethany has her own book, too.  Click HERE to email Cheri if you'd like to purchase autographed copies of either book.



Richard Mooney '74 shares a photo of the Car He Drove To School -- a 1958 Nash Metropolitan.   Click HERE to revisit the "Cars We Drove To School Page".



Friday, February 15, 2013

IT'S STILL DARK IN PACIFIC BEACH, but my heater has turned itself off and we're supposed to have a day that's warm and sunny.  Nancy's still hoping for Eggs Benedict at Green Flash, parking permitting.  Last Friday we had the Western Potato Scramble at Good Time Charlies.


Steve Brownell '64 has added a remembrance to the Faculty Obituary Page under the photo of his mom -- Senora Frances Brownell, or Archibald, depending on when you had her for Spanish.  She died in her sleep on Christmas Eve at the age of 101.  Click HERE to go there.



I'm not sure what I was doing on May 11, 1962, but Ann Roskos Roffelesen '63 was attending what I assume was the Hoover Junior Prom featuring The Nomads.  Click HERE to check out the program.


Speaking of Hoover High, remember when it, and all of San Diego's secondary schools, were multi-storied and brick?  This is the Hoover I recall, although the photo actually appeared in the 1932 Dias Cardinales yearbook.



Stan Keniston '66 sends word of the death of his classmate Chuck Gilbreth on April 18, 2012, while riding his bike on Montezuma Road.  Click HERE to read a U-T article about prosecuting the driver.



Speaking of the Class of '66, this photo leaped out of the Centaur.  I thought at first it was "tongue in cheek". but Mr. Juel's overhead projector might welll have been "the latest in audio-visual equipment" in 1966.



Click HERE to read the February 10, 1972 Pacer.  The Winter Baseball team featured a young pitcher named Chuck Rainey, who went on to some repute with the Boston Red Sox.





Friday, February 8, 2013

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Friday, February 1, 2013

IT'S STILL DARK IN PACIFIC BEACH, but not as so cold.  Nancy and I are going to run the Class of '71 newsletter renewal notices down to the Midway Post Office then head back to Pacific Beach for an 11:30 lunch with Lynn Routt Swanson and Penny Bobrof at Good Time Charlie's.  You're welcome to join us.


Turns out Ann Roskos Roffelsen is Class of '63 -- not '65.  (I thought she was a little young to be attending the 1961 Prom).  This week we'll look at her invite from the Class of '63 Junior Prom.  Well, I think it's the Junior Prom.  Click HERE to check it out.  I'm sure I'll here quickly if I've made another error.

James Pitt grew up in Del Cerro and went to Hoover.   His best friend -- Gary Stewart -- went to Crawford.  Gee, it's like the Blue and the Grey in the Civil War.  Turns out there were TWO Gary Stewarts in Crawford's Class of '63.  I don't have phone numbers for either.  Do you?



Bob Adams has checked in and is now on the Class of '64 Email Page.  He says "Hola!" from San Carlos, Nuevo Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico.  (That's it above) He didn't exactly say "Come on down!" but I bet he'd be happy to see you. 


If you missed the Ken Kramer episode in which he interviews James Daigh '64 about his photo of JFK in front of Rudford's Restaurant, you can watch it on your computer.  Click HERE to give it a go.


Bill "Cappy" Paxton '66 has apparently just discovered the photos of San Diego State that Bob Richardson took in 1973.  Bill was excited to see his family home.  Click HERE to read some of his other recollections.

Ann Bank Villarqui '69 (you knew her as Pat) is the Colt trying to remember the rock concert she attended in the summer of '68.  " I had just moved to San Diego, and my parents' friends' daughter took me to the outdoor venue with her," says Ann.  "It was definitely Taj Mahal, and maybe Led Zeppelin" 



George Glover '73 has fond memories of Aunt Emma's with his dad, with his Crawford buddies, and -- at the Chula Vista Aunt Emma's -- with his daughter.  Click HERE to return to the Aunt Emma's page and read the rest of the story.  Maybe if I get a spare moment I'll add my Aunt Emma's memories.

 Tom Tice checks in from Rio Rancho, New Mexico and can be found on the Class of '73 Email Page.


Looks like the First Thursday gatherings are back, but not at the Amigo Spot.  They're returning to the Nicolosi's on Navajo Road, just east of Jackson Drive.  6 PM, Thursday, February 7.




Friday, January 25, 2013

IT'S STILL DARK IN PACIFIC BEACH and think I can hear it raining.  Nancy and I visited Mom yesterday in the Alzheimer's facility.  Nobody is getting any younger in those places -- or anywhere else.  I hadn't been to Anthony's Fish Grotto in quite a while, so we headed down to the waterfront.  They asked me if I wanted my usual table, but we sat by the water.


Jo Milazzo Block '63 forwarded this photo of the business opened by her dad and two uncles in 1952.  Do you recognize the locale?  Click HERE to check out a 9 x 12 enlargement and informative caption.


Ann Roskos Roffelson '63 shares the 1961 Prom and After Prom bids this week.  It would appear that a cluster of Colts got all dressed up and drove to the Hotel del Coronado on June 9, 1961 -- traveling across the bay by ferry -- then dined and danced from 8 to 12.  Apparently still bright-eyed and bushy-tailed they hopped back in their cars, took the ferry back across the bay, and delivered themselves in front of the U. S. Grant Hotel, where the party continued until 6 AM.  It's making ME tired just writing about it.  I wonder if anyone lived to tell the tale.  Click HERE to check out the bids and menu.  Hope you speak French.


I'm pretty sure that's a new masthead (Oh, God -- I hope that's called a masthead) atop the January 24, 1963 Pacer.  Why yes, that IS 50 years ago.  Lotsa fun stuff, including a group photo of the Kiwanis Basketball Champs.  I liked the Earl Scheib ad.  He'll paint any car for $29.95.  You'll have to drive to 3145 Frontier Drive to get the work done.  Call AC 2-7744 if you have any questions.  Click HERE to read all four pages.


This story is a week late, because I forgot.  You can still read Fred Dickey's article in the January 14, 2013 UT San Diego about Teri Hunter Burg '64 and her work with Stand Up For Kids San Diego.  Click HERE.



Sam Zolezzi '67 passed away January 4, 2013 and was laid to rest at Miramar National Cemetery.  Click HERE to read Sam's memories of his flying career and its effects on his health.  Click HERE to sign the on-line guest book.


George Sorenson '69 thinks you might enjoy an article in the current New York Magazine on the "corrosive, traumatizing effects" of high school.  I was more interested in "Back to the Future", Argentine photographer Irina Werning's attempt to stage reenactments of old photos, such as those above.  Click HERE to read the article.  Click HERE to look at Irina's first collection.  Click HERE to check out her second collection.



Saturday, January 19, 2013

OH, MAN -- that cold spell finally ended, although it's a little brisk in Pacific Beach this morning.  I actually left the front door open yesterday.  The days are getting longer, so summer can't be too far off.

Karen Conley Brockman '72 called me to task for not keeping her abreast of my Fry Day brunch schedule and Mom updates.  Just between you and me, Nancy and I often don't end up at our initial destination.  Last Friday traveled to Pine Valley and had breakfast at Major's, which hadn't been our original plan.  Mom's hanging in there, thank you for asking.


Mary Gale Rogers has traced former Latin and French teacher Pierre Pingitore to Maryland, where he recently married.  He is 84.  She can't find an address or phone number, but says he is listed on Facebook.


Richard Cloward '60, owner of Pacific Shores Maps, "saw" my 1920 Auto Club Map and "raised" me a 1917 Auto Club Map and a 1930 Auto Club Strip Map.  Click HERE see all three.


And to think it's been sitting in my bookcase for a month.  I finally got around to opening the memorabilia on temporary loan from Ann Roskos Rofflesen '63.  Bob and Susan Roskos Mardon brought it by over a month ago.  Click HERE to check out an Aunt Emma's Pancakes menu.  Note there were three locations.  The one in Pacific Beach became Uncle Susie's, then Krishna Mulvaney's, then was dozed to become part of the present day Promenade Shopping Center. 


When did THAT happen?  The January 21, 1972 Pacer has an ad for "Swap A Tape".  I suspect ten years earlier, when I graduated, we might have tried to "Trade a '45".  The student paper also has an article listing the 81 girls and 30 boys who were planning to graduate at mid-term.  I liked what Robyn Goldenstein had to say:  "I don't know what I'm going to do, but anything's better than staying here."  You GO girl!!!  Click HERE to read what some of the others had to say.


John Ricci '73 died of cancer on January 11th.  Services will be held at 10:30 AM, on Saturday, January 19th at Foothills Christian Church, 365 West Bradley in El Cajon.  Click HERE to read an obituary and sign the guest book.

Friday, January 11, 2013

Steve Keller '65 checks in from Concord, CA and also shares the email address of his sister Kathleen Keller Tab '69.  Thanks to Mary Gale Rogers '67 two BFFs from the Class of '75 are reunited.  We'll see if Jill Root Burbank or Paula Summit Newton get back to us.

Sharon Culver Considine '60 wonders what became of her Latin teacher Pierre Pingitore.  I traced him to Pennsylvania but the phone number listed was "no longer in service".

Someone asked me about a concert held during the Summer of '68, or perhaps '69.  I've lost the email so I hope they'll try again.


My Pacific Beach pal Willie Skinner loaned me an undated San Diego street map put out by the Automobile Club of Southern California.  He thought it might date to 1915.  I'm guessing 1920.  Click HERE to do your own research.


Click HERE to look at the KDEO "Fabulous 40" list for the week of January 5-11, 1962.  You might not even need your glasses.



I had hoped to share the December 17, 1971 Pacer somewhere around December 17, 2012, but it didn't happen.  Click HERE to read all six pages.