July 19, 2013

Sure is summer weather, but I can tell the days are getting shorter.  I have to turn on the light in the kitchen when I make my morning coffee now.  

Guess what?  Mom got her first ever notice for jury duty — one month to the day after she died.  I’m not sure whether to ignore it or try to figure out how to send it back.

Nancy and I were at a party in Harbison Canyon last weekend.  I hadn’t been out that way since Big Oak Ranch — and the Swallows Club.

Invitations to the Class of ‘63 50th Anniversary Reunion went out last week.  Joanie Adams Sturgeon woke me up in the middle of the night.   Actually, it turned out to be 8 PM and I may have been asleep in the Barcalounger.  I think she was returning my call about a possible new address.  At least I got her email address.  Something about having webbed feet and being unable to Hang Ten — hang8@att.net

Nancy and I were invited to the Class of '68 45th Anniversary Reunion the weekend of October 12th. Sadly we're planning to be at the Bahia Hotel that night for the Class of '63 Reunion.

Robert "Hutch" Hutchinson '64 is a new subscriber to the quarterly newsletter.

John O'Bryant '63 lamented the fact that last week's photo of Crystal Pier didn't show Maynard's Bar.  I allowed as how Maynard's was visible, but not yet Maynard's.  Click HERE if you'd like to revisit the photo I shared some time ago -- and fondly recall Sunday Morning Spanish Omelets with Red Beer.

I found three more photos that must have been taken at the same time as the 1960 Crystal Pier (or Food Basket if you prefer) photo.  Click HERE to take another look.

Class of '64 members Julia Burnham Little and Kim Beavers Shannon have shared memories of Palisades Gardens skating rink.

Jerry Ellis '61 happened upon the Carver Kindergarten photo submitted by Roberta Goss Marino '70.  Roberta's teacher Mrs. Ellis was Jerry's Mom Arline.

Judy “Judee” Butzine Blohm ’60 died July 10, 2013. She was recovering at her home in Arlington, Virginia after a recent surgery, and was with her dogs and her garden, where she wanted to be. She was found by a neighbor. Judee was a warm and loving person, and a wonderful friend to many. She shared her home, her garden, her love of life, her commitment to making the world a better place with the people around her, and was an inspiration and a comfort to those who knew her. Her brother Stephen Butzine ’65 preceded her in death in 1997.  Click HERE to go to the Celebration of an Incredible Life Facebook page.

Phillis Dudick and Kathy Tonsky Clyman send word of the passing on July 12, 2013 of their classmate Myra Segal '60.  There were no additional details but you can click HERE and sign the guest book.

Carol Billings Taylor '63 died of breast/bone cancer on July 1, 2013 according to her sister Linda Billings Anderson '66.  Click HERE to email Linda.  Click HERE to sign the guest book.

July 12, 2013

Donna Foster Westfall '65 renewed her subscription to the quarterly newsletter and attached a little heart-shaped note.  "Keep going, John.  You are doing great.  Have you thought about a successor? " I think she means when I die.  I'm not sure I'm replaceable, but the person would need to be able to use GoLive 6 web software (don't expect help from Adobe -- they quit supporting it years ago), Filemaker,  Google blog and Macintosh Pages publishing software for openers.

I'm guessing you can get some sweet deals at Le Travel Store's Going Out Of Business sale, especially if you wear your Crawford letterman's jacket.  Bill Keller '68 and his wife Joan are shutting down after 37 years.  Perhaps they want to travel.  Click HERE to watch the Vimeo produced by their son Jesse.  Click HERE to read the article in the U-T.

I can't believe they're talking about nominating Pope John Paul II for sainthood.  He's not even dead yet is he?  I took the vows of poverty and chastity, soo.  Well, they mostly seemed my destiny for a long time.  What?  I have to have performed miracles too?  Never mind.  Actually, now that I think about it, throwing off the poverty and chastity was something of a miracle.

It was July 4th -- AND Donut Thursday -- at Starbucks when Mission Bay High grad recognized one of his 1976 classmates on the way in.  Pete Gerrity could hardly wait to show off the vintage photo in his phone, and I could hardly wait to get a copy to share with you.  It's the intersection of Mission Blvd and Garnet, looking west to Crystal Pier, taken around 1960.  Click HERE to see the photo enlarged.

Someone on the "You Know You're From PB" Facebook page said the Food Basket photo up top came from a Facebook page.  I went there hoping to find the photographer -- to no avail.  I DID locate a color photo of North Park's Palisade Gardens however.  Click HERE to see it enlarged. Abandon all hope if you go to the Vintage San Diego Facebook page.  The San Diego Air & Space Museum link lists 155, 722 photos alone.  

Mike McKittrick '60 might be a third-generation San Diegan.  He stopped by this week with some historiana relating to Pacific Beach in the 19th century, plus a photo of Euclid Elementary (he thinks).  Click HERE to have a look and see if you can solve the mystery.

Laurie Brickey Adomanis '68 passed away June 19, 2013 from Multiple Myeloma.   She worked as a dispatcher for the La Mesa Police Department until her diagnosis in 2008.  She is survived by brothers Jim '66 and my old lunch buddy Wayne '62.

July 4th

Here's a Patriotic Colt drawn by Nancy Miljas and sent to me by Ron Klein

Betsy Scarborough '63 invites you to a book signing on Sunday, July 7th, from 1 to 4, at Lestat's Coffee House, 3343 Adams Avenue, in Normal Heights.  I assume she'll be there with her co-authors Ruthie Bible and Pat Oyeshiku.  The book is "The Thrill of the Hunt -- Memoirs of Second-Hand Aficianadas."    It's an insightful and humorous collection of memoirs about the second-hand market, be it garage sales, thrift stores, estate sales, etc. She says it'll be available "at the store" and on Amazon.  The "store" would be Nicolodeon Records, a few doors down from Lestat's.

In September Crawford will begin its second year in retro form — a single school with a single principal.  Music will be taught again and I’ve met with the music teacher.  She’s Emily Heck Gray, daughter of Randy Heck ‘69.  She looks about 14, probably because she’s a 2006 Mira Mesa grad.  But enough socializing.  Emily, for all intents and purposes, has no instruments.  I need for you to 

Donate an instrument

Pledge money for an instrument

Volunteer to play at a fund raising concert, or pay money to get out of having to play at a fundraising concert, or be ready to shell out the big bucks to attend a fund raising concert.  I’m certain I can get the Antofte Sisters to sing “Tonight You Belong To Me”.  I wonder if Jeff Lee and Oh Ridge are available?

Talk among yourselves and get back to me.

Mollie Novidor Lavin ‘72 has forwarded a photo of the Horace Mann Chorus from June 1967.   Click HERE to see it as an 8 x 12.

The Hillcrest Sears opened in 1953 and closed in 1988.  At one point the city considered moving the central library to the site but decided the structure wasn’t strong enough for books.  Hard to believe, but I guess books can weigh more than a sofa-bed.  Anyway, here’s a photo of Squeekie, the parakeet purchased at Sears by the Richardson family.  Click HERE to read what folks had to say about Sears,  the Ace Drive-In — and Twinkies. 

Gerry Nash '61 has added some information to the obituary of his brother Dick Nash on the Class of '59 Obituary Page.

Scot Hunter has added information and a photo to the obituary of his wife Cathy Johnson Hunter on the Class of '66 Obituary page.

Now on their respective email pages are Tim Scroggs ‘62, Miki Kipnis ‘67, Patti Morawitz Jacobs ‘68, Elizabeth Malkind Mitchell ‘69 and Charles Farris ‘71.  Subscribing to the quarterly newsletter were Dennis Frieden ‘59, Bill Kronberger ‘59, Ann Schoonover Bernhardt ‘59, and David Ellison ‘70

What?  Twinkies are back?  But I stockpiled 18 cases in my attic when they quit making them.  Guess I'll have to double up on my daily intake.

I was telling a friend one of my favorite stories, which took place when the “new” Sears store opened in Hillcrest in 1959.  Nancy immediately cut me off and said the story couldn’t have happened because the Hillcrest store didn’t open in 1959.  I’ve looked it up and of course she was right.  A least I’ve learned not to bet money anymore.  The story, by the way, was told to me by one of you out there who spotted Horace Mann shop teacher Mr. Olive demonstrating woodworking tools at Sears.  What’s your guess as to the year it opened? 

Speaking of things I thought I did but must not have because the math isn’t penciling out.  If it doesn’t get dark until 8 O’Clock — and have you noticed the days getting shorter since last weekend? — there’s no WAY I ever sat through a Triple Bill at the Ace Drive-In.  8 O’Clock is about when I fall asleep in my easy chair these days.  What time would I have gotten home if I survived three movies at the Ace?

I don't have any photos of the Ace Drive-In, but I did take shots of movie marquees in 1979 and 1980.  Click HERE to take a look.  Click HERE to read Field of Screens, Jay Allen Sanford's history of San Diego Drive-In movies.

It had to happen eventually.  This week’s Fry Day missive is nothing but obituaries.  On a happier note, Ann Schoonover Bernardt ‘59 and David Ellison ‘70 are new subscribers to the quarterly newsletter.  The JFK photo has taken on a life of its own and I’m walking away.  Yesterday brought a well thought out email that concluded the photo was taken on University Avenue.  Last week’s brought one insistent that it was taken on “Pill Hill”.  I DID get two folks who thought the steakhouse in the area was Dookie’s.  I believe the restaurant is still there, on the southwest corner of Marlborough and El Cajon, but it may offer Mexican cuisine.

Mom passed away last Friday morning.  She had been at Renown Health, a residential Alzheimer’s Facility for the last three years.  The last year she didn’t know who I was.  The first two years she was angry at me for putting her there.  I feel as though I’ve emerged from a long drive in a dark tunnel into sunshine and warmth.  I’m sure Mom’s in a better place too.  Thanks to all of you who’ve asked about her over the years.  Please don’t offer your condolences.  I’m afraid it will only make me feel bad.  I’ve paid the price of a small car to put an obituary in this Sunday’s U-T with the high school graduation photo above.

Richard Nash '59 passed away "last week", according to his brother Gerry.  I'm still hoping for additional details.

Char Krebsbach Clark '64 says her classmate Richard Couch passed away in January.  Richard was predeceased by his wife and classmate Jean Klock in 2001.  I have no details on Dick's passing but you CAN sign the Guest Book.

Owen "Wes" Western passed out 3-D glasses at yesterday's Class of '63 Reunion meeting then later emailed a photo of the group.  I hope you've got an old pair laying around.

We're still trying to figure out where this picture of President John F. Kennedy was taken.  The business at the left has a phone number that appears to be AT-2-7721.  Barbara Bright Wilder '62 thought it might be that portion of El Cajon Blvd. that was cut away to make room for the I-15.  Bob Belanzon '70 thinks he can spy a portion of a steak house that used to be there.

Click HERE to see a gorgeous enlargement of a 1912 La Mesa photo from the San Diego History Center.  Sadly I don't know my way around in La Mesa, so someone will have to tell me which way this photo is pointing.

Dave Folck '67 has written a book entitled: MRSA, MRSA Me! A First Person Story of Gross Negligence Medical Malpractice, the Lawsuit Which Followed, Thoughts on Fighting Back and Reform. 

David Bieber '69 has probably made it to Washington, DC on his WWII Harley Davidson by now.  He posed for this photo with a couple of guys from the 1st Airborne Division in Grand Island, NE on June 4th.

I've just learned that Suzanne Laycock Fares '68 passed away last September in Pleasanton, CA.  Click HERE to read the obituary written by her husband.

The Wandering Wingo Women checked in late yesterday from Virginia City, Montana.  Nancy says she'll be back in San Diego for the Class of '63 Reunion Planning Luncheon on Thursday.  

Susan Marshall Gordon '64, my Foundation connection, found a home at Crawford for the collection of 3-ring binders that I inherited -- and she came and got them.  The next day I was scouring Casa Frita (can you make the translation?) in desperate need of a 3-ring binder.

The June edition of the quarterly 12-page Alumni Newsletter went in the mail last week so, if you're a subscriber, you should have it in hand.  Since the Class of '73 will be celebrating the 40th Anniversary of its graduation before the next newsletter, I put in a couple of pages of photos from the 1973 Centaur. Pacerettes Paula Davis, Dyane Culver and Peggy Fransaw are pictured above.  New subscribers include Sandra Beeson Benson '65, Bruce Carlquist '65, Sydney McVay Drumel '65, Gary Miller '65, Robert Phillips '65, Ken Sheldon '65, John Sweet '66, Winifred Ward Whitaker '66, Deborah Goldberg Todhunter '70 and John Schroyer '70

I'm guessing Marv Abrams '65 spotted the above baseball photo in the newsletter.  He's emailed some corrections, located himself in the photo, and thinks he may have thrown a ball that broke Bill Paxton's finger.  Click HERE to read all of what he wrote.

It can't be a coincidence that Dan Schrecht sent me this photo of JFK on El Cajon Blvd on June 6, 1963.  That was 50 years ago Thursday.  Dan and his brother, both Kearny graduates, learned in 1984 that they had a big sister -- a 1960 Crawford graduate.  Click HERE to learn who it is, and to see the above photo enlarged.  I'd be curious if anyone can identify where the photo was taken.  I let my fingers walk up El Cajon Blvd in my 1956 City Directory to no avail.  Even cruised The Boulevard via Google Earth.  Boy, that red building looks familiar!!!

Click HERE to read the June 9, 1972 edition of the Pacer.  The 6-page publication is the last one from the collection donated by Velinda Clanton Peterson '72.  The collection is now in the archives at Crawford.

A rather cryptic email last week asked me to take Cathy Johnson Slater '66 off the email list.  "She passed away on Mother's Day".  

The Wandering Wingo Women -- Nancy, Leanne and Lisa -- have reached Rapid City, South Dakota. They're hoping it quits raining long enough to visit Mount Rushmore.  Here's a photo Nancy took  yesterday evening at Wall Drug Store.

Hey buddy!!  Interested in any 3-ring binders? Bayview Terrace Elementary School is closing, after 71 years in Pacific Beach.  I've inherited the Principal's Albums and, after removing all of the photos to save storage space, I'm up to my armpits in 1 x 8 1/2 x 11 binders as well as 2 x 12 x 9 binders.  They're like new.  Let me know if you're interested.

Click HERE to see an enlarged version of this 1911 photo of Lemon Grove.

Lois C. Tidwell, my English teacher at Crawford, passed away last week at Age 103.  I assumed she died years ago.  A two-line notice in the May 30th Union-Tribune is all I can share.

Donna Mador '68 died on May 28th.  She was a life-long San Diegan and is survived by brother Charles Mador '66 and Shirley Mador Kessler '69.

The final Golden Anniversary Pacer is the 10-page June 5, 1963 "Welcome President Kennedy/Graduation Issue".  Enjoy!!!

Drum roll please!!  This is the First Thursday Event everyone keeps asking about. D Day, if you will. Members of the Class of '66 are going to collectively celebrate their 65th Birthdays.  As a member of the Class of '62 I'm thinking this is a good chance to meet some young chicks giddily waving their Social Security checks in the air.  Apparently the event has been moved upstairs and will begin at 6PM -- not 5 PM.

Nancy and her two daughters arrived in Boise, Idaho last night, which will be their Base of Operations for the next couple of weeks.  I believe they're headed to Missoula, Montana today

I can't believe Memorial Day is here again.  I hope you'll take time out from your merriment to visit the Colts Who Died in Vietnam Page.  Get a box of tissues before you watch the Fort Rosecrans video prepared by the 2007 Crawford AV Class.

 

Last week's U-T Health Section had an article that suggested you wash your hands more often -- and long enough to sing "Happy Birthday" twice.  I got to wondering if that put Jehovah's Witnesses in a compromising position.  Maybe they can sing "Row, row, row your boat."

I'm not namin' names, but it was less than a week ago that someone revealed to me that he had a school boy crush on Mary Pomplun '62.  "Take a number," I thought.  Looks like there's a new Pomplun in town.  Chula Vista's Raquel "Rocky" Pomplun is the granddaughter of Mary's uncle -- and the May 2013 Playboy Playmate. 

The May 26, 1972 Pacer is the next-to-last of the Crawford student newspapers donated by Velinda Clanton Peterson '72.  Swimmers Larry Farrar, Mike Yeakle, Aric Partovich, Skip Weitzen, Ron Smith, John Connover, Warren Turner and Kenny Burton all get a mention in the article on the CIF Sweep.  I was more interested in the "Pacer Junior Staff Puts Out" headline.  Turned out to be some sort of Freudian Tunnel Vision.

It's Spring Training time for football, and this past Tuesday's U-T had a nice article on the fact that Crawford is switching to the Manzanita League in hopes of being able to compete on a more level field. Click HERE to read the article.

I thought I was old!!  Don Ball would like folks to know that his Class of '59 will celebrate the 55th Anniversary of its graduation in 2014.  Email Don Ball or John Blackwell if you'd like information.  You can also telephone Don at 951-600-0434