November 29, 2013

IT’S TURKEY DAY!!

AND HANNUKKAH!!

Hope your Thursday is the greatest.  The Wingo Women and I will be dining — guest where? -- at the Amigo Spot.  They’re like family to us.

Speaking of giving thanks, Susan Kirk ‘68 says brother Ray came through 12 hours of surgery last Friday cancer free.  She thanks all of you who sent good thoughts and prayers.

I sent out an email to the Class of ‘75 this week asking if they knew the whereabouts of Nina Hutchuk.

I received an email from Gary Hutchuk, who hails from Canada, hoping I could put him in touch as he is working on the family genealogy.  Turns out Nina Hutchuk is really Nina KUTCHUK, but was listed as Hutchuk in the ‘75 Centaur.  Gary’s out of luck, but I still don’t know where Nina Kutchuk is.

Phil Petersen, who is listed as Philip Peterson, also in the ‘75 yearbook, is now on the ‘75 Email Page.

And he is no relation to the late Horace Mann Vice Principal Phil Petersen.

Undefeated Crawford will play Holtville Saturday night at Mesa College at 7 PM

Shooting pool at Pal Joey’s on November 23rd were  Les Sandoval, David Feeley, Bob Leidolf, Carl Brealey, Louis Galpert, Victor Perez and Phil Piscopo.   Click HERE to see a larger version on the Photo Page.

No, I DIDN’T make a mistake.  Yes, there is a Phil Piscopo in the Class of ‘63 AND a Phil Piscopo in the Class of ‘71.  And don’t get me started on Giovanna DeSanti Hauser ‘68 and her cousin Giovanna DeSanti Medina ‘72.  And there are three other cousins named Giovanna DeSanti.  And a deceased paternal grandmother named Giovanna DeSanti.

Ron Smith ‘72 forwards shots of the 1967 Horace Mann 7th GradeTrack Champs as well as the 1968 8th Grade Handball Champs.  

First Thursday is BACK!!
Free hors d’oeuvres and cheap drinks!!

That's December 5th at the King's Inn Amigo Spot

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November 22, 2013

NANCY AND I GOT STOOD UP two weeks ago when we traveled north to San Marcos to meet with the folks where autistic daughter Lisa works.  We still got to eat at Fish House Vera Cruz however.  We’re headed north again today, but this time I’m holding out for George’s Burgers.

Checking in from Brookings, Oregon is Bill Fares ‘62.  Mary Margaret “Molly” Lee Richmond ‘66 says hello from Reno, Nevada.  They are both on their respective email pages.  

Susan Kirk ‘68 hopes you will think good thoughts for her brother Ray Kirk, also Class of ‘68, who is undergoing esophageal cancer surgery perhaps as we speak. 

Phillis Dudick is still hoping to find Florine Weiner, her best pal from Class of '60.  The quest has baffled Mary Gale "Sherlock" Rogers.  Can you help?

Debbie Nichols Poulos '63 lives in Davis, California.  She would like to hear from old friends.

It’s not a joke.  The high school football playoffs are underway and Division V Crawford will be part of it.  The undefeated Colts meet the Palo Verde Valley Yellowjackets tonight at 7 PM at San Diego High.  I believe Palo Verde Valley is near Blythe.

Yesterday’s U-T had a nice look back at President Kennedy’s visit to San Diego on June 6, 1963.  It also had a slide show of photos I hadn’t seen before, including the one above featuring students from Blessed Sacrament.  Click HERE to read the article.  Click HERE to look at the slide show.   In the meantime you might want to revisit the links to JFK’s visit to San Diego on June 6, 1963.

I guess it should come as no surprise that Elvis Presley is the new kid on the block on the KCBQ Top 20 Hit Paraders survey for November 24, 1956.  Click HERE for a copy large enough to read.

Carlynne Harvey Allbee graduated from Grossmont in 1965, but still has fond memories of Montezuma Elementary.  She’s started a Montezuma page on Facebook and I’ve refreshed the Montezuma link on the School Days Page.   Oh, this is 6th Grade Graduation in 1956, contributed by Frank Welch, who also ended up at a high school not named Crawford.

Folks working on the Class of ‘63 Reunion Memory Book asked if I knew anything about the passing of Yvette Muriel Vires.  I turned immediately to Mary Gale Rogers, whose research turned up only the fact that Muriel died on May 13, 1990 in Washington County, Oregon.  I’ve posted her photo on the Class of ‘63 Obituary Page.

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November 15, 2013

GEE, IT’S ALMOST WARM IN PACIFIC BEACH and still dark.  I suspect Nancy and I will have a late breakfast at the Waffle Spot then — who knows?

Boy, the November 14, 1963 Golden Anniversary Pacer is another 6-pager, and chock full of goodies. I especially enjoyed the interview with aging alumns Donna Musil, Steve Penn, Virginia Strange, Gail Balderman, Gail Bobrof, Lonni Kane, Gerry Ransom, Larry Orwig, George Pallas, and Bob Fox.
Click HERE to check it out.

Ken Unitt ‘76 passed away suddenly on October 29th at home in Estes Park, CO.  A celebration of his life will be held at Rocky Mountain National Park’s Beaver Meadows Visitor Center on Monday, November 18 at 10 a.m.  You can read more about his life in the National Park Service on the Class of ‘76 Obituary Page.

November 8, 2013

MY IPHONE SAYS IT'S 54 IN PB and should level out at a nice 72.  Nancy and I will head up the coast for an 11 AM appointment at Rex Industries for the annual progress review of autistic daughter Lisa.  I've got my fingers crossed it will be followed by lunch at Fish House Vera Cruz in Carlsbad, although I guess there's also one nearby in San Marcos.

I just learned there’s a golf tournament scheduled for Monday, November 25th in Rancho Bernardo, to benefit the Crawford Foundation and the Crawford Athletic Department.  You need to reserve your spot by Monday, November 11th.  For more information, please contact Darcel Glover, Crawford Athletic Director, at 619-583-2500 x4607 or via email at dglover@sandi.net   Click HERE to go to the web site.

Carole Shannohoff Wolanow invites you to view three Picasa slide shows from the Class of ‘63 Reunion, featuring the photographs of Barbara Strange McClue’s husband Sid.  Friday Night #1, Friday Night #2 and Saturday Night  You're on your own as far as names are concerned, although I am available for a small consultation fee.

Ernie Myers, Noel Confer, and Art Way were three of the DJs I remember — and “It’s Only Make Believe”, by Conway Twitty, was the #1 hit on November 7, 1958.  Let me do the math.  Oh, never mind.  It was a while ago.  Click HERE to read the other 39 hits.

November 1, 2013

BRRR -- IT'S 52 DEGREES AT THE BEACH, but it's suppose to warm up so I guess I can peel off my layers like a homeless person as the day goes on.

If you didn’t show up at the Amigo Spot last Saturday you missed seeing Stephanie dressed as a mermaid.  She looked ever so much like Peg Bundy in her attempts to walk.  By the way, she’s showing off her Kitty Litter Cake.  Just between you and me, I prefer German Chocolate.

 I don’t know if I mentioned that the first football game under the lights, the last game on the old field AND Homecoming on October 18th was cancelled when Calipatria called at the last minute and said they couldn’t make it.  All’s well that ends well, however!!  The game was rescheduled for the 25th and the Colts won their 8th straight game.  Bill and Chuck Rainey were among the alums in the crowd.  It all warranted a nice piece in last Saturday’s U-T, which you can read if you click HERE.

I acquired an email copy this week of the 1903 USGS La Jolla Quadrangle map and thought I’d share the part showing Pacific Beach.  In 1903 Duckville was in the south east corner of False Bay, the San Diego, Pacific Beach and La Jolla Railway AND the California Southern Railroad had tracks running up the east side of the bay, and the American Driving Park horse racing track still existed in east Pacific Beach.  Click HERE for the enlarged version.

Greg Birch and Evy Balderman were the Senior Sketches in the Golden Anniversary Pacer published October 31, 1963.  Ironically, I didn’t spot any Halloween articles.  Click HERE to read all six pages.

I received a call from Chris Bonwell this week and she shared details of the passing of Phil earlier this week.  He and a neighbor had been working in the back yard.  They called it a day, got cleaned up and were enjoying cold beers on the patio when Phil suffered a fatal brain aneurism.  She told me of a Memorial Website for Phil and I’ve added it to the Class of ‘66 Obituary Page.

October 25, 2013

IT’S STILL DARK IN PB and I’m wondering why I don’t send this out a little later.  When Nancy gets down from Escondido we’ll deliver books to Crystal Pier and mail to the Midway Post Office.  Where we brunch will depend on where we can park.

Come on by the Amigo Spot tomorrow night for Halloween.  Stephanie’s hired a DJ.  I’m afraid to ask what kind of creepy food will be on tap.  Nancy’s coming as a witch, Lisa’s coming as a purple witch, and I’m coming as a curmudgeon.

Here’s one of my favorite streetcar photos, taken by L K Dewein on July 21, 1924.  It was taken on the occasion of the first run of the “Mission Beach Special”.  For 75¢ you could zoom to Mission Beach, take a swim, grab a bite, and be back downtown in an hour and a half.  Click HERE to see this photo in its 9 x 12 glory.  

Remember entertainer Jimmy Gilmer?  Me neither, but he had the Number One single 50 years ago on the KGB 1360 Top 40.  Click HERE to see what it was, along with the other 39.

Can you name these members of the Class of ‘60 Reunion Committee?  They recently had lunch at MCRD.  Click HERE for a photo large enough to give you a fighting chance.

Tom Cassie wondered if I’d seen the photo of our classmate Bill Lamden in the Entertainment Section of Sunday’s U-T.  The article was about the financial health of the San Diego Symphony, with nice words about Bill’s wife, Evelyn Olson Lamden, chair of the orchestra’s board of directors.  I went back and reread the article and figured out why I missed Bill’s photo.  She’s wearing red in the photo below, which was elsewhere on the page.  Oh, that’s Bill and Evelyn at the left in the photo above. Click HERE if you'd like to actually read the article.

Did I say George last week?  Ron Smith ‘72 actually lives in Georgia, I assume the one in America, not the one in Russia.  At any rate he’s shared a 1962 team photo of the Rolando Park Tigers.  The thank you note to the team scorer contains the names of the players.  Click HERE to check them out.

October 18, 2013

IT’S PITCH BLACK AND COOL IN PB, but it’s supposed to warm up nicely.  I’ve got a 10:30 annual eye check up near Costa Verde Shopping Center and I’ve got my fingers crossed we can to to Coco’s for lunch.  My old Coco’s on Sports Arena has been a U-Haul Rental agency for several years.

Whew!!  The Class of ‘63 Reunion is over — but you can look at the pictures.  I’ve posted three of John McMullen’s photo shoots on the Reunion Page of the web site — Friday Night at the Amigo Spot, Saturday Night at the Bahia, and the Saturday Night Elementary reunion group shots.  These are Picasa slide shows.  I don't know if you'll have to sign up for something to view them.  Oh, if you can help me with the names I missed or messed up, go ahead and EMAIL me.

The October 17, 1963 Golden Anniversary Pacer was six Pages — maybe because it was National Newspaper Week.  I especially enjoyed the photo of Judy Frederickson and her Ford Model A.   Click HERE to read the whole paper.

Bill Paxton ‘66 forwards a shot of his parents’ liquor store circa 1948.  He thinks it might have been on Adams Avenue.  The enlarged version, viewable on the Colt Corral blog or Facebook, makes me want to say that’s the Ibis Market in the background.  It’s still there, on Ibis and Fort Stockton, in Mission Hills.  We await more educated guesses.  Oh, and check out the Coke delivery truck in the background. Click HERE to enlarge the photo.

Ron Smith ‘72 checks in from George, although he may be in San Diego as we speak — or email.  He’s forwarded some Rolando Park and Little League goodies.  I’ll start with his Kindergarten, 1st Grade, and 2nd Grade photos — plus the 1966 6th Grade graduation roster.  I don’t know if he still has his 4th through 6th grade photos.  Click HERE to see what I’ve posted.

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October 11, 2013

I don’t know if you can read this, but I held my 70th birthday a day late, along with my fellow 10-4 pals Tom LaShell and Carol Redding, at — SURPRISE — the Amigo Spot.  I wonder if any of my friends, or better yet enemies, could spot the marquee from I-8.   It says HAPPY 70TH BIRTHDAY JOHN FRY.

NEXT FRIDAY — October 18th at 7 PM — is Homecoming.  And the first ever night football game at Crawford.  And the last game on the old football field.  A group photo of attending alumni will be taken.  Wear something Crimson, White or Blue — or all three.

Fred Dickey writes a column in the U-T that I look forward to each Monday. This week he wrote about what it’s like to be a cop in stressful, deadly situations.  I got well into the story before I realized he was writing about Janet Chelberg Burgess ‘69.  Click HERE to read the story.

Rebecca Darneals Mueller ’74 suffered a stroke last weekend at the family farm in Wisconsin and is in the hospital.  If you’d like to receive updates on her progress send an EMAIL to her husband John

Judy Wilson Gloyer ‘62 passed away on October 5th after a 7-year battle with cancer.  Services were held earlier this week, but you can still sign the Guest Book.

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October 4, 2013

IT’S PITCH BLACK IN PACIFIC BEACH but supposed to get sunny and warm, and even hotter over the weekend.  Nancy’s promised to take me anywhere I want for my birthday dinner.  I’m holding out for Der Wienerschnitzel.

I HATE Facebook — or at least I did until recently.  I came across a You Know You’re From Pacific Beach group and have been having fun sharing some of my photos.  Last week’s snippet about the olld Coca Cola plant on El Cajon Blvd brought a flurry of comments that I’m not sure how to share.  In the olden days I would have placed them on a special web page and I still might do that.  In the meantime I’ve created a Crawford Colt Corral group on Facebook.  I’m not sure how I did it, or if it will work as planned.  Those of you who know how to Facebook I guess can search for it and try it out.  Or maybe it'll work if you click HERE.  We’ll see what happens.  And maybe the Coca Cola people can resubmit their comments.  

Last Saturday was toasty warm and I thought it might be fun for Nancy and her daughter Lisa and I to go down to San Diego Bay and cool off before heading to the Amigo Spot.  Even better, Lisa — who is 47 years old and autistic — might enjoy blowing bubbles.  I know I would.  I went on the web to see if my local CVS carried bubbles, or whatever they’re called.  Turns out the only one on they carry produces “Penis-Shaped Bubbles”.  I was shocked and a little offended — for about 8 seconds.  Then the thought of cascading penis-shaped bubbles sailing through Seaport Village brought a large, sneaky smile to my face.  Turns out they’re only available on-line.  Back to the drawing board.

Jane Newberry Smith '64 says her mother Ina was indeed the principal of Euclid Elementary -- and before that taught Second Grade at Jackson.

Here’s the Golden Anniversary Pacer from October 3, 1963 donated by Maggie Down Hart ‘64.  Bob Lutz and Kathy Slater were the Senior Sketches.  You can read all four pages in living black and white via the Colt Corral link.

Ed Herrmann ‘64 is fighting cancer.  You can keep abreast of his progress on the Caring Bridge web site.  

The Class of '68 will be celebrating the 45th Anniversary of its graduation the weekend of October 11-12th.  Scott Shaw has contributed the above artwork. which will be featured on T-Shirts.  I assume he'll be at the reunion.  In the meantime he's ensconced at the Town and Country Hotel for this weekend's San Diego Comic Fest with fellow Colts Greg Bear, Dr. Roger Freedman, David Clark and Jann Morris-Penrod.  

When I was attending this year's Dragon Con in Atlanta, I saw that Kathy Najimy '75 was one of the guests appearing in the "Walk of Fame."  I went up to her table and said, "I've always wanted to meet you because we went to the same high school."  Her eyes went wide, and she said, "You went to Crawford?"  Yes, I told her, I definitely did.  We chatted a bit, sang a few lines of the school alma mater together, and she performed a cheer that she wrote when she was a student.  She was very friendly and clearly has a lot of fond memories about CHS.  Here's the photo we took to commemorate the occasion -- Michael Pemberton '71

September 27, 2013

Jan Marholin ‘69 wonders if Jane Newberry, one of last week’s Senior Sketches, was the daughter of Ima Newberry, principal of Euclid Elementary School.

69!! THAT'S RIGHT, YOU HEARD ME. 69!!  I’m turning 70 on Friday, October 4th, which means I’ll be celebrating the final day of my sixties at the First Thursday dinner at the Amigo Spot in Mission Valley on October 3rd.  OF COURSE you can come and make fun of me — and there’s Free Hors d’ Oeuvres!!  Scroll to the bottom of the page for details.  (Oh, the photo above?  It was taken in 1946 at a studio on Pine Avenue in Long Beach when the family was stationed there.  I stuck it in at the last moment when I saw Joe’s photo below)

Good news, it’s NOT an obituary!  Joe Cordileone ‘65 was awarded a Bronze Star last Friday at MCRD, 46 years after his actions at the Battle of Khe Sanh on April 30, 1967.  You can read three different articles about the ceremony:  Gretel Kovach in the San Diego U-T, Tony Perry in the Los Angeles Times, and Julie Watson in the Associated Press.  You should read Julie's article first, as it was written the day before the ceremony.

Where were you on September 26, 1963?  It was the hottest day EVER in San Diego and it took place 50 years ago.  Click HERE to access a nice article by U-T weatherman Robert Krier.

Remember when they opened the NEW Coca-Cola bottling plant out next to Channel 10 next to 94 and Federal in 1964?  Well, they’re shutting it down, and Coke won’t be bottled here for the first time since 1919.  I mention it mostly because, for the first time, ever I’ve bested Nancy in a history/geography quiz. Do YOU remember where the previous bottling plant was located on El Cajon Blvd?  Click HERE if you want to read the U-T article.

Speaking of 1964, their reunion committee has reserved the San Diego Marriott Mission Valley for their 50th Anniversary Reunion the weekend of September 19-20, 2014.  I’ve posted this Save the Date notice on the Reunions Page, 1964 Email Page and 1964 Missing Page.

My minions are EVERYWHERE!!  Oregon resident Kim McHenry Osieczanek ‘74 was reading the Corvallis Gazette-Times last week and spotted an obituary for my classmate Larry Shriber ‘62.  His sister Cookie held a memorial service this week.  She talked about their childhood.  She said Bob Dress ‘66, who lived next door to them as children, attended “and also told funny stories”.  Click HERE if you'd like to read the newspaper obituary.

 I sure don’t like posting obituaries and this one hits close to home.  Bill Grigg ‘70 sends word of the passing of Phil Bonwell ‘66 last June.  Phil’s brother Gary was my best friend at Horace Mann and Crawford and I fondly remember their sister Marlo ‘64, and parents Duane and Lois, and their house on South Thorn Street, across from the Griggs.  Phil’s wife Chris says there may be a memorial of sorts in the future.