May 1, 2020

Happy May Day!!  Did we ever frolic around the May Pole like the college students below at the the old Normal School on Park Blvd where Alice Birney is today?  Actually, I guess it was on Normal Street, which -- unlike the Normal School -- is still there.  Yes, I DID know that the Normal School moved east and became San Diego State College.

This reminds me of Betty Alexander, my typing teacher at either Horace Mann or Crawford or possibly Summer School at Hoover.  She was also the Girls' Vice Principal at Hale Junior High my first year as a teacher.  I restarted the student newspaper there and, after a lot of work with the kids, got out the first issue and put one in every faculty member's mailbox.  The next day Betty had returned HER copy, with each and every error marked in red.  Sadly, I've been doing the same thing to others these many years.  You can take the teacher out of the classroom . . .

Ken Kramer is back with new episodes of About San Diego.  Last night's show had a nice visit with Gary Mitrovich '76 in the neighborhood where his grandfather Hamlet ran a turkey farm.  It was located at 53rd and Meade, long before Horace Mann or Crawford would have been downwind.  Ginny Sanderson Dahlen '60 shared a nice photo of the tie her father picked up at the 1935 Exposition in Balboa Park.  Jeannie Berger Passenheim '60 was one of the folks whose sunset photo was shared.

The show repeats on Sunday at 4 PM and Monday -- on KPBS2 -- at 8 PM

An interesting article in the New York Times about the challenges facing those who interpret for the deaf during the daily television updates on the COVID-19 pandemic.  Click HERE to check it out.

It's been awhile, but a stunning old photo recently popped up on Facebook.  It's a gorgeous shot of Mission Valley taken by the great Lee Passmore, and submitted by his great-grandson,  I believe it was taken from where the Presidio now stands, probably during the great flood of 1916.  Click HERE to see an enlargement.

What were YOU doing on February 6, 1983?  Channel 8 was at the Campus Drive-In on the theater's last night.  Click HERE to watch the video.

Remember a couple of weeks ago I mentioned the packet of Colt Memorabilia I received in the mail from Jo Burchill Skibby '59?  It included the first three copies of the Pacer, two of which I already had.  Click HERE to read Volume I, No. 3, from November 26, 1957.

Roy Boughton ’59 was born in San Diego on June 7, 1941.  He married his high school sweetheart Holly Wensinger on June 25, 1960, the day after she graduated from Crawford.  He died of heart failure on March 31, 2020 in Mesa, Arizona where they moved in 1993.  His love of Arizona grew out of a visit to Jerome in the early ‘60s and blossomed when he moved to Mesa.  Roy retired as the Executive Director of the Page Chamber of Commerce and the John Wesley Powell Museum to travel across America, exploring every back street and dirt road along to way. Roy never met a stranger and was loved by everyone who knew him for his quick wit and generous heart.

Jerome Zottolo ’62 was born and lived in San Diego, the second child of Vito and Virginia Zottolo. He passed away April 15, 2020.  He learned the value of hard work as a teen during the summer months by accompanying his father on his tuna boat at a time when San Diego was named the fishing capital of the world.  Pleasant memories are of him taking his younger siblings to weekly family beach picnics and other city events.  After graduating from Crawford and serving in the National Guard, he settled into the occupation of a truck driver with GI Trucking for about 45 years.   He is survived by, among others, his siblings Marco, Maryann, and Frank.

April 24, 2020

Did you get your Stimulus Check yet?  All of my friends did, but not me.  Luckily, Google pointed me to the official IRS site, which asked me three questions:  Social Security Number, Date of Birth, and Street Address.  It only took me three tries to Ace this test.  My check is supposed to be direct deposited today.  Click HERE if you still haven't gotten yours and want to know when it might arrive.

Did you ever hang out at Chollas Lake?  This photo was on the front page of Wednesday's Union-Tribune in a story about some of the local parks reopening.  I was intrigued at the Canada goose taking flight at the center of the shot.

Dick Cloward '60 has sent me some samples from his map collection, which I hope to share.  I'm starting with one called Ashore in San Diego.  It was given to recruits at the Naval Training Center on the occasion of their first liberty.  This one was sent home by Victor Green on September 3, 1945.  Click HERE to see it enlarged and to read all about it.

Here are a couple of items from the Memories Page.

Here's a page from an Oscar's menu someone absconded with around 1963.  Click HERE if you'd like to peruse the entire menu.  

A snapshot of Campus Lab School chums at Bob Richardson's 11th birthday in 1954.  One went on to Hoover and two to Helix.  Click HERE for a larger view of this motley crew -- with names.

It's two weeks late, but here's the Pacer for April 8, 1965 -- 55 years ago.  Click HERE to read all six pages.

Regina Carey ’69, a native of San Diego and longtime San Rafael resident, passed away on March 22, 2020. A graduate of the University of California, San Diego, Regina was active in national and local Democratic Party politics. She was a Marin County Delegate to the Democratic National Convention of 2008 and an alternate delegate to the 2012 Democratic Convention. She was deeply invested and engaged in the struggles for the rights of under-represented people and the beautiful dignity of International indigenous people. Regina was a loving and devoted friend to many.

Beverly Martin Washington ’74 passed away on March 23, 2020

April 17, 2020

I assume you know that scientists can learn about climate history by studying tree rings.  Harry Bliss shares "The Rings of my Regret"

Remember when downtown was where you went to get replacement parts for the family sedan?  I posted a couple of Howard Rozelle aerials on Facebook, and Tom Giaquinto responded with two really neat street shots from the San Diego Police Museum.  Click HERE to see all four photos.

I'm not sure if it's the Spring Fashion Issue, but the April 16, 1970 Pacer does have 6-pages.  Click HERE to check it out.  Turns out, according to the paper, Crawford got its first Coke machines 50 years ago this month.

It's been a LONG time since I've shared the 1960 del Potrillo literary magazine sent in by Richard Cloward. (Potrillo is Spanish for -- drumroll, please -- Colt)  Click HERE to peruse each page.  Make sure you read the backstory on the cover photograph and the involvement of Bob Richardson and Mike Roberts, whose photos were reversed in the publication.   Bob is a frequent contributor to the Fry Day missives and Mike is a San Diego attorney.

Jo Burchill Skibby '59 sent me a packet of Colt memorabilia.  Ironically there were three clippings about the untimely passing of Glenn Carraway, Jr. '59 60 years ago this week.  Click HERE if you'd like to see them

April 10, 2020

The Stephen Bishop on-line concert has been cancelled.  I'll keep you posted if I learn anything.

Speaking of learning things:  I learned last week that the word quarantine comes from the Italian quaranta giorni -- the 40 days ships in Venice were required to sit at anchor during the 14th century plague.

Also, I learned that on April 2, 1958 San Francisco Chronicle columnist Herb Caen coined the term beatnik.  It was apparently a conflation of the Beat Generation and the recently-launched Sputnik.  

Here's another T-Shirt from Paula Kincaid.  It might be the last.  I'm not sure

I LOVE the rich tones of early Kodachrome film.  This shot of a Rosie the Aircraft Engine Assembler at North American illustrated a recent New York Times article on how WWII brought us out of the Great Depression.

Let's don't talk about who dropped the ball, but the photos of the Class of '64's August 24th reunion, sent to me by Charlene Krebsbach Clark, have finally been posted.  Click HERE to check them out.

Debbie Nichols Poulos '63 has asked me to tell you about her latest book.  You can read more about it, and order a copy, on Amazon.

Somewhere in the bowels of the New York Times they've got a 7th Grader writing headlines.  Click HERE if you'd actually like to read the article.

Remember when I-15 across Mission Valley was still called Ward Road.  Here's a Facebook photo that appears to date to about 1940.  Click HERE to see it enlarged and also read a 1908 article about a new Rural Free Delivery mail route that included Ward Road.

Our little sister Lori Klein Sand ’67 lost her 29-year battle with breast cancer on March 2nd.  It returned nine years ago after being in remission for seventeen years. She was a stewardess for PSA after graduation, and was an Andy Girl hostess for the San Diego Andy Williams Open in about 1969.  She was also in the first group of Chargettes, as they were  called in the early years.  She and her former husband Bill operated Sand Manufacturing for many years. She worked as a dresser at the Old Globe and volunteered at the American Cancer Society Discovery Shop in Point Loma the last few years.  She had two daughters, five grandchildren and many dear friends.  She will be greatly missed -- Sarina Klein Nordmarken ’63 and Ron Klein ’66

April 3, 2020

The New York Times had a wonderful article this week entitled What Social Distancing Looked Like in 1666.  There are amazing similarities between now and the London Bubonic Plague.  Click HERE to check it out.

Here's this week's T-Shirt from Paula Kincaid

You might not have noticed the shirt worn by Larry Wickstrom (back left) in the Class of '60 reunion planning picture a couple of weeks back.  It's from High Seas Trading Company in Laguna Hills.  Larry turned me on to them a few years ago and I've been ordering from them ever since.  This past Monday they sent me an email announcing that they were now offering face masks in colorful Aloha patterns.

Tom Cassie sends ANOTHER Guaranty Chevrolet Little League photo.  This one is from 1955 -- a year earlier than last week's.  His brother Jim, in the front row wearing stripes, looks more like a team mascot.  Click HERE to see the photo enlarged with names.

My favorite publication of all time is 60 years old.  Click HERE to read the FABULOUS 1960 April Fool's Edition of the Pacer.

Debi Cox Landry '72 shares two photos of the Pacerettes, Crawford's Award-Winning Drill team  Maybe someone has names.  Click HERE to take a look at the shots.

Here's a shot from the Vintage San Diego Facebook page looking up Broadway around 1948.  The streetcars may be before your time, but you may recognize some of the other buildings in the distance.  Click HERE for an enlargement.

March 27, 2020

All this talk about Social Distancing takes me back to every date I had in high school.  Two blocks away, the girl would start reaching for the door handle.  "You want me to come to a full stop," I would say, "or shall I just slow down and let you do a combat roll?"

Sharon Whitley Larsen '69 has forwarded a message from her classmate Stephen Bishop (pictured above with his puppy Randy Newman).  Stephen will have an on-line concert April 18th to benefit artists affected by the coronavirus pandemic.  Click HERE for all the details.

Here's this week's T-Shirt from Paula Kincaid

When I mentioned last week's photo of the Tower Bar by Julee Vaughan was taken in what used to be called East San Diego, a great cry came out of Oklahoma.  It was my classmate Londa Galley Warren lamenting the loss.  She also wondered if the East San Diego sign, at Fairmount and University, was also gone.  I'm afraid so.  Here's a photo from the East San Diego Facebook page of Gary Mitrovich '76.

Tom Cassie '62 forwards a photo of his 1956 Guaranty Chevrolet Little League team.  His brother Jim is in the photo and I recognize Paul Janicki.  Click HERE for an enlargement and the rest of the names.

Deby Cox Cowan '72 sent me her 2nd through 4th Grade photos from Webster Elementary.  Click HERE to check them out.

Larry John White ’62 passed away on Tuesday, January 14, 2020.  He was a resident of Kempner, Texas.

March 20, 2020

This coronavirus thing is playing right into my strong suit.  I've gotten self-isolating down pat over the years.  Actually, I get a regular stream of visitors, the last one a young woman who chose a chair in the next room.  I hope the rest of you are getting by in these unusual times.

I guess Spring crept in yesterday without much news.  It's not like the weather has been that nice in San Diego for the last couple of weeks.

Paula Kincaid is back, this time with some T-Shirt humor.  I'll share this one and see what happens.

Ernie Cowan says the Hooded Oriole is back in town and you can attract your own with an Oriole feeder.  Click HERE to read his Outdoors column.

Linda Schneider Crawford sends word that legendary gospel singer Sandi Patty '74 has tested positive for COVID-19 but is doing fine.  Click HERE for details.

The Class of '60 Reunion Committee met last Friday and they sent along a great photo.  Click HERE if you'd like to see it enlarged.  You can find out who the people are and why there's a '61 Centaur on the table.

Julee Vaughan takes stunning photos in and around what I still call East San Diego.  She took this one Wednesday evening, as the setting sun highlighted the iconic Tower Bar at Euclid and University.  I liked it so much I've placed an enlargement on my Historic San Diego Photos page.  KUSI liked it so much they showed it on TV.

Click HERE to read the Crawford Pacer for March 19, 1970.  The headline Cafeteria Food Discussed; Conclusions Reached caught MY eye.    

If you read the Cafeteria Food article in the above Pacer, you may want to read again the emails from folks who LIKED the cafeteria fare.  It includes the recipe for Peanut Butter Chews.  Click HERE to check it out.

James Lindholm ’70 passed away March 9, 2020.   I have known Jim since elementary school at Carver.  He lived close by in the neighborhood growing up. Then, after he bought his parents’ home, I saw him from time to time when I visited my mother or worked on her house as it was rented. I knew him as a dear man of faith, active in his church and of course loved his family -- Barbara Alvarez

Jerry Cullins ’64 died December 5, 2019.  He left Crawford at the end of his Junior year in 1963 and joined the U. S. Air Force.  After leaving the Air Force he completed law enforcement training and served as a police officer with San Diego Police Department.  Some years later he went to work with the Brawley School District where he provided student counseling until retiring to Vista to be near family.  He fought a courageous battle with lung cancer, accepted his fate and passed peacefully with his wife by his side -- Ken Daly  (He did not have a photo in the annual -- JF)