August 9, 2024

 I'm taking a break this week, but here's a Far Side cartoon.

August 2, 2024

 

I'd barely posted last week's photo of Lerner's Shops, at 3055 University, when this shot of Woolworth's, at 3067 University, popped up.  Click HERE to see an enlargement and a current view.

Tom Isom shares a 1918 view of the Santa Ysabel country store.  I've added a current view.  Click HERE to see both.

Dale Mann ’68 passed away unexpectedly June 10, 2024 in Rancho Bernardo.  He was born in San Diego and grew up in La Jolla and San Carlos.  He was a gifted and talented illustrator and nurtured a deep appreciation for the arts. He attended Grossmont Junior College and California State University, San Diego majoring in graphic design with a minor in business administration. Dale ventured out on his own to establish a retail art supplies business in Escondido known as Vintage Arts. He designed and produced products for the Maritime Museum, the San Diego History Center, the Coronado Historical Association, the La Jolla Historical Society and the Flying Leathernecks Aviation Museum.  His work with the Flying Leathernecks was especially dear to him. Over the past few years, Dale worked tirelessly to support the Aviation Museum and gift shop. Dale made friends easily throughout his life, and he especially enjoyed the Flying Leathernecks community of friends.   He is survived by his sister Linda Mann Urmacher ’67

July 26, 2024

Cartoonist Scott Shaw! '68 posted this on Facebook.  I thought it might bring back memories.

A great photo of a Douglas F4D Skyray over North Island.  Click HERE for an enlargement and some interesting information.

I've shared this photo of Lerner's in North Park before.  I love to hear the stories of young ladies taking the bus there, before there were shopping centers elsewhere.  I've added a photo of what's there now.  Click HERE to check it out.

 

Jerry Ellis ‘61 died May 3, 2024 in Fairfax, Virginia after a short illness. He was born in San Diego and was one of three siblings, his sisters Joan and Barbara having passed before him.  Upon graduating from San Diego State University in 1967, he joined the Navy and in 1968 he was designated as Radar Intercept Officer in the F-4 Phantom and made two combat tours in Vietnam.   Upon return from his military service, he continued his career and worked his way up the ranks at Western Airlines, starting as a ramp and cargo operator in 1966 and ending as SATO manager – responsible for all the official and personal travel of the McChord Air Force Base in Tacoma, WA. When Delta Air Lines acquired Western in 1988 he continued his service by working in Military and Government Sales. At Delta, he became the Global Account Manager in which he was responsible for the coordination and administration of Delta’s participation in the General Services Administration’s (GSA) City Pair Program (CPP) Federal air travel contract.  One of Jerry’s favorite jokes was that he couldn’t die because the Lord didn’t want him, and the Devil didn’t want the competition. His friends and family can imagine him quipping that a compromise must have been reached, and “they” found him a golf resort where it’s always a perfect day for golf, no wind, and your drives are flying long and straight. However, the clubhouse often runs out of prime rib and mashed potatoes.  Those of us who have survived Jerry will be missing his humor, his kindness, and his faithful presence.

July 19, 2024

 

Don't ask me for a hint.

We used to visit my father's aunt in Long Beach, California.  I think I remember Noah's Ark on the right side of 101 as we returned to San Diego.  Click HERE for a larger view.

I spotted this in a 1949 newspaper article on growth in San Diego.  It shows homes going up somewhere along 54th Street.  Click HERE for an enlargement.  Maybe you can tell where the photo was taken.

What are the chances?  Last week I spotted a Channel 8 Throwback that featured my old councilor Walt Harvey.  Here's a recent interview with San Jose State's retired Professor of Choral Music Charlene Archibeque.  I'm sure a whole lot of Colts have fond memories of her at Crawford.  Click HERE to watch the interview.

I spotted this photo of coaches and athletes in the 1967 Centaur when I was snagging a shot of Bob Petretta (see below).  It appears that the coaches are wearing blue blazers and the athletes are sporting uniforms.  I'm guessing the naked guys are swimmers.  Click HERE for an enlargement.

Jerry Brooksher ’64 died April 26, 2024, surrounded by the love of his life, Kathlyn and family.  He was born in Chickasha, Oklahoma, moving at age 6 to San Diego.  Jerry's distinguished academic career began at Crawford, graduating as Salutatorian. He then completed his Master's Degree in English Literature and Art at San Diego State University. After serving as a civilian employee with the US Navy as the Technical Director of the Navy's Operational Test and Evaluation Force, Pacific, he was transferred to the Naval Underseas Warfare Center based in Hawaii, where he retired after completing 25 years of service.  After “failing retirement”, Jerry continued for 25 more years as a Test and Evaluation Engineer with private companies. In 1996 Jerry met Kathlyn McDougal Erickson at Bully's Steak House. They married in 1999 and lived a full, happy and loving life overlooking Lake Murray.  Jerry will be remembered for his generous, kind heart, his quick wit, his deep love and commitment to his family, friends and country.

Please contact Lila, at lilamcd@gmail.com for information on the Celebration of Jerry's Life to be held July 20, 2024. 

Jerry was a faithful supporter and donor of 2 scholarships to SDSU. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the annual SDSU Brooksher Memorial Scholarship. https://tinyurl.com/zv4pad2s Jerry was also a Benefactor of the San Diego Zoo.  Donations may be made in his name to the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. sdzwa.org/memorial

SAVE THE DATE. Bob Petretta ’67 passed away December 11, 2022.  His sons Tim and Bobby are hosting a Celebration of Life at the Brigantine Restaurant in La Mesa on Friday, August 9, 2024 from 6-9 PM.  

July 12, 2024

 

I couldn't wait until Halloween to share this.

Click HERE for an enlargement of the best fireworks photo ever.  It was taken last Thursday from Point Loma.

Here's a 1962 photo of a Rugby match at San Diego State.  I didn't even know there was a Rugby team, but I loved the view of the college as I remember it.  Click HERE for a larger view.

A recent Channel 8 News Throwback featured a long-ago interview with 1936 Hoover graduates Roy Engle and Walt Harvey on a return visit to the school.  Coach Harvey was my counselor at Crawford.   Click HERE to watch the interview on YouTube.

In 1950 some early models of the Convair B-36 were flown to San Diego to have jet engines added.  Click HERE for before and after photos.

Turns out it was an autosuggest malfunction.  I thought it strange that my childhood pal Ken Ptack -- a Naval Academy graduate who still lives in Maryland -- texted me to find out how old Annapolis was.  Turns out he'd seen a recent Facebook photo of my friend Anna and wanted to know how old SHE was.  Click HERE to see why.

July 6, 2024

 

Did you watch Fourth of July fireworks?  I was asleep and didn't hear a thing.

I've enlarged this cartoon to make sure you can read the inscription on Harry's gravestone.

I've just discovered a rare photo of me in Mr. Billings' Chemistry class.

I love old photos, but wanted to share this 2015 shot of the Hotel del Coronado.  Click HERE for an enlargement and a link to John Bare's other photos.

Old pals from Horace Mann Richard Bouman and Larry Brackett got together a couple weeks ago and sent a photo.  They haven't changed a bit!  Click HERE and see for yourself.

Did you hang out at Funky Quarters on El Cajon Boulevard?  I saw George Carlin there.  Click HERE to see some souvenir programs -- and some newspaper articles I dug up.

June 28, 2024

 

I hope my Jewish friends enjoy this.  I hope the rest of my friends get it.  Scroll to the bottom of the page for a bonus.

WHAT!!  June is practically over and NOW I find out it was Mens' Mental Health Month?  Somebody's gonna pay for this.

WHAT!!  MGEN Mike Borgschulte is turning over command of the 3rd Marine Air Wing at Miramar on July 2nd?  I didn't even know he was in charge -- or a general.  The last time we talked was when Nancy and I visited HMLA-367 at Camp Pendleton in 2010 and he was a Lieutenant Colonel.  Click HERE to see some pictures.

Desperate for something to do with Crawford, I'm reposting a trifecta of early aerials.  Click HERE and buckle your seat belt.

It's not the Carnation that was near and dear to the hearts of Crawford Colts, but the ice cream store at 3036 El Cajon Blvd served the public from 1941 to 1986.  Click HERE for a bigger picture and some additional information.

I've added another photo to the Balboa Stadium auto races page.  Click HERE to take a look

June 21, 2024

Today's the longest day of the year and the first day of summer.  All I know is that it's still light when I slip under the covers at 8 each night with a smile on my face.  A far cry from 70 years ago when I HAD to go to bed at 7 and I was upset that I could hear the other kids still in the street playing Three Flies Up.

Today's Far Side

Did you watch the US Open Golf Tournament las weekend?  That third hole was the undoing of some of the best golfers in the world.  It took me back to my playing days at Par Tee Miniature Golf on University Avenue.  The Ant Hill was MY undoing every time.  Click HERE to check out a couple of pieces of Part Tee memorabilia.

Terra American Bistro closes today after nearly three decades serving San Diego,  Started by my classmate Mike Rossman, it's been operated by his son Jeff for some time.  Click HERE to go to their web site and make a reservation.  It's located at 7091 El Cajon Boulevard if you just wanna stand in the parking lot and wave a handkerchief.

Here's a 1941 photo of the Star of India when it used to sit across from Navy Field on Harbor Drive.  Click HERE for an enlargement.

Georgia Wilson Hunter '60 passed away unexpectedly on May 31, 2024.  Her husband Steve is a 1957 Hoover graduate.

Marcia Solomon LeVitt ’64 passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in Sacramento, California.  Marcia was born and raised in San Diego, California where she lived a care-free life, much to the chagrin of her parents Samuel and Hope Solomon.  Besides the tamer tennis and swimming, she often rode the bus by herself to the beach eight miles from her home.  She was also known to sneak out of worship services to meet up with her friends doing the same at a local soda shop.  She and childhood and lifelong friend Donna even hitchhiked to Mazatlán when Marcia was just nineteen.  Marcia, known by some classmates as “Mushie”, graduated in 1964 after skipping a grade a few years earlier.  She went on to nursing school in Los Angeles at 17, but some of the realities of the profession led her to pursue a teaching career.  She attended Long Beach State and graduated from Chico State in 1972.  Marcia taught briefly at schools in inner-city Los Angeles and later in Foresthill, California.  She switched gears again, however, and worked for the Nevada County and Placer County Human Assistance Departments. She later transferred to the Sacramento HA Department where she worked for 26 years in the Welfare Fraud unit, making additional friends for life. She retired in 2004.  A hippie at heart, Marcia met Ed Zajac during communal living in an old Victorian house in Long Beach.  They shared a decade of travel and college-hopping before parting ways.  After moving to Sacramento, her next door neighbor introduced her to yet another set of friends for life, whose passion was exploring old mines and ghost towns in Nevada. She became a staunch believer in “life begins at 40” when she met and married Raymond LeVitt.   Marcia and Ray soon began volunteering and gathering more friends for life at several of the monthly community breakfasts on the Divide. Marcia also volunteered her talents at the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historical Park in Coloma.  She especially loved teaching gold-panning to visiting fourth graders and other tourists.  She even won a second place in the California State Gold Panning Championships!  Marcia is survived by, among others, her heartbroken husband Ray, sister Lynne Solomon Ballman and forever friend Donna Glazier.  

June 14, 2024

I don't think this needs a caption.  No surprise that both participants are male.

GRADUATION

1961 classmates Bob Richardson and Carole Smithson pose for a snapshot before heading off to commencement at SDSC.  Click HERE to read once again about the great graduation controversy from the year before.

Wow!  I forgot how many goodies Pam Burroughs shared having to do with her graduation in 1963.  Click HERE to see photos that include the bookcase at La Casa Frito (my house).

Did you graduate in 1972?  You're probably in one of the many photos shared previously by Ken Burton.  Click HERE and get out the magnifying glass.

Click on the links below to read Pacer Graduation Issues from

1959

1964

1969