Tribute - Dave Recupero

 THE LAST HURRAH

March 2022

 

It is with deepest regrets that due to health issues I will not be joining the Last Hurrah for the best class ever to graduate from PCH.  Know that my heart is with you.

 

In recognition of my position as Student Body President, Anne Nickel asked that I say a few words at the reunion. In light of my absence she asked me to do send her my written thoughts.

 

What many of do not know about me, I was the youngest of ten children born of Sicilian immigrants. My parents and siblings gave me incredible love and support to do the things that God gifted me to do.

 

It saddens me to watch the thousands of immigrants leaving their country because of the devastating war in  Ukraine.  Our hearts and prayers go out for them.

 

Like many of you I have been privileged to receive a Catholic education and blessed to have been taught by the Felician sisters.  Some of the nuns that molded my life include: Benilda, Anilla, Laudine, Doloria, Potentia, Amandette, Ermenilda.  And male influencers include; Monsignor English, Father James Murphy, Father William Smith, Mr. Mack, and of course our football coaches: Farley Day, Herb Adams, and Rod Long.

 

When we were temporarily relocated to Sacred Heart School in the fifth grade, some of you may remember that Sister Anilla actually played softball with us. No points off for grammatical errors….just fielding errors.

 

We were the tenth graduating class from PCH and the best class ever. It was a privilege to be involved with  student government and to work with talented student body and class officers: Dave Peters, Sally Hoyt, Barbara Glassen, David Cissell, David Van Theil, Ron Ciora, Mike Kelly, Jim McGray, Johnny Silvas.  And to make life-long friendships with people like Paul Hurst, Tom Sidenfaden, Jim Williams, Bob Ury,  Guy Belcore, John Heieck, George Jenkins, Marty Soth, Jules Cochoit, Joe Margala,  Bob Zievers, Bill Stringfield and of course Margaret Uglow, Susan Holzburger, Helen Lucero, Mia Pagluso and our “ever hopeful” classmate, Anne Tierney Nickel.  We all know that none of this would happen without her.   So Madame Chair, in recognition of your leadership I offer my recollections to you and the  entire class for our “last hurrah” for the Class of ’59,,,the best class ever to graduate from PCH.

 Tribute - Betty Raulen Bauer

Margaret, thank you for the kind words...You have always had sweet heart. I didn't submit a video tribute because, while I had worked ON computers for most of my working career, I am still technologically challenged (even have to find the youngsters at church to help me figure out my smart phone). That being said, I do not even have a camera on my computer.

I just read Mike Barnes tribute and I can kind of relate. I don't have a lot of significant memories of high school (none bad, just not a lot in general). I often felt part of the furniture. (And that's ok...) I will have to say that we all received an extremely good education and it did me in good stead as I matured. I do remember that since I was a young child I always wanted to be a nurse and that's what I geared my class selections on...including 2 years of Latin (that was a looong 2 years). However, at the end of junior year I no longer had that desire (still don't know to this day why I changed my mind) and restructured my class choices. Consequently, after graduation I joined the work force......and finally retired in 2005. The most enjoyable of all those years were the years I spent in the defense industry. I still miss the work I was doing (the most recent was on the B2 Bomber program but I can't tell you what I was doing. Since I had a high-level security clearance “I'd have to kill you if I told you” - Security Officers' standing joke). Finally did get a college degree......in 1988 (took me 9 years to do it).

I have been married 2 ½ times........yes, 2 ½. My second husband was a bigamist. (Not one of my finest moments). Gratefully turned my husband-choices over to the Lord and Bob and I have been married for 42 years. I have no children but Bob lets me share his daughter, grandson and great-granddaughter. We've been living in Oklahoma 24 years and really like it here. (Well, except during tornado season)

Please tell our classmates that I wish them all well...and to enjoy your time together.

With affection,

Betty (Raulen) Bauer

Tribute - Bill Stringfield 

I went 8 years to St. Francis of Assisi grade school in Los Angeles (near the corner of Sunset Blvd and Micheltorena)

 

My freshman year was spent at St. Agnes High School in Los Angeles near USC.  When my father was transferred to Lockheed in Ontario we moved to Pomona and I began my sophomore year at Pomona Catholic.  My memories are dimmed somewhat by age but the experience there was very pleasant with great friendships and with many I am still in contact.  I remember the Senior Prom at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills.  I double dated with Jim Williams and Lucy Daley.  My date was Barbara Belle. We went in Jim’s Cadillac and after the dance, went to the Crescendo on the Sunset Strip and saw the Jerry Mulligan Quartet and social comedian Mort Sahl.  My parents had given me $20.00 – a large sum in those days – and all of it went that night at the Crescendo.  I learned years later that Barbara had died at a young age.  I never knew what caused her early death.  During the summer months, Joe Vera and I cleaned the hillsides on Ganesha.  Great fun in 90 degree heat but it provided us with some income.  I and two other classmates (I can’t remember who now but I believe one was Fred Schoonmaker) went to Cable Airport in Claremont for a $5.00 plane ride.  I later took flying lessons at Brackett Field and soloed in 1959 in an Aeronca, a 1946 plane with and altimeter and gas gauge and little else.  I continued flying until 1973, when finances were needed for my business.

 

After graduation and to avoid being drafted at a later date, I enlisted in the Army.  After boot camp I was stationed in Korea with the 7^th Infantry Division on the Demilitarized Zone.  I was there for 16 months and ended my service at the infantry training center in Fort Gordon, Georgia.

 

After discharge, I interviewed for employment with a company at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).  I began work in 1964 in little known industry for a Customs House Broker.  I would work in that field for the next 57 years – the last 47 in my own business. 

 

That year I was to meet my future wife, Brenda, who came to California from New York on vacation and stayed.  She had graduated as a business major.  (She was Miss R.I.T. in her senior year). Seven years later in 1971 we were married and still are 51 years later.  We have no children.

 

I began my business in 1973 in Longview, Washington – a port on the Columbia River.  I was licensed by the Treasury Dept. and the Federal Maritime Commission – required to represent importers before the Customs Service and perform international freight forwarding.  In 1980 I opened an office in Long Beach as containerization was eliminating vessel stops at all but the largest ports.  I maintained the Longview office until 2002 and devoted full time to Long Beach.  On May 18^th, 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted.  We were able to view the volcano from our home.  Logs came down the Cowlitz River and eventually blocked the Columbia River to ship traffic so our business was affected until the river could be dredged.

 

During my working life I arranged Customs clearance for about 200,000 shipments  – most for companies like Petsmart, Kmart, Albertsons/Sav-on and similar large importers.  Some jobs stand out for companies and individuals.  I cleared the hot air balloon now at the Great Park in Orange County.  It and the gondola were made in France. I cleared a Rembrandt for Norton Simon.  It was valued at over a million dollars and we sent it to  Mr Simon in a Bekins Van Line with 4 armed guards.  The painting is now in the Norton Simon museum in Pasadena.   20^th Century Fox sent me to El Paso, Texas, to clear the horses crossing the border that were used in “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” filmed in Mexico.  The horses were specially trained in California – the same facility that trained the horses used in the chariot scene in “Ben-Hur”.  I worked for and met many political and entertainment people – Pierre Salinger came to the office to pick up dishes from France for his new wife. Salinger was briefly a Senator from California but is better known as JFK’s press secretary. I handled Edward G. Robinson’s art purchases as well as Vincent Price’s.  Price was a buyer for Sears art department.  Paramount Studios sent me to meet people returning from overseas filming to ensure that they had no problems with Customs.  I cleared the animals when they returned from the original Dr Doolittle (filmed in England) and Steve McQueen’s pistol taken from him by Japanese Customs.  I closed the office in 2020 having spent most of my life in international trade.  At this time I am providing limited consulting to companies who need regulatory guidance and import duty tariff rates.

 

One last item.  In 1967 I applied for admission to the Peace Corps.  With the help of Sister Mary Anilla, I was accepted for training in Escondido, Calif.   After 4 months I was sent to Medellin, Columbia.  I was on a leave of absence from my employer.  In late 1968, I was offered a management job in Longivew, WA., that I accepted.  When the company was sold in 1972, I began my own business the following year.

 

I sincerely look forward to renewing acquaintances and friendships with my classmates in a few weeks.

 Tribute - Bob Svancarek

Dear Friends and classmates. Nothing like waiting to the last minute?ￂﾠfor a tribute. I'll try not to bore you and yammer to much. I arrived at PC in 7 th. grade when my folks moved from Illinois to Pomona, I attended  PC until the end of my junior year. I would have started my senior year but when the principal told me I had to cut my hair in order to come back I decided it was time to attend the public school and my parents let me sign up for Pomona high school, but of course the school burned down 2 weeks before school started, so I never started my senior year until the first of Nov, when my folks moved back to Illinois. I did not want to leave Cal. and was very upset when we had to move. I had many friends at P C, George Jenkins, Jim Shea and Ken Marple, just to mention a few. George and I started to play Guitars at the beginning of our Junior year and were doing good together, another reason I did not want to leave Cal. One event that happened in my sophomore year that was life changing for me was I came down with spinal meningitis. I had the worst case in the San Bernardino county hospital and the fastest recovery. I thank God for sparing my my life then, because it allowed me to have a personal relationship with Jesus at the age of 21. When I started H S  in Illinois I only needed English to graduate so my senior year was easy, Drafting class, auto shop, machine shop, woodworking shop. ?ￂﾠI started a band when I got back to Illinois. We had 2 guitars, drums, bass, saxophone and piano. We played together for a few years at H S dances and such. My chief claim to fame with this band was we got to be the opening band for the Everly  Bros, in 1960. the band broke up after a few years because 2 members joined the Army and 2 got married. Several months later I started a 2nd  band that lasted about 2 years. After getting married in Dec, 1962. My wife and I moved back to Cal. a year later but my wife did not like it there so we moved back to Ill.after 2 yrs. I had 3 children by my 1st wife. 2 girls and 1 boy. They are all doing well and are very successful. My son is a helicopter pilot for the Charlotte police department and my youngest daughter owns her own real estate business and my oldest daughter is a interior designer. I got into the construction business when I was 22 and pretty much remained in it until I retired at 72.  I was a home builder, remodeling contractor and cabinet maker. I enjoyed my carpentry work and it was never a job to me. My first wife and I divorced after 28 years of marriage. I remarried about a year later and lived in Jacksonville,Fl for 8 years until that marriage ended. I now live in the Charlotte, N.C. area ( about 50 miles S.E. of Charlotte) on 23 acres (out in the boone docks) I have lived in N.C. for the last 22 years and have been single ever since.  I am blessed to live around my loving family. Not only do I have 3 children but I have 8 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. I do play my Bass at church in the praise and worship band and I am enjoying it very much. I am sorry that I will not be attending the Last Hurrah, but I will definitely be there for the final hurrah in Heaven some day. I pray every one enjoys the last hurrah together.

Bob Svancarek  (Swanni)

  Tribute - Mike Barnes

Well it is clear I put this off until the very last moment.  Sorry for that, but in the middle of the last two nights I woke up thinking how I could compose something that would be of some value to the Class of ’59 at PCHS. So here goes.

 

The truth of the matter is my memories of my four years are very, very vague.  I remember being really short (5’1” in September 1955) and really skinny.  That is the entirety of my freshman year memories. I don’t remember how I travelled from Ontario to Pomona, but it was probably a parent driving us.  We did have a small cadre of St. George students that attended PCHS and I think there are only three remaining survivlors, Jim Ganger, Marty Soth and me.

 

My only memory of sophomore year was Bill Sheehan reading Chaucer, or Beowulf or Silas Marner, or all three, in front of the class. I imagine we all read, but Bill had the proper cadence that I did not possess. I just now  recalled watching seniors John Stewart and George Yanik in an all hands assembly that year.

 

Either sophomore or junior year I was asked to leave Music Appreciation.  I probably said something under my breath, and certainly was not showing the proper appreciation. I had study hall this hour for the balance of the year.

 

Senior year I remember covering sports for the paper and sitting on the end of the bench in basketball.  By this time I was taller (6’1”) and a little less skinny.  I remember sitting in Coach Adams Civics class and looking out on Holt Ave.

 

Interestingly, my memories our much sharper post-PCHS.  I worked part time for the City of Upland while attending Chaffey JC in pre-engineering to earn money for the final two years somewhere.  A Math instructor at Chaffey was hugely influential in steering me to UC Berkeley. While there I met my wife, Pam and we just celebrated 57 years of marriage. We have two children, Tony and Molly. They both were way more athletic than me and we enjoyed watching them play in high school and college. We have six grandchildren ages 16 to 5.

 

My professional career included General Electric (Los Angeles), US Naval Reserve (active duty in San Francisco and San Diego…really tough duty stations), UC Berkeley for an MBA, FMC for stints in Chicago, Riverside and Lindsay, CA, and ultimately Intel for 23 years in Santa Clara. Pam ahs worked all through our time together, mostly preparing taxes. She just shut that business down after last tax season, so we are both retired now.

 

We have lived in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1978, except for a 20 month period in 2004-2005 when we were in Redondo Beach to help Pam’s mom who was living alone in her early ‘90’s.  For the last six years we have lived in Oakland.  Our son’s family lives within a mile.  Our daughter’s family recently moved to Newport Beach, but we get frequent visits.

 

The pandemic got our attention early and we have been extremely careful for the past two years. Driving south for us is now a two day affair with an overnight along the way and we are not comfortable making that trip yet. Feel free to share this if you think it is appropriate at this late hour.  My best to allr the classmates who will be in attendance in Claremont.

 

Mike Barnes

  Tribute - Judy Fouquette Skapik

Hi Class of ’59.

I arrived at Pomona Catholic as a recent St. Joseph Grammar School graduate. 

There (St. Joseph) I was one of the “lively” ones. In high school things were much different. There were 4 grades and freshmen were the lowliest of them all. Yet, I loved attending each class in a new classroom and seeing all the other students as I trooped up and down the stairs getting there. Two of my grammar school teachers were teaching me again…Sr. Doloria (Typing & Clerical Practice) and Sr. Anilla (Civics). I made new friends from other towns and settled in enjoying this new world. One of my favorite activities in high school was the retreats. We had fantastic retreat leaders who sparked our minds and revealed new ways for us to love and serve our God. They also assured us that we were deeply loved by our creator.I always emerged energized and fully charged to be good and do good.

Friday night football games were gobs of fun even though I never really knew much about the game. As a cheerleader my Sophomore year I had to ask another student which cheer to lead as I knew nothing about the technicalities of the game. But how we yelled our heads off and supported our players!  I remember the first time we traveled by bus to a football game in Barstow. It was a rough town and the kids threw rocks at us while we cheered on our team. Needless to say, we left quickly after the games which we always won. Hm-m, no wonder the rocks. 

The school dances were fun although I was so shy I practically hid myself at them. 

Over the years we had many promotions to help make money for our school. I clearly remember with amusement how I bought the entire box of chocolate bars ( I has a job at Hi Burgers across the street from PC) we were assigned to sell for the school. I could not ask a perfect stranger to buy something from me. That was an absolutely terrifying thought. Therefore, my friend Marilyn Diaz and I enjoyed many bars of chocolate underneath the stairwell during our off times. By the way, Marilyn also worked at Hi Burgers with me. 

Pomona Catholic helped me understand more deeply that our actions can affect others in many ways. I learned I must strive to share my core beliefs with those who ask or show an interest. One needed to be a good example for others to follow.

I married my husband Mike at 19. I had always dreamed of having a large family as I adored my mother and thought the world of her.  We had 5 children, 3 boys and 2 girls. I totally immersed myself in family life. When my children attended Catholic school I became very busy doing all the things parents must do when their children attend Catholic school. As they got older I started writing for the church newsletter. I had always enjoyed writing and this was a wonderful outlet. All of my children were involved in sports so I attended many, many baseball games. Cheering the kids on was a delightful way to spend a Saturday afternoon. Sadly to say, we lost 2 of our children over the years. Our daughter Sherry (14) in an accident and our son Robert (22) to cancer. That is a grief I will never heal from and always carry with me. In later years I became a grief counselor and wrote articles regarding the loss of a child. I know that I helped others in their sorrow and am appreciative for that opportunity. God knew what to do with me at that time. 

The thing I regret most was not attending college. I could have but wanted to be out in the world working and being able to pay my way. College would have taught me many things but I believe the most important would have been to become an independent thinker. But then, if I had done that then I wouldn’t have met my husband and started my family which I truly believe was my destiny.

Over the years many good times were had with our children, grandchildren (3) and now a great-granddaughter. Four generations were started because of me. I feel proud of that accomplishment.  I taught CCD classes and subbed at OLA. In later years I lead a senior exercise class that was hard. We used weights, did many yoga poses and stretched well. I met many lovely people in those classes.  I was able to visit my birth parents’ countries. I adored Ireland and also enjoyed England and France. 

I would tell my 18 yr. old self to be true to my beliefs and stand tall in them. I had a good education in what was really important in life. That took me far. My advice is to believe in yourself and always love and give to others. Treat them as you would want to be treated. Everyone is carrying a cross. Be kind.

I now have COPD and need oxygen to walk or do anything active. I try hard every day and still manage to keep a little garden going. I also enjoy my little dog Rosie and still have my dear husband Mike at my side. I would say my life has been a success.

I will not be at the reunion but wish all of you a joyful time and send my best wishes.

Judy Fouquette Skapik

John Heieck

  Tribute - John Heieeck

I'm John Heieck. I've decided to follow in the footsteps of Frank and Guy and write my class tribute, since so computer illiterate

In June,1955, I delivered the class valedictorian speech (yes, I still have it) entitled, "The Spirit of American". I noted "it is the tradition in American to give the individual every opportunity to make a better life for himself and his family". Although it was a joyful occasion, I was very worried.

 

Three years earlier, my family had moved to Duarte from a small Irish enclave outside Boston. In the following years, I had to attend public schools. From my point of view, those years were a disaster! My teachers had been recruited from retirement due to the surge in population from the American migration to California. They didn't appear to be happy to be in the classroom and their lessons were mediocre. In fact, they didn't teach me anything new that I had not already learned in the Catholic elementary school that my mother had attended in Boston......After discussing my concerns about attending the local public high school, I asked my parents to send me to Pomona Catholic High, 22 miles away.

Pomona Catholic didn't disappoint! It was everything I hoped and expected. Sister Benilda ran a "tight ship" and set high standards for the school. Her nuns were enthusiastic and challenging---several even funny. Every day was a new adventure, a new learning experience......Sister Theophane's recruitment and mentoring me in journalism added another dimension to my school experience. I learned how to "run and manage" an organization--the school newspaper--and the hard work necessary for success......Upon graduation, I knew I had made a great decision years earlier. I also knew I had the foundation and the tools to succeed in whatever I chose to do.

 

In my tribute, I can't ignore the Class of '59, itself. It was a complete surprise! It was (and still is) special. Like Mormillo and Sidenfaden, I was an "outsider", traveling from afar. I was nervous the first few days. But the class members welcomed me as if, I too, had graduated from their Parish school. Within a short time, I considered PCH "home", and life became much easier.

 

I retired 8 years ago--and the transition initially wasn't easy. I missed the operating room which I always considered a sacred place--not night call. For several years we considered our next step. Finally, we left our home of 30 years and moved to Tucson to be near family. We only lived in our first house 8 months--too much desert, too many snakes. We moved into town and are remodeling our house.

 

Sheila and I celebrate our 50th anniversary next year. We are blessed with 6 children and 8 grandchildren. Three of our children now live in AZ which allows us to see half our family more frequently. Our oldest grandchild is attending U of Chicago and our youngest are 3 y/o twins.

 

I hope my family/friends remember me as a "devoted husband and father/ talented and compassionate surgeon".

 

Each morning I start my day with 2 prayers. I once read that "old age is a gift and not a right". I thank God for his gift. Secondly, I also have read the thoughts of Abraham Lincoln in a in a speech he delivered in January, 1838. He said "If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must follow through all times or die by suicide". In these dangerous and turbulent times, I pray for the wellbeing of our country.

 

I want to thank Anne for her patience with me!

 

Hope to see everyone at our reunion next year(?)

 

God bless everyone......And God Bless America

 

  John

Guy Belcore

Tribute - Guy Belcore

Hello everyone -

This is Guy Belcore and I’m looking forward to visiting with as many of you as possible at our upcoming “Last Hurrah”. I must apologize for not doing a Zoom presentation; but I just had skin cancer surgery on my beautiful Italian nose.  As a result, I have two black and blue eyes that clash with my white bandaged nose.  Not a pretty site.

So, in lieu of a Zoom presentation I have decided to address the topics that were suggested earlier by Anne.  She sure has done an excellent job in keeping this get together going through thick and thin.

To begin, I really can’t identify one special memory from PCH; however, there were so many. Transferring from Junipero Serra High School in Gardena to Pomona Catholic High School was like experiencing “Happy Days” before the song was ever sung.  As a side note, two of the 4 singers in the group that wrote and made that song famous were my friends, who I met at the Claremont Chi Rho Club during our junior year of high school.  They have remained some of my dearest friends, ever since.

Pomona Catholic did not so much shape my life’s choices as it gave me the tools that I needed to do pretty much whatever I decided upon. God bless our principal, sister Benilda, and all the nuns who dedicated so much of their lives to our education. They will forever be in my prayers.

To answer the question as to what advice I would give myself at 18 years of age. It would be to seek and keep good friends and don’t sweat the small stuff; while keeping in mind that the reason we were put on this earth was “to get to Heaven and not to Harvard”.

I’ve been effectively retired for the last seven years. What I cannot understand is how I ever had time to work - - given all the extracurricular activities that I now enjoy. I can truly say that I no longer have a bucket list. Like the rest of you, we’ve been blessed to live a pretty long life and, for the most part, in good enough health to enjoy it.

Speaking of being blessed, this year my wife and I celebrated our 46th wedding anniversary.  She  immigrated to America as a little child with her family, who escaped from Soviet controlled Slovakia after World War ll.  

Another side note:  Even though my wife’s father held a doctor of Philosophy , coached their national soccer team, served as a Deputy Minister of Education, who spoke, read and wrote In nine languages his first job upon arriving in Americas was working in a factory. Their family’s history pretty much confirmed for me what President Reagan said, “ It only takes one generation to lose your country“.  As one of the “old guard” that fully understands the perils of Communism, I continue to share my knowledge of this evil philosophy with so many others who have been under exposed to the perils of Communism.

To the brighter side, my wife and I have been blessed with three wonderful daughters, who have given us five wonderful grandchildren - - two boys and three girls. Most of you probably agree that your grandchildren are the dividends for having raised your own children. Our oldest is ten and the youngest is four. I understand that many of you already are enjoying your great grandchildren.  How wonderful that must be.  I don’t think I will be around to experience that pleasure.

In addition to Family , I can tell that I frequently reminisce and appreciate all the many wonderful people I’ve met over my lifetime. Their friendship has enriched my life.  If there’s one thing I could change in my life, it would be to be a better friend to so many friends that were such good friends to me.  I try to makeup for my failures in this regard by praying for them regularly.

As for hobbies and past time activities, as with most of you, they have changed with each decade of life. I stopped playing basketball at 40; tennis at 50, golf at 65 but continue to enjoy the opera, plays, musicals and the like and of course playing with my grandchildren.  Oh yes, I regularly exercise by walking 30 minutes almost daily +. 

For most of the first year of the China virus, Phyllis and I pretty much self-quarantined ourselves in our desert home in Indian Wells, CA. This past summer we spent quality time at our Balboa Island duplex enjoying our days with four of our grandchildren. Of course, we enjoyed time with two of our daughters and  their husbands, as well.

The experience of living full time on the Island caused us to finally decide to tear down our duplex and build our dream house here on the Island.  We had the plans drawn up two years ago, but did not proceed.  Yesterday, we signed the construction contract.

The last subject from Anne is a great question: “what do you want your relatives/friends to remember about you?”  Answer is, I was a good and faithful friend.

Hope to see you at our reunion,

Guy

Attachments:  Several family photos 

Frank Mormillo

    Tribute - Frank Mormillo                                                          

     Fellow classmates, if anyone is actually interested in hearing from me, I hope you won’t mind if I send this tribute in as a word document with a few attached photos rather than as a video.  In truth, I am something of a dinosaur who has been dragged into the computer and digital age kicking, biting and screaming.  Although I do have to employ computers and digital photography in my work as a photojournalist, I don’t really trust the medium, and I try to keep as low of an online profile as possible.  In particular, I don’t like zoom conferences, though I do have to take part in a few.  But, I do it with the lens in my computer covered up. I can see and hear the other participants, but they can only hear me, so I guess that makes me something of an oddball.

     After graduating from PCH, I enrolled in the aerospace engineering program at Cal Poly Pomona, though I actually had no intention of becoming an engineer.  My real goal at that time was to be a pilot in the Air Force, and I thought that the aerospace engineering program would look good on my resume.  As soon as I was eligible at the end of my freshman year, I applied for a spot in the Air Force Aviation Cadet Program, passed all the requirements, and waited for a class assignment.  However, about six months later the Air Force informed me that they had closed the Aviation Cadet Program to those without college degrees and told me to go back to school.  Consequently, I returned to Cal Poly where, near the end of my sophomore year, I met some Navy recruiters who informed me that I did not need a degree for the Naval Aviation Cadet Program (up to that point, I did not really think of the Navy because I was not thrilled about the prospect of aircraft carrier catapult takeoffs and arrested landings on a pitching flight deck, something that I did actually experience much later as a civilian photojournalist).  At their suggestion, I applied for the program, was tested, qualified and eventually given a class assignment and serial number.  Instructed to return to NAS Los Alamitos to be sworn in and make arrangements for a flight to NAS Pensacola, when I arrived, I was informed that the commander who would swear me in was out of the office for a while.  So, I was then told to go to the flight surgeon’s office for a new physical because it had been months since my previous physical, and I would need a new physical anyway when I got to Pensacola.  That supposedly would have made the process easier. I could then return to the recruiting and testing office for swearing in after the physical when the commander would be back in his office.  But, so much for the best laid plans of mice and men.  During the physical, it was discovered that a slight astigmatism had developed in my left eye, and I was no longer qualified for the program.  Technically, my vision was still classified as 20-20 at that time, but with a slight error.  Today, with a current shortage of pilots, both the Air Force and Navy will accept trainees with 20-50 vision that can be corrected with glasses or contact lenses; but that wasn’t the case back in 1961.  

     Consequently, I went back to Cal Poly and changed my major to communications with an emphasis on journalism.  I had always been interested in photography (mostly to photograph airplanes at that time), so that seemed like a better career path for me.  I received a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Arts in 1964 (at that time, Cal Poly was primarily a technical and agricultural institution that did not offer a Bachelor of Arts degree). I actually did a lot of freelance photo work to pay my way through college, and then managed a camera shop on a part-time basis for six years while spending the rest of my time working as a freelance photojournalist.  In 1970, I received a call from Cal Poly asking me if I would like to teach some photo courses in the summer because the current photo instructor was not eligible to teach that quarter.  A few weeks after completing that summer quarter, Cal Poly called me back and offered me a fulltime staff position with some teaching responsibilities in the Communication Arts Department, working in the same facilities in which I had studied six years before.  While working at Cal Poly, I continued freelancing in my spare time.  In 1991, I took early retirement to concentrate on freelance photojournalism fulltime, something that I continue doing to this day.  Though I am slowing up a bit with age, I have no intention of giving up this work as long as there is still breath in my body and some of my body parts work.

     During my adult life, I have practiced all sorts of photographic ventures, including portraiture, wedding photography, pinup work, still photography for television commercials and industrial films, product illustrations, sports coverage and public relations work.  However, I always preferred photojournalistic endeavors featuring aircraft, military subjects and auto racing.  I was the track photographer at the Riverside International Raceway (while still employed at Cal Poly) from 1972 until it closed in 1989, as well as at the Ontario Motor Speedway from 1976 until it closed in 1980 (there was no scheduling conflict between the two facilities), and provided auto racing coverage from those race tracks and other facilities in California, Arizona and Nevada to publications in the United States and Europe as well. During 1974 and 1975, I was also the assistant team photographer for the Southern California Sun of the short-lived World Football League. Finally tiring of a schedule that was getting a bit too hectic, I decided to concentrate primarily on aviation about fifteen years ago.  

     Although I never earned a pilot’s license or even flew solo, I did take some flying lessons while in college.  However, photography was my real forte, and I spent the rest of my airborne time taking pictures of airplanes, everything from World War I biplanes to supersonic jets.  But, in the course of that work, when there are lulls in the picture taking, I am often given the opportunity to get some “stick time” from the backseat or right seat of various aircraft.  It’s not really like being a pilot, but it still is somewhat satisfying.  Over the years, in addition to classic civilian aircraft and vintage warbirds, as a civilian photojournalist I have flown with all branches of the U.S. military (Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Army and Coast Guard), as well as the British Royal Air Force and various firefighting and law enforcement agencies.  In the 1980s, the Marine Corps qualified me to fly in tactical jets, and for several years my annual physicals were conducted by the flight surgeons at MCAS El Toro, where I was also given egress and survival training.  As a photojournalist, over the years I also went to sea numerous times aboard five different U.S. Navy aircraft carriers, a battleship, support ships and coast guard cutters.  As a younger man, I also covered a number of Army and Marine Corps “live-fire” combat exercises and Navy amphibious assault operations.  Today, I primarily cover Air Force exercises from the ground, though I still fly a lot photographing civilian aircraft.  I have been involved as a volunteer with the Planes of Fame Air Museum at Chino since my high school days (at that time, it was located in Claremont), and was its media relations and public relations director for about thirty years.  I am also a member of the Commemorative Air Force and the American Aviation Historical Society.

     In 1971, I married Sherry Lee Strona, a graduate of Pomona Catholic who was a college student that I met when I worked at Cal Poly.  Sherry later worked at Cal Poly as well, and also wrote several romance novels, one of which was published in the United States and Europe under the pen name Lee Sherry (the publisher thought that Mormillo sounded “too ethnic”).  Sherry eventually contracted Leukemia and passed away in 1995.  At that time, she was still working on her Master’s Degree in Business Administration. We had two sons who now live in Arizona and Nevada, as well five grandchildren (two boys and three girls); unfortunately, Sherry never got to see her grandchildren.

     As I look back on my life, I guess that I really should not complain too much.  Although things did not work out exactly as I had originally hoped, I did have some interesting experiences and met some great people along the way, including some who had been heroes in my childhood.  While I am not as agile as I was years ago (not that I was ever exceptionally agile in the first place), I can still get around on my own.  With regard to my health, I overcame a minor cardiac problem fifteen years ago, was successfully treated for prostate cancer twelve years ago, and had successful cataract surgery on my right eye last year.  Though I am constantly on alert for any new potential problems (I suspect that most of you are in the same boat), I think that I should be grateful for the way things have gone so far. 

    Yet, I can’t help but wonder what my life would have been like had I gone into the Air Force or Navy as a young man.  I probably would have made a career of the service, but I seems likely that I never would have met Sherry, gotten married or had sons and grandchildren.  So, perhaps things worked out for the best after all.

     Today, I reside alone in Duarte with my memories and memorabilia in a house that my granddaughters refer to as my “man cave.”  I still try to get together with my sons and their families as often as possible, but of course those opportunities have been somewhat limited during the past year and a half.  In fact, my travels in general have been relatively limited lately. Nevertheless, I am hopeful that I will still be around if life ever returns to what we call normal, and I look forward to seeing the survivors of the Class of 1959 in October.

     

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