Faculty Obituaries

Lois M. Agnew

April 27, 1904 - July 11, 1996

One of Crawford's earliest vice-principals, Lois retired in 1967. She died in her sleep in a Santa Ana retirement home. She was 92. "She was a giving, caring person as far as the kids and the staff were concerned," said Emma Leisure. "If anybody needed help she was there."

Homer H Badgett

Sept. 3, 1921-Feb. 8, 2002

H.H. "Bus" Badgett lived in San Marcos. He was born in Mount Vernon, Ill. Mr. Badgett was an aerospace design engineer for Teledyne-Ryan. He was a member of the Liberator Club and had served in the Army Air Corps during World War II.

Paul Bernd

August 18, 1905 – March 10, 1993

Richard V. Bertain

July 4, 1930 - September 13, 2000

"RV" was the Class of 1962 Advisor, a job he resigned from in order to pursue a scholarship at Harvard University,where he received his Doctorate in Educational Administration in 1964. Previously he had received Bachelor Degrees in Philosphy and English in 1961 from Saint Mary's College and, later, a Master's Degree in Educational Administration from San Diego State College in 1960. He worked in the Beverly Hills, Inglewood, El Segundo, Palm Springs, Glendale and Culver City School districts in various administrative capacities. In 1990 he was appointed by President George Bush, and confirmed by the United States Senate, as Associate Director of Domestic and Anti-Poverty Operations. He passed away from cancer.

Frances LaMora Kaar Archibald
(also known as Mrs. Francess Brownell)

June 11, 1911- December 24, 2012

My mother lived in Cuba much of her young life. She was sent back to the United States by her parents when she was sixteen, to “…become familiar with the nation of her birth.” She attended Monticello Seminary, a private girls academy in Illinois. She graduated from the University of Illinois in 1934 with a Bachelors Degree in Spanish and Linguistics. The university offered her a teaching position immediately following graduation, where she remained until relocating to California for health reasons. Frances moved to Southern California, and earned a Masters Degree from USC, where she also did work on her doctoral studies. She left USC before completing her doctorate, in order to care for her mother, who had returned from India to recuperate from an illness. Frances became a Spanish teacher, teaching at both high school and college levels. She was named “Teacher of the Year” at Crawford in 1963, and was active in the American Field Service. She often traveled with students to Spain and Mexico on summer study excursions. On her 100th birthday, a mariachi band was hired to serenade her. Frances knew all the songs, and joined in the singing -- in Spanish, of course. Many former students came great distances to honor a teacher who had left an indelible impression on them, more than fifty years before. Frances received dozens of e-mails from all over the world, including a former student in a kibbutz in Israel, one in international banking in Central America, and and one living in Buenos Aires for thirty years.  She heard from the mother of Soul Surfer, Bethany Hamilton, who was also a former student.  Many of her students commented on Frances’ colorful mode of dressing, and her pink Ford with green interior. (She had it painted to look like a rose.) All recalled her skill as an instructor. She inspired students to master another language, go see the world, and be better human beings. -- Steve Brownell ’64

Celebrating 100 Years

Students Congratulate Her At 97

Carl Bull

November 30, 1908 - January 10, 2001

Joseph Byrnes

June 13, 1917 – March 20, 2006

Duncan Cameron

Margaret G. Covey

July 10, 1915 - June 6, 1993

Girls' Vice Principal, 1959

Adine Cummings

Ron Davidson

Horace Mann Coach

 

Florence Eaton

August 24, 1906 - January 25, 1996

Faculty member from 1958 to 1972, she died of congestive heart failure. She was a founding member of Crawford, teaching English and counselling gifted students. After retirement she travleed extensively and, in 1988, moved to Casa de las Companas, a retirement community in Rancho Bernardo. She was 89.

William Fansler

August 15, 1922 -- November 22, 2009

Horace Mann Coach and Counselor

Bill was born on August 15, 1922 in Mishawaka, Indiana. He enlisted in the Marine Corps during World War II and fought in the Pacific, including Bougainville and Guadalcanal. After the war, Bill graduated from San Diego State. Bill became a respected educator at various schools in San Diego. He was principal of Mira Mesa High School at the time of his retirement. Artist, athlete, man of good humor, and friendly, Bill remained to the end a good-looking son of a gun. Bill was preceded in death by his wife Florence Herberg Fansler and his son Robert Fansler. Bill is survived by his pal and companion of over 25 years Dorothy Wilcox and her family, his children Thomas (Diana), Leslie Harrelson, and Richard Fansler. At Bill's request, there will be no service. Anyone wishing to honor Bill could do so with a donation to San Diego Hospice.

October 30, 1921 - September 29, 1988

Donald Hankins

January 7, 1925 - February 25, 2009

He was born in Orange, California and passed away in Alpine. He served in the Navy during the Korean War. Survivors include his wife Marlene; daughter, Jody Stratton and Wendy Wheeler; sisters Betty Flora and Carol Hendricks; brothers, Marvin Johnson and Bob Johnson, and four grandchildren. There were no services. Donations: Sharp Hospice, P. O. Box 3739, La Mesa, CA 91944.

Jesse was a teacher at Crawford when I was a student at Crawford and was still there when I returned as a teacher in 1984. He retired during the course of my ten years there -- Nancy Alumbaugh Bailey '60

Robert Juel

My father, former Crawford math teacher, Robert Juel, died on December 9, 2011.  One of the last things my father said to me before Parkinson’s robbed him of speech was, “The one thing I know I did right in life was to become a teacher.”  He told me this partly because I work at Stanford with those studying to be elementary teachers, and he wanted my students to know how he felt about teaching even after all these years.  He appreciated so much the letters and e-mail he received through the years from former Crawford students – even the student who was still upset about a long-ago grade.  His mind remained curious about the world until the end.  He loved the history channel on cable television and even rode his electric scooter all the way to the Stanford bookstore to see what calculus textbooks they now used. He felt the textbook was too expensive, so he just drove in day after day to read it at the bookstore. Eventually his body was overcome by the Parkinson’s to the point that the stubborn, independent, Norwegian with the ever active mind was stuck inside his rigid body unable to leave bed.  We were fortunate in finding the VA hospice program.  The color photo above was taken about ten years ago when my father was sailing in Cape Cod.  Sailing on the sea was his passion.  He remarked on this day that he hoped I could get a job in California before he died.  He wanted his ashes scattered in the Pacific Ocean, and he got that wish.  The scattering will occur at sea off the Marin headlands this coming week. Take care and enjoy life whenever you can -- Connie Juel ’67 (December 17, 2011)

Mary McMullen graduated from San Diego High School, then went on to San Diego Teacher's College on Park Boulevard. She accompanied the school to Montezuma Mesa in 1931 when it changed its name to San Diego State College. "Her smile and charm are an inspiration to all who meet her," said an article in the school yearbook from the 1930s.

Long before she became Crawford's first principal Mary McMullen was acting dean at San Diego State College. In 1932 she organized 12 female seniors into the school's first chapter of Cap and Gown, which later was renamed Mortar Board. She served as Dean of Women at State from 1932 to 1938, then left to become vice principal at La Jolla High. In 1951 she opened Lincoln High School. The Lincoln football field was named in her honor.

(Thanks to Emma Leisure for sending the above information --
and Bob Richardson '61 for the photo taken by his father)

Walter Mentze

January 30, 1904 - November 19, 2007

Walter was born on on a farm six miles outside the town of Harper, Kansas. After graduating from Harper High School, he went to Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas where he played trombone in the band and was on the track team. Walter began his 40 years of teaching in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and then came to San Diego in 1934. He earned a Master of Education degree at USC. He taught at Roosevelt Junior High next to the Zoo until 1955, when he came to Horace Mann Junior High. In the fall of 1963 he went to a new school, Muirlands Junior High in La Jolla, retiring in 1969, always teaching band and orchestra. After retiring from teaching, he began a second career in real estate sales, retiring from that at the age of 85. He continued to drive twelve miles to the church where his son is pastor and play in the brass quartet until he was 96. He passed away at Alvarado Hospital, just a mile from his home since 1953. He is survived by his wife of almost 60 years, Margaret Troxel Mentze, also a music teacher, his daughter Joan Mentze '67, biology laboratory technician at SDSU and son, the Rev. Dr. Robert Mentze '70, pastor of the Lakeside Community Presbyterian Church.

 

Helen Merzbacher

April 22, 1918 - January 27, 2005

Originally from New Jersey Helen was the first of four siblings. She was the daughter of Hungarian immigrants Andrew Gaydos and Anna Kall. She eventually would work as a secretary for Trenton State Teachers College where she met her future husband Claude Fell Merzbacher. During 1942, while still a secretary at the teachers college, she temporarily worked as a newspaper model to support war fund raising efforts. She began attending Trenton State Teachers College at this time and received a B.A. degree in Commerce in 1944. She married Claude F. Merzbacher in 1945 in Pas-A-Grille Beach, Fla. During that busy year she commuted to Trenton from their residence in St. Petersburg, Fla., to complete her teacher training. They yearned for the drier climate of Southern Calif. and moved to Encinitas, Calif. in 1946. While working to support a family she would find herself as a single mother in the late 1960s. She would work and return home to be a parent each day. She persevered to raise her two sons who would eventually grow up and became educators in the San Diego area. In 1977, Helen was suddenly forced to retire with a debilitating stroke. Her sister Margaret Gaydos soon retired as an English teacher to give care and support for Helen. Although Helen could speak only a few words she survived, independently, for nearly 30 years, in her own home, eventually traveling accompanied by her sister to Budapest in 1980. She loved nature and gardening. She was a dog lover and could be seen daily, walking through the Allied Gardens neighborhoods, smiling and greeting others for 15 years with her dog Hemingway. Helen is succeeded by sister Irene Anderson and family of Princeton, NJ, brother Irving Gaydos and family of Pittsgrove, NJ, son Jeffrey Lee Merzbacher and family of Ramona, Calif., son James Merzbacher and wife Marlene of Spring Valley, Calif., two grandsons Sean and Chase of Carlsbad, Calif.

Charles Mobley

October 9, 1922 - January 24, 2009

A longtime San Diego and Borrego Springs resident, Chuck was born in Shady Side, Ohio. In 1953, the Mobleys moved with their young daughter Jayne to San Diego, California where Chuck served as the Vice Principal at Horace Mann Junior High School. While at Horace Mann, Chuck earned his Masters Degree in Education from San Diego State University. He later held administrative positions at Pacific Beach Junior High School, Wilson Junior High School, Crawford High School and Madison High School. Chuck also served as the Assistant Superintendent of the San Diego City School District. Chuck commented many times how much he enjoyed interacting with his students and what a pleasure it was to be an educator. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Boys and Girls Club of Borrego Springs. A private ceremony is being planned for family and close friends.

Rudolph Morales

January 13, 1914 - January 1987

Edward Nichols

July 31, 1916-December 30, 2002

William T. Olive

February 26, 1927 - January 23, 2002

Horace Mann Shop Teacher

Clarence S. Overstreet

May 29, 1925 – May 30, 2002

George Parry

December 19, 1916 – January 22, 2010

George was born in Los Angeles and grew up in Riverside and Brea. He graduated from Riverside Poly High and Riverside Junior College and, in 1940, San Diego State. He was co-captain of the track team and a member of Omega Xi fraternity. While there he met the love of his life, Averyl Troge. They were married in 1942. She predeceased him in 1996. They lived in Talmadge Park for 60 years, where they raised two children. George earned his master's degree at San Diego State in 1954. He was a long-time employee of San Diego City Schools, where he became principal of Wilson Jr. High, Crawford High and Point Loma High. He is survived by his son Tom Parry ’62 and his daughter Candy Parry Tickson ‘64, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Gerald Pease

August 5, 1921 - April 19, 2013

Coach Jerry Pease passed away at his home in Melbourne, Iowa.  He coached baseball and football at Crawford from 1957 to 1962, and other schools for an additional 15 years. Prior to becoming a teacher he was in the Navy from 1939 to 1952.  His duty tours included being at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. He was a Chief Gunner's Mate on the USS Santa Fe, a light cruiser, seeing action in the South Pacific and ending up in Tokyo. He was also in the Korean War. He is survived by sons Walter ’64 of Pleasant Hill, California, Edward ’64 of San Mateo, California and Fred of Virginia.

Miriam Powell

Services for Mimi, who taught Business Education, were held February 4, 2009.
She died of complications from pneumonia – Sue Burnight Mason ‘68

	Sally's photo in the 1963 Centaur; Sally, Lois Tidwell and Jerry Smithson at the Class of '63 2008 Reunion

Sally Hayes Remington

June 29, 1927 - August 7, 2009

Born in Pago Pago, American Samoa to USN LT Thomas F. and Rena I. Hayes, Sally lived in La Mesa since 1931. She was a graduate of Our Lady of Peace Academy and San Diego State College, where she was an active member of Alpha Phi sorority. Sally was a popular teacher and counselor at both Crawford and Serra High Schools. An avid Padres fan, she was devoted to her lifelong friends and family. She is survived by son Richard of Reno NV, granddaughter Hayes of Bakersfield CA, and sister Dorothy Kinsella of La Mesa.

J. William Rieker

November 4, 1920 - February 7, 1988

 

Warren B. Rose

Florence Perry Schwada

1908 - May 9, 2000

Wiley Freeman Shaver Jr.

October 19, 1915 - March 18, 2002

Mr. Shaver was born in Birmingham, Alabama and graduated from the University of Alabama in1933. He served in Europe during WWII, receiving the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. He retired as a Lt. Colonel in 1962. Mr. Shaver taught at Crawford High School until 1977, receiving the “Teacher of the Year Award” in 1974 -- Lorraine Labozzetta Taylor '68

Frank was born in San Diego and was a coach and district counselor for the San Diego Unified School District. He served in the Army during World War II. He was a member of Kappa Alpha Fraternity. Survivors include his wife, Frances

Melba Thomas

July 19, 1919 - December 9, 1997

Mr. Van Buskirk and his wife Betty perished when EgyptAir Flight 990 crashed into the waters off Nantucket, Massachusetts on October 31, 1999. Mr. Van Buskirk spent most of his career teaching English and drama at Crawford.

Mary Varley

Mary died on September 23, 2011, at the age of 96, after a short illness. Her life was dedicated to education and counseling the young and the old. She was a P.E. teacher in several High Schools in San Diego and finally Vice Principal at Horace Mann.

Raymond Wagner

February 29, 1924 - September 24, 2012

Ray was born in Philadelphia and earned his degrees from the University of Pennsylvania before moving to San Diego to begin a 27-year career at Crawford. He then worked as an archivist for the San Diego Air & Space Museum and authored many books and articles on aviation history. He is survived by his wife, Mary, three children, seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Memorial will be private and the family requests donations be made to the San Diego Air & Space Museum where he will be inducted into their Hall of Fame Class of 2012 November 17, 2012.

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Mark Waterbury

November 26, 1926 - September 1986

Marguerite White 

January 12, 1918 - December 22, 2003

 Marguerite Jeanette White was born, and passed away, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. She attended Eau Claire High School where she earned numerous athletic accommodations. After high school, Marguerite attended Eau Claire Teacher's College. After graduation, Marguerite taught for four years in the Eau Claire school district, and in 1944 she moved to San Diego, Calif., until returning to Wisconsin in 2000. In Marguerite's tenure with the San Diego School District, her love of education brought her to be a teacher and counselor at Dana Junior High, a Teacher Consultant for the San Diego Schools, a teacher and counselor at Crawford High School, a Vice Principal at Lewis Junior High and Clairemont High School, and the Principal at Dana Junior High until her retirement in 1982. Marguerite earned her Masters Degree while in San Diego.

(Thanks to Mary Gale Rogers '67 for many of the above dates)