James Tomlin

From Felix Guitierrez

Jeff came across as someone who had it all, but didn't lord it over others or rest on his laurels.  He had many admirers.The close-up picture of him carrying the ball is an all time classic.  His body's forward momentum carrying the ball and his facial expression show his determination to move forward.  And the bodies and faces of those pursuing him show their determination to take him down.  

Jeff Howe 61’

I’m thinking there may not be an obituary to trace Jeff's life journey. I have recollections from HS, but after graduation in June 1961 we didn’t reconnect until about 2006. Jeff was a handsome guy, a super athlete, really someone perceived to have it all. Like many classmates, I only learned later of the challenges life brought to Jeff early in life. His mom died when he was in high school, and later his sister Jackie died of cancer at a very young age.

After I retired from teaching and had midweek Time for riding mountain bikes, I learned more about that journey. Actually, Jeff rode the crappest old bike which appeared to have been stolen in Mexico for resale here. 

Jeff lived in northern Azusa just off Highway 39. We would drive up highway 39 into the Angeles National Forrest and ride for an hour on what became a dirt road linked to some trails. He only came to Irvine once as it took him 2+ hours to get here because of the heavy traffic. It only took me 35 minutes to get to him. After the ride we would have a nice lunch and I’d be home by 2. It was an unexpected gift from the past to the present. Jeff had a great sense of humor, but you couldn’t laugh too hard or you might veer off the trail into a creek.

We did that 1-2 times a month till Jeff and Cheryl moved to Tahoe, then near Sedona, Arizona. About nine years ago his long battle with cancer began. For a time, he had coached football at Arcadia High School when they still lived in California and taught math I think. He also had various rental properties and income from wheelchair modifications he had patented. If you read comments on “In Memory” on the SP website the good ones chronicle the person’s life and family. Jeff was successful, well liked and well-loved by many.

Our first week of football in 1960 Jeff didn’t want to be late and bummed a ride from his dad. I gave him a ride home after the second practice and we stopped at Frosty Freeze. Before I could order he ordered 2 cherry phosphates, and we went to my house to swim. Our routine continued most days of the two a day practices before the start of school. School started and Jeff played outstanding on both sides of the ball but he was injured in the third week at practice. He was an all Rio Hondo League player his junior year on the 1959 CIF Champion team.

He was in the hospital and I brought him a cherry phosphate. He had just learned he shouldn’t play anymore, which he had a hard time accepting. Making All Rio Hondo League as a pitcher in baseball didn't make up for the loss of his football season and he started for the Glendale JC team that won the Junior Rose Bowl the next year.

Unable to play, Jeff coached me. I was able to improve a lot and played center safety. We were 8-1 but didn't make the playoffs after a tough loss to Temple City. I was fast and could jump, but Jeff taught me the nuances of where to play, and to look for things that he saw immediately and he was fast to the ball. Although I was 2nd in the RHL in the 100 yard event, I never beat Jeff in a 40. He reminded me of that often. More important he showed me how to tackle (he once laughed and said “it’s not a tackle if they run over you and you somehow manage to grab their ankles.”)

Most people can’t imagine how much it meant to NOT just be ON the team, but to be a PART of the team, a whole new definition of who you are. I would never forget Jeff for helping me get a lot better. He denied it, but I think he told Coach Solari to give me a shot at center safety.

Our oldest son is named Jeff. For the last 8 years, as Jeff’s condition worsened, we kept in touch by phone and email. Eventually, he was unable to answer the phone. RIP

Jeff Howe 61’

I’m thinking there may not be an obituary to trace Jeff's life journey. I have recollections from HS, but after graduation in June 1961 we didn’t reconnect until about 2006. Jeff was a handsome guy, a super athlete, really someone perceived to have it all. Like many classmates, I only learned later of the challenges life brought to Jeff early in life. His mom died when he was in high school, and later his sister Jackie died of cancer at a very young age.

After I retired from teaching and had midweek Time for riding mountain bikes, I learned more about that journey. Actually, Jeff rode the crapist old bike which appeared to have been stolen in Mexico for resale here. One of the photo shows us sharing our February birthdays with Bill Little in 2008.

Jeff lived in northern Azusa just off Highway 39. We would drive up highway 39 into the Angeles National Forrest and ride for an hour on what became a dirt road linked to some trails. He only came to Irvine once as it took him 2+ hours to get here because of the heavy traffic. It only took me 35 minutes to get to him. After the ride we would have a nice lunch and I’d be home by 2. It was an unexpected gift from the past to the present. Jeff had a great sense of humor, but you couldn’t laugh too hard or you might veer off the trail into a creek.

We did that 1-2 times a month till Jeff and Cheryl moved to Tahoe, then near Sedona, Arizona. About nine years ago his long battle with cancer began. For a time, he had coached football at Arcadia High School when they still lived in California and taught math I think. He also had various rental properties and income from wheelchair modifications he had patented. If you read comments on “In Memory” on the SP website the good ones chronicle the person’s life and family. Jeff was successful, well liked and well-loved by many.

Our first week of football in 1960 Jeff didn’t want to be late and bummed a ride from his dad. I gave him a ride home after the second practice and we stopped at Frosty Freeze. Before I could order he ordered 2 cherry phosphates, and we went to my house to swim. Our routine continued most day of the two a day practices before the start of school. School started and Jeff played outstanding on both sides of the ball but he was injured in the third week at practice. He was an all Rio Hondo League player his junior year on the 1959 CIF Champion team.

He was in the hospital and I brought him a cherry phosphate. He had just learned he shouldn’t play anymore, which he had a hard time accepting. Making All Rio Hondo League as a pitcher in baseball didn't make up for the loss of his football season and he started for the Glendale JC team that won the Junior Rose Bowl the next year.

Unable to play, Jeff coached me. I was able to improve a lot and played center safety. We were 8-1 but didn't make the playoffs after a tough loss to Temple City. I was fast and could jump, but Jeff taught me the nuances of where to play, and to look for things that he saw immediately and he was fast to the ball. Although I was 2nd in the RHL in the 100 yard event, I never beat Jeff in a 40. He reminded me of that often. More important he showed me how to tackle (he once laughed and said “it’s not a tackle if they run over you and you somehow manage to grab their ankles.”)

Most people can’t imagine how much it meant to NOT just be ON the team, but to be a PART of the team, a whole new definition of who you are. I would never forget Jeff for helping me get a lot better. He denied it, but I think he told Coach Solari to give me a shot at center safety.

Our oldest son is named Jeff. For the last 8 years, as Jeff’s condition worsened, we kept in touch by phone and email. Eventually, he was unable to answer the phone. RIP

Walter was an amazing artist. I don't think school programs do much much with art and music now. In 3rd grade we were encouraged to pursue interests in painting water colors, finger painting, pencil drawing. I was equally non-talented in all, although Kent Warner and I used one anothers faces as artistic medium but this was not well received by Miss Nash. I happened to walk past Walter's eisel on the way to throwing away my painting before anyone could see it when I looked at Walter's. He had painted two birds and they were amazing. I mean it was third grade.

Walter was an amazing artist. I don't think school programs do much with art and music now. In 3rd grade we were encouraged to pursue interests in painting water colors, finger painting, pencil drawing. I was equally non-talented in all, although Kent Warner and I used one anothers faces as an artistic medium. This was not well received by Miss Nash. I happened to walk past Walter's eisel on the way to throwing away my painting before anyone could see it when I looked at Walter's. He had painted two birds and they were amazing. I mean it was third grade, but they were birds, and the were almost real.

Calvin left SP before we enetered SPHS and most of us never heard from him. He moved to San Diego, but Mary Gill Smith found him and he attended reunions 50, and 55. Great to see a lost classmate, thanks Mary.

April 18, 1943 - November 11, 2010

Bobby was a quiet guy, we used to play alot of pickup basketball when he joined us at SPJHS after starting at Holy Family. Later in life we saw him at church in Irvine. He was CEO of a baloon manufacturing business based in Mexico, their main product being condoms. We did a few things together with our wives. Bob's main disappointment in life was his wife at the time didn't want a family. Eventually, they divorced and he remarried someone who DID want a family, but then he disappeared from our lives, I never saw him again after he took us to a Ram game.

This brief story is about our last adventure together. Bob called me one morning in 1968. His voice filled with excitement, he said that his company had season ticket to the Rams games. Would I like to go to a Ram game and bring our sons, he had 4 tickets. After considering that for 1/2 a second I said yes.

I offered to drive. Bob said no, he had it. He arrived at our home in a brand new BMW. We arrived at the Coliseum, but drove right past it. Parking was expensive, I offered to pay. Bob said no he had it covered, and drove a circuitous course through a neighborhood which I reckoned [correctly] was 6 blocks from the Coliseum. It was an edgy neighborhood, groups of men hanging out on corners, independent pharmaceutical reps, one corner sporting scantily clad women, and groups of people sitting on porches. Bob pulled into a driveway we disembarked the car with some trepidation. Bob gave a guy $20 [a fortune in 1968, and 3 times parking INSIDE the Coliseum to "take care of his vehicle."

We walked the 6 blocks through what I perceived as the valley of the shadow of death. Remember this was the fall of 68, riots in the cities, the assassination of Doctor King, the coming, narrow election of Richard Nixon.

• 1968 Washington, D.C., riots, April 4–8, Washington, D.C.
• 1968 Chicago riots (West Side Riots), April 5–7, Chicago, Illinois
• Baltimore riot of 1968, April 6–12, Baltimore, Maryland
• Avondale, Cincinnati#Riots of 1968, April 8, Cincinnati, Ohio
• 1968 Kansas City, Missouri riot, April 9, Kansas City, Missouri
• Wilmington riot of 1968, April 9–10, Wilmington, Delaware
• 1968 Louisville riots, May 27–29, Louisville, Kentucky

Believe me, I was fearful, but the boys and Bob were acting quite normal while I worked at not making eye contact as we walked. The Rams won handily, it was a great game. Roman Gabriel threw for 2 TDs and the Ram defense stuffed the 49ers, but the return walk to the car was ever scarier, at least for me. The greatest surprise for me was that Bob's car was there unscarred, and the ride home was thankfully uneventful.

Dick Wright