Charles Timothy 'Tim' James (1977)

So sad to read of Paul Cole's passing. I did not know him personally, but he was on my brother's Middle League team (Crossbow) in 1968 and was an absolute flame-thrower on the mound. My brother once caught warmup pitches for him and his hand was battered and blistered afterward. I think he threw 2 or 3 no-hitters that year. We were all stunned when it was announced that Bill Willgus (also recently passed) had been named best pitcher instead of Paul. Later I remember him as the placekicker on So. Pas's 1969 3A champions. If he played other positions I was not aware. But he was a marvel to watch on the mound in that one Middle League season. My condolences to his family and his friends and teammates. Gone too soon for sure.

Timothy F O'Keeffe (1970)

Oh man.  Say it ain't so.  Last saw Paul at our 45th reunion and was looking forward to seeing him at our 50th.  His exuberant welcome and hug put a big smile on my face.  I could always tell it was Paul no matter how old we got!  As my memories of the late 60's become less vivid, I am grateful for those who knew each other at 17 or so.

Katherine (Katie) Greenaway (Perley) (1970)

Claudia Barner (van Corva) (1971)

I dated Paul briefly in HS and can say he was at that time a really genuine and gentlemanly guy. He had a weird concept of breakfast dates which was NEVER going to work for this night owl. Fare thee well, Paul.

Dennis Dalton (1968)

Where to begin?

My brother Rick met Paul in the 3rd grade at El Centro and they became life-long friends.  Paul's sister Paula was in my 5th grade class at El Centro.  Paul was one of "The Boys" that hung out at Ma Dalton's for many, many years.

Paul was housemates with Chris Forbes and myself ('68) and Chuck Henze ('67).  We rented a house for the summer in Westwood in 1971.  Too many good memories from that summer to try and report.

The week before New Years Day in 1974, we met up with Bill Stimson and Chuck Henze ('67) CK Dyer and Paul ('70) [and there may have been others] for a ski week at Mammoth.  There was so much snow most of the week that only a limited number of ski lifts and trails were open.  On New Years Eve it snowed all night long.  When we woke up in the morning, there was at least four feet of fresh powder and most, if not all, the lifts and trails were open.

New Years Day that year had the lowest number of skiers on any day I have ever skied at Mammoth.  Our goal was to get each run down to .50 cents a run.  We probably hit the goal by noon!  This was Paul's 1st time skiing.  Being the athelete he was, he was skiing intermediate and advanced runs by the end of the week.

Many of "The Boys" from the class of 1970 started getting together for a "Boys Weekend" when they turned 40.  Besides CK and Paul, my brother Rick, Rick Booth, Jerry Anderson, Gary Herbert and Scott Conard  were in the original group to attend the first gathering.  They invited me to attend but as they were going to Mexico, it seemed prudent to stay home.  No way I was going to a foreign country with those guys!

The "Boys Weekends" have happened most years since and up until last year.  I have attended about half a dozen times and many others have joined in from their class and other classes.

Paul was a life-long friend.  Sometimes we would go for fairly long periods between communicating, and sometimes we had pretty frequent contact.  We met in San Francisco around 1995, for a "Boys Weekend" at Lake Tahoe, and we drove up together.  This was one of those periods where we had not talked much recently.  Like prior times and up until last week, we always picked right up as if we talked every day.

I will miss him.

Richard B Dalton (1970)

William W Cleary (1970)

Paul Cole and I first met in junior high.  We played all the sports junior high had to offer.  We became good friends through the sport teams.  In ninth grade, Paul told me of a bully that would not leave him alone.  Paul decided to fight the bully and asked me to be his second.  The fight was after school behind the liquor store.  It lasted about five minutes with Paul pinning the bully and making him promise not to bother Paul again. Paul told me the bully never bothered him again.

One day in high school, Paul informed me that he was at my aunt's home the night before. My aunt was a high school English teacher at another school.  I asked Paul what they were doing and he told me they were in a heated discussion about the war in Vietnam.  Paul stayed friends with my aunt for years.

A few years ago Paul showed up at my house.  It was great seeing him.  Before long we were on South Pasadena stories.  Paul could remember the smallest details growing up.  We both agreed that South Pas was a great place to grow up.

When I think of Paul, I think of his infectious smile and his laid back way about him.  Paul left us to early.  As we get older, the South Pas stories become more important and Paul was in many of them!

Thomas C Larson (1970)

Paul Cole was the epitome of a 'free spirit.'  He always seemed to have a positive outlook on life and a broad smile on his face.

Paul was one of the most naturally strong individuals I have ever known.  He was a guy you wanted on your team because he was a talented and determined teammate.  I will never forget a block he made during a Tiger football game.  Paul took out 3 defense players on a single block.  As the opponents were down on the field Paul stood over them and laughed at them with his infectious cackle.

Paul regularly joined our classmates at reunions.  He had a wide variety of interests and always had some stories to tell.  I looked forward to catching up with Paul at our SPHS gatherings.  Paul was one of our classmates I hoped .to see at our on again, off again, 50th reunion.

Paul Cole, you were as emotionally strong as you were physically strong.  We will miss you at the reunion but hope you will check in on the festivities when the SPHS Class of 1970 does gather.   

Rest in Peace Paul.

Tom Larson

Scott Farrow (1970)

A lot of time separates my main memories of Paul, but I recall him as much as a creative thinker as he was a doer.  He wrote in my yearbook (and perhaps in everyone else's too:) that "Even the bad times were good".  His obituary still carries that tone for which I'm both glad and sad. Thanks for the memories Paul, I'm sorry there won't be more.