Tony Volchok

  I am sorry to say that another 1968 grad has passed away. Steve Muscatel passed away early this morning.  His funeral servie will be held Sunday July 11th at the Washelli funeral home.

John MacLeod

Sorry to hear about Steve's passing.  I found his obit online and will try to post it here.  As we all know tomorrow is promised to no one and all of our tomorrows are growing shorter.

 

Steven M. MUSCATEL Steve Muscatel, beloved husband, father and son passed away unexpectedly July 8, 2010. Born to Sue and Sam Muscatel in Seattle on July 31, 1950, Steve is survived by his loving wife of 37 years, Debbie Muscatel, daughter Samantha Searles (Trapper), son Taylor Muscatel, mother Sue Muscatel, sister Lynda Horowitz (Don), sister-in-laws Wendi Portnoy (Louie), Shari Altchech (Jeff), in-laws Cookie and Elazar Behar, Ron and Jan Weiss, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins, and his favorite dog Chloe. He was preceded in death by his father Sam and his brother Alan Muscatel. A longtime member of the Pike Place Market community, Steve and his family owned and operated the Metro Parking, Inc. for more than 50 years. He was a lifetime member of the Seattle Sephardic Brotherhood, of which he was a board member, and Sephardic Bikur Holim Congregation. All who were lucky enough to know Steve know that he lived life to its fullest. His incredible zest for life was contagious to everyone around him. If he met you once, he considered you a part of his family. He loved good food, traveling with his family, keeping his car clean, Costco (and its generous return policy), collecting watches and pens, and was always on the hunt for the perfect corned beef sandwich with the best Russian dressing. Services will be held Sunday, July 11, 2010 at 11:30am at Evergreen Washelli, 11111 Aurora Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98113. Internment will follow at the Sephardic Brotherhood Cemetery, 1230 N. 167th Street, Shoreline, WA 98133. In honor of Steve services will start promptly five minutes late. The family suggests donations be made to Medic One or the charity of your choice. Steve will be missed by all who knew him.

Nancy Raetzloff (Groth)

Thanks John for posting the obit for Steve Muscatel.  I have added it to Steve's profile in the "In Memory" section as well.   We are family and we will miss Steve.  Our prayers are with the family, and I would apprecite it if those who knew Steve well would add their own memories and comments to his profile.

Karen Kummerfeldt

I was so shocked and saddened to read the paper yesterday and see that Steve was gone.  My memories of so much of high school are beginning to fade, but I do remember Steve as a really good guy. 

Are any of you able to go to the service tomorrow?  I would like to attend, but feel a bit shy about it because I didn't know his family.  Please let me know.

Steve Condiotty

We lost a great friend and classmate. Steve was the kind of guy that lightened up a room every time he walked in. My wife and I vacationed alot with Steve and Deb throughout the years, and I can only say that the memories will help with the sorrow we all feel. Rest in peace my dear friend...

John MacLeod

Good News!!

According to an article I read this morning, uh, I think. ".....new research suggests that the memory and mind improve as we get older, peaking as late as in the 60's."  Oh boy, there is hope yet.  Evidently this is one of the conclusions drawn in a newly released book "The Secret Life of the Grown-Up Brain".  Some of the research comes from the "Seattle Longitudinal Study", which has tracked about 6,000 individuals since 1956.  I don't think I am in that study.  I am fairly sure I would remember, uh, I think, uh maybe.

John MacLeod

60th Anniversary........

This is the 60th year of Seafair in Seattle.  It is also the 60th year since Stan Sayres, Ted Jones and the Slo-Mo-VI stole the Gold Cup from Detroit and brought it back to Lake Washington.  They averaged a blistering 80 MPH.

I remember my first Gold Cup party.  It was at my aunt and uncle's in 1955.  I think that the Gale V stole the cup back to Detroit that year.

I remember going down to Seward Park for the Rainier Pow-Wow Days celebration.  Carnival rides, food booths, husband calling contest and fireworks on Saturday night.  I always figured if I had a wife that could shriek as loud as some of those women that I would head in the opposite direction.  There may have even been a kids pie eating contest??  Maybe somebody else remembers and no insult intended if anyone's mom was in the husband calling contest.  If somebody's dad was named Elmer, I sure remember that one.

We were on our bikes and down to the lake as soon as we heard a hydro out on a test run.  We had playing card riffling in the tire spokes as we towed our homemade hydros.  We would sneak into the pits and get up close to the Thunderboats.

Drop a note if you have any story you may want to contribute.  I know Al Schocken spent a fair amount of time down at the pits.  He was a great collector of hydro memorabilia and most likely still is.  I know he had quite an extensive collection.

John MacLeod

All Hail Columbia City...........

Columbia City has finally kicked in the after burners and is heading to the top. 

The Columbia City Theatre has just reopend with new owners.  Sounds as if it will be more live entertainment than movies.  Probably cost more than twenty-five cents too. 

Tutta Bella is a pizzeria located on the corner of Rainier and Hudson was just honored as the #1 independent pizzeria in the United States, out of 33,000.  Great atmosphere and the pizza is outstanding.  Really a fun night out with friends.

The Columbia City Farmer's Market was voted among the top ten in the nation.  If I remember correctly it is open on Wednesdays on Edmonds Street, behind the B of A and next to where the Tradewell used to be.  Now what sort of direction to a location is that "where the Tradewell used to be".  I guess you had to be there.

Grayson & Brown is gone along with Rector's Men's Store, the Five & Ten Cent Store, Cleo's Womens Store, The Columbia Cafe, Betty's and the Paul Parrott Shoe Store.  However they have been replaced with a brew pub, a number of great little restaurants, a tea room and some great little shops.

The Library is still there.

Dorothy Rodes

John, I loved the Gold Cup in the 50's and I guess into the 60's. One time I jumped on the back of a potato chip truck for the thrill. For a bit there I thought I'd be clinging to it by my fingernails on the freeway. Luckily it made another stop and I got off unscathed. Later the whole scene became a traffic nuisance ... an old fart before my time.

And, yeah, Columbia City is coming right along. I have always loved that library, especially the steps to it, which I thought were gigantic when I was little. I ate at a restaurant called the Island (Jamaican food) I think. They had vegetarian greens that were delish. And Tutta Bella is good. They used to have music, not sure if they still do.

Nice to have some summer weather. Carry on.

Nancy Raetzloff (Groth)

Hmm...

All is quiet around here.  Just got back to Phoenix after 10 days away.  The summer heat has broken and we can look forward to temperatures in the 70's in the morning.  It may still hit 100+ in the afternoon, but you gotta love the mornings.

While in California, we visited Farrells Ice Cream Parlour.  Just wondering if any of the rest of you have fond memories of the pig trough or Mt Ranier.  In California, it is just called the volcano but the decor and the menu are the same.  There are rumors that they may put a Farrells back in Portland, but nothing definite yet.

Nancy Raetzloff (Groth)

Rumor has it that Eric Fluvog joined this website.  I was away and missed it so if any of you were special friends with Eric, please welcome him to the website.

Mark Weaver

Nancy,

I have a lot of fond memories of Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour. I was really sad the day they closed down in Seattle. I didn't now they were still in existance elsewhere. Where in California is the one that you just ate at? That would be cool if they opened one in Portland. I remember that they use to have a big ceremony when you ordered and finished off a Pig Trough. They gave you a blue ribbon that said,' I pigged out at Farrells.' One other fact about Farrell's that I am not sure you know about is that they opened the first one in Scotsdale many years ago. The original owner lived there.

Nancy Raetzloff (Groth)

We went to the Farrell's in Mission Viejo and there is another one in Santa Clarita.  Two more are in Hawaii but I don't know their locations.  For those who don't live in the northwest and have a hankering for Taco Time, I discovered that there is one in Richfield, UT and another in St George, UT.  There is another one in a truck stop in south Las Vegas and even though the menu is limited, it is a taste of the northwest.  It was fun to get my mexifries fix.

The history of Farrell's which I read while at the restaurant indicates that at one point there were 130 locations but the people who bought it out ran it into the ground.  The last one was in San Diego and was in operation when they started the new (now existing) locations.  So, Farrell's Ice Cream Parlours have been continuously in operation since 1963. 

Jorge Ann Zauhar (San Jose)

Nice to have this site to read the messages.  Kind of forgot about the site. 

John MacLeod

Roberto Maestas, a founder of Beacon Hill’s El Centro de la Raza who led that non-profit organization until he retired last year, passed away this morning of lung cancer at the age of 72.

Mayor McGinn has ordered that city flags be lowered to half-staff today in honor of Maestas.

A former Spanish teacher at Franklin High School, Maestas was among the activists involved in the peaceful occupation of the then-empty Beacon Hill Elementary School building on 16th Avenue South in 1972. After three wintery months in the run-down building, the group negotiated an agreement with the City to lease the building for $1 per year, and the El Centro organization has been there ever since. Maestas led the organization as executive director until he stepped down in 2009.

The Seattle Civil Rights and Labor History Project at the University of Washington has this page about Maestas, including a biography and several video interviews.

Here is a story from last year about the Four Amigos: Maestas, the late Bernie Whitebear, Larry Gossett, and Bob Santos, who as activists and friends worked together to make Seattle a more just place.

The Seattle Times (BHB news partners) posted an obituary here. More obits at KIRO TV, Seattle P-I, Seattle Weekly, and The Stranger.

Mark Weaver

John,

Thank you for posting this very sad news. Seattle has truly lost a very important leader. Mr Maestas was a prominent voice for the oppressed. It was an honor knowing him. I really enjoyed visiting with him at the class reunion a couple of years ago. I am sure glad he was able to join us for that event.

Dorothy Rodes

John, thanks for the post about Mr. Maestas. May he cross over in peace. I didn't know him back then, although it seemed he had an impact on his students. Didn't he speak at the reunion dinner?

John MacLeod

Dorothy..........Your memory hasn't failed you yet.  Mr Maestas did speak at our 40th Reunion.  Reminding us of our lessons learned at Franklin, to accept people as they are.  Regardless of race, creed or religion.  That is probably the greatest lesson I came away with from Franklin.  Now that doesn't mean I have to agree with them, just accept them.

Mr. Maestas was only 12 years older than us.  Seemed like a lot more than that at school.  Interesting how our take on old keeps shifting.

Gotta love small town living.  In the last month I have made it to the Bank's customer appreciation BBQ, last week it was the PUD's BBQ and next week it is the Cable Company's open house.  They don't even ask if you are current on your bills or overdrawn.

I owe, I owe, so off to work I go................... 

Dorothy Rodes

Greetings.

The Franklin High School Bel Canto choir (1964 to 1972 I believe) has become the Bel Canto Performing Arts Society. We had a reunion performance last October, and are performing again:

This Sunday, Oct. 17, 2:00 pm at Daniels Recital Hall at 5th and Columbia, downtown Seattle. Tickets are $15, $12 for seniors and teenagers, and free for children 12 and under.

If you'd like to attend and can't or don't want to buy a ticket, I will buy it gladly. We're a diverse choir with varied and uplifting music. We'd love to see you there!

Dorothy Rodes: Work: (206) 292-9622, dorothy@cypressmail.net

John MacLeod

First snow of the season arrived today.  Gave myself the day off to shovel the drive.  Just too many steep hills between my and my current project.  At least that is my story and I'm sticking to it.

Check out Keith Gorze's updated profile.  A couple of good pictures of him.  Keith, I forgot that you played in Franklin's Jazz Band a million years ago.  Heck, I'm lucky to remember what I had for dinner yesterday.

Good picture of Lyn McKinney in her latest update.

I see that Shirley Kiser updated her profile.  I'm not sure, but I thank she may have a new address.  As in she may have moved.  Well, duh??  Lights on, nobody home here.

I'd put a current photo of me on my profile but I think the webmaster says no Sharpei pictures.

As Rocket J Squirrel used to say to Bullwinkle "Hokey Dokey, let's get this forum back in action" or something to that effect.

Take your arthritis meds and exercise your fingers and type out the next great American novel or at least a hello.

Nancy Raetzloff (Groth)

Hey John:

I am so glad to know that you are still alive and kicking.  Nothing much going on down south so I am hoping that you are all enjoying the white weather.  May you all have a blessed Thanksgiving.  I am going to try to not over indulge but it will be a struggle.

John MacLeod

Well, we just finished up with a 12 hour power outage here in Hoodsport.  Seems a Bonneville Power line went down.  Power went out about 12:30 AM and came back on around 12:30 this afternoon.  I fired up the generator at 6:30 this morning to keep ahead of the subfreezing temps.  19-20 * F or -7.5 C or 266 degrees Kelvin.

Took about an hour to clear off the driveway.  We have had about 7" of snow over the last 24 hours.  I have done the driveway twice now.  No need for a gym membership this year.

I see by Mark Benecke's updated profile that he is officially retired now.  Good on ya!!  Has Jerry pulled the pin yet?

Hope everyone has an enjoyable Thanksgiving..........................John

Dorothy Rodes

A classmate is looking for the photos of the reunion 9/08. I thought they were here somewhere ... can't find them. Any thoughts?

May the season and 2011 be what you desire. Dorothy

Virg Descargar (Sd-Alfonzo)

What happened to the photos I and others took for us during last reunion that was displayed onto our Franklin Reunion Site? Would our dear classmate(s) who have the capability to post them, would be so kind as to reupload, others then can see and maybe get copies for themselves, I would appreciate and thank you in advance. My thoughts and goodwill wishes to you all. Love Virg & family

Nancy Raetzloff (Groth)

The photos are here, you just have to look in classmate profiles and click on the first profile "Reunion Pictures Aaaaaa" and you will find the pics.  If you can give us more info on the names of those in the pictures, please note the photo number and the names.  Thanks.