Ralph Ioimo

Eddie,

That was a wonderful eulogy. We will all miss Chuck.

Ralph

Valerie Lyman (Harrris)

Eddie, that was perfect!! I am so glad that he came to our Class Reunion, even if all he had time for was the Friday Night Elk's Cook-Your-Own, which he loved! I remember his excitement at seeing you there...seeing so many old friends...I will always remember how close you 2 were...I wanted to call you and let you know as soon as I heard, but I couldn't...I couln't call you on the phone with this so sensitive message, I am so sorry for being a coward. I know he loved hearing your voice on the phone or coming to visit you...I have loved you both since Kinder...I always will.

Carole Satterwhite (Hodnick)

If there was ever a reason to ive a kind and full life, Chuck it "it's face.    RIP my friend.

Eddie Rodrigues

Thank you for your kind words about my kind words.   I have written quite a bit of copy over the years and have come to the conclusion that if I want to make the reader laugh, I better laugh while I am writing it..  Same too if i hope to make the reader cry, i had damn well end up crying myself.

Here, I just hope to make everyone who reads this feel good.   I am feeling good as I begin writing this.  I will not complete this message tonight.  Or tomorrow.  I most likely will not be able to finsh this message before it is time for me to go..

My thoughts will most likely jump around as I share stuff with whoever wants to keep reading.  I hope to share a few incredible, true stories about my classmates and myself as we all grew up together in Santa Maria.

I have begun to write my own obituary.   I have coined the term,, AUTOBIT... (copyrighted it too)  LOL.. my autobit will not appear here.  It's not finished.  Either am I.    I hope to share some of my most vivid memories and feelings as I escape back to "those days".

Janis Joplin's song.."Me and Bobby McGee" had the line..."I would trade all of my tomorrows, for one single yesterday"   As i get fewer days to trade, I am thinking of what trade I might consider when the time comes.  

I hope all of you will find some of my memories will make you laugh, cry or perhaps trigger one of your stories you might share too.

LAUREN SOUSA.                                                                                                                                   I most likely never spoke more than 20 words with Lauren all through school.   But when i was able to sit down at a table with her and her husband at our 10 year renion, I was able to share an absolutely incredible story with her that haunts me still today...

After our 5 year reunion, I began writing a treatment for a stage play..."The Reunion".  bringing many of our classmates' characters on stage and interacting from my imagination.   The entire play takes place in a wardrobe room I created which located directly above the stage where our class reunion was taking place.   This room was a mess of clothes and props but featured that giant stained glass window (now with a seat) that overlooked the street.

In one scene I introduced Lauren's character as Hollywood's biggest movie star who thought she was alone when she opened the door and walked in.   She was startled when she was finally able to make out the figure who was curled up in the giant window... it was Bruce Morgan

I SHARED THIS DIALOGUE I HAD WRITTEN WITH LAUREN AND HER HUSBAND AS WE SAT AT THE TABLE DURING OUR 5TH REUNION.   I WAS STRUCK BY THE LOOKS ON THEIR FACES.   LAUREN TOOK MY HAND AND TOLD ME I MUST FINISH WRITING THIS PLAY.. 

The dialogue I wrote for these two characters made me cry... big time... I feel it now.  Especially since we lost Lauren not so long ago.   The words Bruce Morgan and Lauren spoke to each other in my "Reunion"  I believe, are words I wish I was able to speak to Bruce.   What haunts me still today, is that Lauren told me that in the car from the airport in San Francisco to the renion in Santa Maria, she had said to her mother that the only person she really hoped to see was... Bruce Morgan...  Lauren's husband almost couldn't believe it.

I never spoke with Lauren again.  I have not finished my play.  And i have not spoken with Bruce Morgan.

I love you all my friends...

Thank you for all the memories. I hope there is so much more to come.

Sincerely

Eddie Rodrigues...                                                                                                                                   Class of 1968   "Saints"

Scott Feller

R. Matias Rico

Eddie, I hope you finish that play. You have a great way with words and hopefully your memories  and imagination will make it to print. Your story may inspire others to write their memoires too,  although it seems like it's really hard to get around to it (those round tuits are hard to find). Anyway, your kind words help rekindle the fun time we high schoolers had at our alma mater. Maybe a blog will start up here with tales of romance, make-ups, break-ups, unrequited love, sports achievements and disappointments, the animal husbandry of our farmer community, the thespians and singers among us, and of course the scholars that sprang from SMHS.

Notes on this site are  a bittersweet reminder of the people who influenced us in our teenage years: I was saying just the other day I was 21 in '71 and now 71 in '21. We're in the era of  hearing more and more of our fellow classmates passing away. What with the Covid-19 pandemic curtailing our retirement plans of travel, visiting family, going to concerts and plays, etc., we do have some time to ponder the past. I hope everyone takes this seriously and gets their vaccines and continues to wear masks so as to prolong our days...my motto  is mask it or casket. 

Keep writing and may I suggest you put some of your words into a culinary effort since I know your BBQ business was successful due to the quality of your recipes. 

Edna Montes (Ehleringer)

I am indeed saddened by the losses of dear friends, classmates, and love ones.  However, Eddie lifted our spirits with his tribute to Chuck.  Eddie conveyed poignant, special memories of the treasured past.  He expressed deepened sensitivity, sympathy, and love for each other.  

Do--please do write the play.  We'd be honored to see it.  Meanwhile, I concur with Mathias that we'd all appreciate reading anything you write from time to time.  You're a gifted writer!  Please stay safe, stay well, and heartfelt gratitude to all...until we meet again.  
                                  Edna Montes Ehleringer 

Marvon Hadsell

I agree with both Edna and Matias, for what it's worth, you really should complete the play. You DO have a way with words. You can make one visualize the happiness, sadness, trials, and tribulations of one's past. And I for one would definately be interested in some of your receipes.

Marvon

Ilene Pickle

Thank you, Eddie, for your writings and sharing your love with laughter and tears. The memories have gotten to me. Now -- as the the past, present, and what does comes next -- is the time for healing and, perhaps, renewal. Every minute is a gift. Thanks from Ilene

Eddie Rodrigues

"Photobomb" in the Senior Court... (page 243 in our yearbook)

It was one of those really good days... I am talking about the days when I thought my hair was "just right'.. Not sure of the time the picture was taken, but it had to be mid morning on the day I did not have PE.    I remember walking in the hall past the Senior Court and saw a bunch of senior girls gathering on the steps.   Hesitating at first, I opened the door and stepped onto the patio..   

The camera equipment gave it away..  They were posing for a picture and maybe they needed someone to push the button...  Better yet,  Judy Hooberry asked if I wanted to be in the picture..  Believe me, If I were not having a really good "hair day", I would not have opened the door...  (thank you AquaNet)  and hats were not allowed back then....

Not sure about the dog.. Emotional support back then?   

This was one of those moments I am so very grateful for..  I did not know these girls too well.  Lauren, Carol and Pam have unfortunately left us..  Judy's dad and mine worked together and Kathy Engle became my cousin in law when she married Doug.   Carol sat in front of me in homeroom and Pam was Mike's sister.   (Mike drove Ms. Jannette, a big old car I named after our librarian..and ended up swiping her name plate off her desk)

All beautiful girls, always nice to me and i hope they felt the same about me.

Thanks to you all who commented on my stories.. 

I also want to send a shout out to Bobby Rydel for his hair style.  And to Moody Sanders for showing me how best to style my hair... like especially on the second day AFTER I washed it)  

I miss those days.. I miss those friends and yes,... i miss that hair...

God Bless all of you..

Love Always.

Eddie Rodrigues.

Bev Spuhler (Vietor)

Hello Saints........

What a way to spend a cold November evening....reading messages from old school mates.  Thanksgiving season is the perfect time to recall all the friendships and memories of SMHS '68,  Thank you each and everyone for taking the time to post message ....we all enjoy reading the shared memories,  with our  new senior hair do's...gray and thinning.

Bev

Mark Plotner

Marty Morrisroe

So sad to hear about Ginny.  I didn't know Ginny at SMHS, but we became friends at Hancock.  She was always fun and sweet.  The only time I saw her mad was when I pushed her into the pool and had to run for my life, haha!  Very sorry to hear about the disconnect with her family.  I hope she has found happiness now.

Marvon Hadsell

As I sit here, reading some of the posts from last year, I am reminded how fortunate I was to have grown up in such a place as Santa Maria. I have traveled around the Pacific Rim, seen sights that I found wonderful and things that even now I wish I never witnessed. I have friends that I have known for 60+ years that I cherish and I am meeting even more people that I am glad to call "friend". The sad part is it has taken me 72 years to realize just how much my friends mean to me.

I have also been so fortunate in my life to be surrounded by family (4 wonderful daughters, 16 grandchildren, and now 16 great grandchildren) but now I am reminded how fragile life is, never to be taken for granted. I was reminded by the passing of two important people from my past, my Aunt Jean Roinestad Hadsell and Murray Hickman, two days apart. Now I am one of the "older generation", the funny thing is that when I look in the mirror in the morning my mind still sees a young man, my eyes see a grey-haired old goat with a lot of miles on the odometer. What an epiphany!

68 Rules!

Marvon

John Allen

I hadn't heard about Murray.  The last I heard from him was in December.  My prayers go out to his family.  Murray Hickman Obituary - Las Vegas, NV (dignitymemorial.com)

Eric Dela Cruz

Coach Biddle...the prankster

At one of the trackmeets he snuck up on me with a srarter's pistol and fired it beside my ear...

 I hadn't reacted at all (too surprised).... so he pronounced me 'dead';...

...we'd take breathers during laps...behind the signage and scoreboards...

Won at the Hancock Relays under his tutelage that year tho'..

R.I.P Coach

Steve Leger

Biddle was the Head Track Coach. He mainly worked with the sprinters.  Since I was a middle distance runner (mile, 1/4 mile, and mile relay) I didn't interact  with him all the time, directly.  He may have had a sense of humor, but if one got too out of line, he made sure you got back into line, quickly.  He also lived in the same neighborhood as I did.  I never saw him again after graduation.  He was one of those that had an impact on my life.  It is sad to hear about his passing.

Steve

John Allen

John Allen

John Allen

I was a member of the track team during my sophomore year.  It was the only year I ran as the next two years were eaten up after I began working at Loop's Restaurant and no time was left for me to do much of anything else.  That's me top row (left) next to Willie.  I remember Mr. Biddle very well and am happy he had such a long life.  My condolences to his family.  

Dan Gracia

Just a couple of memories about "Mr. Biddle"  Like many of you I had him for PE and he was one of the few PE teachers I ever remember fondly.  After graduation in 1968 I took a SCUBA course from Wink at Hancock JC.  Included with the course was a local dive at Montana de Oro as well as two dives at the Santa Barbara Channel Islands, particularly Santa Cruz Island and Anacapa.  After the course was over and we got our NAUI certifications, Wink would sometimes put a dive trip together out to those isalands. 

Mr. Biddle joined us on a couple of those dives that I remember. Anacapa and Santa Cruz Islands were favorite spots to do some spearfishing for sheepshead, which inhabit the kelp forests there. They have a big bump in the top of their head and a red band around their middle.  Underwater at ~30 to 40-feet deep that red band appears gray because the color red doesn't show up that deep unless you shine a light on it.  It also has these beig teeth in the front of its mouth to break apart crustaceans and shellfish

It can get as large as 3-feet in length and weigh up to 35-lbs. Mr. Biddle came back to the boat after the second dive of the day on one such trip, with a huge sheepshead on his bent spear and a big divot out of the front of his wet suit.  He had snuck up on this big sheepshead, speared it, and it turned around and attacked him trying to bite him. It succeeded but he was saved by his wetsuit.  He had a commercial wet suit that was 1/2" thick instead of the normal 1/4"-thick wet suits that everyone else used. The sheepshead had taken about a 1½" divot out of his wet suit with its front teeth.  If he had been wearing a "normal" 1/4" thick wetsuit t, he probably would have drawn blood.  He managed to grabe the shaft of the spear as it was ramming into and snapping at him and held the sheepshead away until it stopped moving.

So he came back to the boat with a bent spear, a hole in his wetsuit, a big sheepshead, and just as big a smile on his face.  On another trip he came back with a Moray Eel that he had speared and put it in the live well.  You never knew what he'd bring back to the boat when he joined us on a jaunt to the Channel Islands.

Eric Dela Cruz

Allan Brickey..

Yr msg got truncated..can't find on forum either

...All is well

eric d.

R. Matias Rico

Happy birthday Wendy!

Jacque Rico (Root)

Tried to post (copy/paste from FB page) regarding the passing of Frank Lopez. I was able to paste the information on my profile.

Frank passed away this past Sunday (March 31st)

Full information on FB under 

Santa Marians -Remembering Those Who Passed

John Allen

I am so sorry to hear that Frank Lopez died.  I grew up on the same street as Frank and went to school with him. We called him Franky.  I moved out of Santa Maria some time ago, but did manage to see him from time to time.  He always remembered me and my brothers, Tom and Tony. In the top photo he is the first guy on top.  I am the one holding the drum.  In the bottom photo he is 5th in the top row. I am 4th from the left, bottom row next to Ray Cardona.  My condolences to his family and friends.