Mark was a wonderful guy. Kind and yet unrelenting on the football field. Of all those on our team or those we competed against, he was the one guy that made me moan inside when the play was called where I had to block him. It was a reverse, where I would pull to the left, run three steps, make a U turn and lead around the right side. The hope was that the defensive end (Mark) would be suckered in by the fake and be out of position pursuing something not there on the other side of the field. Mark was good about not following the diversion and staying where he needed to be. The first few times I overwhelmed him. Mark was more than tough. After that, he didn't give an inch. If he didn't give an inch, he won. My solution was to go even faster and hit lower. His response was to dig in and hit back lower. It was more than painful. The headaches would last me the rest of the practice and perhaps the day. So, when we'd huddle and Wilson (QB) would called out a "reverse", I would quietly mutter a four letter word. I still have nightmares about it. When people talk about "hitting the wall"....I think of Mark.
So sorry to hear about Mark. We occasionally exchanged messages and I was very much looking forward to catching up with him at the reunion, though unfortunately he couldn't or...wouldn't attend
Like Gary mentioned, Mark was tough and strategically clever and we were fortunate to have him as a teammate.
I remember helping fix their cars.
Mark's was black (a GTO?) and Dennis' was a Green Chevy.
There was a time when the 2 of them were insperable.
Robby and Theo (Ted) lived closer to Otool and Mark was on the other side of town.
Bushy was also in the mix, lived closer to Mark, and we would swing by the fast foot place where Kevin worked before cruising the streets on Friday nights.
I seriously wonder how we survived those days with the drinking, smoking, fast cars, and pot!
At Wayne Stewart's funeral (we went to St. Luke's together before he got kicked out and ended up at Arcadia High), I told his wife and friends that I wouldn't be me if Wayne hadn't been Wayne.
I believe that to be true of everyone in our class and Mark and Dennis to a large degree.
My younger daughter (Miako - 17) is at the age that I am thinking of. In many ways I wish that her life was as relatively carefree as ours were. Temple City sheltered us well as we practiced spreading our wings.
My old friend, Mark. I met Mark in 7th grade at Oak Ave--we became pretty good friends over the rest of our school time in Temple City, sharing some laughs and adventures. I still have trouble with my left wrist because of going down a snowy hill (January '71) with Mark and Dennis O'Toole with me in front, and abruptly slamming to a stop at the bottom, with my wrist leading the way--we thought we would keep going(!)--the weak wrist made the Big 3s that much more difficult. I heard Lennon's 'Instant Karma' the other day and remembered the night Mark, Lenie and Sally all jumped into Dennis' '55 ('56?) dark green Chevy and drove up to the Free Press in Pasadena and on the way hearing the song for the first time. Mark, Dennis and I going to see 'Easy Rider' at the drive-in out by Glendora--they both looked 18 (I guess), but I hid in the trunk--we made it in. Or, cruising the Rose Parade route on NYE 1970 in Mark's dark blue, fat tired Chevy Malibu (truly, a "bitchen" car if there ever was one). Suddenly, down by Orange Grove Blvd., and after picking up Mark Smith and Bobby Ferraro somewhere along the route, the Malibu's clutch went out. I seem to remember it was just four of us (?), but we pushed Mark's car from far Pasadena to the dtiveway of my place on Longdon and Rosemead--through Pasadena, South Pas, San Marino--jumping on the car when we had a downhill, then pushing like hell to keep the vehicle going. A memory I continue to laugh about all these years later. As Gary and Mark P said, "Moto" was simply put, a HELLUVA football player--strong as a rock and quick. That was the beautiful thing about football in '71--I watched some really great athletes (#22, #20, #42, #61--Mark wore my brother's old number #64, so I was always watching him) who also were good friends--I was always so proud of them, and us. As with many of us, I lost track of Mark by the late 70s, only hearing a few words about him over the years. I do recall talking to him once in the last decade and attempting to get him to come to some gathering or other, but he never would show up. "Mark" I would say, do you know how much you're missed, how much YOU are a part of our collective story, how much we talk about you...?!" I was talking from my heart, but I'm sure I spoke for alot of us. Mark, my brother, I truly hope your soul is at peace. You ran a good race. Relax. Know you are loved, and missed. #63
Gary Lineback
Mark was a wonderful guy. Kind and yet unrelenting on the football field. Of all those on our team or those we competed against, he was the one guy that made me moan inside when the play was called where I had to block him. It was a reverse, where I would pull to the left, run three steps, make a U turn and lead around the right side. The hope was that the defensive end (Mark) would be suckered in by the fake and be out of position pursuing something not there on the other side of the field. Mark was good about not following the diversion and staying where he needed to be. The first few times I overwhelmed him. Mark was more than tough. After that, he didn't give an inch. If he didn't give an inch, he won. My solution was to go even faster and hit lower. His response was to dig in and hit back lower. It was more than painful. The headaches would last me the rest of the practice and perhaps the day. So, when we'd huddle and Wilson (QB) would called out a "reverse", I would quietly mutter a four letter word. I still have nightmares about it. When people talk about "hitting the wall"....I think of Mark.
See you soon Mark...
John Cambianica
So sorry to hear about Mark. We occasionally exchanged messages and I was very much looking forward to catching up with him at the reunion, though unfortunately he couldn't or...wouldn't attend
Like Gary mentioned, Mark was tough and strategically clever and we were fortunate to have him as a teammate.
Mark Pizzorno
When I think of Mark, I think of Dennis.
I remember helping fix their cars.
Mark's was black (a GTO?) and Dennis' was a Green Chevy.
There was a time when the 2 of them were insperable.
Robby and Theo (Ted) lived closer to Otool and Mark was on the other side of town.
Bushy was also in the mix, lived closer to Mark, and we would swing by the fast foot place where Kevin worked before cruising the streets on Friday nights.
I seriously wonder how we survived those days with the drinking, smoking, fast cars, and pot!
At Wayne Stewart's funeral (we went to St. Luke's together before he got kicked out and ended up at Arcadia High), I told his wife and friends that I wouldn't be me if Wayne hadn't been Wayne.
I believe that to be true of everyone in our class and Mark and Dennis to a large degree.
My younger daughter (Miako - 17) is at the age that I am thinking of. In many ways I wish that her life was as relatively carefree as ours were. Temple City sheltered us well as we practiced spreading our wings.
I wish you well.
Remember, 70 is just a number
May you stay
Forever young
Theo (Ted) Moreno
My old friend, Mark. I met Mark in 7th grade at Oak Ave--we became pretty good friends over the rest of our school time in Temple City, sharing some laughs and adventures. I still have trouble with my left wrist because of going down a snowy hill (January '71) with Mark and Dennis O'Toole with me in front, and abruptly slamming to a stop at the bottom, with my wrist leading the way--we thought we would keep going(!)--the weak wrist made the Big 3s that much more difficult. I heard Lennon's 'Instant Karma' the other day and remembered the night Mark, Lenie and Sally all jumped into Dennis' '55 ('56?) dark green Chevy and drove up to the Free Press in Pasadena and on the way hearing the song for the first time. Mark, Dennis and I going to see 'Easy Rider' at the drive-in out by Glendora--they both looked 18 (I guess), but I hid in the trunk--we made it in. Or, cruising the Rose Parade route on NYE 1970 in Mark's dark blue, fat tired Chevy Malibu (truly, a "bitchen" car if there ever was one). Suddenly, down by Orange Grove Blvd., and after picking up Mark Smith and Bobby Ferraro somewhere along the route, the Malibu's clutch went out. I seem to remember it was just four of us (?), but we pushed Mark's car from far Pasadena to the dtiveway of my place on Longdon and Rosemead--through Pasadena, South Pas, San Marino--jumping on the car when we had a downhill, then pushing like hell to keep the vehicle going. A memory I continue to laugh about all these years later. As Gary and Mark P said, "Moto" was simply put, a HELLUVA football player--strong as a rock and quick. That was the beautiful thing about football in '71--I watched some really great athletes (#22, #20, #42, #61--Mark wore my brother's old number #64, so I was always watching him) who also were good friends--I was always so proud of them, and us. As with many of us, I lost track of Mark by the late 70s, only hearing a few words about him over the years. I do recall talking to him once in the last decade and attempting to get him to come to some gathering or other, but he never would show up. "Mark" I would say, do you know how much you're missed, how much YOU are a part of our collective story, how much we talk about you...?!" I was talking from my heart, but I'm sure I spoke for alot of us. Mark, my brother, I truly hope your soul is at peace. You ran a good race. Relax. Know you are loved, and missed. #63
Mark Pizzorno
Gary, John, Theo, and Kevin
your words paint a wonderful picture of a dear man with a kind heart.
Mark was both trustworthy and dependable.
The pictures painted also remind me just how lucky we were.
I like how Roundtree phrased it at a gathering at Talbot's in Colorado.
"We played so hard to win so as to impress you girls."
We were blessed in sooo many ways!