A few weeks before graduation, Fred and I ended up with a hamburger in the Cafeteria and talked about our future plans, which led to his admission that he was still 16 years old, and would still be 16 at graduation -- as did I! When we compared actual birthdays, he was a week or eight days older than I -- leaving me the youngest member of the class of 1964. We both agreed it was a pain in the cartoosh to be barely able to drive when graduating from high school. It was somehow comforting to know that someone else had suffered from that kind of insecurity. He seemed like a lovely young man who has now completed the ark of his life. I'm sure it was a good one, and I send out blessings and good vibrations to him and his memory.
Regarding Susan's comment about Fred's age upon graduation — maybe an April Fools joke? Fred & I were best friends thru junion & senior high school & lived a block from each other. I know pretty much for a fact that his birthday was July 5, 1946 — two weeks before mine. And I have no doubt this is reasonably accurate because we often double dated in our junior year and he drove. I didn't get my driver's license until about 6 months after my 16th birthday because I was at sea on my way to Japan when I turned 16.
We drifted in different directions after high school. Fred went to Arizona State & I went to Cal Berkeley. Then he went into the Army & I into the Navy. I remember receiving a letter from him while he was stationed in Germany and I was aboard a submarine in the Tonkin Gulf at the time. I was amazed because the letter made the trip in just 3 days. We normally didn't receive mail while on patrol, but in this case we were working with surface assets and a helicopter arrived each morning with a "care package" before we dived for the day's ops.
Fred's passing hit me hard. We had stayed touch off & on over the years. He was in my wedding party & joined us for the renewal of our vows at our 25th anniversary, and we got together for lunch every few years. Our last lunch was three years before he died and I remember thinking at the time that something was wrong, but chalked it up to us being on different paths over the years. I miss him.
Fred and I drove to Arizona together for school in his Beetle. Got into Tempe at 10 pm and 105 degrees. Talk about culture shock. Fred stayed about a year and then went back home and into the Army. We lived only a block or two from each other. We used to go into the city together and hang out. He was a good friend and I'll never forget our journey to Arizona. He had one of those water coolers hanging out the passenger side window. Didn't really help. Was proud of his later success in his toy business. Good guy. Tom Sutcliffe.
Oh Lord! Maybe it wasn't Fred, which makes me feel ridiculous. The conversation was real -- it did happen, but obviously, over the years, the person's name faded. In my memory, it was Fred. I had him in a few classes over the years, but it was all so very long ago now. Still and all, each dear person was treasured by so many of us, and I have enjoyed the other recollections of his life. All best wishes to him and his family and friends.
Susan Hamilton (Sisson)
A few weeks before graduation, Fred and I ended up with a hamburger in the Cafeteria and talked about our future plans, which led to his admission that he was still 16 years old, and would still be 16 at graduation -- as did I! When we compared actual birthdays, he was a week or eight days older than I -- leaving me the youngest member of the class of 1964. We both agreed it was a pain in the cartoosh to be barely able to drive when graduating from high school. It was somehow comforting to know that someone else had suffered from that kind of insecurity. He seemed like a lovely young man who has now completed the ark of his life. I'm sure it was a good one, and I send out blessings and good vibrations to him and his memory.
Don Durant (Durant)
Regarding Susan's comment about Fred's age upon graduation — maybe an April Fools joke? Fred & I were best friends thru junion & senior high school & lived a block from each other. I know pretty much for a fact that his birthday was July 5, 1946 — two weeks before mine. And I have no doubt this is reasonably accurate because we often double dated in our junior year and he drove. I didn't get my driver's license until about 6 months after my 16th birthday because I was at sea on my way to Japan when I turned 16.
We drifted in different directions after high school. Fred went to Arizona State & I went to Cal Berkeley. Then he went into the Army & I into the Navy. I remember receiving a letter from him while he was stationed in Germany and I was aboard a submarine in the Tonkin Gulf at the time. I was amazed because the letter made the trip in just 3 days. We normally didn't receive mail while on patrol, but in this case we were working with surface assets and a helicopter arrived each morning with a "care package" before we dived for the day's ops.
Fred's passing hit me hard. We had stayed touch off & on over the years. He was in my wedding party & joined us for the renewal of our vows at our 25th anniversary, and we got together for lunch every few years. Our last lunch was three years before he died and I remember thinking at the time that something was wrong, but chalked it up to us being on different paths over the years. I miss him.
Fair winds Fred,
Don Durant
Tom Sutcliffe
Fred and I drove to Arizona together for school in his Beetle. Got into Tempe at 10 pm and 105 degrees. Talk about culture shock. Fred stayed about a year and then went back home and into the Army. We lived only a block or two from each other. We used to go into the city together and hang out. He was a good friend and I'll never forget our journey to Arizona. He had one of those water coolers hanging out the passenger side window. Didn't really help. Was proud of his later success in his toy business. Good guy. Tom Sutcliffe.
Susan Hamilton (Sisson)
Oh Lord! Maybe it wasn't Fred, which makes me feel ridiculous. The conversation was real -- it did happen, but obviously, over the years, the person's name faded. In my memory, it was Fred. I had him in a few classes over the years, but it was all so very long ago now. Still and all, each dear person was treasured by so many of us, and I have enjoyed the other recollections of his life. All best wishes to him and his family and friends.