Name: Rick Gerend ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Mar 25, 2010, 5:56 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1967
City & State: Buellton Ca

Message: Just heard about Wolfie. So sad for another good guy to pass away. My prayers go out to his family. Although I haven't been to any class reunions my memories are still fresh. It seems like yesterday that we had no cares and just wanted to have fun. Wolfie was always there to talk to. A friend who will always remain in my heart. Only saw the postings this morning and I'm sorry that I didn't make to to the service.

Name: Sande Gosper ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Mar 25, 2010, 3:17 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Bashaw
Class: 1968
City & State: Orange County

Message: HI Janice . . . I just talked to someone who purchased a '68 year book from the book store at HHS. Don't know if he got the last one but it's worth a try :-) Don't drink Starbucks but would love to meet and catch-up . . . let me know when! Missed you at the reunion. Send me an e-mail and we can chat.

Name: Dale Hahlbeck Jr. ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Mar 25, 2010, 12:45 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1975
City & State: YL CA

Message: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY LONG TIME PAL STEVE RENTERIA ('75) YOU WILL ALWAYS BE OLDER THAN ME LITTLE STEVIE...HEE HEEH1 OUT

Name: Betty Rodriguez ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Mar 24, 2010, 5:48 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Kean
Class: 1969
City & State: Kingman, AZ

Message: Jimmy, your post made me cry. I am flooded with happy memories of Wolfie. He was a sweetheart. Last time I saw him was at a gathering at Elizabeth Estrada's. Always the gentleman, he walked me to my car. I'll miss him. Looking forward to a Cougar Sighting this weekend, around noon time in Kingman! Betty

Name: Davis Janice ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Mar 24, 2010, 2:30 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: humiston
Class: 1968
City & State: dominguez hills ca

Message: hi does anyone have a 1968 yearbook i would like to get a copy or at least remininence at some starbucks over yours thanks

Name: Bud Rhoades ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Mar 24, 2010, 1:23 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1974
City & State: The Shore

Message: Younger brother John, HHS, class of 76 is in town and I mentioned the post regarding the Piggy's/Rods Charbroiler, think we may try to get it in on Friday as we cruise the old neighborhood, 142st and surroundings. It's been years since we have been back. Cheers.....

Name: Pauline Matthew ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Mar 24, 2010, 12:41 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Spencer
Class: 1969
City & State: Oak Hills, CA.

Message: The class of 69 has just lost one of the most treasured people, Wolfie Poltash. I had a crush on him in high school but it never went anywhere. We will miss you. R.I.P.

Name: Michael M Kratz ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Mar 24, 2010, 11:33 am - HHS Time
Class: 1971
City & State: Vegas

Message: I had a chance to talk to Wolfie at are last reunion, he said to me he was sorry to hear that my brother Paul(Butch)(class of 69) had passed away (2004), how ironic, now I'm talking about Wolfie's passing. I do remmeber when I first met Wolfie, I was Freshmen and I was standing around the lunch area when this Senior walk up to me and said, "are you the guy thay call Wolfman," and I said yes, "and I was scared." He smiled put his hand out and introduced himself as Wolfgang Poltash, we shook hands and he said to me, "you can call me Wolfie, that's what my friends call me." I said back, "they call me Wolfie too." Wolfie replied back quickly, "thats OK! with me." And I had a Senior as a friend. You will be missed Wolfie, Rest in Peace.

Name: Barbara Duran ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Mar 24, 2010, 9:33 am - HHS Time
Class: 1972

Message: I'm so sorry to hear about Wolfie. It's odd that I was just speaking about him. Over the weekend I went to Las Vegas with my daughter-in-law and Sally (Mark Morrow's wife). Yes, even though Mark and I are divorced, we've remained a tight knit family. He and his wife Sally vacation and share all Duran family occasions. It's all very nice. During our long drive to Vegas, I told stories of Mark and Wolfie. He gave me the giggles. He loved having dinner with us on taco night. On Wolfie and Marks poker night, there was always a run to the Pizza Show. I still have the traditional baby outfit that Wolfie brought back from Germany for my son Scott. Rest in Peace, Wolfie.

Name: Jim Pasternak ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Mar 24, 2010, 5:31 am - HHS Time
Class: 1968
City & State: Maui

Message: 2:30 A.M. Maui time...Thank you, Wolfie... Reading John's note this P.M. re Wolfie was a bit ironic. The one and only time I was introduced to John was with Wolfie handling the formalities. It was by a bank of lockers...step out of the West door of the HHS Photo Lab. Lockers at your 2 O'clock. Wolfie couldn't help but entertain, trying or not. Being himself was only the start of his unique style. Add to that his brief but comical impersonation attempts of "George Burns" and "W.C. Fields." If the mimic itself only got you laughing, his facial expression following the pun was enough to fold you at the waste. Early in his airline career he told of a miscue while connecting the pressurized suction hose leading to the "Honey Bucket." Envisioning the "ocean spray" effect on Wolfe was just too funny to imagine. But Wolfie loved to see others enjoy his unrehearsed humor. Just out of school we once left Hawthorne for Mammoth Mtn. at 2 a.m. in my '69 Dodge Van. Two, pseudo-cool dudes listening to Beach Boy music, Simon and Garfunkel and CSN&Y arrived just as the lifts opened. After skiing all day were turned to the van planning to spend the night. By 11 P.M. we unanimously voted to head for home, our teeth chattering as we drove off - the lodge in the rear view mirror. Although broke and frugal we also once ventured to Palm Springs for Spring break. Again without the means for a hotel we slept on the ground next to our car. Waking up with sand in our eyes and grinding between our teeth, that trip too was cut short based on dissatisfaction with our accommodations. Still as teenagers we tried whatever we could. Any "Partying" I did in those days was usually done with Wolfie in tow...or the other way around. Without fail it was Wolfe who was greeted by the girls. Yes, a gentleman he was and remained so he did. His "Eddie Haskell-like" presentation to MY parents was probably more genuine than MINE to his. Either way both families approved of us which added to the length of time we hung out. However all was not always perfect as we too had our issues. Once following a disagreement he walked up my driveway to discuss the matter, knowing full well the minor tiff was merely that. Not to miss an opportunity I charged out my back door telling him "Okay Wolfie, I'm tired of this." Firing TWO shots at him with a starting pistol caused him to grab his chest (just in case he really was hit) and appear to be understandably startled. It took him a while to appreciate my sick and thoughtless humor but eventually admitted, "You had me! And that was pretty funny!" Yes, Wolfie was a forgiver and a sweet, genuine guy. He absolutely loved women and surely had his favorites of whom he openly spoke. He cherished his buddies in Morrow, Nielson, Doersam and truly loved and admired his brother. I can't count the number of times he beamed with pride, repeatedly describing how Mark and Barbara's baby boy "Scotty" would squeeze his index finger. Then he'd give you that look as if to say, "I'm his uncle! Pretty cool, huh?" Yeah, Wolfie...pretty cool! To read that he spent time with kids and was appreciated by them is without doubt. For whatever reason Wolfe is gone I, we will never know. To me he seemed ageless, partly because people like him don't "seem" old and anything "special" never gets old. Wolfie was indeed "Special." Maybe he didn't think so, but we all KNEW it was so. As kids we often spoke of going to Hawaii together. We never did. But tonight Wolfe, I'll look up and look for you. One can see a lot of stars in the Maui skies. I wouldn't be surprised if I see you! Rest well my friend. We'll all be along soon. Love, Jim

Name: John Crotty ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Mar 23, 2010, 5:11 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1969
City & State: hermosa beach, CA

Message: Sorry to write that the class of '69 lost one of our most popular classmates over the weekend. Heard from Gary Nillson and Marna Smeltzer that "Wolfie Poltash" passed. There is an obit in the daily Breeze today that states there will be a gathering of family and friends tomorrow night, March 24, at Rice Mortuary in Torrance at 4:00pm. I thought I would post this so that those of us who do not subscribe to the daily breeze would get the word and hopefully be able to attend the service. I absolutely know that all of us Cougs will miss "WOLFIE" and have his family in our prayers. I'm still having a hard time believing this.

Name: Bud Rhoades ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Mar 23, 2010, 9:21 am - HHS Time
Class: 1974
City & State: The Shore

Message: Jean, to this day we still have not found a sub as good as the one that was served at Roccos', another Friday night treat when the folks were too pooped to cook. Funny memory, when I was at Hawthorne youth camp in 6th grade, not being able to wait to get home that Friday so we could go to Rocco's for subs.....yummy stuff.

Name: Sherry Ward ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Mar 23, 2010, 6:49 am - HHS Time
Maiden: Rout
Class: 1965
City & State: Somewhere in Tennessee

Message: I remember the field trips to the Helms Bakery! Everyone got these cute little loaves of bread to take home. They seldom ever made it that far!

Name: Jean Macernie ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Mar 22, 2010, 10:28 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Caldwell
Class: 1968
City & State: ABQ NM
No E-mail
Message: Speaking of Thriftys I would get my chocolate swirl or rocky road fix there or Clarks Drugstore......I loved meatball sandwiches from Roccos....Green Farms bbq beef sandwich.....I remember the build your own burgers at Smorgasburger.....I gotta stop this is driving me crazy!!!!! After all those years I can still taste them.......

Name: Jean Macernie ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Mar 22, 2010, 10:14 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1968
City & State: Albq NM
No E-mail
Message: mmmm....chocolate donuts....sure wish we had things like the Helms Bakery truck now days. We have some ice cream vendors now that look like they are high on stuff...and some have been caught selling drugs as well as ice cream. Its happened here in Albq.....If we could only turn time back.....If only....

Name: Nixon, Lee Ann ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Mar 22, 2010, 6:52 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Nixon
Class: 1964
City & State: Vancouver, WA

Message: I'm not sure how old I was, but our class went to the Helm's Bakery on a field trip. It seems like a lot of the classes did. It was a fun trip - especially since we could relate to it because of having that great Helm's truck come down the street with the goodies on board.

Name: Tom Buckingham ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Mar 22, 2010, 6:23 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1964
City & State: Fresno, CA

Message: Wish I could have been at Cruise night. Alas, I was on the island of Kauai for my first week long vacation in three years. It was beautiful. Lots of vendors visited my Del Aire neighborhood across from HHS on Burl Avenue near Broadway. Not just the Helms Bakery, we had the Watkins Spice truck, the Jewel Tea delivery, Gold Crown Dairy, the Fuller Brush Man and the laundry/dry cleaning company all making regular stops in the 'hood. We had a Blue and Gold Ship's Helm sign we put in the front window if we wanted the driver to stop and blow his multi-toned whistle to announce his arrival. Then of course cruising through too was the Good Humor truck. My favorite was the Good Humor Sidewalk Sundae: chocolate and vanilla ice cream on a stick, dipped in chocolate coating and covered in chopped nuts, Mmmm, Mmmm. Early in the Fiftys we also had the ice man delivering blocks of ice for those people who still had ice boxes and not refrigerators. I am sure there we more trucks around like the produce truck that parked at the corner of Inglewood Avenue and Broadway before the HHS sports fields were put in. That of course, was a bean field when I was just a tadpole going to Eucalyptus School. God Bless You All, Have a great Spring Break and a Happy Easter and Passover.

Name: Dale Hahlbeck Jr. ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Mar 22, 2010, 2:18 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1975
City & State: Yorba Linda CA

Message: Glad Cruise Night went well...Helms Truck..love to get one for my next "ride"....Wanna a muffin Little Girl?? Anyway went to Sheri Hahlbeck Shaffer's ('77) Daughter Nicole's Wedding at Orange Hill Restaurant Saturday... very nice..outdoors..buffet with Leg of Lamb (tasted good..but kept tearing up thinking about poor Mary looking for Her Lamb) Great Time! Wondering when I will have to choke back tears walking my daughters down the aisle and becoming a "Grandpa"..yikes..Hope to see most of you in Vegas....H1 OUT! PS..Too many Cougar Sightings to list..maybe they will give their perspective of the wedding here in the future..

Name: James Gibson ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Mar 22, 2010, 1:35 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1967
City & State: Redding, CA

Message: Just curious...how were you able to get your hands on a Helms Bakery truck for Cruise Night? Was it trailered, or was it driven there? If driven, that must have a sight to see...especially to those who remember the 5-cent glazed doughnuts that were pulled from those wood and glass drawers!

Name: Glenn Crist ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Mar 22, 2010, 1:01 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1964
City & State: Sonoma, CA

Message: The trip to SoCal was very much worthwhile. I hope someone, perhaps Paco, got pictures of the Helms truck and the dragster, and will post them. Only disappointment was there weren’t any of those wonderful cookies that cost two cents each back in the day. Since I lived close to school, and came home for lunch about the time the Helms man delivered, I’d usually go out to the truck to pick up the bread and such. I was sometimes rewarded for my efforts with a cookie. It was great talking with the Cougartown crowd the other evening, and hope some of you can make it to this beauty spot in June for the Wine Country Weekend. We’ll have a great time, guaranteed.

Name: Sharon Leach ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Mar 22, 2010, 11:26 am - HHS Time
Maiden: Moore
Class: 1966
City & State: long beach

Message: Anita has it right. We were all made to be a part of a larger community. We are made to expand our territory. John has done a great job doing just that. Thank you, John.

Name: Jamie Feldt ~~~~~~~~~~ Sun-Mar 21, 2010, 8:08 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Bach
Class: 1979
City & State: Torrance, Ca.

Message: Last night I dragged Becky Garcia ('79) along with me for the first Cougartown Cruise Night I have attended. We both had a great time. I was pleasantly surprised to see a few people I remembered from school. The old Helms Truck was a nice touch. My brother Larry says there is usually a good turn out so I look forward to seeing a few more classmates next time.

Name: Tom Shelley ~~~~~~~~~~ Sun-Mar 21, 2010, 7:18 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1962
City & State: Torrance, ca

Message: OOPS! I meant to say Walt was up on top of the list of local pioneers. Although Hugh C. was a good guy too!