Name: Pauline Matthew ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Oct 23, 2012, 9:14 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Spencer
Class: 1969
City & State: Oak Hills, CA.

Message: I just wanted to add to Loretta Cuiper's post. The whole Perkins family are Cougars. Mike is the class of 68, Lupi class of 69, Kristi class of 89 (and I think she is good friends with Loretta's daughter), Terri class of 92 and Stacy was the class of 99. Let's all pray for the family in their loss of the daughter and sister. Stacy was taken to young but now is in God's hands. Rest in Peace Stacy.

Name: Jody Weller ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Oct 23, 2012, 6:17 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Halberg
Class: 1959
City & State: Hawthorne CA

Message: The corsages I remember were made of Gold Chrysanthemums with a red pipe cleaner, shaped like an "H" and stuck thru the middle. I think most if the neighborhood florists made them.

Name: John Guerra ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Oct 23, 2012, 5:17 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1960
City & State: Anaheim,Calif

Message: HI FELLOW COUGARS. FOR YOUR INFO, IN CASE NO ONE HAS NOTICED IT. IF SOMEONE IS INTERESTED, THERE IS A 1960 EL MOLINO YEAR BOOK, HAWTHORNE HIGH SCHOOL LISTED AT $89.99 BUY IT NOW PRICE. ITS POSTED AS A REPRINT. IF YOUR A EBAY BUYER, YOU CAN ASK THE SELLER, ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE BOOK AND PICTURES. ITS LISTED ON EBAY. I FOUND IT BUY TYPING [ 1960 EL MOLINO YEAR BOOK HAWTHORNE HIGH SCHOOL ]. THE SHIPPING IS FREE.

Name: Jerry Miles ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Oct 23, 2012, 4:12 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1966
City & State: Fair Oaks, CA
No E-mail
Message: Linda, you have jogged a memory that I had not conjured up in many years myself. But the way I remember them was that they were little scarlet or gold pompoms about the size of a softball. That would be very chrysanthemum like in looks. But I don't remember any "H" on them though. Perhaps some people added that themselves. Does that help?

Name: Sabrina Martin ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Oct 23, 2012, 2:52 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Martin
Class: 1998
City & State: Las Vegas,NV

Message: HEY HELLO COUGARS, WHATS UP??!! WELL I HAVE BEEN SO BLESSED IN MY LIFE AND I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE ME WHO I AM TODAY. I STILL TREASURE MY GREAT MEMORIES AT HHS AND WILL NEVER FORGET THEM, BUT THERE IS SO MUCH MORE BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL. I LOOK BACK AND THANK ALL OF MY FRIENDS WHO WERE MY FRIENDS AT THAT TIME. MY LIFE IS AMAZING AND I'M IN LOVE WITH A GODLY MAN NAMED GABRIEL. WE WILL BE GETTING MARRIED NEXT YEAR I CAN NOT WAIT I NEVER THOUGHT I'D FIND SUCH A PERFECT MAN!!! SO I WILL KEEP IN TOUCH AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL. ALWAYS,SABRINA LYN MARTIN ;)

Name: Linda Dill ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Oct 23, 2012, 12:46 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Sutton
Class: 1967
City & State: Redondo Beach

Message: I have this memory from the early to mid sixties of a gold chrysanthemum with a red H that young women and mom's would wear to football games. I hope someone else remembers them, and can tell me more about them: What were they made of? Where did the school get them? I was thinking they would be fun to have at our 45-yr reunion this last August, but everyone I talked to about them, thought I dreamed them up. I need help with this vague memory!

Name: Kathy Downer ~~~~~~~~~~ Mon-Oct 22, 2012, 7:44 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: peterson
Class: 1970
City & State: marietta ohio

Message: Happy birthday Matt Peterson my little brother!

Name: Britt Stonebraker ~~~~~~~~~~ Sun-Oct 21, 2012, 8:49 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1978
City & State: Lake Elsinore

Message: Filimon "Fili" Lamas would have been class of 1998, He was killed in a bazaar shooting while shielding his children from the shooter, He was co-owner of Chips restaurant, A real Cougar hero, link to the story

Name: Loretta Cuiper ~~~~~~~~~~ Sun-Oct 21, 2012, 7:29 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Morelli
Class: 1962
City & State: Hawthorne, Ca

Message: I'm saddened to see that Mike and Lupe Perkins have lost their Daughter Stacy Perkins. I just saw this on facebook. Stacy lost her battle, she has been in and out of the hospital just recently and passed a few hours ago. God Bless Stacy and our prayers are with the family.

Name: Steve Bunch ~~~~~~~~~~ Sat-Oct 20, 2012, 1:40 pm - HHS Time
City & State: Alta Loma, Ca

Message: Happy Birthday to my big sister and fellow Cougar, Sandy Bunch Mills...class of 64.

Name: Stephanie Brito ~~~~~~~~~~ Sat-Oct 20, 2012, 12:42 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Hall
Class: 1961
City & State: Rancho Palos Verdes CA

Message: Received a call from Mary Ann Walton Martin (class of 61) today asking that I put a message on feedback for her::: She is fine but her internet connection is needing the attention of the local tech who says he can fix it just as soon as he figures out the problem. At times her phone service is iffy but she sounded great. She wants you all to know she is not ignoring. Thanks, John, for making is possible to keep in touch, one way or another.

Name: Lee Mills ~~~~~~~~~~ Sat-Oct 20, 2012, 8:02 am - HHS Time
Class: 1964
City & State: Lewes, DE

Message: Happy Birthday Sandy. You are the best thing that happened to me while at Hawthorne High

Name: Maurine White ~~~~~~~~~~ Fri-Oct 19, 2012, 11:16 am - HHS Time
Maiden: Endicott
Class: 1959
City & State: Riverside, CA

Message: My brother Newell, Gary's classmate, called me the day of Gary Mykkanen's passing and I want to express my deepest sympathy to his family and his partner Pam. His sister Diane was my friend and my thoughts are with you, too, Diane. At such a sad time as this, we should all be reminded of how great it is to be in touch through Cougartown. Each person we meet in life has an impact on who we are and who we will become, and I find it so special that we are able to keep in touch this way. Gary's personal successes are an inspiration to all. May he rest in peace.

Name: Gary Bickers ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Oct 18, 2012, 6:13 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1963
City & State: pve cal

Message: It has been a couple of days. I am pleased at the kind of input that Pam is seeing and we are all getting a chance to see. Just to confirm a rumor; Gary and I did live together for about five years. Les Johnson was with us for about 2 of those years. I think I can remember about 2 of those years and the rest was just a haze. I can say that with affection because Gary had been clean and sober for the last 16 years. He was proud of that fact and when I saw him this week he was talking to Pam about his 16 year badge. Gary was a great room mate and there are multiple stories about our adventures in the South Bay. A quick sports story. We were playing in the Pacific Shores Tournament in the old Redondo Gym. Fast break and Gary was getting up a good head of steam. Two defenders back and in the way. They got out of the way and let Gary go to the basket. We all talk about getting respect from the other team but that was the best example I ever saw. I am most happy that Pam found Gary and that Gary found peace in the second half of his life. Now all that said; Pam has ask if we want to have a get together and spend some time with her, each other and Gary. We will plan something soon and it will be word of mouth and Cougartown for information.I promise we will all hear more stories. Stay toned.

Name: Linda Huthmaker ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Oct 18, 2012, 5:28 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Huthmaker
Class: 1963
City & State: Torrance, California

Message: Dear Cougartown friends, and classmates of 1963, I am so sad to hear of Gary Mykkanen's passing. What a dear man he was, and he will be missed by our class of 1963, especially. Please know that his family is in my prayers. Take care, and may God bless you, and everyone who loved Gary, at this very sad time.
Rest in Peace, Gary. We love you, Linda Huthmaker

Name: Jim Schroeder ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Oct 18, 2012, 3:58 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1966
City & State: Central Point, OR

Message: When Mykkanen would show up at a party it was like an Elvis sighting. I was always in awe of his athletic prowess. In the 60's the Cougars would play some home football games at El Camino - and Pop would pack up the neighborhood lads in the old Buick Station Wagon, and we'd take in the game. The next day, down at York School, the same gang would be jacked up on the grid iron. "I'm Mykkanen," I would inform my team mates. Sometimes my declaration would prompt a brief rebuttal, but there was no doubt about it -- Mykkanen was who all aspiring athletes wanted to be in those days. He was one of a kind.

Name: Danny Litton ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Oct 18, 2012, 12:02 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1968
City & State: Marietta GA

Message: Incredible how Gary's sudden passing has stirred up so much latent emotion. It affected me as well. It felt like the time I learned the awful truth about Santa Claus. For all us from the '50s and '60s this really feels like, "the day the music died".

Name: Rich Sloan ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Oct 18, 2012, 11:03 am - HHS Time
Class: 1960
City & State: Laguna Hills

Message: Gary Mykkanen, 67, passed away peacefully after visiting with his many friends October 17, 2012 of heart failure. Raised in Hawthorne, Calif. Attended Juan De Anza, R. H. Dana, and Hawthorne High School (HHS) class of '63. Survived by his life partner, Pam Austin, sister Diane Hesterman (Ralph), nephew Cameron, cousins Barbara, Tom & Ted, and former wife Sandi Stewart (Mykkanen). He lived in the South Bay most of his life where he was considered a sports legend by young and old. Attended numerous high school sporting events. Loved coaching high school athletes and was an assistant basketball coach at Redondo Beach High School. He met his "Sweetie" and life partner, Pam Austin, a tennis pro at the Manhattan Country Club in Manhattan Beach. They moved to Brea in 1996. Pam is the USTA Fed Cup Chair and is on the board of the Southern California Tennis Association. They have traveled each year to the major tennis events. Gary was a 4 year varsity starter in basketball, baseball and football in the 1961 season; received multiple All League and CIF athletic honors. His throwing arm was at the top of the pro level and he was known as a power hitter. Signed a pro-baseball contract his senior year at HHS with the N. Y. Mets as a catcher and then traded to the Chicao White Sox. His White Sox teammates called him "Baby Huey". Gary and Joe Contestabile (class of '54) both are considered the most gifted, natural athletes to come out of HHS. Once you met Gary you never forgot this big "Teddy Bear" or his honesty and never-ending sense of humor. He was a "man boy", "bigger than life", "a smile and personality to match the life he lived." When he walked onto a tennis court opponents often did a double take, but soon marveled at his athleticism and quickness. Basketball was his first love. Every opponents nightmare was this 200 pounder charging the basket at full speed. Hobbies included all sports, (especially tennis and basketball) and fishing. He enjoyed his many fishing trips to June Lake with lifetime friend Ron Petch. Over the years he worked for Parking Lots of America, a bouncer at Ciscos, NCR, Xerox, and Irvine based Justyn Tyme Electronics the last 12 years. We've lost our bigger than life friend but he'll be forever remembered by all. Gary had requested that his ashes be spread off the Manhattan Beach shore. God be with you Gary as you ride the waves off 26th street. Memorial services to be announced.

Name: Bob Faulkner ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Oct 18, 2012, 4:42 am - HHS Time
Class: 1963
City & State: BIG RIVER, CA.

Message: I TOO AS MANY OTHERS HAVE, SPENT YESTERDAY REFLECTING ON THE LOSS OF THE "MYK". I FIRST MET GARY IN THE 8TH GRADE AT DANA JR. HIGH. GARY HAD A WONDERFUL SENSE OF HUMOR, WAS COMPASSIONATE AND CARING. IN HIGH SCHOOL AND THROUGH LIFE GARY WAS LIKED BY EVERYONE HE CAME INTO CONTACT WITH, AND HAD NO AGENDA. I HAVE A COUPLE OF "MYK" STORIES THAT I WISH I COULD SHARE. YESTERDAY I TALKED TO BUTCH MORRIS, WHO GARY REFERRED TO AS "MY PITCHER", AND HE SAID THAT HE WISHED HE COULD HAVE TALKED TO MORE AT THE RECENT 63 BASEBALL REUNION. GARY WAS SIMPLY THE GREATEST ATHLETE TO EVER COME OUT OF HHS, AND POSSIBLY THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. ONLY ONE OTHER PERSON WAS EVER REFERRED TO AS THE "MYK" AND WE ALL KNOW WHO THAT IS. I ONLY GOT TO SEE GARY A COUPLE OF TIMES AFTER WE LEFT SCHOOL, AND FOR THAT I REGRET. RIP MY FRIEND.

Name: Carol Kaslow` ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Oct 17, 2012, 8:11 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Willis
Class: 1967
City & State: Fountain Hills, AZ

Message: I am sorry to hear of Gary's passing. Our parents went back many years and my mother grew up with his parents. They are all together and at peace. God Bless all.

Name: Howard Paco Duran ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Oct 17, 2012, 7:00 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1961
City & State: Lake Forest

Message: Man, what a shock! I hadn't seen Gary for a long time, and when Ty passed, Gary Bickers, Myk and I had lunch, laughed and told stories.. A few months ago we all met at a Cougar baseball game, there Myk addressed the team, they all looked at him with such admiration! Back in the day, we would play football, baseball and basketball north vs south, and the south would ask the north to not let the big kid play. I bet upstairs, Ty and Myk are warming up.

Name: Jim Sloey ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Oct 17, 2012, 4:53 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1966
City & State: Solvang

Message: My heart is saddend tonight as I read the news that 'The Myk' has passed away. I may have told this story before and if I have you're going to hear it again. Gary and Ty Goodman went to the Colorado river together sometime in he early 70's. A little beer, a stogie and a boat that was revved up. They did a lot of dumb maneuvers on the river and nearly caused several collisions with others including the skiers that were attached to their boats-you know good old Hawthorne type of fun. Soon they were pulled over by the shore patrol. They were told not to use the boats the balance of the weekend or there would be trouble plus they were both getting a ticket-about $50 each for reckless boating and it was impossible to tell who if anyone was driving the boat. As the officer got out the ticket book, he asked Ty what his name and address was, he quickly said Hosh McKosh 1400 California Blvd., Manhattan Beach Ca. As he finished writing out Ty's ticket [neither of them had any ID with them] he turned to Gary and asked name and address. Gary put his head down in an act of contrition, never looking up said, Ty Goodman 5155 w 134th St Hawthorne Ca. And he added, I am so ashamed and so sorry. Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright; The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light, And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout; But there is no joy in Mudville - mighty Casey has struck out
GOD BLESS YOU GARY!