I have always worked. When I was 7 years old we lived in Petaluma due to an
untimely divorce of my parents. We were broker than broke. I ended up working
at a rabbit farm for produce. When we moved back to Cutten, Linda
Rodriguez and I would pick any types of berries or cherries and plums
and go door to door and sell. At about 12 and living in Myrtletown I sold
either the Times or Standard on the streets of Eureka in between fishing off of
Lazio's for Perch and Jack Smelt to sell. Then I had a paper route before
going to work at Duck's market at 15. At 16 I worked my first union job at
Bazar. I loved my job and would have probably retired from there but they
closed in 1978. So I went to work at Transamerica. A job I really did not
enjoy. So I went back to school at College of the Redwoods to play
baseball.
Again, I have always worked which left me little opportunity for High
School scholastic athletics. I played Babe Ruth and JV Baseball at St.
Bernard's but didn't have the time for sports my Junior and Senior years
at Eureka High. Luckily I was able to play Joe DiMaggio League which
allowed players done with Babe Ruth to play until 18 years old. I was a pretty
good pitcher who absolutely loved to throw.
So I survived the cuts and was honored to be part of the 1979 College of the Redwoods baseball team. Co/champions of the Golden Valley Conference. I must have led the conference in chasing down foul balls. It was all right for me. I just wanted to be part of the team. And we had a good one.
Above that I remember: Front row from left to right, Can't Remember (CR), Tim Earhart, David Stone, Fred Gomes, Mark Suchanek, The Softball King, Steve Ross. Second row, #25 CR, Kieth Ambrosini, Troy Freeman, Mike Robinson, CR, John Wilkinson, Dave Reynolds, Coach Tom Giacomini. 3rd Row, Manager Jorgenson, Byron Busik, Jerry Johnson, Stacey Morgan, Mike Spini, CR, CR. CR.
I had a GPA of 3.71 for 17 units on the team and was on the Dean's list. That summer of 79' I started working in the mills on the Samoa Peninsula. Never to be heard from again..............