Steve Smith
Ronnie and I went to Crawford High School, gradating in 1960. During our senior year he moved into my home with me, my mother and father (his mother and father were moving back east I think.) He continued living with us for about another year after graduation.
During that time he got a job at San Diego Trust and Savings Bank and worked there for several years before they closed. As far as I know he remained in the banking business after the closing but I'm not sure about that.
Ronnie was a rock solid guy. I was pretty wild, but he was always reserved, polite and was, like I said, as "straight arrow" type of guy. We were like brothers in many ways and I don't remember he and I ever having "cross words" toward each other. In fact I can't remember Ronnie ever losing his temper?!
We enjoyed listening to the same music, a lot of jazz (Dave Brubeck, Cal Tjader, Sarah Vaughn) as well as "The Kingston Trio" and, of course, the current "rock and roll" that was on the radio. (Ronnie's dad was an excellent stand up base player in San Diego. I always thought Ronnie would become a musician as well.)
I was his "Best Man" at his wedding to his high school love Ann Todd. It was two days after the assasination of President John Kennedy. There was some talk about changing the date but the wedding took place as planned. It was a very nice ceremony.
I heard that he and Ann had divorced sometime later, and I believe she moved to Northern California with their children (two boys??)
I last saw Ronnie (now Ron) in 1969-1970. Like many, we had drifted apart and our paths took us in different life directions.
Ronnie and I both reached out to each other later in life but, for whatever reason, never "hooked up" again, that is one my "life's regrets"...RIP old friend...Steve Smith