Author Archives: Alfie

…the ANSWER is…Jon Pomeroy. The QUESTION is…who is all seeing, all knowing, omniscient and ‘abolluba’ ok? You guessed it. When I first came to Covina Sunrise Rotary back in the 1980’s and met Jon, I was really entertained by his wild antics, but what really made me look beyond the show was his keen sense of wit, brevity and timing in his weekly delivery as the Finemaster. Who can get a crowd laughing hysterically at 7:45 AM? This when I knew Jon was highly intelligent…not just smart, but wise. While Jon was so much more than just the ‘fun & games dude’ at Rotary, he was quite serious and focused on his professional and philanthropic commitments. He was a dutiful husband, a doting surrogate father/grandpa and a lifeline to those in need. Along with Pam, Jon spent countless hours in the advancement of our Operation Santa Clothes project and all things Rotary and beyond. He was selfless. Rare!

In the early years of our club, an unusual triumvirate was created by nothing more than natural attraction. This association of three guys was most unlikely due to our dramatic differences. Without CSR, those friendships would never have formed, and those rich years would never have been. The principals were, Jon, George Bradley and me. Never have three individuals had less in common than us: different origins, religions, cultures, education, careers, lifestyles, yet it worked. We couldn’t figure it out, but then it became clearer as time passed. We were like minded in many ways. We needed something bigger than each of us. We needed to have a hand in making lives better. We needed to belong. We got it. Together (along with many other Rotarians), we fought poverty, ignorance and disease all while having our yuks along the way.

When you spend a week on a backpacking trip with a bunch of guys, you get to learn a lot about each other. Our trips to Wyoming (4 or 5) were just such a venue and Jon was at his funniest. In association with Bull, Tim and later Terry, Jon narrated two of those trips as the mystical park ranger, Gene Kliendorff (or something). There are two videos which may be viewed on another story on this website titled Alfieland.com/The Legend of Bucky Goldstein at the conclusion of that story. It is Jon’s masterpiece along with his poem titled “The Legend of Bucky Goldstein”.

At Jon’s memorial, congregants lauded his praises, told funny stories and paid tribute to an extraordinary guy… they only made one of these. Recently, I was asked by someone who knew of Jon, but didn’t really know him, to provide some insight to the persona. The first words that came to mind were, “enigma” and “paradox.” Oh yeah, we know Jon was smart & funny & caring & committed… all of those things. But he was a puzzle. His mind worked differently. He picked up ‘waves’ that came from somewhere else… that was his charm. What he did with those waves was his magic. The dude was a pied piper… charismatic to a fault. He didn’t have fans. He had disciples. I believe there is a part to Jon that no one knew… not even him. While I had not seen much of Jon since his earlier departure from Rotary, I have thought about him often and with admiration, respect and love. He was the real deal.

RIP Jon Pomeroy

Obituary (1948 – 2023)

…what is it like dying twice? Is that a good thing or not? Was the experience of these two events similar? If not, which was better? If you had a choice, would you choose to come back again? These are questions I’d love to ask Ed should we meet in the hereafter… undoubtedly in very different places. And  it was Dawn, his wife who gave him that second chance by way of her unwavering perseverance and skill. That was truly amazing! She never surrendered!.

Ed Cooper, (aka The Capt., The Admiral, Coop, Doc and other sobriquets), was the 14th president of our Covina Sunrise Rotary Club in ’95-’96. He led by example and could have been the poster boy for Rotary in all of its virtue. Our motto is “Service Above Self” and he lived it. When our dental clinics, Annual Auctions and Operation Santa Clothes fund raisers were conceived, the Capt was front and center in planning these events…especially in providing logistics… (and shrimp). In our early years, our events were labor intensive which required time, muscle and skill. Ed was all in. He never bowed at the alter of that lazy mythological deity, “Mediocritus” whose tag line is “good enough,” and good enough was never in his DNA. This is exemplary of his Naval training stressing detail. He lived the Rotary Four Way Test: “Is it the truth?” “Is it fair to all concerned?” “Will it build good will and better friendships?” “Will it be beneficial to all concerned.?” Most Rotarians are like minded and subscribe to this mantra. While Ed was a patient and empathetic guy, he was never amused by morons, liars and slackers. Ed Cooper was highly principled and a most honorable.

On a lighter side…I had, and still have, my first, last and only boat. I took ownership in 2001 and was so excited to tell Ed all about it. I went into great detail about its construction, power, use, materials, etc. I brought pictures and Ed immediately identified a 24′ open runabout designed as a lake boat. He then asked where she was going to run. Here is where Ed’s sense of humor enters. I said, ” in the Pacific.” He looked at me as though I had one eye on my forehead and after a brief pause and an eye roll, he said, “just remember RED, RIGHT, RETURNING.” That was code for… lake boats do not belong in the ocean, so stay close to mouth of the harbor, rookie. Navy guys get that.

Ed was a founding member of the infamous Four Skins (later renamed) who were encouraged to lead a sing-a-long at every meeting. We were awful and the membership threw all kinds of items at us… both soft and sorta soft. No one would sing along with us. It was just us four trying to sing harmony and we were…. let’s see… how do I describe this… we SUCKED!!! Ed had an idea. He suggested that we sing along with a guitar as a guide to keep us in tune. When asked who could play, Ed said, “I can.” OK Great! Well, not so great… he had a guitar though. At the news of Ed’s passing, the Rotary Singers (as we are known today) paid homage to Ed by singing his favorite tune at Rotary which was Mountain Dew.

I’ll close with another Capt Cooper incident which was noteworthy. Twenty-five years ago, a colleague of mine (and friend to the Coopers) was marrying a former South Hills student of mine from the early 70s. The event was held in Chula Vista and and we were excited and happy for the soon to be newlyweds. Here is where this wedding gets interesting. The officiate was a no show. In a panic, several of us encouraged Ed to serve as the JP since he was a naval Captain. While all in attendance knew this would not constitute a legal marriage, it would at least provide some relief. So, Ed stood beside a little fountain & pond at this outdoor venue (a substitute for an ocean) and performed a mock wedding ceremony. It was great. Later, the “real dude” showed up at the reception and performed the legal ceremony. All in all it was a fun event for the guests (not so much for the bride & groom) and eventually the right things happened for the right reasons. Ed saved the day.

We miss the Captain very much. He is in our Rotary lore as a legend and his many contributions are hailed and valued.

Sail On, Sail On Sailor

…I reluctantly joined Covina Sunrise Rotary in 1984 just a year and a half after its charter date and remain an active member.  You may ask why.  Well…when I think about it, I too question the sanity of my decision.  Let’s see…

• I wake up at 5:30 AM every Tuesday morning…not easy!
• I pay for a breakfast I never eat-$
• I am humiliated along with three others who sing each week in front of the club.  We receive incoming projectiles from our audience…really!
• I get fined for my birthday-$
• I get fined for my wedding anniversary-$
• I get fined for welcoming a granddaughter into the world-$
• I get fined when I miss a meeting if traveling-$
• I must present the Fine Master with a gift from my sojourn-$
• I must present the Club President with a gift as well-$
• I contribute to the Paul Harris Foundation-$
• I contribute to the Tex Everson Humanitarian Endowment-$
• I pay monthly dues-$
• I have spent countless hours in my earlier years with setup and breakdown of all CSR events
• I have spent countless hours participating in and supporting any and all CSR events

Continue reading →

…I’m probably one of many who live in ‘political purgatory.’ I’m not a republican although my politics do lean to the right; I’m not a Democrat although I support some moderately left issues; I’m not a Libertarian although I really want government out of my life (mostly). So, the question is… who in the body politic speaks for me? Continue reading →

Upon returning from our recent expedition to four African countries, our National Geographic tour leader, Dr. Bill Branch, prepared a recap of our experience.  I asked for and received permission from Bill to publish his “Farewell Letter” to us on Alfieland.com.  He was gracious in granting such. There were seven in our party…a family of four adults from Denver including a physician and a retired geologist along with Nancy, Kaitlin and yours truly.  We traveled by small private aircraft from South Africa to Namibia then on to Botswana.  Nat Geo then handed us off to another operator to enter Zimbabwe since they do not conduct business in that country for a variety of reasons.

 

Enjoy the narrative and photos Bill so kindly passed on to us.  Kaitlin took some great pix as well, and I’ll eventually post a few once she has concluded her editing. This expedition was nothing short of ‘amazing,’ and I do not use that word lightly.  I came away with a dramatic sense of ‘oneness.’  That is to say how all matter is connected relative to flora, fauna, topography, culture, etc.  It all seems to fit in some sort of unexplainable grand order where all is dependent upon all…if that makes sense.  And…I’m finally okay with not knowing how all ‘this’ comes about.

 

Please enjoy Dr. Branch’s remarks.

—Alfie

Continue reading →

…Arnie and I were kids together in Philadelphia where he was my big brother Jimmy’s friend. I was probably 11 or 12 years old and Arnie 14 or 15 when he spoke his first words directly to me, “check out, roach.” While I, along with my friends, knew who Arnie was, we dared not speak to him or any of the ‘ big guys’ for fear of being berated, humiliated or even worse …in a fight we couldn’t win.

The Back Story

Pennell School yard was the center of the universe for basketball players from all over the surrounding neighborhoods and it was ground zero for me and my buds. Early Saturday mornings in the winter, we went to Pennell with shovels to remove the snow from two half courts. This process usually took about half an hour. We were then ready to play, but. .. au contraire. The ‘ balagulas’ (Yiddish for tough guys) came along and usually kicked us off the courts. Continue reading →

Sister Francine

…don’t even try to say ‘no’ to Sister Francine.  It’s futile.  Not because your knuckles might feel the old time wrath of a ruler…it’s ‘cause you just can’t disappoint her.  What a skill!   This is just who she is…kind, warm, smart, fun, committed, empathetic, thoughtful and inspiring.

We connected upon our very first encounter when Nancy and I attended a Connelly open house with our granddaughter, Katie (the artist formerly known as Kaitlin) who was considering a high school to attend while in the eight grade.   As soon as Sister spoke, I leaned over to Nancy and whispered, “that woman is from Philadelphia.”  Us Philadelphians do not have radar but rather ‘Phillydar’ and we hear it instantly. Continue reading →

Joan Johnson

…eyes can tell you a lot about a person.  They are deemed to be the windows into the soul…but I defer to Reverend Byron on such matters.  What first struck me about Joan upon meeting her in 1972, were her bright blue eyes.  They were warm, direct and welcoming.  I was the ‘new kid’ in the Department of Physical Education and Athletics at Cal State LA and at age 29, I was hired to teach kinesiology and coach Men’s Gymnastics when Gordon Maddux went on hiatus to work for ABC’s Wide World of Sports.  This was the start of our long and wonderful friendship. Continue reading →

The NCAA

With Napier of UConn ‘going to bed hungry,’ the Northwestern football team attempting to unionize and the O’Bannon case preparing for trail, the NCAA’s hair is on fire. In a meager attempt to thwart the audacity of these complainers, the bully of collegiate athletics is now considering unlimited meal allowance. BFD! Like most other SROs (Self Regulatory Organizations), the NCAA has overreached its purview and has morphed into a financial/political machine that wields a very heavy hand. Their attitude is, “comply or we’ll exact a heavy toll” and members tremble at the thought of an investigation. Athletic administrators work diligently to insure compliance in all aspects of their programs, but the issue of financial aid (legal and illegal) is of primary concern in football and men’s basketball where the opportunities to play professionally after college loom very large. With the money so seductive, it draws unsavory characters to the dance and they are more than willing to engage in nefarious activity negatively impacting athletes and their respective institutions. That wise So. Philly street philosopher, Dominick Marino, once said, “ya’ know Albie, money makes good people betta and bad people woiser.” Continue reading →

Fire Trucks and Firefighters Rant

…the late Andy Rooney would ask, “ever wonder why a fire truck shows up when a 911 call is made for a medical emergency? I do.” And, I too have done so for more than thirty years without ever hearing a reasonable explanation…that is until fairly recently. Each time I pose the question to those who might know or should know, the answer I get is…“paramedics are assigned to a truck and can’t be separated” or “all firefighters are paramedics and the truck is their vehicle” or “they may be dispatched to a fire while on a medical call.” Oh, I get it. The firefighter/paramedic is going to let the victim bleed out because he/she has just been called to another incident. Really? The only answer that ever made sense to me came from a firefighter who said, “every agency gets paid on every responsive call and the more assets dispatched to that call, the more we may justify our brutally inflated budget(s).” Ah ha! Continue reading →

…going to college wasn’t easy for me, and for a variety of reasons not the least of which was the lack of money. There was never a question in my own mind as to whether or not I would attend. I valued higher education from an early age but wasn’t sure about where, when and exactly how I would pay for it since our parents were not flush with cash.

The Back Story

I applied for admission to Temple University for the fall of ’60 and was accepted as a ‘non-matriculating’ student. That meant, part time as an evening division student. The reasoning behind the University’s conditional offer was…“we think you are smart enough to succeed as evidenced by your SAT scores and the fact that you are a Central High School grad, BUT, your grades are not convincing, so show us.” This was really a gift in disguise due to my lack of financial capability. Temple University was a private institution in those days and received little state funding resulting in relatively high costs. The notion of financial aid was still several years away. Continue reading →

…with a very Jewish mother and an Italian Catholic father, one might think life would be confusing for a kid, but not so for me. I knew from early childhood, that our family was ‘different’ and at some point this mixed nationality, religious and cultural issue was going to loom large in shaping my identity. I was right and resolved that question very early in life. I came home from elementary school and asked my dad, “Am I Jewish or Italian?” Not knowing there is a difference between religion and nationality, it all seemed like one and the same to me as an eight year old. In his own style, Pop said, “ya know what youse are” referring to my brother Jimmy and me? You’re half your mother and half me.” I looked at him, paused for a moment, and said, “ok, what’s for dinner.” Question answered; conflict resolved; end of story!

I am…Jewish! That should be no surprise in that Jewish law says ‘when your mother is Jewish, you’re Jewish.’ Remember, we always know your mother. However, I am not the kind of ‘Jewish’ that most people think of when considering what it means to live as a Jew. I am a secular, cultural, ‘lox and bagels’ Jew who does not attend shul unless there is a wedding or Bar/Bat Mitzvah even though I had my Bar Mitzvah at age 20. I do not subscribe to the theology or dogma of any religion, political party or label. That said, I’ll be the first to take offense at even a hint of an anti-Semitic remark or act. Continue reading →

 – Or – Being Officious Never Pays

…our postage machine at DSI, West Covina was of the Pitney Bowes variety and our contract was soon to expire. I asked our office manager to form an ad-hoc committee to conduct some cursory research to determine if we were getting the best deal possible with our provider when compared with competitors. My intent was to keep the Pitney Bowes folks on point and to determine if we really had a good contract. After several weeks of collecting and analyzing data from others, I met with the committee of four women to receive their recommendation. Continue reading →

…I have always viewed age group, high school and college athletics as a proxy for real life experiences where the lessons taught and learned may be applied to our daily lives. Of those, the most useful one for me was and is the ability to manage time efficiently. This skill was born as a result of my early coaching years.

The story:

As a rookie high school gymnastics coach, I taught and trained in a very small gym which we shared with a host of other sports: boy’s basketball (Varsity, JVs, Bs and Freshmen), girls’ basketball (Varsity, Freshmen), wrestling, volleyball and ‘out of season’ conditioning for all other athletes. And, this was prior Title IX (gender equity in sport) becoming law (1972). Needless to say, the gym was severely overcrowded, and gym time was at a premium. Our team was assigned to a limited space on one side of the facility and we were allocated two hours daily when ‘in season’ and zero hours out of season. We trained at our local community college, Mt. SAC, in the evenings during that time. Continue reading →