In Memoriam
Please let us know if you have any obituaries for our classmates.
Kim Skaalen
June 21, 1950 - January 23, 2024
Coronado was always home for Kim Skaalen. He graduated from CHS in 1968 and completed his education at SDSU with a degree in Marine Biology, where he rowed on the Varsity crew team.
A scuba diving instructor for much of his life, Kim was at home in the ocean. In a July 19, 2019 letter to the Eagle & Journal, Kim shared his safety tips for beachgoers. Concerned for our safety, he would remind us every year about the stingray shuffle and how to swim out of a rip current.
Well known in the San Diego dive community, he always stressed safety. Never tiring of the beauty that surrounds us, he loved to send his underwater photographs to everyone he knew, with personal notes on the back.
His ten nieces and nephews and his 29 grand-nieces and nephews remember him fondly for his ocean trivia and many jokes. Every Christmas he was in his Santa hat handing out presents to all.
Kim also leaves behind two brothers, Lee (Joyce) and Jim (Cheryl) and a sister, Dorothy. We will all miss him and his quirky sense of humor. He was always a kind and gentle soul. Godspeed Kim......
Gene N. Alley
Susan Eleanor Hacker
Dec 3, 1949 - March 6, 2022
Susan "Sue" Eleanor Hacker peacefully passed away in her sleep. She belonged to the CHS Class of 1968 and was everyone's big sister and best friend. Sue loved life, camping, fishing, scuba diving, traveling the world, and her animals. Her pursuit in life and adventure took her from Coronado to Durango, then to Idaho where she spent the last 28 years.
Sue has made so many friends throughout her lifetime, touching everyone in so many different ways. Sue loved the Fourth of July and her class reunions. We will all miss her at our upcoming 55th reunion in 2023.
Sue will be missed but never forgotten.......
Dec 3, 1949 - March 6, 2022
Susan "Sue" Eleanor Hacker peacefully passed away in her sleep. She belonged to the CHS Class of 1968 and was everyone's big sister and best friend. Sue loved life, camping, fishing, scuba diving, traveling the world, and her animals. Her pursuit in life and adventure took her from Coronado to Durango, then to Idaho where she spent the last 28 years.
Sue has made so many friends throughout her lifetime, touching everyone in so many different ways. Sue loved the Fourth of July and her class reunions. We will all miss her at our upcoming 55th reunion in 2023.
Sue will be missed but never forgotten.......
Myra Gridley Cake
Oct 16, 1950 - Jan 17, 2022
Myra Gridley Cake of Woodbridge, VA passed away pleacfully at Inova Fairbax Hospital. She was surrounded with love and family at the time of her passing. Myra was born to her late father and mother, James Gridley and Natalie Smith in Ft. Riley, Kansas but lived most of her life in Woodbridge, VA. She was a member of the Coronado High School Class of 1968.
Myra enjoyed spending time with her husband and family. She enjoyed traveling in their RV around the states and exploring beautiful locations. Myra is survived by her husband Ken and four sons.
Oct 16, 1950 - Jan 17, 2022
Myra Gridley Cake of Woodbridge, VA passed away pleacfully at Inova Fairbax Hospital. She was surrounded with love and family at the time of her passing. Myra was born to her late father and mother, James Gridley and Natalie Smith in Ft. Riley, Kansas but lived most of her life in Woodbridge, VA. She was a member of the Coronado High School Class of 1968.
Myra enjoyed spending time with her husband and family. She enjoyed traveling in their RV around the states and exploring beautiful locations. Myra is survived by her husband Ken and four sons.
Stephan A. Smith
Toby Reid Leflang
June 9, 1950 - Jan 23, 2019
Born in Tucson and raised in Coronado, Toby was the son of J. Richard and Barbara Steele Leflang. Toby was a graduate of Coronado High School, class of 1968, where his father was an art teacher. He went on to graduate from SDSU. Toby leaves behind his wife Diane Kinney Leflang, bonus children Zane and Monet Basler, brother Jamie (Lora) Leflang, brother-in-law Willard (Hannah) Kinney, many nieces, nephews and cherished friends. Toby started his career in social services with at-risk kids, running the Youth Service Bureau at Coronado High, eventually moving to drug prevention for the Community Service Center for the Disabled. Creating jingles led him to an advertising and marketing career, and he eventually launched Toby Leflang Consulting in 1990. His passion for music, writing and performing and his story-telling and sense of humor will be truly missed.
His celebration of life was held on March 2, 2019 at Keller Williams in San Diego. Donations in Toby's memory may be made to www.accesstoindependence.org.
June 9, 1950 - Jan 23, 2019
Born in Tucson and raised in Coronado, Toby was the son of J. Richard and Barbara Steele Leflang. Toby was a graduate of Coronado High School, class of 1968, where his father was an art teacher. He went on to graduate from SDSU. Toby leaves behind his wife Diane Kinney Leflang, bonus children Zane and Monet Basler, brother Jamie (Lora) Leflang, brother-in-law Willard (Hannah) Kinney, many nieces, nephews and cherished friends. Toby started his career in social services with at-risk kids, running the Youth Service Bureau at Coronado High, eventually moving to drug prevention for the Community Service Center for the Disabled. Creating jingles led him to an advertising and marketing career, and he eventually launched Toby Leflang Consulting in 1990. His passion for music, writing and performing and his story-telling and sense of humor will be truly missed.
His celebration of life was held on March 2, 2019 at Keller Williams in San Diego. Donations in Toby's memory may be made to www.accesstoindependence.org.
Alonzo Lavern Smith, Jr.
June 15, 1950 - October 12, 2018
Alonzo was born in Coronado, CA on June 15, 1950. He was the son of the late Alonzo Laverne Smith Sr. and Clara Mae Smith. Surviving are two sisters, Elnora and Doretha, nephew Glenn, niece Holly, great-nephews Shelemo, Anthony, Uriel and great-niece Britani.
Alonzo passed away of a heart attack in his home. No memorial services were planned.
June 15, 1950 - October 12, 2018
Alonzo was born in Coronado, CA on June 15, 1950. He was the son of the late Alonzo Laverne Smith Sr. and Clara Mae Smith. Surviving are two sisters, Elnora and Doretha, nephew Glenn, niece Holly, great-nephews Shelemo, Anthony, Uriel and great-niece Britani.
Alonzo passed away of a heart attack in his home. No memorial services were planned.
Lucy Loveday Gidley
October 16, 1950 - October 28, 2005
Lucy Ann Loveday Gidley died Oct. 28, 2005 after a short battle with cancer at Piedmont Medical Center, Rock Hill, S.C. with her husband and children by her side. Lucy was born in Newport, RI. She climbed trees in Montgomery, AL, surfed in Coronado, CA, recorded Bob Dylan songs in Virginia, wrote poetry in Colorado, taught her babies to swim in Carmichaels, found true love in Morgantown, W. VA, sailed in the Bahamas and snorkled in the Florida Keys.
George Bullock
1949 to 2013
George passed away on January 23, 2013 from an accident while living in San Francisco, CA.
Terri Dail Woodward
Passed away September 29, 2011
Received from Terri's sister Tina Dail:
Terri passed away peacefully in her adopted country of Australia on September 29, 2011 in Calapaba, Australia, near Brisbane. Terri fought bravely for nearly 10 years against non-Hodgkins Lymphoma (including being a 2 year survivor of a stem cell transplant) to gain more days with her beloved husband John. Terri had been a licensed Vocational nurse during her adult lifetime in the U.S. and moved to Australia in the 1990's. Terri loved animals of all kinds, and the back yard of her home in Calapaba was at the edge of a nature preserve, so she was able to spend her last years surrounded by tropical birds and natural wildlife of Australia. Terri loved life and will be missed.
Passed away September 29, 2011
Received from Terri's sister Tina Dail:
Terri passed away peacefully in her adopted country of Australia on September 29, 2011 in Calapaba, Australia, near Brisbane. Terri fought bravely for nearly 10 years against non-Hodgkins Lymphoma (including being a 2 year survivor of a stem cell transplant) to gain more days with her beloved husband John. Terri had been a licensed Vocational nurse during her adult lifetime in the U.S. and moved to Australia in the 1990's. Terri loved animals of all kinds, and the back yard of her home in Calapaba was at the edge of a nature preserve, so she was able to spend her last years surrounded by tropical birds and natural wildlife of Australia. Terri loved life and will be missed.
Rick Kipe
Passed away in 2011
Passed away in 2011
William Clement Hakes Jr.
November 9. 1949 - July 4, 2010
Bill was born and raised in Coronado, CA. He attended Coronado schools and the College of Marin in Kentfield, CA. He had many interest: chess club, band, manager of the basketball team and fishing with his brother Dan on the Coronado beach. Bill's interest expanded later to photography, tennis, golf, geneology, model trains, music and reading. He and his brother John operated the Shelter Island Fishing Pier that his family leased from the Port of San Diego. He had many friends and fished all over the bay with his brothers. Bill had cerebral palsy, but that didn't hinder him physically or mentally. Bill's lung cancer was attributed to his demise.
November 9. 1949 - July 4, 2010
Bill was born and raised in Coronado, CA. He attended Coronado schools and the College of Marin in Kentfield, CA. He had many interest: chess club, band, manager of the basketball team and fishing with his brother Dan on the Coronado beach. Bill's interest expanded later to photography, tennis, golf, geneology, model trains, music and reading. He and his brother John operated the Shelter Island Fishing Pier that his family leased from the Port of San Diego. He had many friends and fished all over the bay with his brothers. Bill had cerebral palsy, but that didn't hinder him physically or mentally. Bill's lung cancer was attributed to his demise.
Robert Kent Lahodny
Born November 12, 1949
Bob passed away on October 25, 2010
We'll miss you Lights!!
John Franklin Varner
April 11, 1950 - March 11, 2009
John was born in Toledo, Ohio and moved to Coronado at the age of 3. He attended Miss Bunny's School, Coronado Elementary, Junior and High Schools. He graduated from Gainsville High School in Floriad in 1968. He began playing guitar with Tom Petty in his senior year at Gainsville. John moved back to California and attended college in Monterey and lived in Hawaii. In 2003 John came home to Coronado where he enjoyed surfing, gardening and cooking. He was a carpenter, a song writer, and a musician. He is survived by his mother Earlene and sister Vicki.
April 11, 1950 - March 11, 2009
John was born in Toledo, Ohio and moved to Coronado at the age of 3. He attended Miss Bunny's School, Coronado Elementary, Junior and High Schools. He graduated from Gainsville High School in Floriad in 1968. He began playing guitar with Tom Petty in his senior year at Gainsville. John moved back to California and attended college in Monterey and lived in Hawaii. In 2003 John came home to Coronado where he enjoyed surfing, gardening and cooking. He was a carpenter, a song writer, and a musician. He is survived by his mother Earlene and sister Vicki.
Eugene "Geno" Wilson Horton
September 3, 1950-April 24, 2008
Eugene Wilson Horton, known to family and friends as Geno, passed away unexpectedly April 24 near the island of Tortola in the British Virgin Islands while snorkeling. The exact cause of death has not yet been determined but is suspected to be related to his diabetic condition. He was vacationing with a group of close friends from Big Creek, where he lived and worked for the past 36 years. He was an electrician in the hydroelectric division of the Southern California Edison Company.
Geno was born Sept. 3, 1950 in Coronado. He attended Coronado public shcools, graduating with the Coronado High School class of 1968.
Geno was a loving and devoted father to his three children. As a single parent, he raised them from early childhood and remained extremely close to them as young adults. He is survived by his mother, Frances Horton of Sonoma, formerly of Coronado.
Fishing was a lifelong passion of Geno's, starting with surf casting off the Coronado Beach. Geno was an avid sports fan, loved playing golf and spent most weekends watching sports with his children. His gentle nature made him a friend of every person in the town of Big Creek, and known for his sense of humor, was a great story teller of jokes and prankster.
Geno will be greatly missed by his many longtime friends and family...........A celebration of Geno's life was held on May 17th in Big Creek.
Rebecca "Becky' Duke Fox
Rebecca Duke Fox died on October 5, 2005 after a 2 1/2-year struggle with cancer. She died peacefully at the Coronado home of her sister and brother-in-law, Carol and Bill Lemei, surrounded by her loving family and closest friends. Thanks to the Coronado lifeguards, who made the wonderful wheelchair with giant air tires for handicapped individuals available, she was able to visit her beloved Coronado beach – it was a day that brought her supreme happiness.
Becky graduated from Coronado High School in 1968. She and her husband Elán Fox opened Miracle Leaf Plants in the Crown Shops (now the shop Island Girls) during the early 1970s, then moved to the Orange Avenue site now occupied by Bay Books. They sold Miracle Leaf in the late 1970s and relocated to Northern California, eventually settling in Forest Knolls, California. Over the years, they operated a restaurant in downtown San Francisco, and several plant and floral businesses in the Marin County area. During recent years, Becky was a social worker working with at-risk youth.
She loved camping on the Yuba River with her family and friends, and riding her horse, Sierra, in the hills of Marin County.
Becky was pre-deceased by her parents, Mary and Clifford Duke, who moved to Coronado in 1950, when Becky was a baby. She is survived by her husband Elán, daughters Miriah Fox of Forest Knolls, California and Kira Fox Poole of Petaluma, California; Parents-in-law Bella Fox Slamovich and Henry Slamovich of San Francisco; sisters Suzanne Duke of San Diego and Carol Duke Lemei, nephew Galen Lemei and niece Kaitlin Lemei.
Rebecca Duke Fox died on October 5, 2005 after a 2 1/2-year struggle with cancer. She died peacefully at the Coronado home of her sister and brother-in-law, Carol and Bill Lemei, surrounded by her loving family and closest friends. Thanks to the Coronado lifeguards, who made the wonderful wheelchair with giant air tires for handicapped individuals available, she was able to visit her beloved Coronado beach – it was a day that brought her supreme happiness.
Becky graduated from Coronado High School in 1968. She and her husband Elán Fox opened Miracle Leaf Plants in the Crown Shops (now the shop Island Girls) during the early 1970s, then moved to the Orange Avenue site now occupied by Bay Books. They sold Miracle Leaf in the late 1970s and relocated to Northern California, eventually settling in Forest Knolls, California. Over the years, they operated a restaurant in downtown San Francisco, and several plant and floral businesses in the Marin County area. During recent years, Becky was a social worker working with at-risk youth.
She loved camping on the Yuba River with her family and friends, and riding her horse, Sierra, in the hills of Marin County.
Becky was pre-deceased by her parents, Mary and Clifford Duke, who moved to Coronado in 1950, when Becky was a baby. She is survived by her husband Elán, daughters Miriah Fox of Forest Knolls, California and Kira Fox Poole of Petaluma, California; Parents-in-law Bella Fox Slamovich and Henry Slamovich of San Francisco; sisters Suzanne Duke of San Diego and Carol Duke Lemei, nephew Galen Lemei and niece Kaitlin Lemei.
Debra "Debbie" Kay Harris Riley
Born December 17, 1950 in Memphis, TN
The Harris family moved to Coronado in 1958 where Debbie attended Crown Elementary, Coronado Junior High and Coronado High School. Debbie was an excellent student and was loved by all. She was elected as a Class Officer, Junior Varsity Cheerleader and Varsity Cheerleader.
Debbie attended SDSU and graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in education. She was a teacher in El Paso and returning home from a school function when she fell asleep at the wheel and died of head trauma on December 8, 1978, at the age of 27.
Debbie was married to Thomas Riley and had two children, Jason and Robin. She now has four grandchildren.
At the time of her death she was also survived by her parents, William Harris and Rosalyn Fenn, and siblings Nancy, Billy and Susan.
Born December 17, 1950 in Memphis, TN
The Harris family moved to Coronado in 1958 where Debbie attended Crown Elementary, Coronado Junior High and Coronado High School. Debbie was an excellent student and was loved by all. She was elected as a Class Officer, Junior Varsity Cheerleader and Varsity Cheerleader.
Debbie attended SDSU and graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in education. She was a teacher in El Paso and returning home from a school function when she fell asleep at the wheel and died of head trauma on December 8, 1978, at the age of 27.
Debbie was married to Thomas Riley and had two children, Jason and Robin. She now has four grandchildren.
At the time of her death she was also survived by her parents, William Harris and Rosalyn Fenn, and siblings Nancy, Billy and Susan.
Charles "Chip" Wesley Craven
Born July 21, 1949
Passed on June 22, 2006
Born July 21, 1949
Passed on June 22, 2006
Brian Hackett
From Toby Leflang:
I would like to take a moment to remember my good friend Brian Hackett. I have so many memories with our music days playing in folk groups during and after CHS. Brian could play just about anything that he could get his hands on. I know that my parents sort of adopted him into our family supporting his creative talents when perhaps others close to him did not understand. Before I went on to SDSU Brian was also in many of my art classes at Southwestern at a time when Southwestern had one of the very best art departments in the country with nationally known art teachers. Brian rocked!! His work in some of the student shows was amazing. Brian's creative spirit and talent never got a chance to become what it could have been which is unfortunate as was his short time here.
From Toby Leflang:
I would like to take a moment to remember my good friend Brian Hackett. I have so many memories with our music days playing in folk groups during and after CHS. Brian could play just about anything that he could get his hands on. I know that my parents sort of adopted him into our family supporting his creative talents when perhaps others close to him did not understand. Before I went on to SDSU Brian was also in many of my art classes at Southwestern at a time when Southwestern had one of the very best art departments in the country with nationally known art teachers. Brian rocked!! His work in some of the student shows was amazing. Brian's creative spirit and talent never got a chance to become what it could have been which is unfortunate as was his short time here.
Suzanne "Suzy" Prassinos Morris
Suzanne Prassino Morris, 37 died Aug. 16, 1987 in the Northwest Airlines crash at the
Please visit the memorial webpage. http://www.flight255memorial.com/
Jolee Jensen
Rob Berglund
Cynthia Pittman
Frank Michael Myers
Passed Away April 2016
Received from Mike's sister Terry Myers Black (Class of 71)
My brother passed away in April due to congestive heart failure. He had a richfull and active life. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, one grandson, his father and me. He would have certainly enjoyed a class reunion and especially seeing some of his old friends from the track and cross country teams. Please take a minute to remember him at the next "class of 1968" reunion.
Passed Away April 2016
Received from Mike's sister Terry Myers Black (Class of 71)
My brother passed away in April due to congestive heart failure. He had a richfull and active life. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, one grandson, his father and me. He would have certainly enjoyed a class reunion and especially seeing some of his old friends from the track and cross country teams. Please take a minute to remember him at the next "class of 1968" reunion.
Gregg Skelton