Friday, December 28, 2012

Coach John Joseph: Rest In Peace


What can you say about a man who influenced so many lives in such a profound and positive manner?  His strength of character, integrity, enthusiasm and compassion were absolutely unrivaled.  Our beloved Coach, Johnny Joseph, passed away yesterday afternoon, December 27, 2012, several years past his 90th birthday.  Is there an Santa Monica College swimmer who was not encouraged and made better by JJ?  Nope.  So many of us are better people because of him.  I often think of him and his example and expectations continue to help me make better decisions.



So many memories.  So much love.  So much caring.

Forty-Two (42) years as the Swim Team Coach at Santa Monica College!  Incredible!  Here is the story from the Los Angeles Times that spoke of this milestone upon JJ's retirement:

http://articles.latimes.com/1992-05-21/news/we-282_1_santa-monica-college


SMC Hall of Fame

How many of our beach lifeguards (Santa Monica City, L.A. City, L.A. County, State of Calif.) were coached by JJ?  Hundreds!  He was there when I took the Santa Monica City Beach Lifeguard Rookie Swim Test in the Spring of 1974.  And he attended rookie swims for over 40 years and the Lifeguard Brass knew to talk to JJ about which guys and gals were his swimmers, such was the level of respect and influence that he had earned.  Heck, by the time I took the rookie test, the lifeguard brass were often SMC/JJ Swimmer alums anyways! 

The Obituary published in the Los Angeles Times appears at the following link:

         http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/latimes/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=162108851#fbLoggedOut

What a remarkable life our Coach lived.  He will always be with us, of that I am sure.

He is with us today and will be with us tomorrow.  While no longer with us in person, he will live on in perpetuity in each of us in our heart and soul.

God bless you, Coach.  Rest In Peace.

Respectfully,

Will Maguire
JJ/SMC Swimmer Alum, 1973 - 1975









Photo by & courtesy of Nick Steers

Photo by & courtesy of Nick Steers








JJ Scholarship Dinner, June 2007



Photo by & Courtesy of Nick Steers 2010.


In the words of Art Verge, Sr., Ph.d:  "Johnny Joseph Forever!"



Friday, December 21, 2012

2012: The Year In Review... in photos...


12 months, 12 photos...

January, Manhattan Beach Pier
February, Will Rogers Tower #17
 
March, Dusk over Will Rogers and Malibu
April, Venice

May, Movie Shoot at SMN Tower #15

June, Recurrent Paint Crew
July, Santa Monica North
August, Taplin Victory Team
September, Goodbye to Ion

October, Rookie Swim First Finishers
November, Will Rogers Crew assisting PCH vehicle accident victim

December, Division

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*** Get your workouts in and make sure you are swimming... rechecks are right around the corner.
(All photos by & Copyright Will Maguire 2012.  All Rights Reserved.)

Happy New Year!

Until next time.....


"County Recurrent" News

http://CountyRecurrent.blogspot.com




















Service • Training • Commitment

*** Keeping the County Recurrent "in the loop"..... whether he/she likes it or NOT ! ***

DISCLAIMER: County Recurrent is not affiliated with nor sponsored by LACOLA or LACoFD.

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Thursday, December 20, 2012

"Winter Solstice: Pt Dume"

"Winter Solstice: Pt Dume". Photo by & Copyright Will Maguire 2012.


Northern Section Shout Out!...  

Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012 at sundown... The Winter Solstice, Pt Dume Style...

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"County Recurrent" News

***   ***   ***

Happy Holidays!

"Joy To The World". Copyright Norton Wisdom 1997.  All Rights Reserved.

Happy Holidays from our entire "County Recurrent" staff and crew to you and yours!

Recurrents Rock!  And we are bound and determined to say so and back it up with photos, commentary and what not!

We hope you and yours enjoy the holidays ahead.

*** Many thanks to Veteran OL and OLS and Artist Extraordaire, Norton Wisdom, for allowing us the privilege of posting and sharing his wonderful artwork from December 1997.

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

10-4

Until next time.....


"County Recurrent" News

http://CountyRecurrent.blogspot.com

Service • Training • Commitment

*** Keeping the County Recurrent "in the loop"..... whether he/she likes it or NOT ! ***

DISCLAIMER:
County Recurrent is not affiliated with nor sponsored by LACOLA or LACoFD.

*** PLEASE forward to other Recurrents, past and present, so that we can add them to our mailing list. ***

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Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Lifeguard Video Highlights

Wow!  Check it out!  Here are three (3) separate videos posted online, two of which were brought to our attention by Zuma Recurrent (Ret.), Larry Loganbill, of Kauai.  Many thanks to Larry for sharing these classic videos.

* Thrill of the Surf 1949 (Post WWII surfing in Australia)

    http://vimeo.com/10086384


** Service In The Sun 1957  (featuring the Duke, Mike Bright, Greg Noll and Tom Zahn)
L2R: Tom Zahn and Greg Noll

    http://vimeo.com/9699526


*** Henry Ford Interview  (Retired LACo OLS (and surf legend), Henry Ford, is interviewed, circa 2012)

    http://www.hgtv.com/video/surfer-paradise-video/index.html?soc=share



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(Source material: Videos are identified at each referenced link)

Until next time.....


"County Recurrent" News
http://CountyRecurrent.blogspot.com

Service • Training • Commitment

*** Keeping the County Recurrent "in the loop"..... whether he/she likes it or NOT ! ***

DISCLAIMER: County Recurrent is not affiliated with nor sponsored by LACOLA or LACoFD.

*** PLEASE forward to other Recurrents, past and present, so that we can add them to our mailing list. ***

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A Walk In The Sand

CSHQ: In The Fisheye

Dateline:  Saturday, Dec. 15, 2012

Soft sand walk from Santa Monica Pier to Venice Pier, flip turn, return along the boardwalk. Check !

Waiting for the other shoe to drop, er, show up...

The Scoop...














 
"Standing Tall!"...









Mini-Donuts, $4 for a dozen; on Westminster just off boardwalk at alley






Minus Tide approaching...



(All photos by & Copyright Will Maguire 2012.  All Right Reserved.)

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Until next time.....


"County Recurrent" News

http://CountyRecurrent.blogspot.com

Service • Training • Commitment

*** Keeping the County Recurrent "in the loop"..... whether he/she likes it or NOT ! ***

DISCLAIMER: County Recurrent is not affiliated with nor sponsored by LACOLA or LACoFD.

*** PLEASE forward to other Recurrents, past and present, so that we can add them to our mailing list. ***

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