John Gretzinger:
CLASS OF 1966
Canoga Park High SchoolClass of 1966
Canoga park, CA
American Technological UniversityClass of 1976
Killeen, TX
San Fernando Valley State CollegeClass of 1970
Northridge, CA
Chatsworth High SchoolClass of 1967
Chatsworth, CA
Columbus Junior High SchoolClass of 1963
Canoga park, CA
John's Story
Life
I'm married again. This is very recent and we are both just wonderfully happy. I'm mostly retired, but still doing some consulting and photography with my best friend and wife. I also inherited the family home in Canoga Park. Yep, I'm back where I was while I was in High School. Weird, huh? Got to admit - the place looks pretty cool with the '57 Chevy sitting in the driveway.
In my spare time I've taken up steel guitar again and sing with a lovely lady (my sweetie again) who taught me how to laugh and enjoy life again. Along with that I'm back to riding motorcycles. The garage currently holds a 1976 Honda CJ360T, a 1988 Kawasaki ZG1000 (C-10 Concours), a 1987 Kawasaki Ninja 600A (was Step-son's, now a project bike), a 1999 Honda Helix (more fun than a person should be allowed to have), a 2007 Ninja 250 (step-son's new ride) and my 2007 Moto Guzzi Norge.
If you remember the Valleymen, well we had a reunion a little while ago - Jim Sinclair, Rich Uhey, Paul Bunnell, Ed Archer and I got back together for the first time since the 60s. We sounded great and had a wonderful time seeing each other again.
My photography hobby is turning into a bit more of a commercial concern as GT PhotoGrafx takes shape. We do both "interesting" stuff(tm) as well as photojournalistic weddings and non-traditional weddings.
Finally learned you can still enjoy life and still be a (more or less) responsible adult.
College
After graduation I went SFVSC. The first year I majored in Theoretical Math. I learned a bit about computers and did some programming. I also joined the Matador Sports Car Club where I met some folks who have remained close friends ever since. Sometime during the second year, I changed my Major to Sports Cars, Cafeteria and Girls. Unfortunately the school did not recognize those as legitimate academic pursuits so I left at the beginning of '68 and got drafted.
I finally finished my degree in Texas where I attended Central Texas College and American Technological University where I received a degree in Business - Aviation Management. Along the way I took a couple of courses at THE University of Texas at Austin.
Workplace
While still at Canoga I began my work career slinging burgers across the street at Carrol's and The Corral and even...Expand for more
tually started selling auto parts at Canoga Parts Depot (Sherman Way at Topanga). I've sold auto parts off and on again for years - ran a couple of stores in Texas and managed a chain there as well. During that time I introduced low-riders to San Antonio, but that's the subject for a whole other story.
A bunch of time in the military (May 68 to August 73 active duty including two tours of Viet Nam flying helicopters), and then moving into the computer field, courtesy of Uncle Sam.
I've been with Northrop, Hughes Space and Communications, Martin-Marietta (JPL), Sprint, GTE/GTEL, SBC Internet (Smartpages.com where I was the Director of Technology and Operations) and now head of Gretzinger Consulting - specializing in IT solutions for the small and medium sized business.
I love what I do. It's great to see the results of your work and know you have made a positive impact on those for whom you do your work.
Military
I was drafted in 1968 and reported for duty on May 20th. Basic training was at Ft. Ord, up by Monterey. Beautiful area, but we didn't get to see much of it. From there went to Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri to become a Combat Engineer - you know, the guys who build the bridges, lay and remove land mines and that sort of thing. I had already been selected to attend Officer Candidate School, so off I went to Ft. Sill, OK to become a Second Lieutenant in the Field Artillery. From there to Flight School - Ft. Wolters, TX (north west of Ft. Worth) and Ft. Rucker, AL. Immediately upon graduation I headed to Viet Nam. I did back to back tours there and finally came home in December '71 as a Captain. I was assigned to the 1st Cav Division at Ft. Hood, TX. While there, the Army went through a reduction in force and I along with 12,000 of my closest friends became civilians again. I stayed in Texas and joined the Army Reserve with the 90th Army Reserve Command (ARCOM). I became involved with an automation program and was eventually sent to both the Army's ADP school and their Test Pilot and Maintenance Officer courses. I went back on Active Duty at Ft. McPhearson, GA (Atlanta) and then moved back to Northridge where I finished my Military Career as a Major with the 63rd ARCOM at Los Alamitos playing with computers and flying occasionally.
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