Curt Ritchie:  

Curt's schools include Pasadena High School. He later attended PCC, Grossmont, No. Colorado, SDSU, SDCC, USD, UCSD. He works(ed) at KPRI as NewsDirector, San Diego Trust and Savings, Richmond Clothing,JC Penney Corp.. Curt's interests include Life. Music he likes includes Creedence Clearwater Revival Official, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie (Official). Books he likes include The Great Gatsby, Fahrenheit 451, Catcher In The Rye. Movies he likes include Back To School, The Thing, John Candy. TV shows he likes include Grey's Anatomy, NCIS, Bones. One of Curt's favorite quotes is:"Simplify, Simplify, Simplify". More about Curt:"I'm a high school English teacher. The kids and my wife keep me going.". SBHS- One quarter down and 3 to go before retirement. Won't know where we will live until the end of March-Will wait to see where she goes to college. Applications will be submitted late October. 3 UC's and 4 CSU's. Will sell the house in Riverside after 24 years and if she accepts an offer from UCSD or SDSU will live in the house in San Diego and completely remodel it. If not will still keep it for her. Only 7.5 minutes to the beach, Sea World, and the zoo. 45 minutes to Julian and the same to Viejas Outlet Mall. Love to just walk around. In the Fall of 1998 I had a major heart attack ending with 5-way bypass surgery. I was out of teaching for 10 weeks. Returned to teaching feeling just fine. In the year 2005, my cardiologist would not tell me why, but he implanted a pacer and defibulator in me. At this time I had moved on to teaching at San Bernardino High School. Early in the morning in 2007 I felt an Earthquake. I asked my daughter and she denied it. Within minutes I felt a 2nd. I hollered to my wife. I had never felt the defibulator before. Third time it hit I was out. Most people do not realize that a great many of our organs try to repair themselves. During my heart attack the back of my heart was damaged and was trying to repair itself. This is the electrical portion of the heart. I do not remember any of what came later except what I was told. I was in V-tach, heart racing over 200 beats per minute. Riverside Hospital could not handle it. I was to be Life Flighted to Good SAMs in LA. It was too foggy and they waited 10 hours, still no go. Apparently Good Sams got tired of waiting and sent an ambulance with cardiologist and cardiac care nurse. The Dr. Had been waiting for me at Good Sams. I needed an ablation which is a line right to the heart and attempts are made to break through electrical lines in the heart. I was not expected to live through the night. My wife and daughter were asked to remain close. The hospital put them up at the Omni down the street. I was told Dr. David Cannom. world renown cardio physiologist, walked in and saw I was still alive and saw how stubborn I was and he went to work. Three days later I was supposed to home until the V- tach hit again. I guess at one point one of VPs came to see me and went back to school relating that I would not make it. I know she meant well. Twenty + days later while I was still in the hospital while once again I noticed my left leg had grown huge and w...Expand for more