Augustine Acosta:
CLASS OF 1975
North High SchoolClass of 1975
Torrance, CA
California State University Class of 1985
Long beach, CA
El Camino CollegeClass of 1981
Redondo beach, CA
Crenshaw Elementary SchoolClass of 1971
Los angeles, CA
Augustine 's Story
Life
Born in Southern California and moved to the midwest almost 30 years ago when the company I was working for at that time relocated. I still think of California as home and consider myself as an ex-patriot. By the grace of God, born and raised a Californian. Can't wait to get back to smell the ocean air and hear the crashing of the waves... The waves are going to be good! My wife and I are making plans to head back when our two kids (a daughter and a son) have made their way through this thing called life. I wish they would hurry up!
My brothers, Robert and Louie, and my sister, Mary, still live in the South Bay Area and I don't get to see them as much as I would like. We grew up in what is known as Dog Patch which extended from 182nd Street to Crenshaw Blvd to 190th Street to I believe Falda Street. Living in Post-War homes that you can walk in anyone's house and know where everything is because they were all the same. On our street (Glenburn Ave.) lived the Hookers (Curt, Jimmie, Corky and Sharon), the Tewes (David, Aimee and Michael), Goudys (Cindy, Mary and Randy), Pelayos (Twin Brothers, Teddy, Alan, Malley and No No), the Smiths (Sandy and Jamie), Underwoods (Jimmie), and Mildurs (Doug). Two of my best buddies from the hood are/were Bruce Gentiles and Gary Barsley.
Went to Crenshaw Elementary from Kindergarten through 8th Grade and remember the May Day Dances, Carnivals, and Mr Rowe's pet ruler (kooner dog). The teachers in which I had the pleasure to be in their class were Mrs. Strong, Mrs. Korngay, Mrs. O'Neil, Mrs. O'Dell, Mr. Rowe, Mrs. Schoendist (Cards Fan), Mrs. Wolfe and Mr. Demyan. In the seventh through eighth grade, we rotated classes so we had the pleasure to be in Mrs. Eichwald (History) and Mr. Clapp (Science - Also known as Mister Stuff) classes also. Crenshaw only lives in memories now because they tore it down and moved the bridge over to Magruder Middle School.
My Dad worked at the Mobil Oil Refinery on Crenshaw and 190th street and my Mom was a stay at home mom. This was until we reached about the 5t...Expand for more
h grade and she went to work at the nursery next to Crenshaw Elementary School. I remember my Dad taking us and our friends in his truck to the beach every summer, and we would body surf (attempt) and play in the sand all day long. Being a kid at this time was great and living in Cali as a kid was the best.
Not everything is perfect in life and my life has not been close to perfection. I have done things that I wished I hadn't, but I have done things that I would do all over again. I am on a quest for perfection, and its the journey and the effort that has made this life so very rewarding.
Life has been sweet for me in that I have kids that I love and a wife that has put up with me all these years. There is a phrase from a DMB song, "Life is short, but sweet for certain." And that it is!
School
My high school years seems like being lost in a fog... Spent too much time getting high, but hey it was a long strange trip that I would not have wanted to miss. Barely did enough to graduate and that's due to being young and indifferent (you can replace this word with many) at the time. Things I remember are playing futbol under the lights, eating those fantastic apples from the apple machine and huge peanut butter cookies at nutrition, spending time with some pretty interesting people (teachers and students), and graduation day.
College
After coming back from Europe and doing a three year enlistment with the US Army, I went to college under the old Veteran's benefits plan and graduated from El Camino JC and Cal State Long Beach. I obtained my bachelors degree in Accounting with an emphasis in public accounting. College was the hardest job I have ever had and the most enjoyable. The only problem was I did not get paid to be a student.
Military
Enlisted right out of high school and served three years with the US Army (meaning: Uncle Sam Ain't Released Me Yet). I served overseas in Europe with the 26th Infantry Unit out of Goepingen, Germany. I had a great time and met some interesting people and learned to like beer a lot.
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