Ron Prestidge

July, 2004

from Dave Chamberlin
It was a typical summer afternoon in San Diego recently when I motored down to Chula Vista from my office in north San Diego, to meet an old friend who lived up the road and around the corner and shared the same school bus to Hough Street School in those fabulous '50s. After 45 years I remembered Ron as a down home, good-natured, athletic guy with a hearty laugh, and I can report that the description still fits.

Ron was a Navy lifer, retiring after 30 years service much of it spent in the western Pacific and Japan, including action in the waters off Vietnam in the sixties. Not only did Ron fall in love with Japan, he fell in love with, and married, Masako, his Japanese sweetheart. When I arrived at their home, Masako greeted me at the door as Ron had dashed off to get some beer and munchies for the afternoon's visit.

Actually, "dashed" is something of a stretch. When Ron retired from the Navy, he devoted some of his time to transporting disabled vets from their homes to rehab and other treatment centers. On one such trip, his van parked on a steep driveway, it fell out of park and began rolling back. Instinctively, Ron dashed to the driver's door to apply the brakes only to be knocked to the ground as the van rolled over his legs. Since then, Ron has undergone several repair surgeries and rehabs, the latest wrapping up just before our visit. In spite of all this his spirits are high even while putting up with some obvious discomfort. He gets around well with a cane and he works out regularly at the gym on a local Navy base -- he loves to swim.

Masako is a lovely woman, devoted to Ron, and together they have a charming home with lots of Japanese touches. They designed and built the yard behind the house where I persuaded them to pose for a summer portrait. While they live a full and comfortable life, it is quite without benefit of le computer. Nevertheless, they'd love to make contact with old Barrington friends, so why not drop them a line or pick up the phone and give a jingle.

Ron & Masako Prestidge
324 Pearlwood
Chula Vista, CA 91910
619-691-0148