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Today's Featured Biography

 
"Rocky" Jesse Rockafellor

Bio of ROCKY ROCKAFELLOR    
13376 Via Mark, Poway, CA 92604     H-858-486-1939 C-858-222-7529    

After graduation, I spent some time in Squaw Valley as a ski bum before joining the Air Force in January of ’62. I spent a year in training as an Airborne Navigational Guidance System Specialist in Biloxi, Miss. I then went to my first permanent party base where I had to take on an additional career field as a VHF & UHF Communication Specialist. I was stationed at March AFB in Riverside, CA. I was with the 456th Fighter Intercepter Squadron, Air Defense Command, but never set foot on March AFB. I was detached within the Strategic Air Command to Castle AFB in Merced, Ca. While there, I was sent out on a lot of “missions” that were not to be talked about. In 1964 I got married to a girl whom I had met while stationed in Biloxi. When I got out of the service, I moved to Mobile, Ala. and worked for the government there (at 5 times the pay) in the nuclear energy division as a Celestial Navigational Guidance Systems Programmer.
That base was closed down the next year and I returned to the Redondo Beach area and hooked up with Teledyne Corp. as an engineer in the aerospace field. I worked on a lot of top secret projects including the guidance system for the Apollo Moon Shot Program and in ’69 we put a man on the moon. I got a divorce from her in 1971.
In ’71 the aerospace industry went down the tubes and I was looking for work again. I joined the Harbor Patrol in Marina Del Rey, Ca. in ‘72 for about a year until the county started cutting back and I was out the door and searching for work again.
I landed a job in ’73 in retail sales and in ’75 I got married to Karen and we had a son Michael in ’82. I stayed in sales until about ’77 and I never made so much money in my life nor won so many free gifts (for sales). That led to getting my real estate license and off I went again. I was a realtor for about 12 years and became the company training officer for Torrance Century 21.
I bought a 28 ft. Owens boat and fished my butt off all over the Santa Monica Bay and at Catalina.
I started dirt bike riding about 1978 and spent a lot of time (& money on bikes) out in the Mojave Desert area.
When the real estate market folded in the early 80’s, I went to work as an R&D (research & development) engineer for the Ungar Corp. Boy, was that a kick. I had my own lab with tons of equipment of all kinds to just play with like a little kid in a toy store.
In ’82 I suffered a back injury and had a number of operations to repair it, but to no avail. I had to take a medical retirement.
In ’88 we moved to Poway, CA. in the north county San Diego. I wanted to buy a new car and thought that I should learn how to play their sneaky game first. So, I went into the local Chevy dealer an asked for a job as a salesman. The manager asked what makes me think that I could sell cars. So, I asked him what makes him think that I couldn’t. He then asked why he should hire me. I told him that I knew that I was better than the worst salesman he had and that by hiring me he would be making an improvement. I got the job. I only planned on staying a few months until I got the new car. Again, I made so much money I stayed for over 4 years.
In ’95 I decided to join the Sheriff’s Volunteer Patrol and went to the academy. I soon became the Training Officer there and continued on for another 7 years until moving on. Meanwhile, my wife and I have completely remodeled our home from top to bottom inside and out.
Also, while down here, I stared prospecting and mining for precious gems in the local mountains. These hills are loaded with them. I taught myself to cut the gem stones and to cast and fabricate in gold and silver. I now make all sorts of jewelry in my garage shop.
Now, I also ocean fish, white water raft, sculpt in precious gems and occasionally SCUBA dive, which I have been doing now for 57 years. I had the good fortune to get to dive with Jacques Cousteau and his team a couple of times back in the 70’s. I also spend a lot of time now with my new grandson, Damian. He was born in June of 2010. I have so much to teach him. (I don’t think Karen will approve of everything, though.)
My wife and I have started playing in “Texas-Holdem” poker tournaments and to date (11/10/11) I have been at the final table and in the money 42 times with Karen coming in at a close second to my count. It pays well and gives me some money to go ocean fishing.
So, finely to my wife’s delight, I am now keeping a low profile and staying out of “mischief”.
Love to all of my old classmates and all of my fellow Seahawks. You are a terrific bunch and I’m proud to have known you.

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