2016: Kennedy, Galindo, Cunningham Pass

First athletes and then coaches, each experience leaving a lifetime of memories.

BOBBY KENNEDY

The San Diego State graduate was  head baseball coach at Chula Vista from 1957-82, his teams winning six Metropolitan League titles, earning 19 playoff appearances, and compiling an overall record of 329-266.

Kennedy also was a championship softball player, almost to the end, participating all the way to age 89 and along the way teaming with several other locals of his generation to win 10  national association “World Series.”

Kennedy hit a three-run home run on his last time at bat.

You could look it up, as Casey Stengel would say.

Bobby, who passed days before his 94^th birthday, grew up in the San Bernardino area and played two seasons in the Philadelphia Athletics’ system.

Kennedy’s San Diego State jersey No. 12 was retired.  He also was a basketball game official for 25 years and president of the local association.

Kennedy was one of a group of coaches and ex-players, mostly from baseball who met for coffee each week for years  at the Lake Murray Café.  Bobby remained active up the end, attending the annual Coaching Legends event at the Scottish Rite Temple in October.

Pitcher Ron (Flame) Tompkins, a member of the Kennedy’s 1962 squad, toiled for the Kansas City Royals in 1965 and California Angels in 1971.

JOE GALINDO

A 1947 St. Augustine graduate, Galindo was the Saints’ head football coach in 1986-87 and played on Saints teams that occupied a unique niche in school athletics history.

Galindo was an end and defensive back for the Saints during an era when the Catholic school was shunned by its city and county counterparts and  forced to find a league that required substantial travel.

The Saints were part of the Southland Catholic League that included Los Angeles teams Loyola, Mt. Carmel, and Cathedral, plus Santa Monica St. Monica and Long Beach St. Anthony.

Galindo, 87, began his career as a playground director for the City Recreation Department and coached many sports on many levels for more than 40 years.

MIKE CUNNINGHAM

A quarterback on the Saints’ 7-2 squad of 1958 and catcher on the baseball team, Cunningham, 75, was the Saints’ head football coach from 1978-81.

He also was head coach at Ramona from 1975-77, and at Julian from 1988-92 and 1995-96.

Cunningham’s teams in the mountain community posted an overall record of 30-14-1 and claimed a San Diego Section 8-man championship in 1992.