In Memory

William "Bill" Eugene Kriezel - Class Of 1968 VIEW PROFILE

1949 - 2000

1

Oak Park Cemetery - Claremont, CA



 
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01/17/15 10:39 PM #1    

Murray Mack Gilkeson III (1968)

I remember Bill as one of the best athletes I'd ever seen.  He was well-known for doing flips down at El Roble and peroxiding his hair. Like a lot of students, I was a bit intimidated by him, but then we happened to meet behind the Youth Center over at Memorial Park.  I went out there and he was shooting baskets alone, during one of his frequent suspensions.  He invited me to shoot with him, and we became friends.  Since he was the best pole vaulter during 8th grade, and I was going out for track, I bought one of those old aluminum poles and invited him down to CMC to practice. I had hoped he would get his act together and go out for sports like his older brothers had done with much success up at CHS, but it was not be.  Unfortunately, he got into trouble and ended up going to Boys Republic down in Chino,  Steve McQueen's alma mater.  A few years later I ran into him down in the village one night and he was extremely proud to show me the baby he was carrying in his arms. I guess I've always liked people who walked to their own beat.   Bill was one of the real characters of Claremont over the years, and I'm glad I got to know him.


01/19/15 04:46 PM #2    

Janet Ryerson (1968)

What a wonderful tribute to a friend!  It's good to know that our years have added compassion and understanding as well as a few (hah!) grey hairs.


01/20/15 10:39 AM #3    

Lynne Delaney (1968)

I agree Janet! Lovely memories, Terry, and so thoughtful of you to post them. I didn't know Billy personally because he was gone by the time I moved to Claremont our freshman year, but I feel as if I knew him through all the wonderful tales. You probably know that David Lee created a character named "Billy Kriezel" for an episode or two of "Frasier." Such was his legend.


01/12/18 02:35 PM #4    

David Keirsey (1968)

Billy Kriezel, ah yes, I knew him since early grade school.  You didn't mess with him -- even then, even though he liked to "mess with you."  Luckily, I never gave Billy any reason to bully me, I observed his operating nature, knowing where he came from and what he was about.   We were the same size: smallest in the class --  we actually had a little bond in that regard. He was tough as nails.  The original JD.  I observed his antics and clashes with David Lee, Larry Nowels, David Rule, and the school establishment.   My father, a famous personality psychologist named his kind of personality, Crafter Artisan  -- on the dark side called a Vandal. Fit him to a T, as Billy self described himself "a little hellraiser", as we met at a reunion. He had remembered me, even though I had called him his brother's name, "Doug Kriezel!", luckily, he didn't take umbrage at that time.

Gee Officer, Krupke!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7TT4jnnWys


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