Richmond High School - Shield Yearbook (Richmond, CA)

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We Dedicate Our 1968 Shield MR. SYLVAN (HERB) HRBEK MR. ANDREW (ANDY) COLOMBO Let us say right off that we Seniors dedicate our Shield to two of the finest gentlemen we know, Mr. Sylvan M. Hrbek and Mr. Andrew Colombo. Our joy in making this dedication is practically indescribable. We list a few of the reasons. Mr. Hrbek and Mr. Colombo came with us from the old school; seeing them around these strange digs makes us feel at home. Further, they are so genuinely nice and friendly and always seem so cheerful and busy. They are gentle, soft-spoken and clever. What is more, they really like us. They are extremely neat, clean and good-looking, keep the school plant running almost single-handed, and clean up messes almost before they happen. They accomplish more work, cover more ground and make less noise than anybody else at RUHS. This is not surprising. In our opinion they combine the power of the administration, the brains of the faculty and the energy of the students. They are bred-in-the-bone Oilers, improved and polished by their own magnificently gentle, smooth and manly styles. Mr. Hrbek is, of course, our chief custodian, and Mr. Colombo his lieutenant. Known to many as Herb and Andy, they are absolutely unbeatable as a team. But individually, they differ. Herb (if we may take the liberty) is slim with a superb thatch of wavy, snow-white hair. Andy (if we may take the liberty) is not. Herb’s sense of humor is subtle and restrained, Andy’s bubbling and spontaneous. Herb is one year older than Andy (though both are ageless), is a native of Verdigree, Nebraska, and has three sisters and two brothers, Andy is a native of Paloma (Calaveras County), California, and has three sisters and one brother. Herb came full-grown to Richmond in 1947, Andy came a mere child in 1912. Herb played varsity football and basketball at his high school in Verdigree and was valedicto- rian of his graduating class. Andy was an Oiler, graduating from RUHS when it was located at Twenty-third and Macdonald. Herb has one son, Bob, but no grandchildren (yet); Andy has one daughter, Angela, who lives in Boston, and three wonderful young grandsons, Tim, Dan, and Mark. Probably the biggest difference in the lives of Herb and Andy is that Andy settled down early, going into business for himself as a mechanic in the Central Garage on Ninth Street, whereas Herb did not settle down so fast. He held all kinds of jobs in his hometown, including one as cream-and-butter man for the local creamery. His great adventure came when he joined the Air Force in World War Il. For a while he taught Radar; then, volunteering for overseas duty, he was shipped off to India to fight the foreign foe. For almost three years he ran the power stations at different supply depots, supervising many native laborers. Then the worm turned. Unlike Andy who married Miss Margaret Maffeo in 1930, Herb did not marry Mrs. Erna Christensen until 1947. Characteristically, he exchanged letters with his betrothed (whom he met through correspondence) for five years, before he finally met and married her. With such a foundation, ‘tis little wonder their marriage has continued for twenty-one years of unshakable tranquillity. Their son Bob, graduated from RUHS, joined the Navy, became a helicopter man and got into the thick of many battles in Viet Nam. Herb came to RUHS from the shipyards in 1950, and Andy from his garage in 1953. They have been too busy to think, ever since. But they are given time off to play. For relaxation Andy loves to plant his garden and take care of his yard; Herb loves to tinker and make things. Both are mad about fishing. Indeed, Herb builds his own boats and whatever else fishermen need in order to fish. Andy, however, tempers his fishing with hunting. But both are great outdoorsmen, as they are great everything else. And we rejoice that they, like the Rock and the Bench, are with us to cheer and comfort us, to give us a continuing sense of our school’s identity, especially when we graduate from a rat her strange campus, having been so rudely ejected from our own. They know what we mean. 30