Raymond H. Lefker

Raymond Lefker

So few have ever presented their true personas for all to observe as has Raymond. Never overly outspoken, always honest in his responses to any inquiries, Raymond Lefker displayed his feelings and attitudes for all to access regardless of whom he was addressing. He stood by his convictions irrespective of the reactions they generated. He knew his position and was never fearful of any resulting ramifications. He was forthright on all issues that were dear to him and did not shirk from saying that which he believed, regardless of its not being accepted by the mainstream. He was not confrontational, nor was he malicious about his assessments, but he was ever adamant about his positions. Should he have heard something about which he disagreed, the strongest sayings in Raymond's repertoire were "What seems to be your malfunction?" and when greeting his daughter, Kym, "Hey Dudette!"

There was an admirable quality displayed in his attitude; a quality some possess but few ever let be seen. You knew where Raymond stood regardless of your own position. Challenge him and he was well able to defend himself with reasoned thought and decisive argument. Raymond was what he was: genuine, caring and straight forward.

Those qualities were more than good enough for most observers, especially me, who spent the majority of life as his devoted friend.

Raymond was born in Long Beach, California to Raymond and Doris Lefker on June 28, 1939. His father, a career Navy man, was transferred to Hawaii in the early 1940's where Raymond and his mother joined him just before the bombing attack on Pearl Harbor. Ray's mother wrapped little Raymond in a mattress and placed him in a closet of their military domicile until the attack was over.

From Hawaii, they were transferred to San Diego, where they lived in Naval Housing close to 32nd St. and Harbor Drive. From there they moved to a trailer park located at 47th and Market Streets. Ocean View Elementary School, contiguous to the then-named Abraham Lincoln Junior/Senior High School, was Raymond's first school.

The Lefkers, with the newly born Delores, Raymond's sister, soon moved to the east end of Encanto on Pigeon Street, and eventually to a house on Flicka Street, which was also in East Encanto. Lincoln Jr. High school was Raymond's first mid-school. While there, Raymond saw Lincoln become the High School from which he graduated in 1958.

Rather tall in Junior High, Raymond was nicknamed, "Long John" until the 11th or 12th grade. He was a superb athlete with ample size and easily became the starting center on the Junior Varsity football team in his 10th grade, and the first string center on the varsity team his junior and senior years. After each day's football practice, the coaches would line up the players according to position, and have them race across the field and back, to determine which slowest four or five had to carry the tackle dummies to the storage shack. Raymond was always first when he raced against the line. His speed was recognized by the coaches, who put him against the skilled players (running backs and receivers). The results were nearly the same. During Raymond's entire high school football career, he never carried a blocking dummy to storage after practice. He did, however, have knowledge of what it was like to do this task because I, having carried bags nearly every evening, was always there to tell him about what he missed.

At Lincoln High, Raymond drove a 47 Chevrolet which was kept impeccably clean, down to the very noticeable cherry-scented interior for his passengers’ enjoyment. That car earned him membership in the "Bishops Car Club,” comprised mostly of Lincoln High students who were two or more years Raymond's senior. After graduation, the majority of the Bishops melded into an amorphous group of hardworking construction workers who resided in and frequented drinking establishments in Encanto, and who were five- to-ten years older than the younger Lincoln graduates. Observers labeled this group "The Encanto Boys."

Raymond, by then a journeyman roofer, earned unanimous acceptance into the Encanto Boy clan. They all had good jobs and money and were active in whatever was in vogue for young men to do such as: water skiing; Honda 90 riding; and dune-buggy driving. Extended excursions to Baja California resulted in fishing trips to San Felipe, Puerto Citas, Bahia de Los Angeles, Laguna Hansen, and Cabo San Lucas. These trips were held dearest to him. Too attractive! He couldn’t say no to any. He loved it all and participated in every event over the next half century.

For years on, every Friday afternoon without exception, one could find the Encanto Boys clustered in the backyard of the Rafalovich's home on Stork Street in Encanto. This home was built in 1958 by these Encanto Boys, who would engage in reminiscent beer drinking and general fellowship. Years later, Raymond would make arrangements for a healthier venue. Instead of Fridays at Rafalovich's, it became Wednesday breakfasts at 8 a.m., held in various east-county restaurants, which today are attended by a dozen or so proud participants, some of whom are well into their eighties.

In high school, Raymond joined the National Guard to satisfy his military obligation. This required him to attend evening trainings at Camp Elliot in North County every other week and one weekend per month. Two weeks of Summer Camp in northern California's Camp Roberts were also mandatorily attended each summer. He was later transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve's 977th Terminal Service Company in 1960, which had the same meeting requirements. During the Cuban Crisis, he was activated into the full-time regular Army and sent to Fort Lewis, Washington, where he served in active duty from late 1961 to late 1962. His company was returned to San Diego where his active reserve obligation ended, and eventually he was honorably discharged in San Diego, CA in 1965 as a Specialist Fifth Class.

Raymond went back to roofing, and then he won a US civil service roofing position at the Naval Training Center in San Diego. He eventually rose to the command position of Construction Supervisor and retired in that position, with honors, in 1995.

Raymond met and married his wonderful wife, Jeanne, in San Diego County in April 1965. They raised a tremendous daughter, Kym, who is currently married to Bruce Webb. Kym, from a previous marriage, gave Raymond and Jeanne their grandson, Blake, and later, their granddaughter, Alexa. Alexa, in turn, brought to them the beautiful Melany, their first great-grand child, in October 2015.

Retirement found Raymond engaged in landscaping his yard in La Mesa, California and making excellent decorative wooden windmills, with precise attention to detail, for gifts for his friends. A great deal of time had him primping his high-dollar Chevy SSR convertible roadster pickup, which had a mahogany-laden truck bed, and which led to taking trips with the SSR Club to various events held in Southern California. These club activities gave him tremendous enjoyment. One of these excursions allowed him to drive his SSR on a trial run around the Las Vegas NASCAR track.

I'm sure few men have ever enjoyed the experience of true, unadulterated, heartfelt love and friendship with and for another man, as I had with Raymond. “Pal” is too weak of a word to use in this context. My younger brother, Roger, who is in heaven at this moment and probably sharing time with Raymond as I write, knows full well that there isn't a single smidgen of difference, regardless of bloodline, between him and Raymond in my eyes.

Sixty-five years of constant contact with Raymond has sorted out any number of slight dislikes and has overflowed my soul with love and respect to overcapacity.

Raymond, I thank you for letting me in your life in order to receive your tremendous friendship, and unquestioned loyalty, plus your ever-present support, and for sharing all the precious moments we had together. I will cherish them until my last breath and will never, ever forget them or you, my friend.

Jack