More Oshawa Memories From The OCHS Era

Today is Easter Sunday, 2019.  I'm getting tired of posting obituaries, so I thought that I would post some happier photographic memories from Oshawa, "The City That Moto-vates Canada". Here are some pics from the late 1960's and 1970's. Click on any pic to enlarge.

This was the Oshawa bus motif that I rode on going to high school. However the earlier branding during grade school was just blue and white and not as colourful.

And this is the style of bus that they transitioned too while I was in high school. Building the GO train and the terminus at Pickering was a big deal.

I don't recall listening to the music of the band pictured below. But if their album was available, it would surely be at Wilson & Lee music store downtown. I visited Wilson & Lee a couple of years ago, and the Wilsons were still there, still wearing suits like they did in my high school era. The Oshawa Times clipping is a blast from the past. I read it from cover to cover.

A view of downtown. Note the car styles. With the retail Armageddon caused by Walmart and big box stores, all of the stores depicted are dead.

The black & white pic below is of a band called The Things, playing at St. Gertrude's in 1967. A bit before my time, but it was the Renaissance of Rock 'n Roll and some of the best music of all time was created in my era.

The assembly line at General Motors in Oshawa. Most of my friends dads worked at GM, as did mine.

The GO train to Toronto was a big deal and big news when it debuted.

It was an interesting time in many respects during my OCHS era and the automobile scene was undergoing a transition as well. It was a move from the big boats and "Detroit Iron" to the smaller compact cars and the pic below reflects that. I am still of a fan of 1970's muscle cars.

I used to drive in through the General Motor campus from Park Road and see all of the new cars lined up ready for shipping. The automotive era at Oshawa, a history of over a hundred years, will soon be over.

 And this pic of a cop with a radar is almost comical. I shudder to think of the radiation from the electromagnetic spectrum emanating from the device that was so close to his head and body.

Happy Easter Everyone!

Paul Pulla - RIP

News that Paul Pulla has passed away from heart and kidney disease. Paul was a Catholic school board trustee, recently resigned due to health reasons. He was a student, staff member and administrator for the last 50 years, retiring from the role of Director of Education for the Durham Catholic District School Board.
He was a year ahead of me, in my older brother's class.

Obituary
It is with sadness that we announce the passing of a great zenith, Paul (Paolo) Pulla at the age of 65. After years of battling many health challenges, he was taken to heaven surrounded by prayer, family and friends on Wednesday, April 10, 2019. He is predeceased by his father, Arturo Pulla, and will be dearly missed by his wife and best friend Lena (Pizzardi) Pulla and his mother Carolina (Assunta) Pulla. Paul will also be missed by his older brother Tony Pulla (Jan), his niece, Nikki Langfield (Geordie) and their son Hugo, his niece, Danielle Pulla and her children Emma and Jack and Paul’s nephew, Dr. Siommon Pulla (Melanie) and sons, Tavio, Fabien, and Alfeo.

A private funeral was held for Paul on Monday, April 15, 2019 and he was entombed at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery in Whitby.

Paul was born in Campobasso, Italy in 1953, and lived a short time in Montreal, Quebec. He then spent the rest of his life in Oshawa, Ontario. Paul dedicated 55 years of his life to Catholic Education as a student, Teacher, Consultant, Elementary and Secondary Vice Principal and Principal, Superintendent of Education, Director of Education and most recently, Catholic School Trustee. Paul’s commitment to his faith and passion for Catholic Education will never be forgotten by the many lives he touched.

The Pulla family wishes to thank the medical staff of the Nephrology, Cardiac and Critical Care Units at Lakeridge Health, Oshawa, as well as the medical staff of the Critical Cardiac Unit at St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto. A special thanks to Father Keith Callaghan of Holy Cross Parish, Oshawa.

A memorial mass will be held at 4:30 on May 21 at Holy Cross Parish, 373 Simcoe Street South. All are welcome and any donations in memory of Paul Pulla can be made to Holy Cross Parish.

requiescat in pace