To the Partridge Family …………………………     November 11, 2016

 I was reminiscing with one of my daughter today about people that we knew years ago. And Gary Partridge came to mind. Went to google and looked for Partridge & Associates. What I found was not surprising, but certainly saddening. Over the year Gary and I did not keep in touch for whatever reason. My fault, probably more than his. Anyway after reading the items on the memorial site many things came to mind. I would like to relate some of those to you all.

 We start at Bendix Pacific Division of the Bendix Corporation in North Hollywood California. Gary was working, if my memory is right, as a timekeeper in the factory. We, the Data Processing department, we were looking for a trainee in the tabulating section.

Gary applied. We brought him in and he took off like a duck to water. He was terrific. I can’t recall how long he worked in tabulating, but before long we gave him a chance in the programming section. Again, he was a star. We worked together for several years.

 Several years later I went to work at The Title Insurance and Trust Company in downtown Los Angeles. The Programming Department, not under my supervision, was looking for quality computer programmers. Gary applied and was immediately hired. Gary would drive to my house in Granada Hills and then we would drive to TI in downtown LA. Gary did many great projects at TI.

 As time went by I moved to Gibraltar Savings and Loan Association in Beverly Hills as Manager of Data Processing. Their computer department was really in a mess. The savings computer system was a disaster. I called Gary and asked him to join me as Manager of Systems and Programming. He and a team of programmers, he hired, built a computer savings system that lasted 15 years. The concept and design was years ahead of its time. AND it was implemented in 9 months. We were together for the better part of 5 years at Gibraltar.

 With our success with the new savings system the Loan department wanted us to do the same for them. We started, but had many difficulties. The major problem was, and we didn’t realize its magnitude, was that we were dealing with 5 departments, each with its own Vice President. With the saving system, we had one person to deal with and he knew what he wanted. As thing progressed or didn’t progress top management became very unhappy with the results. Someone had to go and I was forced to release Gary. I left Gibraltar a short time later.

Maybe that was a blessing in disguise because this is when Gary formed Partridge & Associates. You know the story from there on.

 I am truly sorry that we didn’t stay in touch. Can’t really say why. We just had other parts of our life to go on to. Gary called me a several years ago and we reminisced about our staff at Gibraltar. He had kept up with most of them in some way. I’m truly sorry that we didn’t remain in contact. Gary was a great guy. We played a lot of Hearts games at lunch. We had a lot of good times together. We accomplished many great things in the Tabulating/Data Processing world. He was truly a fine man and friend.

Les Luby 

Your dad was a hard worker, too hard sometimes. I had cabin fever with kids 24/7. It was time for a break. I convinced Gary we could take a driving trip to San Francisco on $50. Except for buying gas (credit card) we camped and ate McDonalds it was a great trip. Try and do that today!

This picture was about 1997. We drove our white safari van from Renton, Washington all the way to Dad and Ann's house in California. This was a special moment for me as I remember feeling proud about my family, Carrie, Meg and Johnathan and we were on our way to Disneyland. It was the kids first time their. Dad and Ann joined us and we had a good time. My Dad always loved being with us, even if it meant going on rollar coasters, water parks that the kiddies wanted to go do. He was the best in that special way. Family mattered to him and I am gratefull as a result.  

A very significant location for me especially since I told the biggest lie in my life! It was on this very carpet, as I lit a piece of paper on fire and attempted to carry the burning paper from the kitchen gas stove to the outside patio, where our dog's Tank and Bootsie had their water bowl. This was a daring feat that I didn't complete as it started to burn my fingers, OUCH! I dropped the burning paper on the carpet and the rest is history! It burned a 4" circle right about where we were playing this card game. Luckily, I did get the to the dog water bowl and put out the blaze. Later that evening, when my Mother got home, I made sure I was nowhere near the house as I took off down the street to hide at a neighbors house. KENNY, KEITH and KEVEN!!! I heard my Mom shout. Gee, I wonder whats up? Next thing I remember, Dad had us lined up in the living room. It was time......time for a confession. Who did it? I never confessed until my adult life when at my Dads home at a family gathering. I got a nice look from from my brother as he and Keven never knew who did it. All they knew was, "It's not me!"they thought to themselves. A bit embarressed I still feel to this day I must admit. Sorry to my brothers and to my Mom and Dad, sorrrrrrryyyy!!!

I remember a difficult time I was having in high school. I was supposed to be one of the best players on our Thousand Oaks High School basketball team (so my coaches told me). Basketball was my world and I practiced and played all year around. I was a gym rat I guess. Anyway, things just didn't go as well as I would have liked and I remember the frustration and the tears welled up in me when we were in the garage alone. Without me saying anything, he new everything and understood what was going on inside me. You see, he went to every game he could going all the way back to elementary school days. He even became President of the booster club the last couple years in high school. He coached some of our basketball teams, went to our football games and talked to us after our games as only a father could. HE knew how important succeeding in sports was for me and he was there with me, every step of the way. Because he showed that kind of love for me and my brothers, I am that way with my son and daughter Johnathan and Meg. He showed me how to be there for my family. He loved us and I couldn't have asked for anything more!

Dad's idea of "lets go do something".  In September 2013, I had the fortunate opportunity to Fly down from Seattle and drive up to Monterery from So Cal with Dad. On the way up north, we stopped by our old house in Thousand Oaks off 350 W. Siesta Ave, corner of Judy's Circle. I loved that house. We talked about everything including why I moved up to Seattle. It was on this trip I found out Dad's love for Monterey. It was great one on one time. We drove the 17 Mile Drive and I took this picture of the Lone Cypress from my iPhone.