In Memory

Tod Wakefield

Tod Wakefield

The son of Fred and Pauline Wakefield, Tod was born September 19, 1944 and grew up with his sister, Diane, in their South Gate home on Alexander.  His mother was a very loving mom who opened her heart and home to several of Tod’s close friends, one being Sherry Leake Varga (S’62).  Tod attended Bryson Avenue Elementary and South Gate Junior and Senior High Schools. 

Growing up, Tod played baseball on the youth teams at South Gate Park and, early-on, was always a catcher.  In high school, he played basketball and JV baseball as a sophomore, was a starting catcher for the varsity team his junior year, and was the only catcher as a senior.  He made life-long friends with fellow baseball players Johnny Concialdi, Dick Jones, Porkey Hutson and Richard Beard, all in our class.  Tod went on to be scouted for a professional baseball team and would have made a great catcher had he not injured his elbow.

Besides being a good athlete, Tod loved to play golf.  Dick Jones remembered a time when Tod, just 15 ½, “borrowed” his sister’s car and drove them to the Rio Hondo Golf Course in Downey to participate in a Junior Golf Tournament. 

After graduation, as an 18-year-old, Tod went to work for the Santa Fe Railroad and started out as a mailboy. He soon became the youngest employee to promote time and time again because of his hard work and diligence to succeed.  He ended a very successful 37-year career in sales management with Norfolk Southern Railway.  Along the way, he attended college and served in the Army Reserves. 

In the late- to mid-sixties, Tod married Vicki Winge and they had two children, Shelly and Ryan, and lived in Cerritos.  After several years, they divorced and Tod became a full-time dad.  Through his friendship with Sherry Leake Varga, he met her sister, Jan, they fell in love and were married December 13, 1975.  With Jan’s daughter, Josan, and Tod’s Shelly and Ryan, they became a loving blended family of five.  They lived in a few homes in Cerritos, built one, and then moved to Brea and lived for 23 years in the Los Coyotes Country Club area. 

Tod was a member of our Reunion Committees for most of our early-on reunions and was instrumental in making the arrangements to have several reunions at Marriott Hotels.  Unfortunately, our 50th Reunion was the last one he attended, which was not long after Tod began a 10-plus-year battle with heart disease.  He wasn’t going to come to the reunion, but Richard Beard went to see him almost every day to encourage him to get better so he could come, which he did!

Before heart disease took its toll on Tod, with more than 600,000 frequent flier miles accrued, Tod and Jan loved to travel, cruise and enjoy life.  They moved to Palm Desert, with a view of a golf course, and made their home there for the past eight years.  Sadly, because of his illness, Tod gave up his loved game of golf. 

The last year and a half, he was in and out of the hospital in Palm Desert, had a fall in the shower and spent 17 days in ICU, and was growing very weak day after day.  It became necessary for Jan and him to move back to the Orange County area.  Tod was moved to a health-care facility in Mission Viejo for a couple of months in the hope that he could come home to their new home in Laguna Woods.  He spent some time in Mission Hospital, where one of the nurses said he had a sweet heart and was her favorite patient.  Tod returned to the health-care facility and then was able to come home on July 1, with Hospice care, but sadly he passed away on July 2, 2022.

Jan said of their 47 years of marriage, through struggles and successes with the kids and life, with respect, kindness, and love, no matter what was going on, they were always good together. Tod will be dearly missed by his loving wife, Jan, children Shelly, Ryan, and Josan, and grandchildren, Ashley and Lexi, along with many dear friends through his 77 years.  Rest in peace dear classmate. 

An informal inurnment service will be held the Friday of our 60th Reunion.  If you would like to attend and pay your resects to Tod’s family, you are invited to attend.

Friday, September 23, 2022
10:00 AM
Ascension Cemetery
24754 Trabuco Road
 Lake Forest, California

Please let us know you will be attending when you place a message on Tod's page.

 

 



 
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07/31/22 07:40 AM #3    

Fred Brewer

So sorry to hear of Tods passing. Condolences to his family. Tod and I had the special relationship in baseball as catcher and pitcher in high school. A pitcher is only as good as the catcher, and I was lucky to have Tod as my catcher. We had a great time together, and I remember him fondly. He made the world a better place. RIP. Fred.


07/31/22 08:37 AM #4    

Cecile Lucki (Lincoln)

My deepest condolences to Todd's family.  With fond memories during our South Gate years together.

Rest In Peace 

Cecile 


07/31/22 08:55 AM #5    

Wendell Jackson

I spent a week working in the ball shed with Tod in 5th grade - I can't think of a time when I have laughed more. Another remarkable person has moved on. Rest in Peace, old friend. 


07/31/22 02:08 PM #6    

Sue King (Ross)

It broke my heart to hear of Tod's passing. He and Richard Beard were good friends. Tod called me quite a few times to ee how Jerry was doing and Amy. He would always ask if Amy remembered him. She did. They waterskied together at the river,. and rode the waverunner together.  I met Tod in 9th grade. Sometimes we would sit together at lunch and talk. He was always full of jokes. He did have a sensitive side. I'm sure he and Richard and Jerry are quite a team up there in Heaven.  God bless his family and give them peace.  Sue Ross


07/31/22 02:27 PM #7    

Suzanne Fuller (Boyer)

I will not be able to attend the service in September.  Todd will be missed.  Suzanne Fuller Boyer


07/31/22 03:44 PM #8    

Charles Klumpp

So sad to hear about our classmate and my friend Tod. Words cannot express my deep and sincere sympathy for Jan and the family. 

Thank you for the invite so I can pay my respects and say goodbye to my friend Tod. I will attend the September 23rd service at Ascension Cemetery in Lake Forest. 

Charles Klumpp


07/31/22 07:12 PM #9    

Barbara Weaver (Rossman)

I really didn't get to know Tod at school. That's okay, he had a great life and was a good man in so many ways. My sincere condolunces to his family and close friends.  Barbara Rossman Scheffer  (Barbara Weaver)


07/31/22 08:01 PM #10    

Hilaire Dufresne

I remember Tod well from Bryson through SGHS, especially his ability and willingness to be a friend to everyone. The "In Memory" for him says well the person, friend, and father that he was in life. My sincere condolences to his family and closest friends whom I know are deeply saddened by his passing.


08/01/22 08:41 AM #11    

Janey Vardon (Bouffard)

So sad to hear of Tod's passing.  Remember him from junior high days when we would chat now and then.  Blessings to his family


08/01/22 10:49 AM #12    

Bonnie Benson (Concialdi)

So very sad to hear of Tod's passing.  He was one-in-a-million and dearly loved by so many, including Vince, my brother-in-love, Johnny, and me!  Tod and I went to school together since Bryson and remained friends throughout our adult years, including times when our kids were small and during many of our reunion committee meetings.  When I think of Tod, I remember him as always being a gentleman, polite, friendly, funny and kind!  When we heard Tod was back in Orange County and in Mission Viejo, Vince and I looked forward to visiting him and seeing him more often!  Sadly, he left us too fast, but sweet memories through the years remain.  God bless you, Tod, your life made a difference to so many!


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