79-Year-Old Crossing Guard Gets Surprise From San Ramon Kids

SAN RAMON, CA — He doesn’t have a fancy job title, and the pay isn’t much, but John Lussing’s work as a crossing guard in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District is epic, according to the community.

Wednesday was “Walk to School Day,” where students joined kids from all over the world to celebrate the International Walk to School Week. Lussing, 79, was working the intersection at Montevideo and Broadmoor drives, watching over Montevideo Elementary School and California High School students — just like he does every school day.

His old boombox was groovin’ jazz faves, like it always does, adding a little pep in youngsters’ steps.

So after 18 years of safe crossings, on Wednesday morning the community surprised Lussing by giving him a bouquet of balloons and thank you notes signed by appreciative San Ramon students.
The balloons were 49ers colors — San Francisco is Lussing’s favorite football team — and the notes were sentimental, many written by the young Montevideo kids.

“John is a friendly face to so many in our neighborhood. He greets all who walk by with a big smile and [he] waves at every driver who passes,” said Laurie Fairbanks, who was at Wednesday’s surprise shout-out.

Lussing goes the extra mile to protect kids, but he also lends a hand at his crossing station, Fairbanks said. He's been spotted bringing in garbage cans on trash day, and he often volunteers at Montevideo events after hours. For many years, he’s even been a judge of pinewood derby cars for Cub Scout Pack 842.

Well done Mr. Lussing, well done ...