The minutes recall the years
Recently, I was sent the minutes of the Rancho Bernardo Hall of Fame January meeting. Reading the names of those who attended immediately brought to mind all of the many contributions they and so many others have made to our community.
When the Hall of Fame was first formed, the mantra at the community newspaper was that “an informed community can create its own destiny.” Rancho Bernardo was then a new town and its future was in its residents’ hands. What a great job everyone did and continues to do.
Congratulations to Ted Gaasch who has done an outstanding job of providing leadership as president of this prestigious group. He will be succeeded in April by George Cooke. Other officers elected last month include: Larry McIntyre, vice-president; Jane Radatz, secretary; and Jim Reading, treasurer.
One of the final events where Gaasch will preside as president will be March 25 at the recognition luncheon and the installation of the 2006 inductees as previously announced: Tom Richards, Dick Walker and Phyllis Comer.
In case you missed the announcement, Richards has held leadership posts for the RB Spirit of the Fourth, the local veterans’ organization (he’s also a recipient of the Navy Cross Award), the RB Rotary and the RB Historical Society; Dick Walker has been very active at the Swim & Tennis Club and on the RB Planning Board; and Phyllis Comer founded and provided leadership to Seniors Helping Our Kids as well as serving on the Executive Council at Casa de las Campanas.
At the recognition luncheon, the past will be remembered on video by those who have lived it. Larry McIntyre along with Myrna Reese and myself have been working on a video history project featuring Hall of Fame members. McIntyre is working on a master video, which will be given to the Rancho Bernardo Historical Society. Excerpts of the video will be shown at the recognition luncheon.
Other active Hall of Fame members who elected new officers and finalized the selection of new honorees included: P. J. Skill, Sheila Mahon, Charles Jacobs, Ed Brown, Al Totino, Jim Harmon, Abe Baum, Barbara Crouch and Ron Wilson.
The community will miss Myrna’s husband, Lou Reese, whose Honor Ceremony was held Feb. 8 at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. Having lost her “good and gentle” man after “33 years of 24/7,” Myrna says she is so appreciative of the support she has been receiving from her many friends.
Al Totino informed the Hall of Fame group that he and his wife, Mary, are moving to a retirement community near March Air Force Base.
Gone but never to be forgotten is Hall of Famer Woody Beard who has already moved to Kansas to be near his daughter. Before he left, he transferred his moniker of Music Man of Rancho Bernardo to fellow Hall of Famer Jack Mitchell.
Woody earned his title through his affiliation with the very popular Symphony on the Green programs that drew thousands of picnickers to the driving range between the Rancho Bernardo Inn and the Country Club of Rancho Bernardo. Jack Mitchell provides the musical ending to many of the community’s traditional gatherings including the annual Thanksgiving Luncheon sponsored by the Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation.
If you would like to share memories and/or honor the new inductees, you are welcome to attend the luncheon which will be held at the Radisson. Send a check for $20 per person to Myrna Reese at 11358 Turtleback Lane, San Diego, CA, 92127. She also requests that you indicate if you are attending to honor a particular honoree so that she may arrange the seating appropriately.
It should be a great event. Hope to see you there.