Bill Swank - Christmas in San Diego

IMAGES
of Modern America

CHRISTMAS IN
SAN DIEGO

CLASSIC QUOTE. Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus, wrote Francis Pharcellus Church in the New York Sun on September 21, 1897. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist...

ON THE FRONT COVER: Clockwise from top left:
Santa and the beach bunnies (Courtesy of Chuck Whitmarsh and Phil Prather), Mick Ward as Irish Santa (Authors collection), Balboa Parks 30-foot Christmas tree (Courtesy of Del Cerro Baptist Church), Beefcake Santa on the guitar (courtesy of Drum Macomber), and Santa in a lifeguard chair (Courtesy of Beach & Bay Press)

ON THE BACK COVER: From left to right:
Over-the-Line Santas at the beach (Courtesy of Robert J. Trombley), Santa extending a warm welcome (Authors collection), and the Balboa Park Christmas lights (Courtesy of the Balboa Park Conservancy and Richard Benton)

IMAGES
of Modern America

CHRISTMAS IN
SAN DIEGO

Bill Swank

Copyright 2015 by Bill Swank
ISBN 978-1-4671-3455-2
Ebook ISBN 9781439653913

Published by Arcadia Publishing
Charleston, South Carolina

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015951547

For all general information, please contact Arcadia Publishing:
Telephone 843-853-2070
Fax 843-853-0044
E-mail
For customer service and orders:
Toll-Free 1-888-313-2665

Visit us on the Internet at www.arcadiapublishing.com

This book is dedicated to those who bring joy to the worldlike the Sun Harbor Elf Chorus and its director, Kathleen Hansen (right).

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Because the sun smiles on the southwestern corner of the United States year-round, White Christmas is not a San Diego tradition. The first page of each chapter in this book features a specific year where the local temperature was 70 degrees on Christmas Day. For that, the author tenders his acknowledgment and appreciation to our meteorologists, climatologists, and weather record-keepers.

It took over a year to complete this project. During the research process, many people generously contributed their stories, ideas, and photographs. Without the help of others, this book would not have been possible. In a way, the tree was bare until the following elves helped decorate it.

Thanks are duein alphabetical orderto Mary Allely, Corrina Allison, Richard Amero, Suzanne Andersen, Walter Andersen, Wendy Barker, Larry Baumann, Doug Beckham, Pat and Mike Bessie, M.L. Bey, Ernie Bonn, Lori Boucher, Gabe Bradford, Curt Benedetto, Richard Benton, June Bernesser, Phil Brigandi, Adrienne Brown, David Bruce, Paul Burlingame, Scott Burner Burnworth, Fabiola Camacho, Sheila Chatterjee, Anne Clifford, the Cool San Diego Sights blog, Alana Coons, Linda Costello, Charlie and Margaret Coval, Rick Crawford, Glen Crooks, Jason Cruz, Pam Davis, Sharon Davis, Al Demoran, Mara Derakapet, Sara Dick, Sarah Dickey, Arthur B. Dodge, Ralph Drew, Paul Ecke III, Richard Eckfield, Encinitas Undercover, Andrea Feier, Deana Findlay, John Fry, Tom Fudge, Gina Garcia, Nina Garin, Wendy Gay, Ted Giannoulas, Lisa Comrie Gibson, Robert Gigl, Elizabeth Gillingham, Nick Golden, Ken Groom, Helen Halmay, Larry Halstead, Joe Hodnicki, Morgan Hurley, Jake Jaccard, Pat James, Alyssa Jones, Alex Jung, Bobby and Thais Jungblut, Ann Kerr, Don King, Rich Kirsch, Don Kojis, Annie Korn, Cynthia Kovalesky, Suzi Woodruff Lacey, Bill Lansville, Heather Laslo, Cassie Lee, Nicole LeBlanc, Terry Leeds, Janis Legzdins, Bob Lehman, Lee Lescano, David Lewis, Sand Lollis, Bruce Lowe, Drum Macomber, Petra Maes, Adam Martinez, John McCoy, Peti McHenry, Kevin McKay, Julia Meier, Michael Mishler, Eric Minella, Sam Modica, Jo Moreland, Derek Moses, Bob Moss, Michelle Mowad, Todd Mowbray, Patrick Mulroy, Sheila Mura, Gretchen Newsom, Mei Chan Ng, Shannon ODunn, Mary Oswell, Roger Pena, Marcelina Peraza, Debbie Petruzzelli, Phil Prather, Rita Gaffney Price, Miriam Raftery, Lauren Rasmussen, Kate Reeve, Roberta Rose, Ann Rosser, Peter Rowe, Jeff Ruetsche, Todd Salovey, Suzanne Sannwald, Elizabeth Schlappi, Randy Seaver, Rachael Shay, Julia Simms, Steve Sloan, Joyce and Mary Jane Smith, Margaret Smith, Snowman, The family of Bekki Stewart, Chris Stone, Jeri Lynne Swank, Raymond Swank, Pete Tapia, Kristin Tinderholt, Todd Tobias, Danielle Thomas, Susan Tran, Robert Trombley, Eileen Turk, Suzan and Tony Valdez, Charlie Velazquez, John Vigil, Kellie Vogt, Susan Walter, Victoria Ward, Tim Wayne, Ellenjoy Weber, Phillip L. Wenz, Tom and Kathie Wellington, Kathy Whelan, Chuck Whitmarsh, Leomia Wilson, Theresa Wulf, Nathan Young, Lucille Youngquist, and Barbara Zaragoza.

Special thanks are extended to my stepson, Tim Wayne. One day, while working on this book, the text disappeared in the blink of an eye. I sat in numb disbelief. A years work had vanished without a trace. Then Tim, a computer genius, found it. Thank you, Tim!

Unless otherwise noted, all photographs are from the authors collection. Sadly, some prominent celebrations and traditions are not included in this book, as they are either commercial, declined to share pictures, or simply did not respond to repeated attempts at contact.

INTRODUCTION

Swank is a tall, burly, white-bearded guy. You need more
description? OK, imagine Santa Claus younger brother.

Peter Rowe, San Diego Union-Tribune

The author is pictured here at various stages of his life: (from left to right) in 1950, 1962, 1978, and 2007showing his evolving resemblance to Santa Claus.

I didnt know Id end up looking like I do, but when you are a mature gentleman with a full white beard, rubicund cheeks, and an ample belly, Santa-for-hire entrepreneurs, photographers, and real bearded Santa organizations seek you out. I never saw myself as Santa Claus. Specifically, I couldnt imagine selling myself as a mall Santa or private party Santa. Santa is special, and Im one of those people who think Christmas is too commercialized. Wearing the red suit wasnt for me.

Until something magical happened.

One evening, while loading my plate at HomeTown Buffet, I felt something on my leg. I looked down and saw a little Mexican girl with both arms wrapped around my leg. She looked up and said, I love you, Santa.

My heart melted.

A woman standing nearby asked if that happened often. I told her that the older I got, the more it happened.

Within a year, my wife and I were at a neighbors party. Two women approached me to ask me a question. They represented the Community Christmas Center Committee in Balboa Park, and they needed a new Santa Claus.

When my kids were small, we regularly visited the life-sized Christmas story dioramas that the Community Christmas Center Committee maintains at the Organ Pavilion. This was a rare opportunity to become part of a traditional, noncommercial celebration of the Christmas season.

I have been their volunteer Santa since 2002.

The focus of this book is on unique San Diego Christmas traditions, celebrations, and the many wonderful San Diegans who enjoy sharing their Christmas cheer and spirit with others.