The historic La Jolla home of famed oceanographer Walter Munk has sold for $6.25 million — considerably over the asking price.
The buyer was Timothy Scott, according to San Diego County assessor’s office records. He is the co-founder and chief executive of La Jolla biotech company Tega Therapeutics. He also is chairman of the board of Biocom California, a nonprofit life sciences trade group, and is a trustee of La Jolla Playhouse.
Reached by the La Jolla Light on Feb. 3, Scott declined to comment.
The sale will mean a big payout for UC San Diego, to which Munk decided to donate the house years before his death in 2019 at age 101.
The home, named Seiche after a standing wave oscillating in a body of water, was completed in 1954 by Munk — known as the “Einstein of the Oceans” for his research at UCSD’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography — and his second wife, Judith, who died in 2006.
Features of the home include ocean views and a direct trail to Black’s Beach. There also are six bedrooms across the main house and a guest house, a pool, an outdoor grass amphitheater, gardens and large windows.
Munk’s widow, Mary Coakley Munk, his third wife, was opposed to the home being sold. Earlier, she had — against the wishes of Munk’s daughters — pursued having the property declared historic, and in July, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Foes of the historic designation, including UCSD, argued that Munk had opposed it. His daughter Kendall wrote to the California Office of Historic Preservation in April that her father “knew that a historical designation could tie the hands of UC/SIO by limiting their options for re-envisioning Seiche, perhaps even forcing them to sell.”
She and her sister, Edie, also argued that renovations to the home had made it “not a historical structure.”
Coakley Munk said Munk originally didn’t want the home to be declared historic but later changed his mind and asked her to pursue the designation.
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Though some housing experts were skeptical that Seiche would sell for its asking price, listing agent Brett Dickinson said he suspected the home would go for a high price but wasn’t sure until he started seeing the positive reactions of people viewing the property. He said what really got people going was the direct trail to the beach — rare for many homes with ocean views.
“It is just an incredibly valuable location,” Dickinson said. “This is a unique property for all of Southern California.”
Dickinson said the property got 11 offers in the first week, with about half at the asking price or above. The sale took roughly a month to close.
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San Diego, California - December 02: The historic home of oceanographer Walter Munk. The back yard area at La Jolla Shores on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) (Alejandro Tamayo/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
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San Diego, California - December 02: The historic home of oceanographer Walter Munk. The back yard area at La Jolla Shores on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) (Alejandro Tamayo/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
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San Diego, California - December 02: The historic home of oceanographer Walter Munk. San Diego, California. (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) (Alejandro Tamayo/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
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San Diego, California - December 02: The historic home of oceanographer Walter Munk. Brett Dickinson, real estate agent at La Jolla Shores on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) (Alejandro Tamayo/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
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San Diego, California - December 02: The historic home of oceanographer Walter Munk. The kitchen area at La Jolla Shores on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) (Alejandro Tamayo/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
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San Diego, California - December 02: The historic home of oceanographer Walter Munk. Inside Walter Munk’s office space at La Jolla Shores on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) (Alejandro Tamayo/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
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San Diego, California - December 02: The historic home of oceanographer Walter Munk. A small room between Walter Munk’s office space and master bedroom at La Jolla Shores on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) (Alejandro Tamayo/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
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San Diego, California - December 02: The historic home of oceanographer Walter Munk. A plaque in the front of the house at La Jolla Shores on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) (Alejandro Tamayo/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
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San Diego, California - December 02: The historic home of oceanographer Walter Munk. The swimming pool area as you entre the property at La Jolla Shores on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) (Alejandro Tamayo/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
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San Diego, California - December 02: The historic home of oceanographer Walter Munk. The main entrance displays a figure of a woman and child at La Jolla Shores on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) (Alejandro Tamayo/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
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San Diego, California - December 02: The historic home of oceanographer Walter Munk. The backyard overlooking the ocean at La Jolla Shores on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) (Alejandro Tamayo/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
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San Diego, California - December 02: The historic home of oceanographer Walter Munk. The backyard overlooking the ocean at La Jolla Shores on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) (Alejandro Tamayo/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
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San Diego, California - December 02: The historic home of oceanographer Walter Munk. The back yard area at La Jolla Shores on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) (Alejandro Tamayo/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
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San Diego, California - December 02: The historic home of oceanographer Walter Munk. The back yard area at La Jolla Shores on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) (Alejandro Tamayo/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
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San Diego, California - December 02: The historic home of oceanographer Walter Munk. A plaque in the front of the house at La Jolla Shores on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) (Alejandro Tamayo/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
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San Diego, California - December 02: The historic home of oceanographer Walter Munk. A bathroom at La Jolla Shores on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) (Alejandro Tamayo/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
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San Diego, California - December 02: The historic home of oceanographer Walter Munk. Inside Walter Munk’s office space at La Jolla Shores on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) (Alejandro Tamayo/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
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San Diego, California - December 02: The historic home of oceanographer Walter Munk. The back yard area, with a private trail towards the beach at La Jolla Shores on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) (Alejandro Tamayo/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
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San Diego, California - December 02: The historic home of oceanographer Walter Munk. A small study area at La Jolla Shores on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) (Alejandro Tamayo/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
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San Diego, California - December 02: The historic home of oceanographer Walter Munk. The back yard area at La Jolla Shores on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) (Alejandro Tamayo/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
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San Diego, California - December 02: The historic home of oceanographer Walter Munk. The master bedroom view to the swimming pool at La Jolla Shores on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) (Alejandro Tamayo/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
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San Diego, California - December 02: The historic home of oceanographer Walter Munk. Inside the living room area looking towards the back yard at La Jolla Shores on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) (Alejandro Tamayo/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
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San Diego, California - December 02: The historic home of oceanographer Walter Munk. The kitchen area looking towards the living room at La Jolla Shores on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) (Alejandro Tamayo/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
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San Diego, California - December 02: The historic home of oceanographer Walter Munk. The master bathroom with access to the swimming pool at La Jolla Shores on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) (Alejandro Tamayo/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
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San Diego, California - December 02: The historic home of oceanographer Walter Munk. The stage with large metallic doors of the amphitheater at La Jolla Shores on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) (Alejandro Tamayo/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
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San Diego, California - December 02: The historic home of oceanographer Walter Munk. Inside the living room looking towards the master bedroom at La Jolla Shores on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) (Alejandro Tamayo/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
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San Diego, California - December 02: The historic home of oceanographer Walter Munk. A small study area at La Jolla Shores on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) (Alejandro Tamayo/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
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San Diego, California - December 02: The historic home of oceanographer Walter Munk. The master bedroom view to the shelves at La Jolla Shores on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) (Alejandro Tamayo/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
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San Diego, California - December 02: The historic home of oceanographer Walter Munk. A woman’s statue in the back yard at La Jolla Shores on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) (Alejandro Tamayo/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
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San Diego, California - December 02: The historic home of oceanographer Walter Munk. The swimming pool as you enter the property at La Jolla Shores on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) (Alejandro Tamayo/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
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San Diego, California - December 02: The historic home of oceanographer Walter Munk. The swimming pool area displays a figure of a woman and child at La Jolla Shores on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) (Alejandro Tamayo/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
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San Diego, California - December 02: The historic home of oceanographer Walter Munk. Inside the living room area looking towards the master bedroom at La Jolla Shores on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021 in San Diego, California. (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) (Alejandro Tamayo/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
UC San Diego said money from the sale will be distributed equally among the Cecil H. and Ida M. Green Foundation for Earth Sciences, the Kyoto/Munk Fund and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography to support the work of professor Octavio Aburto and research related to the marine habitat and biodiversity of the Gulf of California.
Owning a historic home has its benefits. Under California law, the buyer could apply for the Mills Act and pay around 50 percent lower property taxes. San Diego says the average tax savings under the Mills Act is 50 percent but can range from 25 percent to 75 percent.
— La Jolla Light staff contributed to this report. ◆
Phillip Molnar covers residential real estate, as well as other business issues for The San Diego Union-Tribune. He is an award-winning New Jersey, California and national reporter. Before coming to the Union-Tribune, he worked for the Monterey Herald, The Express-Times and New Jersey Herald. He lives in Chula Vista.
