Letters to the editor: February 7, 2008

Saying Goodbye to a La Jolla Icon

We at the La Jolla Historical Society are deeply saddened at the passing of Bob Warwick, a true and beloved La Jolla icon. Few people have embodied La Jolla’s positive community spirit as much as Bob.

As a distinguished former member of our Board of Directors, Bob was instrumental in shaping what the La Jolla Historical Society is today. His appreciation for La Jolla’s heritage and character were evident in his years of dedication to both the Society and the wider community. As a small business owner, he helped make Warwick’s bookstore a model small town business and a cherished icon of cultural richness. As an engaged citizen of La Jolla, his passion for fairness and the greater good made him one of our community’s most likable and respected leaders.

To the Warwick family, the La Jolla Historical Society extends its heartfelt condolences… and a humble “Thank you” for sharing Bob with us these many years. We will cherish his memory and celebrate the enduring legacy he has left to the La Jolla community for many, many years to come.

John Bolthouse

Executive Director

La Jolla Historical Society

Disinformation on seals

Your 24 January edition published two letters containing disinformation regarding the Children’s Pool. In the first, Ms, Cartmill addressed issues regarding the Trust document which established the Children’s pool as a children’s swimming beach. Ms. Cartmill proposed to change the Trust to allow seals unfettered protected access to the beach.

However, any proposed use, which prevents free public access to the beach and adjoining waters for swimming, is prohibited. The City cannot unilaterally change the conditions of a trust. That is the crux of the Judge Pate’s decision, which was upheld twice by appellate courts.

Another letter in the same issue from Ms.Dorata Valli quoted a poll paid for by the Animal Protection and Rescue League (the Zogby Poll) which supposedly stated “91 percent of La Jollans wish to have the seals protected year round at the Children’s Pool”. The specific question in this poll referenced by Ms. Valli is: “Do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree that wild animals should be protected?”

Ninety-two (not 91) percent of people surveyed agreed with this statement. Note that La Jolla was not mentioned, residents of La Jolla were not mentioned, harbor seals were not mentioned, and the Children’s Pool was not mentioned. Ms. Valli’s statement clearly stretches credibility.

Your 31 January issue contains a letter from Ms Hillary Hulce questioning the location of “Seal Rock.” This question was resolved by Judge Pate. Seal Rock is the marine outcrop located approximately 100 yards east of the breakwater. Seal Rock is not under the Children’s Pool seawall.

The Children’s Pool is located in La Jolla but was built for the children of San Diego County. Continuing to cloud public opinion regarding the legal status of the Children’s Pool is a public disservice. Ceding the Children’s Pool to a group of 100 or so seals and a handful of activists effectively prevents the beach’s use by 700,000 children in San Diego County.

David W. Valentine

La Jolla

What happened to Dr. Dixon?

While visiting here, I read an article in which you mentioned Jonas Salk, and Dr. Seuss and other prominent people of La Jolla.

Dr. Frank J. Dixon, the founder and first Director of Scripps Clinic and Research Institute won many awards in science and was famous at the same time as they. We have wondered what he did after he retired from Scripps.

I know that Dr. Dixon retired as Director of Scripps in 1987, and I know that he is Director Emeritus there and also at the La Jolla Allergy , Asthma, and Immunology Institute, but I never heard anything after that.

Do you have additional information about him? Did he serve on other boards, make any scientific “discoveries” after 1987, switch his interests and abilities to any new fields ? Is he still living? Still productive? Does he have family there.? I would think this information would be interesting to your readers as well as to us.

It is a name from an interesting time in America’s past; the 1960s and the 1970s, when the hope for life as demonstrated in the early human organ transplants help offset the dismal results of the Vietnam War, and I have continued to be interested in the lives and work of the scientists and doctors involved at that time. If you have any information about him, I would appreciate hearing it.

Elizabeth Sanders

Baltimore, Md.