Louis Rose Society for the Preservation of Jewish History
Newsletter #8: Our Picnic Introduces Louis Rose Point to
Members and Friends
About 125 people attended the Louis Rose Society's
picnic Sunday, September 25, on a beautiful balmy San Diego afternoon at Louis
Rose Point. They enjoyed music of the 19th century performed by Colette
Thomas and Sanford Blaze, ate kosher hotdogs and hamburgers prepared
by Oscar and Olga Worm, heard brief speeches by dignitaries from civic
and Jewish organizations, and watched as their children enjoyed Balloon Utopia
balloon creations and face painting by Shahar and Sandi Masori. A
photo essay by Sam Zeiden of Oceanside, a Society member, follows, with
text and commentary by Louis Rose Society acting president, Donald H.
Harrison.
Louis Rose Point—Officially designated as Louis Rose Point in 2004, the
area is marked by two palm trees at the end of Womble Road in what will be
known at NTC Park. The site is in the former Naval Training Center
adjacent to the area under development by the Corky McMillin Companies as
"Liberty Station." The sign marking Louis Rose Point is along
the boat channel that feeds into San Diego Bay. Eventually Louis Rose
Point will be an important venue along a recreational path that will
permit pedestrians and bike riders to enjoy outings along the boat channel and
bay. The monument that our Society builds honoring Louis Rose will be a place to
stop or to meet along what may become one of San Diego's most popular park
properties. Picnic Area—Arlette Smith, a member of the Louis Rose
Society steering committee, put up a sign at the old NTC Child Development
Building to mark the area where the picnic was held in view of Louis Rose
Point. Behind Arlette, one can see Linda Bennett, inquiring society
columnist for the San Diego Jewish Journal, chatting with an early
arrival. The Old Town Trolley, seen in the background, provided a unique
stage for the event. This particular trolley is named "Louis
Rose" after the pioneer Jewish settler and entrepreneur.
Early Arrivals—Some of the Society members and friends who came early to stake out good spots for their picnic chairs included, in the foreground, left, Ron and Betsy Baranov, talking to Michael Bennett and Dana Greene, singles columnist for The San Diego Jewish Times and daughter of Louis Rose Society co-founder Norman Greene. Norman was supposed to have emceed the program at the picnic but the day before a tire blew on his bicycle while he was riding downhill near Mission Bay area and he landed on his elbow, shattering it in several places. He was operated on the evening of Saturday, Sept. 24, at Sharp Memorial Hospital and a second operation was planned Tuesday, Sept. 25. Many expressions of concern, sympathy and affection for Norman were expressed by picnic goers throughout the day. In the group of three behind Betsy Baranov are Society members Shirley and Lou Berger and Michael Zaks. Face Painting and Balloons—David Baron, an aide to San Diego's Deputy Mayor Toni Atkins, carries under his arm a proclamation declaring Sunday, Sept. 25, to have been Louis Rose Point day in San Diego. Behind him, a happy girl and boy show off their balloons and painted faces, provided for the youngsters by Shahar Masori (pictured) and Sandi Masori of Balloon Utopia.
Click
here to read the proclamation
Ticket seller—Society member Nancy Harrison readies the roll of
tickets for the $10 per adult, $5 per child kosher barbecue. The
generator of the motor home in rear, provided by Society member Dr. Paul
Thomas, powered the microphones and speakers for
the entertainment and program. At right, Society member Cantor Sheldon
Merrell, in foreground gives ticket to Arlette Smith. Peggy
Poliak can be seen immediately behind Arlette, and behind Cantor Merel is
Hui-Wen Harrison. Peggy and Hui-Wen, both Society
members, helped lay out the salads, fruit and other side dishes.
Schmoozing—At left, Jeanne Gold, widow of
Louis Rose Society honoree Rabbi Aaron Gold, catches up with
Noreen Schiff Shenhav and Amir Shenhav of Fallbrook, who like Jeanne
is a Louis Rose Society member. In the photo at right, Donald H.
Harrison, a co-founder of the Louis Rose Society, chats with Kevin
Faulconer, who serves on the San Diego City Parks and Recreation Board with Norman
Greene. Faulconer now is running for the 2nd District City Council
seat left vacant by the conviction of Michael Zucchet in San Diego's strip club
case. At left is
Faulconer's campaign volunteer John Rivera.
.
Singer and accompanist—Colette Thomas, singing from the open portion of
the "Louis Rose" is accompanied in singing songs of the 19th century
by keyboardist Sanford Blaze, who was set up in the area alongside the
trolley. Her repertoire included various songs of Stephen Foster's
supplemented by 19th and early 20th century favorites. At one point,
Colette and Sanford performed
"Bicycle Built for Two," the lyrics of which they modified to
make "Normie, Normie," instead of "Daisy, Daisy" in
salute to Society co-founder Norman Greene, who had been
hospitalized following a bicycle accident the day before.
Our ceremony—U.S. Rep. Bob Filner (D-San Diego) in picture at left
surprises Louis Rose Society Acting President Donald H. Harrison with an
announcement that he had named Harrison as his congressional citizen of the
month for September in recognition of the work Harrison had done in co-founding
the society and as the former editor and co-publisher with Norman Greene of the San
Diego Jewish Press-Heritage. At right, Ted Medina, director of
the San Diego City Parks and Recreation Department, congratulates the Louis Rose
Society on its campaign to raise funds for a monument to Louis Rose and pledges
the Park and Recreation Department's cooperation in maintaining the monument
once built. Civic figures in the crowd included County Tax Assessor Greg
Smith; former State Assemblyman Howard Wayne; Noelle Dorman
(a field representative to Congresswoman Susan Davis), and David
Watkins, chief executive officer of the San Diego Historical Society.
Giving Thanks—Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal, spiritual leader of Tifereth
Israel Synagogue, represented the San Diego Rabbinical Association in reciting
for the assemblage in a traditional Shehekiyanu prayer, which
thanks God for allowing us to experience special moments. At right, Michael
Rassler, executive vice president of the United Jewish Federation of San
Diego, thanked the City of San Diego for recognizing through its designation of
Louis Rose Point the historic and ongoing contributions Jews of San Diego have
made to the civic life of our region.
Money Shepherd—Charlene
Seidle, associate director of the Jewish Community
Foundation, which holds and accounts for the money of the Louis Rose
Society in keeping with governmental regulations for organizations eligible for
tax-deductible donations, said how pleased she is with the partnership.
Those desiring to make a tax-deductible contribution to the Jewish
Community Foundation/ Louis Rose Fund may send a check to the Foundation at 4950
Murphy Canyon Road, San Diego, CA 92123, or you may authorize a charge on your
credit card by calling the Foundation at (858) 279-2740. Bouquet of Roses—In
photo at right, June and Harry Goldenberg came in the costumes they wear
as docents at Old Town San Diego State Historic Park in their portrayal
respectively of pioneers Sarah Robinson and Louis Rose. To their right are
Gerry Rose and his father Harry Rose, visiting from Florida; a
modern-day Louis Rose of Solana Beach (in hat), and Louis Rose Society
President Donald H. Harrison.
Long-lost cousins? —The biography of Louis Rose with his best-known
surviving photograph is held by Donald H. Harrison next
to Harry Rose of Delray Beach, Florida, who bears a striking resemblance to the
pioneer. Although Harry does not know for certain he is related
to Louis Rose, besides the similarity in their looks, there are some other
clues. Both their families hail from Germany, and Harry's middle name is Simon,
which was the name of Louis Rose's brother, who remained in Germany after Louis
immigrated to the United States in 1840. It has been suggested that Harry
Rose—particularly when he smiles—may make a perfect model for any statue
that is constructed of Louis Rose.
A hearty thanks to Sam Zeiden for shooting these pictures.