READERS RESPOND -- Some names were left off DP 103

Regarding Daily Pilot’s 103 Most Influential People list of [Sept.

26]: You’re really missing the boat by not including, over the years,

Father David Anderson. He’s the rector at St. James Episcopal Church on

Via Lido Drive. He’s just been marvelous in building his congregation. He

now caps off a brand new church, which began in 1995 with phase one. On

Nov. 4, they’ll start up the brand new church with a congregation size

that’s about 50% bigger than what they had before.

He’s been magnificent in all his work -- enlarging the staff,

enlarging the congregation, outreach in countries around the world from

Mexico to India, from Japan to Bosnia. He’s also the president of the

American Anglican Council, the orthodox Christian movement for the church

in the United States. So, Father David C. Anderson is one you should

definitely have on your list.

JOHN J. GOBBELL

Newport Beach

Regarding DP 103: Two incredible people who have done so much for the

community were left off. One was Hans Prager from the Ritz, who you all

know has done so very much and has made so much money for charity --

literally millions -- through his restaurant. It would have been a nice

tribute to him to have him included considering the impact that he has on

our community.

The other one is Jack Croul, who, to save the old Cannery Restaurant,

spent an extraordinary amount of money just to save the restaurant. It

wasn’t even one of his favorite restaurants when living here, but he did

not want to see the restaurant depart from the local scene and has done

some extraordinary things to purchase it and to make sure that it’s going

to be refurbished and back in the local dining scene again. So, both of

those gentlemen have gone way, way beyond anything we could ever ask from

many people and certainly should deserve some kind of a tribute.

RON SALISBURY

Newport Beach

* EDITOR’S NOTE: Ron Salisbury is a partner in the operation of the

new Cannery Restaurant.

My comment is that No. 11, Dennis Rodman, is a bad boy. We keep our

little boat down in front of the restaurant down there -- have for years.

He should not even be here in front of all these other good people.

JOHN HAWLEY

Newport Beach

As for Dennis Rodman, all’s I got a say is ugh! I think that the young

staff of the Pilot is not clearly tuned to the wide-ranging Newport Beach

community.

For example, you neglected to recognize the leaders of the senior

citizen community of the city, which comprises 25% of the population.

Last year, you recognized the manager of Oasis Senior Center. This year,

you should have done the same or recognized the president of the

5,700-member Friends of Oasis Senior Center.

You may or may not know that the elderly have become a potential

powerful source in our city, probably more important than the developers

who used to rule our city. It was the elderly community that carried the

Greenlight Initiative to success. On Nov. 20, we will be marching again

in large numbers, to vote on the latest phase of the growth issue.

H. ROSS MILLER

Corona del Mar

* EDITOR’S NOTE: H. Ross Miller is the advocacy chairman of Friends of

Oasis Senior Center.

On the 103 most influential, I really think you missed Carl St.

Claire. He actually should be with the Untouchables. He leads and

conducts a world-class symphony orchestra. He has initiated educational

programs for our community, including the Classical Connections. Now he

has a summer camp program for schoolchildren. I think he’s been most

influential in the appreciation of good, good concert music.

I think he could replace Dennis Rodman. I can’t believe he’s on there.

I do really feel St. Claire would be an Untouchable.

MAUREEN McCUTCHAN

Newport Beach

I feel kind of insulted about that DP 103. All those people -- 102 of

them -- are very good people. You have judges and lawyers and a couple of

the people that stood on the county council or the city council. Just all

of those people are outstanding people who’ve worked wonders for the

community.

Except you had one that was No. 11 who I don’t think deserves even

being on your list. I mean, a couple of piercings and maybe a bolt

through his neck and he’d look just like Frankenstein. He’s No. 11 and

all the people behind him probably think that they were insulted, too,

that he would be put in front of them. Christopher Cox is our

representative, and he was No. 29.

I just want you to know that personally, I don’t even like that guy’s

name on your list there for some kind of an influential person. I can’t

wait to see him when he stands up on his court date on how obnoxious he’s

been here in Newport Beach.

JOHN GALLAGHER

Corona del Mar