Paying tribute to a community visionary

People often discount -- or worse, ignore -- the importance of the

community visionary. This is true in society, in government, in every

area of life, including the individual family. Make no mistake, the

individual with ideas and the ability to execute ideas makes an

enormous difference on the lives touched by said change.

This preface is an introduction to yet another congratulations to

one of the men who has made this community one of the finest in the

world. He is Henry Segerstrom, businessman and arts patron. While it

may seem solicitous and politically incorrect to applaud this man of

great wealth and influence, these words follow the announcement in

the international media that Kathryn Gustafson has been selected to

design the Diana Princess of Wales memorial fountain in London’s Hyde

Park.

Gustafson was the architect hand-selected by Segerstrom to design

the Bridge of Gardens, which is the walkway connecting the two wings

of South Coast Plaza over Bristol Street in Costa Mesa. Segerstrom

could have hired a construction company to build a bridge over

Bristol Street. Instead, he conducted an international search for a

designer who would create a bridge of ascetic and practical elements

of equal import.

This is what community and business vision is all about. Men and

women who take the path less traveled, sometimes at personal expense,

do so because they represent showcasing humanity in forms that are

lasting and substantial, architecture being primary among these

categories.

Newport-Mesa can be proud that Segerstrom hired Gustafson to

create his bridge. Not just because the world architectural community

selected her for this very high profile assignment in England, but

because this one small element of life in our community is a

testament to the importance of individual vision shaping the region

with a keen eye on the quality of life. While architecture and design

may not be as important to humanity as issues relating to health,

education, employment and welfare, society as a whole has always been

elevated by the visual and architectural aspects of community life.

Because of the vision of Henry Segerstrom, and other men and women

who are often mentioned in this column with respect to their

community deeds, Orange County, and in particular the Newport-Mesa

community is poised to become the premier region in the nation.

If you think the developments of the last decade have been

dramatic, the change to come is tenfold in terms of the positive

effect on the residents of this region. And yes, whether you have

heard of Kathryn Gustafson or not, and whether you know anything

about Henry Segerstrom other than his connection with South Coast

Plaza, take a moment and give some thought to the significance of

positive leadership in our society. One man or woman can make a

difference. We are very fortunate to live in a community, a society,

where people care enough to express their individual vision.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.