Lugo: A Newport Beach hero

Gay Wassall-Kelly

In September 1939, the mercury hit higher than 100 degrees for an

eight-day heat wave. Come Sunday, Sept. 24, the temperature cooled

off and a storm carrying high winds, rain and riptides arrived,

destroying the Balboa and Newport piers.

John Lugo, 19, was on his way to go surfing at San Onofre, his

favorite spot. While driving down Coast Highway, he saw gigantic

waves so the lifeguard turned off and headed for the East Jetty,

Corona del Mar side. He met up with fellow surfer Ralph Dawson of

Santa Ana, who was checking things out. They decided to try a few of

the enormous waves when they heard a crowd yelling, “That boat has

gone over!”

The Jolly Tom, a 30-foot pleasure boat, had just come into the

harbor entrance when a huge wave hit her stern. The hit turned the

boat broadside into the waves, tipping her over in the middle of the

channel.

Without a second thought, Lugo and Dawson decided to see if they

could help the eight people thrown overboard. They swiftly paddled

out on their 11-foot longboards and began plucking the people out of

the water -- some with life jackets, others without. They put each

person on their boards, paddling over to the nearest boat.

It wasn’t long before other rescue boats arrived, but the boys had

rescued seven people. All except one lady who was injured and

drowned.

Lugo was born Oct. 18, 1919, in Harbor City, a suburb of San

Pedro, to Rosalie and John Lugo Sr. In 1920, the family moved to

Newport Beach, renting a house from the McMillan family. John Sr.

became a very successful plumber.Lugo’s sister, Juanita, was born

1921. Both children attended Newport Beach Grammar School until March

10, 1933, when the big earthquake hit, crushing the building. Lugo

graduated from Newport Harbor Union High School in 1937.

After high school, Lugo applied to become a lifeguard and got the

job that summer. The pay was $4 day, a nice salary during the

Depression. Lugo was a lifeguard from 1937 to 1939.

In August 1939, he went to work for Douglas Aircraft. In 1942,

Lugo enlisted in the Navy and flew transport planes. He continued his

education in Arizona. He got called back to active duty during the

Korean War, 1952-54.

Upon finishing pharmacy school in 1956, Lugo immediately went to

work for Upjohn Pharmaceuticals as a salesman, retiring in 1984 at

age 65. He never worked in a pharmacy, but is still a licensed

pharmacist in California and Arizona.

In 1993, Newport Beach threw a gala event at the Balboa Yacht Club

to honor Lugo and Dawson, who died in 1992.

Lugo is a humble man who doesn’t talk much about the rescue.

“It was all just by accident that we were there,” he said.

Lugo said that there is a film of the rescue -- long since

transferred to video -- that a man with an 8-millimeter movie camera

took that day. It is shown at the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum.

Today, John is retired and living in Scottsdale, Ariz. with his

wife, Jackie. Even at 83, he swims every day, skis, mountain climbs,

plays in the senior tennis circuit and enjoys his seven kids and 15

grandkids.

He said this interview has inspired him to start a book about his

life.

* GAY WASSALL-KELLY is the editor of the Balboa Beacon and a

frequent contributor to the Daily Pilot. Do you know of a person,

place or event that deserves a historical Look Back? Let us know.

Contact Jennifer Mahal by fax at (949) 646-4170 or mail her at c/o

Daily Pilot, 330 W. Bay St., Costa Mesa, CA 92627.