OUR LAGUNA: A man of culture, travel and contributions

The whole town celebrated the birthday of “Mr. Laguna.”

Oct. 1 was officially declared Harry Lawrence Day for the second time by the City Council, paying tribute to his many contributions to Laguna Beach. He was previously honored with a proclamation when Cheryl Kinsman was mayor.

This year, a public ceremony was held at Main Beach, organized by the Chamber of Commerce — doubly fitting. Lawrence was instrumental in acquiring the Window to the Sea for the city and is credited by many for the revitalization of the near-moribund chamber in the late 1940s.

“He has done a lot for the city and for the chamber,” said former chamber President Dave Sanford.

The chamber honored Lawrence as the businessman of the year in 2001, and subsequently named the annual award for him.

A representative of Congressman John Campbell’s office presented Lawrence with a flag that had flown over the capitol and students from Anneliese’s School’s Manzanita campus sang Happy Birthday to Lawrence in three languages. He was definitely teary-eyed when he knelt among the children.

One of the kids said it was also Main Beach’s birthday — maybe because of the huge sheet cake that was iced with a picture of the beach.

Later that day, long-time friends gathered at the Rockledge home Lawrence shares with his wife, Zahide.

The house is filled with Asian treasures Lawrence has collected during his long career in the import business. He owned Warren Imports on South Coast Highway for more than a half century.

“When we closed the store it was ranked among the top 10 in the importing of Chinese antiquities,” Lawrence said.

But it was the view from the Lawrence home that captured every eye. Built above a steep bluff, windows on one side of the living room and dining area overlook Moss Point. To the left, another window frames the southern vista, also viewed from a deck off the living room.

The property cascades down the bluff, with a swimming pool and a patio below.

“You get used to the view,” said Zahide’s son, Anil Adam. “But every once in a while you sit there and say this is possibly the most beautiful place in the world.”

Hard to believe Lawrence would ever leave such gorgeous surroundings — but he is one of the world’s great travelers.

“There is the Century Club and you have to have traveled to 100 of the world’s 210 countries to be a member,” Lawrence said. “I have been to 155 of them.”

And he usually took a group with him. Many of the guests at the evening reception have been Lawrence’s traveling companions.

Cherry and former News Post publisher Vern Spitaleri went with Lawrence to Asia, Turkey and twice to China.

“We been all over the place with him,” he said.

Joan and Lou Hanson also toured with Lawrence. But she had an earlier connection.

“Harry and I both went to Woodbury, at different times, of course,” she said. “But we both go back to the reunions.”

Sylvia and Gordon Traube toured with Lawrence, whose knowledge awes her.

“In Taiwan, a museum guide overheard Harry and asked if he could follow Harry around and learn from him,” Sylvia Traube said.

She met Lawrence first at the Bowers Museum where he was giving a lecture on cloisonné.

“I was a docent, and he called me Cynthia,” Traube said. “I looked it up and it means Goddess of the Night. He has never called me Sylvia.”

Many of the guests became acquainted with the Lawrences through his community activities.

Fifth District Supervisor Pat Bates’ representative Sergio Prince had presented Lawrence with a congratulatory proclamation when the city announced Harry Lawrence Day.

“It was interesting when I was putting it together — reading the information about him was mind boggling,” Prince said.

Bates could not attend the reception, but she did take Lawrence to lunch a couple of weeks before, Prince said.

“I got to know Harry through the Legacy Ball that raised money for the Senior Center,” Ann Quilter said.

Quilter is co-chairwoman of the capital campaign to raise funds for the Suzy Q center. The center’s name is the nom de plume of Quilter’s late mother-in-law, Elizabeth, whose sons, Charles, Matt, Patrick and Chris, kicked in $750,000. The Quilters also got to know Lawrence through the Patriots Day Parade. Lawrence was honored as Patriot of the Year in 1981 — a World War II veteran with 22 landings in the Pacific Theater. He served as Grand Marshal this year.

Lawrence helped to found the chamber’s Beautification Council in 1950 and is still a member. He also was involved in the relocation of the Laguna Playhouse and has been active since moving to Laguna in Rotary International.

Sadiq Tawfiq, owner of the Khyber Pass, named for the famed mountain passage way in his homeland, met Lawrence through the chamber when The Sandies — St. John and Thornton — shared the management.

“We became friends,” Tawfiq said.

Lawrence asked Tawfiq, who was born in Afghanistan, to be his guide to the Khyber Pass. Tawfiq missed the afternoon birthday ceremony because Oct. 1 was the first of 10 days of celebration after fasting for the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

“I was at Mason Park where there were about 5,000 people,” Tawfiq said.

Not quite that many at the reception organized by the chamber, but the guest list included Councilwoman Elizabeth Pearson, chamber President Jeff Redeker and Executive Director Rose Hancock, government affairs consultant Pat Barry and past President Dennis Junka.

“I have known Harry since I came to Laguna in 1969,” Junka said, “I was a conservative who went to Chouinard School — now the California Institute of the Arts — so we got along fine.”

Also on the guest list: Marianna and Dr. Gabor Kovacs, Lawrence’s physician for 30 years; Nancy and singer Felix Ganio, who had the pleasure of performing at Lawrence’s 90th birthday; Gulgin and Memduh Veral, who met Zahide first about 45 years ago in a Turkish friend’s home; and Wendy Froshay.

The reception was catered by Orhan Arli.

OUR LAGUNA is a regular feature of the Laguna Beach Coastline Pilot. Contributions are welcomed. Write to Barbara Diamond, P.O. Box 248, Laguna Beach, 92652; hand-deliver to Suite 22 in the Lumberyard, 384 Forest Ave.; call (949) 494-4321, fax (949) 494-8979 or e-mail coastlinepilot@latimes.com