OUR LAGUNA: A legacy for Laguna’s seniors

Councilwoman Elizabeth Pearson Elizabeth Pearson is too young to be a member of the Laguna Beach Seniors Inc., but that didn’t stop them from honoring her with the Legacy Award.

Pearson was presented with the award at the third annual Legacy Ball Saturday night at [seven degrees]. She was recognized for the years of wholehearted support she gave the seniors’ quest for a center to call their own. The bequest of her estate to the center wasn’t the reason for the award — it was the effort she put into making a reality out of the dreams of local seniors that won their hearts.

“We had to overlook her youth, but there would have been no center without her,” said Chris Quilter, president of the seniors.

Pearson retuned the compliment, praising the Quilters for their contributions to the center, which didn’t end with the $750,000 donation of Elizabeth Quilter’s four sons. The center is named the Susi Q in her honor. Daughter-in-law Ann Quilter co-chaired the capital campaign with Darcy Loveland-Bickel.

Pearson opened her heart in accepting the award, expressing gratitude to godfather Cody Engle, for making her feel she was special, and her grandmothers, models of character that molded Pearson.

“Nannie” lived in the city and “Grandma Pruitt” lived in the country — and Pearson benefited from their different life experiences.

“I lived with Nannie when I was in junior high school — and although she didn’t make a lot of money, she drove a big ol’ Bonneville, dressed to the nines and loved to dance,” Pearson said.

Nannie’s husband died young and she supported her three children, working in the Burlington Mills, a job she held for 45 years — even after the loss of her daughter from complications of childhood rheumatic fever and one of her sons, who committed suicide.

It was Nannie who taught Pearson to cook and sew and to do it right.

“She wasn’t easy on me,” Pearson said. “If my biscuit dough was too tough or my seams not straight enough, she’d make me whip up a new batch of dough or she’d rip out my seam and make me start over.

“It drove me crazy — because we all know, I don’t have a lot of patience.”

But God knows, she is persistent. It took more than 10 years to bring the senior center to fruition and she never gave up.

“It wouldn’t have happened without Elizabeth,” said Pauline Walpin, past Seniors’ president.

Grandma Pruitt taught Pearson to love music and how to laugh.

“She loved a good joke and all of her [seven] children and grandchildren are blessed with that same trait, I think,” Pearson said. “She always wore bright clothes and she didn’t care if they matched.”

Well that’s one trait she didn’t pass on to Pearson, an acknowledged fashion plate.

As for the love of music — Pearson has been known to break into song at private parties — there’s the legacy of family get-togethers on a porch, singing old Baptist hymns or Bluegrass. Grandma Pruitt was still kicking up her heels in her 80s. One of the last times Pearson spent with her grandmother, they went clogging — a dance similar to an Irish Jig — in a North Carolina Club.

The late Jenny Goodno, an early member of the Senior Group that worked with Pearson on plans for a local senior center, also loved to dance. Unfortunately, she had to go out of town to other centers to enjoy her passion, but she could hardly wait for Laguna’s center to become a reality. Sadly, she died before the Suzi Q was completed.

“Many of you have heard of the poem, ‘When I grow old, I will wear purple…’ Well, my grandmothers and Jenny always wore purple. And they danced. And they live life to the fullest.

“They inspired me — and continue to inspire me — to persevere, to wear purple and to love life. For what they gave me, I dedicate this award to them.”

True to her words, Pearson wore purple, a pocket-sized Venus in a one-shouldered, Grecian-style gown.

The Legacy Ball is always a fashion show: with Retro-style favored, but Michelle Boyd opted for a one-shoulder gown from Novacento.

Councilwoman Toni Iseman wore her mother’s chinchilla shrug and black Persian lamb purse. Her vintage necklace was a legacy from her 100-year-old cousin, Leanora.

School board member Betsy Jenkins’ 1930s white dress and jacket was picked by Angela Irish from the school district’s costume collection. Dr. Gary Jenkins looked relaxed in a copper and navy checked silk blue smoking jacket and brown fedora.

Friends of the Library President Martha Lydick topped her outfit with a vintage hat and a big smile — she had bet $14 on the long-shot Kentucky Derby winner and the Exacta and collected $2,700.

City Clerk Martha Anderson wore a 1930s-style sweater, labeled “Elizabeth.” How appropriate.

Anne Johnson was pretty in pink, a burnout velvet shawl to match the pink stone necklace and earring she snagged at the Woman’s Club Tarnished Treasures event.

Legacy Ball Chairwoman Terri Woodard Johnson’s long turquoise sheath owned its design to the fringed, embroidered table shawls that used to grace pianos.

Emily Quilter was drop-dead gorgeous in Kelly green satin — accessorized with jewelry she inherited from her Gr’ma Whiz.

Her dad, Charlie, wore a white dinner jacket and Uncle Chris was elegant in a traditional, double-breasted dinner suit, but no bow tie — thank you, Brad Pitt.

Bree Burgess Rosen dazzled in a purple feathered hat for her star turn as auctioneer for the event and auction donor of the Diva’s Dozen — a wine tasting for 12 at which she will officiate as a certified sommelier. The wine was valued at $144 — an evening with Bree, priceless. Laguna Nursery owner Ruben Flores was the high bidder.

Past President of the Seniors and event volunteer Skipper Lynn made the top bid for a year’s worth of gift certificates to the city’s best restaurants.

The live auction also included a one-week stay at a condominium in Kauai donated by Terry and Sharon Holt; a one-night stay at the Montage Resort & Spa and dinner at the Loft; and one night in a bungalow at the Resort at Pelican Hill and dinner at Mastro’s Ocean Club.

Two opportunity prizes were offered: a week in Kauai and a week in Palm Desert, donated by Francine Scinto.

The seniors put a new twist on the usual silent auction: with the tough economic climate, which accounted for fewer guests, they decided not to lean on Laguna’s merchant for donations. Instead, guests were invited to put in bids to fund special needs at the Susi Q.

“Tighten your belts ever so lightly and walk out of here with gratitude, not a trip to Hawaii,” Burgess Rosen said.

It wasn’t an easy sell, starting at $1,000 a bid, but pledges became more plentiful as bids came down, ending with $10 per person at tables for 10.

Bidders included Leon Rosen, Mayor Kelly Boyd, Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Rose Hancock, architect Morris Skenderian, Dayna Fleck, Mark Walpin and event committee member Lee Kucera.

Susi Q-pons also were introduced. The books contain coupons for restaurants, stores and services at a savings. All proceeds benefit senior services — “A reason to give where you live.”

On the guest list: former Mayor Kathleen Blackburn, Building Industries Assn. Executive Director Christine Thalman, Laguna Beach County Water district General Manager Renae Hinchey, Sally Rapuano, Vic Opincar, Dwayne Bickel, Dave Sanford and Steve Dortoratos, Stephany Skenderian, Joe Hanauer — solo because Jane was feeling poorly, and Frank Ricchiazzi and Borden Moller, home from a trip to the East Coast that included Easter with Ricchiazzi’s family and attending the National Log Cabin Convention in Washington, D.C.

Also: Lee Winocur Field, the Rev. Colin Henderson, Dr. Korey Jorgeson, Visitors Bureau President Karyn Philippsen, city Susi Q coordinator Patty Koss, and board member Carol Reynolds (the one who works for the Montage and never served on the Arts Commission).

“If I introduced all the dignitaries here, I would have to ask all of you to stand up,” Chris Quilter said.

No joke.

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; call (949) 380-4321 or e-mail coastlinepilot@latimes.com