Taking his talents south

Friends and admirers of Bobby Fader gathered Wednesday to wish him well in his new job that will take him away from Laguna, but what they really wished was that he wasn’t going.

After 20 years of catering events at Tivoli Terrace and Tivoli Too, Fader has accepted a job at a hotel in San Diego. No one at the farewell party wanted to see him go.

“It think this is a major loss,” Councilman Kelly Boyd said.

Patrick Walker, who has worked under Fader’s direction on and off at the two Tivolis for seven years, will succeed him.

“Laguna won’t be the same without Bobby Fader,” said Councilwoman Elizabeth Pearson. “He has been part of our family.”

Pageant of the Masters Director Dee Dee Challis Davy said Fader is a charmer who will be missed.

“He represented Tivoli Terrace,” Challis Davy said. “I think every important event in my life was here, starting with graduation from high school.”

Representatives of the arts, the business community and the city attended the party. Laguna Beach Visitors & Conference Bureau Executive Director Judy Bijlani presented Fader with a Sue Thompson painting titled “Only the Best.”

The crowd was invited to sign the mat around the painting.

Bureau President Karyn Philippsen told a story about a young Bobby Fader, better told than written. But suffice it to say, Fader learned the hard way that golfers do not want china cups and linen napkins when they verbally request a tee time.

Arts Commissioner Pat Kollenda recalled another highlight of Fader’s career when he appeared in a Festival of Arts fashion show.

“I will never forget Bobby in a wedding gown,” Kollenda said.

Fader starts his new job next week.

“I am joining The Inn at the Park Hotel — a beautiful San Diego boutique hotel that was recently purchased by Shell Vacations — to help with their food and beverage operations,” Fader said. “I look forward to all my friends stopping by to say hi.”

There is hardly a charitable or nonprofit organization in town that he has not befriended.

He should have known from the day the Neptunes interviewed him that he’d be planning events for animal protective groups in town.

“I remember it being the strangest interview,” Fader said. “I had the pleasure of meeting June and Terry many times prior, but when I went to interview with them I ended up spending the entire time on the floor playing with their dogs.”

“Perhaps the best move I ever made was joining June and Terry Neptune at Tivoli Terrace in 1989,” Fader said.

“Had someone asked if I ever thought I would be an event and wedding planner, I would have said, ‘Are you kidding?’” said Fader. “It turns out it was my calling. I’m in love with the idea of love, which made doing weddings for a living a wonderful thing.”

Fader credited June Neptune for his own involvement in the community.

“Her desire to be active in the community and her support of so many charities has made me a better person,” Fader said. “It is because of her desire to support Laguna Beach that I was able to truly become part of Laguna Beach.

“With her backing, I became more and more involved with helping create events for many of the local charities and organizations.”

In addition to his duties at the Tivolis, Fader also was active in the visitors bureau. He served as the chairman of the bureau’s restaurant committee and helped to nurture the Laguna Beach a la Carte event.

“Bobby has been a tremendous asset to Tivoli Terrace, to the community and all the organizations he has helped over the years,” said Philippsen.

That would include a series of dinners at Tivoli Terrace with all proceeds donated to prevent the hijacking of the Laguna Art Museum, said Kathy Conway, former museum treasurer.

Fader was honored with the Exchange Club’s coveted Book of Golden Deeds award.

“My time in Laguna Beach with June Neptune and Tivoli Terrace has been wonderful, and I will always hold these times close to my heart,” Fader said.

Fader “found” Laguna Beach in 1980.

He was living in the San Fernando Valley, having recently migrated from Florida, and was commuting to South Coast Plaza to manage the Hungry Tiger.

One night, the staff came to Laguna for an evening of dancing and fun. Fader decided on the spot to pack his bags and move to Laguna.

But the Hungry Tiger transferred him to Houston. He stuck it out for two years before coming home to Laguna. He went to work for The Inn at the Park (not the same company as his new job) in Anaheim as assistant food and beverage director, a job he held for three years.

One evening, while out on the town, he accidentally broke the foot of a bartender at the old Gauguin’s restaurant in the Hotel San Marten, now a Holiday Inn.

Fader offered to cover the bartender’s shifts and ended up as the food and beverage manager at the hotel.

Old-timers might remember the comedy nights and seafood happy hours that Fader created, or perhaps one of the many great parties that were held throughout his five years there.

But it was at Tivoli Terrace on the Festival of Arts grounds where he made his mark in Laguna.

“We have cried with you and we have laughed with you and made your life a living hell as your landlord,” said Anita Mangels, festival board member. “Patrick, we know you have big shoes to fill, and we will take advantage of you as we did of Bobby.”

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