Eric Treibatch and Julie Jeffries Exchange Vows Julie Jeffries and Eric Treibatch were married on April 29 on the Gulf Coast in the Florida panhandle, not far from Julie’s Mississippi birthplace. Attended by family and friends, the wedding took place on the beach at Southern Grace, a lovely beachfront home on Santa Rosa Beach. Son of Chuck Treibatch and Rony Treibatch, Eric grew up in Encino, California, and graduated from Montclair Prep School. He went to college at Cal State Northridge, where he attained a degree in business marketing while also playing college football. He is currently a partner in a commercial real estate business with his father. Julie is the daughter of Jim Jeffries of Louisiana and Bonnie Burke of Pacific Palisades. She also attended Cal State Northridge and obtained a degree in liberal arts and elementary education. She has worked for the Los Angeles Public School system for several years and recently began working in real estate with her mother at Heritage Realty in the Palisades. Currently, Eric and Julie live in Brentwood, but recently bought a home in West Los Angeles where they will reside after remodeling is complete. Rhames and Johnston Wed in Colorado Gretchen Colleen Rhames and Michael Richard Johnston were married on September 17 in Fort Collins, Colorado. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Richard Rhames of Pacific Palisades and the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Emil Alle, also of Pacific Palisades. The bridegroom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Wesley Johnston of Windham, Maine. The wedding took place at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Fort Collins. The Reverend Monsignor Paul Dotson, longtime friend of the bride’s family, officiated at the ceremony. The reception was held at the Fort Collins Country Club immediately following the ceremony. The bridal party included maids of honor Katie Rhames and Alle Rhames, sisters of the bride. Other bridesmaids were Mara Wiggins and Heather Hoff, sisters of the bridegroom, and Annie Brignon, friend of the bride. Brad Johnston, the bridegroom’s brother, served as the best man. Other groomsmen included Andrew Rhames, brother of the bride, Dennis and Patrick Johnston, brothers of the bridegroom, and Simon Lawler. The flower girls were Megan Alle (cousin of the bride), Lilah Johnston, and Hadley and Grace Wiggins (nieces of the bridegroom). Nephews Jake, Dillon and Jeremiah Johnston served as ring bearers. The bride attended Corpus Christi School, Marymount High School and Colorado State University. The bridegroom graduated from Pope John High School in New Jersey and the University of Connecticut with a degree in psychology and criminal justice. Following a honeymoon on Maui, the couple returned to Fort Collins, where the groom owns and operates a construction management firm with his brother, Brad, and the bride is employed in sales. Kaszubowski and Cheng Marry in Hawaii Martin P. Kaszubowski and Jean Cheng were married on April 29 at Doral Resort and Spa in Miami. The bridegroom is the son of Drs. Krystyna and Pawel Kaszubowski, longtime Palisadians. The bride is the daughter of Mrs. Tina and Mr. Ray Cheng of Coral Springs, Florida. The bride is a very talented musician and plays on various instruments. She graduated from Florida State University with a B.A. degree in music and political science. After graduation, she played violin in the Atlanta Orchestra. The bridegroom, a doctor in the Air Force, graduated from the Uniform Services University of the Health Sciences in Washington D.C., in 2004 and currently works as a staff physician at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson. He attended Corpus Christi School and Loyola High School and obtained his B.S. degree cum laude from UCLA in 2000. The groomsmen were Michael Kaszubowski, his older brother; Sergio Antoniuk, his best friend (also from Pacific Palisades); and the bride’s younger brother John. After enjoying a honeymoon trip to Hawaii, the young couple reside in their new home in Tucson. Just before the wedding, Martin served his first medical duty in Afghanistan.
Palisades Graduates
Palisadians Graduate from Oaks Christian High School For the past four years, a group of 12 local students have braved the commute from the Palisades over the monotonous PCH, through the winding canyon, down the 101 North sprint to Westlake Village to attend Oaks Christian High School. Many of these students went to Mommy and Me, pre-school, elementary, and middle school at Calvary Christian, which means they have been together for up to 14 years. They chose Oaks Christian for its similar emphasis on Christian principles, a Christian teaching staff, excellence in academics and sports. Their years together have bonded them like siblings. On June 8, they crossed another milestone in their life: high school graduation. (See graduating seniors in photo.) This fall, they will continue their education to colleges and universities such as Syracuse University, Bentley College, University of Colorado, Baylor University, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, University of San Diego, Pomona College, USC and Santa Barbara City College. Oaks Christian School was founded on a collaboration between Palisadians David and Dallas Price and Calvary Christian Church in Westlake Village. The Prices, generous benefactors to Calvary Christian School in the Palisades, were looking for a site to establish a high school environment that would offer a similar Christian experience for their grandchildren. That site turned out to be a property owned by the defense contractor Eaton Corporation in Westlake Village. The property was purchased in 1996 and the school celebrated its first graduating class in 2003. There are currently about 600 students enrolled in 6th through 12th grade. o o o JERRY McBREARTY, JR., son of Jerome and Kathy McBrearty, graduated from UC San Diego, with a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering on June 19. Jerry was chairman of the student council of Eleanor Roosevelt College this past year and was the student commencement speaker at the ceremony. He also has been a college ambassador for the admissions office and was the director of sponsorships for AS Programming for two years. He will be working as an aeronautical engineer for the Tactical Systems Division of the U.S. Navy on Coronado Island. Jerry is a 1998 graduate of Corpus Christi School and a 2002 graduate of Loyola High School. o o o ERICA LEE SHAH graduated from Azusa Pacific University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology on May 6. o o o CORINNE YARBROUGH (n’e Stauff) graduated from USC Medical School last month. She will be doing her residency at USC County General in internal medicine. Corinne graduated from Harvard-Westlake in 1997 and the University of Oregon in 2002. o o o KIRAN NARSINH received an M.D. in medicine, and JULIE S. CASSO and JOANNA L. McCRACKEN received bachelor’s degrees in communication, from Boston University in May. o o o Soaking wet and covered in a clear poncho with wind chill factor at 40, PERRY GREENSPAN, the daughter of Eric and Maxine Greenspan, received a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing from the School of Management at Boston University on May 14. Perry is pursuing a career in marketing new rock n’ roll bands and guiding their music to successful collaborations.
On Your Mark, Get Set, Go!
2006 PALISADES WILL-ROGERS RACE PREVIEW
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer
The Palisades-Will Rogers 5/10K Run will kick off a day of fun in the Palisades next Tuesday, kicking off Fourth of July festivities for the 29th straight year. The race has evolved into a proud local tradition and is expected to attract between 2,500 and 3,000 runners this year. Next Tuesday’s race begins at 8:15 a.m. at the intersection of Alma Real and Toyopa Drives and will again be sponsored by Coldwell Banker, William E. Simon and Sons, and the Santa Monica Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Group. None of last year’s winners hailed from the Palisades, a rare occurrence in a race that has traditionally been dominated by local runners who are familiar with the course, which winds through Huntington Palisades streets and up the switchback trails at Will Rogers State Park before ending where it started at the entrance to the Palisades Recreation Center. Kevin Koeper of Arcadia won the men’s 10K last year, finishing the 6.2-mile course in 31:54 while Lucy Fitzgerald of Santa Monica won the women’s 10K for the second time in three years, finishing in 39:33. Eric Emilsson of UCLA won the men’s 5K in 15:06 and Therese Fricke of Santa Monica won the women’s race in 18:39. Lu Parker of KTLA’s Prime Time News, will be the official race starter for the second straight year along with Palisades’ current and past Honorary Mayors, Robert Sedway of Coldwell Banker and Bill Simon of William E. Simon & Sons. Will Rogers park ranger Mikal Sandoval will sing the Star-Spangled Banner. Parker came to KTLA in January 2005 from KENS-TV in San Antonio, Texas, where she had hosted the station’s daily live entertainment morning show ‘Great Day SA.’ She was Miss USA 1994 and fourth runner-up in the Miss Universe Pageant. She has been a guest on ‘Larry King Live’ on CNN and E! Entertainment and authored the book “Catching the Crown: The Source of Pageant Competition.” The 10K course record of 29:46 was set by Russell Edmonds of New Zealand in 1983 and no one has come within 40 seconds since. Five-time winner Katie Dunsmuir set the women’s record of 35:09 that same year. The 5K record belongs to seven-time winner Peter Gilmore, who set the record for his hometown race three years ago by blazing the 3.1-miles in 14:10. The women’s 5K mark of 16:29 was established in 1995 by Anetta Leuvano. A half-mile Kids’ Fun Run will follow the 5/10K races at 9:15 a.m. Proceeds will go to the Palisades Optimist Club to benefit local youth activities. Pre-registration packets can be picked up at Benton’s Sports Shop (1038 Swarthmore) from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday and Monday. The entry fee for the 5/10K is $30 and the fee for the Kids’ Run is $20. Race-day registration will be conducted at the Pali Rec Center from 6:30 to 8 a.m. at a cost of $40 for the 5/10K and $25 for the Fun Run. Medals will be awarded to first-, second- and third-place finishers in 28 age divisions (14 male and 14 female) in the 5/10K races. Male and female 5/10K winners are invited to ride in the Fourth of July parade that afternoon. Visit the official race Web site at www.palisades10k.com for more information.
PaliHi Baseball Players Earn All-League Honors
Two Palisades High varsity baseball players earned All-City honors and many others were All-League selections after their efforts this spring. Making the All-City first team was Dolphins’ third baseman Andy Megee, who led the team with a .466 batting average, 11 doubles, three home runs, two triples and 28 RBIs). Making the All-City second team was pitcher Cole Cook, who compiled a 7-3 record with a 3.01 earned run average and 91 strikeouts in 60 innings. Four-year starter Matt Skolnik was named the Western League most valuable player after a stellar senior season. He batted .411 with 10 doubles, three triples, a homer, 29 RBIs and had a .982 fielding percentage while playing second base and short stop. Skolnik will play baseball at the University of Redlands next spring. Other All-Western League first-teamers included Megee, Cook, pitcher Mitchell Schwartz, catcher Tim Sunderland (.388 batting average, 24 RBIs), outfielders Bobby Hicks and Austin Jones and designated hitter/pitcher Johnny Bromberg, who batted .435 with six doubles and went 3-2 on the mound with two saves. Sunderland is headed for San Francisco State and Bobby Hicks is bound for UC Berkeley. Second-team All-League honors went to utility players Eric Verdun and Rob Rosenberg, outfielder Garrett Champion, infielder Adam Green and pitcher Seri Kattan-Wright.
Coaches Honored for LAUSD Service
Several Palisades High coaches and administrators were recognized for their contributions to the Los Angeles Unified School District during a reception June 8 at the Dodger Stadium Club. Recognized for 20-24 years of service were former baseball and football coach Russ Howard and current boys’ basketball and golf coach James Paleno. Recognized for 30 years of service or more were current Dolphins’ tennis coach Bud Kling and football coach Leo Castro. Swim coach Maggie Nance was also acknowledged for leading Palisades to the girls team title this spring.
Palisades Catches World Cup Fever
By MICHAEL KAPLAN Special to the Palisadian-Post Even though it is the most-watched sporting event on the planet, the World Cup does not carry the same weight in American culture as, say, the Super Bowl or the World Series. Many casual sports fans wonder how a game in which the combined score of the two teams rarely reaches four can be exciting. Soccer enthusiasts, however, appreciate a scoreless tie as much as a 5-4 shootout–especially when national pride is at stake. Although this year’s World Cup is being contested in Germany, it is attracting attention around the globe, even here, halfway across the world. Whether rooting for their favorite country or their native country, soccer fans are brought together every four years to witness “futbol’s finest” and the Palisades is no exception. At Mort’s, for example, people have gathered around the deli’s two corner televisions every morning and afternoon to watch their favorite countries play. Busboys and kitchen staff constantly steal glances at the games, giving celebratory high-fives for a goal or conciliatory groans for an-all-too frequent red card. ‘The World Cup is very popular here–people come and sit all day,” Mort’s owner Bobbie Farberow said. “They come to watch Brazil, they came to watch Mexico, they come to watch many different countries. We are definitely the most popular spot for watching the World Cup in the Palisades.’ Esperanza Caulderon, who works behind the counter at Mort’s, wore a red, white, and blue bandana to show her support for the United States during the group phase of the tournament, which ended last week. She recalled taking a momentary break from cutting turkey pastrami to celebrate America’s lone goal against Italy. ‘My employees are really into it, they are die hard,” said Mort’s manager Katie Kalvin, who works mostly morning shifts when, because of the time zone difference, the games are aired live. “They scream whenever there is a goal, they love it. Esperanza is definitely one of the crazies.” Despite Caulderon’s spirit, however, enthusiasm for the U.S. was equaled, sometimes even surpassed, by interest in other teams. The choice tables nearest the TVs, filled for Brazil and Argentina games, were empty at times during the United States’ must-win clash against Ghana last Thursday morning. “Americans just don’t seem to be as into it as the rest of the world,” Kalvin said after the United States’ 2-1 loss ended its hope of advancing to the knockout stage of the competition. ‘In America, soccer is a niche sport, a lot like lacrosse and what hockey is becoming,” Mort’s patron Barry Rohrlick said, echoing the sentiment of many fans across the country. “It’s never going to get the ratings that football and basketball get. Not until it becomes that popular can we field a juggernaut on the soccer field.’ Having reached the quarterfinals four years ago, the United States entered this year’s tournament as a contender for the first time–a sign that American soccer is gaining respect worldwide. And while the Americans did not play up to expectations this year, plenty of other teams are feeling love from the Palisades. ‘Brazil, Spain, Germany, Italy and Portugal are definitely the most popular–they attract the biggest gatherings,’ Mort’s employee Jose Aragon said last Thursday, his eyes glancing up at the screen in time to see an Italian player being red-carded. A man wore a jacket with ‘Italy’ printed across the front over his suit, hoping his team would beat the Czech Republic, which it did. That afternoon, fans clad in their Brazilian green and yellow flocked to the corner tables at Mort’s to watch their powerhouse squad dismantle Japan. The World Cup is about more than just players kicking a ball up and down the field. It is about fans of all ages and ethnicities rooting for their side, taking pride in their heritage and eagerly awaiting their chance to shout… “GOOOOAAAALLLL!.”
Fred Wright, 90; Douglas Engineer
Fred Asbery Wright, a 56-year resident of Pacific Palisades, died in his sleep on June 20. He was 90. Fred was born on May 10, 1916 to Dayton Charles and Ethel Bonney Wright on a rural farm in upstate New York, just north of Cooperstown. He was the youngest of three siblings. One of his earliest memories was of snuggling beneath buffalo ropes on winter sleigh rides to town. In 1924, the family moved west to Colfax in Eastern Washington. Throughout his life he would recall the 20-horse team-drawn combines harvesting wheat on the rolling Palouse region. The family moved further west a few years later to the shores of Apple Tree Point, near Kingston, they started a commercial chicken farm and the children learned their way around the salt waters of Puget Sound. When Fred was in high school, the family gravitated south to Oakland, California. He completed public school there, then earned an engineering degree from UC Berkeley in 1941, graduating with membership in Tau Beta Pi and Sigma Xi. After graduation, he moved to Santa Monica to work for Douglas Aircraft. He had a 30-year career as a hydraulics engineer and rocket scientist working on C-47, DC-4, DC-6, DC-7, DC-8, B-66 and X-3 aircraft, and assorted missiles. As chief design engineer on the Thor missile, he was responsible for over 100 successful launches in a row and more than 500 launches overall carrying weather and military satellites into orbit. During and after his time at Douglas, Fred consulted on a variety of projects, including the design of the landing gear for the first Learjet. Later he volunteered at the Museum of Flying at the site of the old Douglas plant in Santa Monica and enjoyed being in the pit crew of “Miss America” and “Dago Red” at the Reno Air Races. In 1945 Fred met Ann McCoy, a fellow Douglas engineer. They married on October 27, 1945. Three sons were born in the next seven years: William, John and Robert (Rusty). During this period the family moved from Long Beach to the San Fernando Valley and then settled in Pacific Palisades in 1950. Fred designed their new house on Arno Way overlooking the ocean, and this is the home he and his wife shared for the rest of their lives. As the boys grew, Fred, wearing his Stetson, would frequently lead trips to the Sierras and the desert. One memorable hike up Mt. Whitney ended short of the summit when heavy rains washed out their high-altitude camp. Fred was active with his sons’ Boy Scout troops and the Air Explorer Scouts. After retiring from Douglas, Fred became the handyman for his neighborhood. In 1987, appreciative friends regaled him as “the wizard of Arno Way” at a party in his honor. When one son settled in Washington state in the early 1970’s, Fred began spending summers there, helping build a cabin and barn. He became close friends with neighboring farm families and made regular visits to Deep River for more than 25 years. Fred also made frequent visits to son Bill in San Diego and son John in Alaska. On one memorable trip to Dillingham, Alaska, he shot a Boone & Crockett record caribou. On another trip, he spent three weeks commercial salmon fishing with John’s brother-in-law in southeast Alaska. Fred never slowed down until he suffered a stroke at 85, which limited his travels mostly to walks in his upper Bel-Air Bay Club neighborhood, where he and Ann strengthened their ties with longtime and recent residents. Fred was preceded in death by Ann in August 2005, just a few months short of their 60th wedding anniversary. He is survived by son William (wife Susie, daughter and son-in-law Amy and Tony Roach, great-granddaughter Madeline Roach, and son Morgan); son John (wife Kathleen, daughters Maia and Katrina, son Grant); and son Robert (Rusty) and partner Susan. A memorial service will be held at Fred’s home this Saturday, July 1 from 1-3 p.m. For more information, call his son John at 454-3370.
Dr. Lloyd Thee, 84; Resident since 1948
Respected doctor and great golfer Lloyd Herman Thee, Jr., M.D. passed away on Memorial Day from multiple health complications. He was 84. Lloyd was a devoted husband, family doctor, medical officer, best friend, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, sports enthusiast and everyone’s hero. Born on August 22, 1921 in Long Beach to loving parents Lloyd and Louis Thee, he had a fulfilling childhood and loved playing baseball in high school. During this time Lloyd was oblivious to the flirtations of a junior high school girl named Mary Kathryn Pollard, (a.k.a. “Polly”), who first spotted him at a bus stop on the way to school and never kept her eyes off of him. Lloyd and Polly began dating just before Lloyd went off to Missouri to get his B.S. from Central College Fayette in the Navy V-12 program. They kept in touch via love letters for one year, when finally Lloyd returned on summer vacation for five days, proposing on the first day. They married on June 31, 1944 at the United Methodist Church. Lloyd moved his family to Pennsylvania while he pursued his M.D. from Hahnemann University in Philadelphia. He and Polly had three children before graduation: Tom, Jim and Susie. Lloyd then graduated in 1948 and moved back to California. John, Nancy and Danny were born over the next few years in the Palisades. In 1949, Dr. Thee established his private practice in the Palisades until 1951, when he enlisted in the Navy and served as a medical officer until 1953. He returned and continued his private practice in the Palisades until 1988. Lloyd has a myriad of medical certifications, memberships and hospital affiliations, some of the highlights being Chief of Staff at Santa Monica Hospital in 1973-74; American Board of Family Physicians member in 1972, 1978 and 1984; an affiliate of St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica from 1949 to 1988; and a member of the American Medical Association. While living in the Palisades with Polly and their six children, Lloyd was not only a wonderful doctor but a proud family man. He was a Boy Scout troop leader and head coach for all the sports teams throughout his sons’ Little League years and high school. He also belonged to the Santa Monica Boys Club Board of Directors for 20 years. The family took many unique and memorable vacations, including a seven-month trip around the country to celebrate Lloyd and Polly’s 20th anniversary. Lloyd retired in March 1988 and moved to Laguna Niguel. He and Polly spent the latter part of these years traveling the world, to places like Africa, India, South America and Europe. Everyone remembers Lloyd for his respect, pride in his family and his medical practice. You could call him with any problem and he always knew the right answer. He was an honest gentleman, a great golfer and bridge player, and loved to eat chocolate. Lloyd is survived by his wife, Polly, six children: Tom in Canyon Country, Jim, in Montana, Susan Schlede (husband Terry) in Laguna Niguel, John in Camarillo, Nancy in Laguna Niguel, and Danny (wife Karen) in Oregon; nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Ruth Binder, 92
A longtime resident of Malibu and Pacific Palisades, Ruth Binder died of heart failure in early June in Yucca Valley, where she and her husband, Lowell, had lived for two years. She was 92. Ruth worked as an R.N. in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Stationed in the Aleutian Islands, she frequently flew to the South Pacific to pick up soldiers critically wounded in battle and operated on them in the air while the plane was en route to the hospital in San Francisco. She retired from service with a rank of commander. After World War II she continued her nursing career at, among other places, Santa Monica Hospital, where she was on the staff of surgeons along with fellow longtime Palisadian Roy Therriot, M.D. Ruth also acted as auxiliary to Lowell’s career as a successful real estate broker on Spring Street in Los Angeles. Ruth and Lowell moved to Malibu in 1948, where they lived until their home was burned in a fire in the early 1990s, after which they relocated to Marquez Place in the Palisades. Ruth was active in civil and social work, including the Pacific Palisades Woman’s Club and Federated Past Presidents Club, Les Marraines for the Blind Children’s Center and Pacific Palisades Republican Women. Besides Lowell, Ruth is survived by a daughter, a son and grandchildren.
Mort’s Deli for Sale?
Photo by Rich Schmitt, Staff Photographer
While there has been speculation in the Palisades village for weeks that a change in ownership of Mort’s Deli is “imminent,” owner Bobbie Farberow told the Palisadian-Post on Monday that she had “no comment.” Although she is not prepared to sign the lease recently offered to her by the landlord, Palisades Partners, she is said to be still trying to negotiate in good faith. (See Editorial, page 2). However, the Post has learned that at least two parties have been working for several months to acquire the popular eatery on the 1000 block of Swarthmore. Apparently former L.A. Mayor Richard Riordan, who owns The Pantry downtown and has an interest in Gladstone’s restaurant, is interested in acquiring the deli, as is a group of investors headed by longtime Palisadian Robert Klein, a vice president at St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica. While Klein, who is on vacation in Hawaii, did acknowledge that discussions have been under way “for some time,” he said that no agreement has yet been reached with either deli owner Farberow or Palisades Partners. Klein did say that a number of local investors are involved and that the plan is “to keep the name and enhance the menu.” However Klein noted that at this point “there are still a lot of unanswered questions,” including “when and if Farberow will retire.” He also said there is the larger question regarding the future of Palisades Partners, which represents several family trusts. It has been rumored that in the last year there has been growing acrimony among the three managing partners on the direction their business should take, fueling speculation that they are considering perhaps selling off all or part of their commercial interests in the village, which includes 18 of the 22 storefronts on Swarthmore, as well as half of the buildings in the 15200 block north of Sunset’including Pearl Dragon and the U.S. Bank. Klein noted in a phone conversation on Monday with the Palisadian-Post that whoever is going to invest in the restaurant “is going to be expecting a return. Residents like me who have lived here a long time want to keep Mort’s and the village like it is’with a small-town feel. One thing we know for sure is that we want Mort’s to always be here, as it has been for us and our children.” Palisadian Steve Soboroff, who said that his five children “grew up at Mort’s,” agrees. “What kind of a business model are the landlords thinking about here?” asked the developer who spoke with the Post on Tuesday. “No operator is going to accept a three-to-five year lease. At Cross Creek in Malibu we gave Marmalade restaurant a 15-year lease so they could recoup their cost of improvements and make some money. Without the right kind of lease the business will not work out for either the restaurant owner or the landlord. I hope Palisades Partners use their brains and not just think of their wallets when putting this opportunity together. Mort’s isn’t just any deli. It’s a Palisades institution. If they mess with that they could have a problem.”
