In Memoriam

Judith Bond, 1941-2010

A longtime friend to SOHO, Judith Bond was part of an interesting early San Diego family, and her helpfulness to the preservation community involved her home, her work, and her church.

She lived in the Golden Hill home that has been in her family since it was new in 1905. Judith's family had a longtime connection with George Marston; her grandfather, William Hugh Strong, was the City's leading advertising man, working under the employ of Marston. Strong's house was the first designed by Emmor Brooke Weaver, right after assisting on the Marston House. We are very happy to have on loan to the Marston House several oil paintings by Maurice Braun and others that were purchased by Strong from the artists and have been owned by the family since then. Judith's home has been on several SOHO tours, going back to the early 1970s.

Judith's work as a historian for the Hotel del Coronado some years ago was crucial to SOHO's ability to prevent the disastrous attempt to paint the clear-redwood 19th century interiors of the Del in bright white to "freshen up" the original surfaces. She did her job with her usual care, but prevented her employers from making an expensive mistake they would surely soon regret. We admire Judith's position as a SOHO mole on this and other issues.

Judith was a longtime member of the Coronado Christian Science Church. She was always her church's connection and conscience about history. One of Irving Gill's greatest works, the church was made available for numerous tours and historian visits through Judith's efforts. When an interior remodeling effort several decades ago went too far and the original Gill-designed Reader's chairs were about to be tossed, Judith took them and stored them at a location for years at her expense, too humble to have them in her home. When the Church came back around to appreciating their history, as Judith knew they eventually would, she returned them for public use.

Judith Bond's passing brought a surprise bequest of $50,000 to further SOHO's advocacy work. This was a quietly planned surprise, as was her style, that nobody in SOHO had solicited or was expecting.

It was a pleasure to know this quiet and kind lady, and we celebrate her life and that part of it connected to historic preservation.

Note Judith left a legacy for historic preservation with her bequest of $50,000 to SOHO. Further, her family has put on long term loan works of art by Maurice Braun and other artists along with several items of furniture to be displayed for the public's enjoyment at the Marston House Museum. Considering her family's long time relationship with George Marston and Marston's Department Store it is a fitting tribute for these treasured family items.

Photo courtesy the family of Judith Bond.

Mary Wendorf-Warner, 1957-2011

Mary first became involved with SOHO in 1993 after moving into a 1912 California Craftsman Bungalow in University Heights, first by working as a docent at the Whaley House Museum and then serving on SOHO's Board of Directors for the past five years. Mary could be counted on to help out at SOHO events as well, working as a home tour docent or in other capacities at nearly all our events.

In addition to her work and volunteerism with SOHO, Mary served on the boards of the Uptown Planners, the University Heights Community Development Corporation, the University Heights Historical Society, the Neighborhood Historic Preservation Coalition, and the University Heights Community Planning Group. She was also instrumental in arranging the 120th birthday celebration of University Heights in 2008 and the 100th Anniversary of the Teachers Training Building in 2010. A dog-lover, Mary volunteered with the Humane Society and provided dog-walking services to her friends and neighbors.

Photo by Sandé Lollis

Dale Ballou May, 1956-2011

Dale Ballou May, writer, researcher and the driving force behind Legacy 106, Inc., a historic designation reports company, and long time member of SOHO and the Neighborhood Historic Preservation Coalition, passed away December 10 after a long and valiant battle with cancer. She will be missed by everyone whose life she touched, which were many. A memorial will be held in the spring. Dale was a passionate preservationist who was always eager to share her knowledge and resources to help others learn about the history of San Diego's neighborhoods and to further the protection and saving of one home at a time through the designation process. Her work with the Fort Guijarros Foundation was all encompassing and she devoted much of her time, expertise and organizational skills to the foundation.