November 17, 1999

Our famous neighbors

Pacifica, or what would become Pacifica, has had a fair number of residents who would later qualify for the position of Celebrity, First Class. It isn't often someone is simultaneously famous and living in Pacifica. But a number of people got their start here, polished their crafts here, used our facilities, made friends, sometimes spent all or parts of their growing up years in our neighborhood.

Keith Hernandez, the baseball player, once lived just down the street from my house in Linda Mar. He played in Little League here. Not being a big baseball fan, I can't quote his stats, but they're impressive.

I enjoy watching Kim Yonenaka do television reporting on Channel 2 weekday mornings. She's pert, she's professional, and she does her job very well. She also spent a good part of her formative years in Laguna Salada's Alternative Class, an institution that Pacifica has every right to be proud of. A group of parents, back in the early seventies, chose not to wring their hands in resignation, but to do something to make sure their children didn't suffer even if they happened to live within the boundaries of a low-wealth school district.

My four kids spent time in the Alternative, and so did a large number of other kids and their parents. Sean Ramsay was one. He's a very talented professional news photographer. He was in Tianenman Square at just the right time for the uprising, and in Moscow later, but again at just the right time. His photos distress some people, who would rather not know such scenes exist. I also would prefer they didn't exist, but I know they do, partly because Sean was there to record the scenes expertly.

Jack London was best known for his associations with the East Bay, and the Valley of the Moon, but he spent an important year in what became Pacific Manor, in 1883.

One of the big kids who grew up in Fairmont, (and delivered the Tribune there) was Kevin Gogan. At roughly 330 lbs, he's made a big name for himself in pro football.

During the early 1980's,. I was the MC at a celebration for the new Sanchez Library where Rob Schneider gave one of his earliest demonstrations in the art of the comedian. I can't say I was impressed, but then, I wasn't impressed with a grade school classmate in Santa Rosa. She was named Miss California 1949, and was fifth in the Miss America Pageant. What do I know? Then there was a man named Willie Goggin. Few know him today, but he was the first pro at Sharp Park Golf Course, and he managed to come in second during the U.S. Open in 1933, being beaten by another pro named Gene Sarazen. If you know golf, you know that name.

If you have children with talent, don't sell them short. You may have another Keith, or Kim, or Willie, or Kevin, or Rob, or Jack, a boy or girl with the talent and the drive to become known around the state or the world. If you're a teacher or a librarian, you may be the one to make the kind of difference Ina Coobrith made for Jack London. It can happen again.

It did before.

Check Paul Azevedo's website, http://www.thereactor.net/ If you remember other celebrities he's overlooked, his e mail address is Paul@thereactor.net.