La Playa History
The La Playa Unit of Rady Children's Hospital Auxiliary was formed in 1954. Most of the ladies, who became Charter Members, lived in the La Playa area and belonged to the same Garden Club. And so, it was a natural, they called themselves “The Green Thumb Unit.”
For many years we made decorative garden items and sold them along with donated flowers at the Children’s Hospital Fair. Later, we continued this theme by hosting garden tours of Point Loma homes. Then, some visionary members proposed the idea of Celebration of Champions, and so since 1994 we have provided this day of fun and inspiration for the Rady Children’s Hospital cancer patients and their families.
For many years we made decorative garden items and sold them along with donated flowers at the Children’s Hospital Fair. Later, we continued this theme by hosting garden tours of Point Loma homes. Then, some visionary members proposed the idea of Celebration of Champions, and so since 1994 we have provided this day of fun and inspiration for the Rady Children’s Hospital cancer patients and their families.
La Playa Charter Members
First Chairman-Mrs. Herbert Kunzel (Minerva)* Mrs. Ronald Abernethy (Neva)*
Mrs. Ashley Bown (Ruth)* Mrs. John Butler (Kirk)*
Mrs. Spencer Church (Florence)* Mrs. Samuel Durr (Margaret)*
Mrs. Harold Eales (Joyce)* Mrs. Robert Frazee (Jean)*
Mrs. Douglas Giddings (Mary)* Mrs. Thomas Hamilton (Lucille)*
Mrs. Neal Jenson (Carol)* Mrs. Gilbert Jones (Evelyn)*
Mrs. Robert Macon (Barbara)* Mrs. Robert Maw (Dolly)*
Mrs. Lee Monroe (Bobbie) Mrs. D. Barr O’Bryan (Denny)*
Mrs. Jerome Pendleton (Jane)* Mrs. Leon Scales (Kay)*
Mrs. Frederick Sherman (Fanny)* *Deceased
Mrs. Ashley Bown (Ruth)* Mrs. John Butler (Kirk)*
Mrs. Spencer Church (Florence)* Mrs. Samuel Durr (Margaret)*
Mrs. Harold Eales (Joyce)* Mrs. Robert Frazee (Jean)*
Mrs. Douglas Giddings (Mary)* Mrs. Thomas Hamilton (Lucille)*
Mrs. Neal Jenson (Carol)* Mrs. Gilbert Jones (Evelyn)*
Mrs. Robert Macon (Barbara)* Mrs. Robert Maw (Dolly)*
Mrs. Lee Monroe (Bobbie) Mrs. D. Barr O’Bryan (Denny)*
Mrs. Jerome Pendleton (Jane)* Mrs. Leon Scales (Kay)*
Mrs. Frederick Sherman (Fanny)* *Deceased
La Playa Past Chairmen
1954 Minerva Kunzel * 1954-1955 Ruth Bown *
1955-1956 Jane Pendleton * 1956-1957 Neva Curtis Abernathy *
1957-1958 Barbara Macon * 1958-1959 Lena Lichty
1959-1960 Naomi Hurlburt * 1960-1961 Virginia Grihalva *
1961-1962 Alyce McMenomy * 1962-1963 Laura Jane Young *
1963-1964 Gladys Grubaugh * 1964-1966 Nina Crawford
1966-1967 Cuppy White * 1967-1968 Sikes Casares *
1968-1969 Carol Carey Jenson * 1969-1971 D’Neane Wilkinson
1971-1972 Lois Phillips 1972-1973 Linda Barnes
1973-1974 Irene Ward 1974-1975 Joanne Stevenson *
1975-1976 Nancy Peckham 1976-1977 Marilyn Arfman *
1977-1978 Margie Ward * 1978-1979 Shirley McLennan
1979-1980 Gayle Gould 1980-1981 Carol Mehnert
1981-1982 Jody Kerr * 1982-1983 Marcia Piper
1983-1984 Chrissie Brannen 1984-1985 Nancy Peckham
1985-1986 Margaret Schwab * 1986-1987 DeeGee Farrell
1987-1989 Barbara Brown 1989-1991 Dianna Broady
1991-1992 Gayle Eales 1992-1993 Joy Lauderbach *
1993-1995 Bonnie Hage 1995-1996 Betsy Tecca
1996-1997 Chris Andrews 1997-1998 Bobbie Dion
1998-1999 Carol Sands 1999-2000 Pat Holmes
2000-2001 Lori Haynes 2001-2003 Joan Irvine
2003-2004 Nikki St. Germain* 2004-2005 Lauren Root
2005-2006 Lisa Vieira 2006-2008 Mari Fink
2008-2010 Marjo Dyer 2010-2011 Lauren Root
2011-2013 Linda Hervey 2013-2014 Marleen Shook
2014-2015 Jean Federici
*Deceased
1955-1956 Jane Pendleton * 1956-1957 Neva Curtis Abernathy *
1957-1958 Barbara Macon * 1958-1959 Lena Lichty
1959-1960 Naomi Hurlburt * 1960-1961 Virginia Grihalva *
1961-1962 Alyce McMenomy * 1962-1963 Laura Jane Young *
1963-1964 Gladys Grubaugh * 1964-1966 Nina Crawford
1966-1967 Cuppy White * 1967-1968 Sikes Casares *
1968-1969 Carol Carey Jenson * 1969-1971 D’Neane Wilkinson
1971-1972 Lois Phillips 1972-1973 Linda Barnes
1973-1974 Irene Ward 1974-1975 Joanne Stevenson *
1975-1976 Nancy Peckham 1976-1977 Marilyn Arfman *
1977-1978 Margie Ward * 1978-1979 Shirley McLennan
1979-1980 Gayle Gould 1980-1981 Carol Mehnert
1981-1982 Jody Kerr * 1982-1983 Marcia Piper
1983-1984 Chrissie Brannen 1984-1985 Nancy Peckham
1985-1986 Margaret Schwab * 1986-1987 DeeGee Farrell
1987-1989 Barbara Brown 1989-1991 Dianna Broady
1991-1992 Gayle Eales 1992-1993 Joy Lauderbach *
1993-1995 Bonnie Hage 1995-1996 Betsy Tecca
1996-1997 Chris Andrews 1997-1998 Bobbie Dion
1998-1999 Carol Sands 1999-2000 Pat Holmes
2000-2001 Lori Haynes 2001-2003 Joan Irvine
2003-2004 Nikki St. Germain* 2004-2005 Lauren Root
2005-2006 Lisa Vieira 2006-2008 Mari Fink
2008-2010 Marjo Dyer 2010-2011 Lauren Root
2011-2013 Linda Hervey 2013-2014 Marleen Shook
2014-2015 Jean Federici
*Deceased
Honorary Members of La Playa Unit
John Arietta John Cornwell
King Deutch Harold Eales*
Douglas Giddings* Kenneth Grubaugh*
R.D. Hazard* Robert Johnson*
Lisa Peckham George Schwab*
Kathleen Sellick Frederick C. Thompson*
*Deceased
King Deutch Harold Eales*
Douglas Giddings* Kenneth Grubaugh*
R.D. Hazard* Robert Johnson*
Lisa Peckham George Schwab*
Kathleen Sellick Frederick C. Thompson*
*Deceased
