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Ray Falk
Ray Falk was a World War II Navy veteran and retired San Pedro, California real estate broker whose legacy includes the vibrant [Cabrillo Beach Polar Bear Club]] in Southern California. He was also a lifetime member of the Catalina Channel Swimming Federation who helped out in various and numerous capacities and swims including at the First International Open Ocean Swim, a 41.09 km Catalina Channel crossing from Isthmus Beach of Santa Catalina Island to Cabrillo Beach on the Southern California mainland held on 20 August 1984. He was selected as the 1980 King of Cabrillo Beach by the Cabrillo Beach Polar Bear Club, together with his wife Ann Falk who was selected as the 1980 Queen of Cabrillo Beach.
Cabrillo Beach Polar Bear Club
In 1953, John Olguin and Jack Cheaney started the Cabrillo Beach Polar Bears. In 1983, Falk obtained permission for a room through the City Council Office, the Department of Recreation and Parks in the old Bathhouse/Museum in San Pedro. The Cabrillo Marine Museum abandoned the Bathhouse when they moved into their new facility on the inner beach. In 2005, Ray Falk and Kim M. White petitioned the City Council which declared the Cabrillo Beach Bathhouse as the official Home of the Cabrillo Beach Polar Bears.
Falk organized the Cabrillo Beach Polar Bears patterned somewhat after the Dolphin Club in San Francisco which was established in 1888. The Polar Bear Club has an administrative staff with a President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary and Board of Directors. The King and Queen are elected each year to represent the Club at any Community function or service. They are featured in the San Pedro Christmas Parade on the Polar Bear float which won the Sweepstakes award for best float one year. They, of course, lead the New Year's Day crowd into the water each year.
Kings and Queens of Cabrillo Beach
The list of Kings and Queens of Cabrillo Beach:
2012 • Domino Santro • Miriam Santro
2011 • Steve Skale • Marisa Solomon
2010 • Mitchell Reiter • Jeannie Matthews
2009 • Jack Simmons • Carla Esquivel
2008 • Bret E. Boyd • Annie Donohue
2007 • George Gabric • Regina Ryan
2006 • Paul Ryker • Lydia Jewell
2005 • Lou Mannick • Candice Gawne
2004 • Martin Donohue • Bea Smart
2003 • Courtland Cleaves • Ann Cleaves
2002 • Richard Havenick • Kim M. White
2001 • Ned Heaton • Rebecca Romero
2000 • Bruce Nash • Nancy Jean Utovac
1999 • Marc G. Mendelsohn • Evon Mendelsohn
1998 • George Pugsley • June Smith
1997 • Michael R. Daum • Susan Loftus
1996 • Dennis Trani • Annette McDonald
1995 • Patrick Donahugh • Lisa Kay Marshall
1994 • Clark Faulk, Jr. • Barbara A. Cottom
1993 • Alan Shilling • Melissa Shilling
1992 • Peter Mirich • Kathy Mirich
1991 • Tom Guinn • Esther Bond
1990 • Peter Goemans • Delora Bertsch
1989 • Ben Depentgny • Karen Depentgny
1988 • Anton Svilicich • Alice Turner
1987 • Jerry Naughton • Jerri Naughton
1986 • Hervey Yurak • Mary Croft
1985 • David Fox • Phylis Svilicich
1984 • Allan Johnson • Ursla Martozke
1983 • Tony Malley • Julie Melwig
1982 • John Burich • Sandy Burich
1981 • Bill Samaras • Irene Parkinson
1980 • Ray Falk • Ann Falk
1979 • Tom Schmitz • Jo Ann Schmitz
1978 • Forrest Taylor • Marie Eberhardt
1977 • Lionel Bushling • Julia Fontes
1976 • Albert Rea • Mary Bertsch Samaras
1975 • Jack Carr • Anita Dragovich
1974 • Victor Pappas • Margarethe Hamilton
1973 • Mike Lauro • Felisa Harrold
1972 • Gene Hayes • Mary Ranni
1971 • Kreso Grbac • Eva Grbac
1970 • Lee Carver • Tillie Karnes
1969 • David Jones • Margaret Tracy
1968 • John Reiman • Katherina Berger
1967 • John Durante • Bridget O'Gorman
1966 • Wayne Pickens • Helda Berg
1965 • Bob Browning • Odette Browning
1964 • Willi Hoefke • Dyna Bertolotti
1963 • Martin Vliet • Olga Vliet
1962 • Charles Fisher • Irene Person
1961 • Gregory Jilzov • Emily Copp
1960 • Bob Engdal • Maria Pleso
1959 • Marion Chuka • Trudie Logan
1958 • Norman Pulver • Josephine Gearin
1957 • Joe Anderson • Maria Wahlers
1956 • Oscar Gunderson • Maria Trutanich
1955 • John Truta • Florench Ferkich
1954 • Bob Heron • Margaret Koch
1953 • Raymond Pearson • Marguerite Gardiner
External links
- On Course - Eventually - To The Olympic Marathon Swim
- 1982 Windermere International Championships
- Cabrillo Beach Polar Bears
- The Kings And Queens Of Cabrillo Beach
- Sea Otter Resurgence Along The California Coast
- Catalina Channel Competitions Back In The Day
- America's Top 50 Open Water Swims
- World's Top 100 Open Water Swims
- Is It Flat? Winds In The Catalina Channel
- Photos of the King and Queen of Cabrillo Beach
- Cabrillo Beach Polar Bear Club
- Catalina Channel Swimming Federation website
