It didn’t take ex-Palisades High baseball player and Palisadian-Post Cup Award winner Jon Leicester long to earn his first major league victory. The Chicago Cubs’ 6-2, 220-pound right-hander pitched three scoreless innings to earn the 6-5 win over the Angels Sunday in his second appearance since being promoted from Triple-A Iowa on June 6. Leicester, who graduated from PaliHi in 1997, allowed one hit and struck out two batters on Sunday, improving his earned run average to 2.25. Cheering their support in the stands at Anaheim Stadium were former friends and classmates Justin Wallis, Colin Specht, Ben Rothbard, Gina Murdock, Indra Chavy, Lisa Cudrow and Jen Kim, all of whom donned a t-shirt with letters of his last name painted on the front. Sitting in a row, they spelled L-E-I-C-E-S-T-E-R. ‘Jon was only my second four-year player and he batted clean-up on a team that hit 60 homers that season,’ recalls former Dolphins head coach Russ Howard, who now works in the dean’s office. ‘He played short stop, first base, he pitched and he was our best hitter. We won our conference and beat Birmingham in the first round of the City playoffs that year. He’s worked so hard since the Cubs drafted him [in 2000] and it’s great to see him where he is now.’ In his major league debut last Wednesday, Leicester struck out the first two batters he faced before allowing a home run to Jim Edmonds in a 12-4 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Runners of All Ages Sought for Will Rogers Events July 4
Registration is underway for the 27th annual Palisades-Will Rogers 5/10K Fourth of July race and the Kids’ Fun Run. Anyone wanting to participate can pre-register online at www.palisades10k.com by Friday, June 25 in person at either of the two Coldwell Banker offices on Sunset. The entry fee is $25 for the 5/10K runs or $10 for the half-mile Fun Run. Race day registration will be from 6:30 to 8 a.m. at $30 for the 5/10K and $15 for the Fun Run. Both the 5K and 10K races start at 8:15 a.m. at the entrance to the Palisades Recreation Center, 851 Alma Real Drive. The Fun Run will begin at 9:15 a.m. Race proceeds will go to the Optimist Club of Pacific Palisades to support their youth activities. Contact: Race coordinator Brian Shea at 578-8877.
Geoff Schwartz Overcame Odds To Become A Three-Sport Star
Sooner or later, Geoff Schwartz knew the day would come when he would have to decide what sport he wanted to play in college. Or, to put it more accurately, what sport he would play. Whether it’s on the court, on the diamond or on the gridiron, Schwartz loves to be in the midst of the action. That love, coupled with a drive to succeed, has won the 6-7, 330-pound senior the respect of his teammates and earned him this year’s Post Cup Award as the outstanding senior athlete at Palisades High. ‘It’s not easy for someone to be that good at one sport, let alone three,’ says PaliHi assistant football coach and head baseball coach Kelly Loftus. ‘But Geoff is one of those kids who works hard and he’s proving that it is possible to excel in more than one game.’ Schwartz played offensive and defensive line and was the long snapper on Pali’s varsity football team, played center on the varsity basketball team and was the ace pitcher of the Dolphins’ varsity baseball team. Though each sport required him to learn a unique set of skills, Schwartz says he is a more well-rounded athlete as a result. ‘Playing three sports can be done. I’m not going to say it’s easy. You have to work really hard, but I wouldn’t trade what I did for anything.’ A fierce pass rusher and steady pass blocker, Schwartz was one of the captains of the football team last fall and was on the field for almost every play. He rotated from left to right tackle and left to right guard on offense and nose guard, defensive end and defensive tackle on defense. The game that stands out foremost in his mind is beating league rival Westchester near the end of his junior year. ‘That was huge because it had been like 10 years since we had beaten them,’ Schwartz says. ‘We were so fired up for that game and I remember splashing coach with gatorade at the end. I was exhausted but elated at the same time. That is the best I’ve ever felt on the field.’ Though he chose to play football at the University of Oregon next fall, Schwartz caught the eye of dozens of major league baseball scouts with his effectiveness on the mound this season. The burly right-hander was the workhorse of the Dolphins’ pitching staff and led the team with 51 strikeouts in 57 innings while posting a 1.23 earned run average. His fondest baseball memory, though, is one from his junior year. ‘Without a doubt, going to Dodger Stadium was a big thrill,’ Schwartz recalls. ‘But I’d have to say the game before that was more awesome for me because I was a big part of that one. The whole dog pile at the end was cool.’ Schwartz held Gardena scoreless in the middle innings of last year’s City semifinal game, allowing the Dolphins to stage a late-innings rally that propelled Pali into the Invitational finals. But because he had pitched the game before, Schwartz never got a chance to play in his team’s blowout victory over Granada Hills four days later. ‘I was a little disappointed, but I’m just glad we won and I know I contributed.’ When football season ended, Schwartz turned his attention to the low post, working on his jump shot as the starting center for the basketball team, an activity he had to give up his senior year in order to focus on baseball. ‘Basketball helps me a lot in terms of conditioning, stamina and footwork,’ Schwartz says. ‘You have to be able to jump, so it’s good for building strength in the legs and that helps my pitching, too.’ One of the top five offensive line recruits in California and amongst the top 35 in the nation, Schwartz considered several schools but settled on Oregon because of the college environment and the coach’s sustained interest in him. ‘I really want to play in the NFL and I think a good Pac-10 school like Oregon can get me there,’ Schwartz says. ‘The whole coaching staff has been very supportive and I like the family environment up there. I’m really looking forward to getting up there and hopefully getting a chance to play.’ Oregon doesn’t have a baseball team, but that won’t stop Schwartz from playing. He has already signed up to play for the Aloha Knights, a college travel team based in Portland. Knowing Schwartz, he may even find time for pick-up hoops with guys from his dorm. After all, when it’s time to play, Pali’s three-sport star is ready.
Swimmer Cara Davidoff Reached Every Goal in And out of the Pool
Rarely is there a time when Cara Davidoff isn’t smiling. Whether waiting in a long line to pick up her cap and gown, patiently signing a friend’s yearbook, or standing on a platform ready to dive into the pool, she always looks like she is having fun. Probably because she is. Enjoying herself no matter what the situation has been the secret to Davidoff’s success as a swimmer and in the classroom over the last four years. Her calmness under pressure and winning attitude won her many races in her career as a Dolphin and also earned her this year’s Post Cup Award as outstanding senior athlete at Palisades High. Though soft-spoken and team-oriented, in between the lanes Davidoff is a fierce competitor who doesn’t like to lose. And because of her God-given talent and determination to be the best she can be, she never has to settle for second place. ‘Cara is as close to a sure thing as there is,’ says Adam Blakis, her longtime coach at the Palisades-Malibu YMCA and assistant swim coach at PaliHi. ‘You can always count on her to win and that pumps the rest of the team up. She’s always encouraging everyone else’she’s a great cheerleader. But she also leads by example.’ In Davidoff’s first three seasons on varsity, the PaliHi girls won three consecutive City team championships and she was the rudder of the team’s ship. She won the 50 freestyle each year and won the 100 free as a freshman and again as a junior. A testament to her unselfishness was her willingness to swim two new events her senior year to give her team a better chance of winning. ‘It was actually fun to swim two new events. There are different things I like about each,’ says Davidoff, who won the 200 free and 100 butterfly at last month’s City finals, leading her team to a second-place finish. ‘At first I hated the 200 Free and 100 fly but I’ve grown to like them more. It’s hard learning new strokes but it’s also a challenge.’ As a junior, Davidoff posted All-American times in the 50 free (24.10) and 100 free (52.31) events. She also anchored the Dolphins’ 200 free relay team that set the City record in 1:45.29. Despite swimming new events, Davidoff dominated just as much this year, swimming the 100 fly in 58.71’just 44 hundreths of a second off the Section mark. And again, she anchored two winning relays. ‘Even though we didn’t win City, I enjoyed this year as much as any of the others,’ she says. ‘This team was so unified. Everyone got along so well and we all stuck together.’ Though she often beats her competitors by a lap, it would be a mistake to assume swimming has always come easy for Davidoff. In fact, she had to overcome adversity at an early age. ‘I had this joint disease when I was younger and my parents would tell me to take it easy, not to push it,’ Davidoff recalls. ‘But eventually, it went away and I kept going.’ Though she enjoyed ballet, dance and soccer as a child, she took a liking to swimming from the moment she took up the sport at the age of 7. She credits Blakis with helping to improve her technique and increase her level of concentration: ‘Adam has definitely made a huge difference. I get along with him really well, he’s a good teacher and he’s a good motivator. He makes me want to swim more.’ Davidoff’s success is a by-product of her painstaking attention to detail coupled with hours upon hours of practice. In the summer she often gets to the gym by 7 o’clock in the morning to work out. Her daily regimen is just what she needs to reach her next goal: the Olympic trials in four years. But before that is a promising collegiate career at Tulane University in New Orleans. ‘Tulane was the school that fit me best,’ Davidoff says. ‘They just reinstated their swim program last year so I’ll be a part of their rebuilding process. The coach was really cool and I love the campus. I’m really excited about swimming at the Division I level and hopefully it will be a stepping stone towards my next goal.’ Following in Cara’s footsteps is sister Chelsea, a promising junior-to-be on the Pali swim team. The example the older Davidoff has set will not only serve her sibling well but all of her teammates as well. When she walks up to receive her diploma at tonight’s graduation, Davidoff will be taking her first step into a bright future. And you can bet she’ll be smiling.
Standing Out from the Crowd
Palisadian-Post Cup Awards
see the following articles: Swimmer Cara Davidoff Reached Every Goal in And out of the Pool / Geoff Schwartz Overcame Odds To Become A Three-Sport Star
Barbara S. Gates, 77; Former 55-Year Resident
Barbara Savory Gates, 77, passed away on June 3 in Monterey, California, as a result of Alzheimer’s disease. She was a 55-year resident of Pacific Palisades. After her husband, Russell C. Gates, died in 2002, she moved to Monterey to be near her family. Barbara was a graduate of UCLA and a member of Delta Gamma Sorority. After her marriage to Russ, she participated in many volunteer activities. Barbara was a charter guide at the Los Angeles Zoo. Along with her husband, she was a founder of the Palisades Tennis Club with Kay Drake and Nancy and Dick deVerrenes in the 1960s. Barbara also was active with St. Matthew’s Church, Junior League, and in her later years, volunteered at St. John’s Hospital. In addition, Barbara was an administrative assistant in the Physical Education Department of Pepperdine University. While living in an Alzheimer’s facility during the last two years of her life, Barbara was given an official volunteer badge because of her daily assistance to staff and other residents. In this capacity, she taught everyone with whom she came in contact the most precious of life’s lessons: unconditional love. During her leadership in Girl Scouts, Barbara became interested in horseback riding and pursued her passion at Cal Lutheran and Pepperdine. She was an ardent gardener, birdwatcher and world traveler. However, her most enjoyable moments were spent walking the beach with her husband and greeting the sunset each evening at the Bel-Air Bay Club. Barbara is survived by her daughter, Linda Ballard of Santa Barbara; her son, Bill (wife Cindy) of Pacific Grove; and two grandchildren, Christopher and Sophie. Private services will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the donor’s favorite charity or the Alzheimer’s Association at 182 El Dorado, Monterey, CA 93940.
Gloria Jones: Active Mother, Volunteer
Gloria Jones, a resident of Pacific Palisades for over 50 years, passed away quietly on June 8 at St. John’s Hospital. She was 77. A native Californian, Gloria grew up in San Francisco and graduated from the University of Oregon. She then worked in Santa Barbara before moving to Chicago where she worked for American Airlines. She moved back to California and to the Palisades in the early 1950s. Gloria met her husband, Art, in the Palisades, where they both lived on opposite corners of Charm Acres Place and married in 1967. Devoted to family and community, Gloria raised her four children (three of whom graduated from Palisades High), volunteered at the St. Matthew’s Thrift Shop in Venice for over 40 years and loved playing bridge with her close friends. In addition to her husband, she is survived by her children, Doreen Thigpen (husband Greg) of Big Fork, Montana, Greg Jones of West L.A., Alex Lorraine White (husband Paul Loumena) of East Greenwich, Rhode Island, and Si White (wife Cathy) of Los Altos; daughter-in-law Jill Jones of Pacific Palisades; eight grandchildren, Heather Schidler, Brian Jones, Gavin Jones, Austin Jones, Mathew White, Stephanie White, Cristina White and Danielle Loumena; and great-grandson Ben Schidler. A great-granddaughter is on the way. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Childrens Hospital A Foundation, Dept. 7924, Los Angeles, CA 90084. Services were held at St. Matthew’s Church on June 16.
Brooke Bartholomew, Bryan Crane to Wed in October
Brooke Bartholomew, daughter of Kitty and Buzzy Bartholomew, and Bryan Crane, son of Dick and Janie Crane, became engaged on Christmas Eve 2003. Bartholomew graduated from St. Matthew’s and Marymount High School. She attended Indiana University and now works for Dr. Richard Jacobson in the Palisades. Crane attended Corpus Christi and Harvard-Westlake. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia and and MBA from UCLA. He is currently working for Lehman Brothers in real estate finance. The Palisades natives will be married in Palos Verdes on October 23, 2004.
‘Malibu Diary’ focuses on People, Politics & Land
When longtime journalist and writer Penelope Grenoble O’Malley wished to escape the hectic pace, noise and congestion of Los Angeles, she moved to Malibu in 1986 for what she imagined would be a more peaceful life. ‘I had contradictory impulses,’ O’Malley says. ‘I wanted to be alone and enjoy quiet anonymity. On the other hand, I wanted to feel part of a community.’ A community connection happened instantly as O’Malley took a reporter’s position at the Malibu Times, a high-profile job that brought her face to face with the growing pains and ensuing debates of a small community and with her own prejudices and bias. ‘I came smack up against my own values,’ she says. ‘As a journalist, you are in the privileged position of being forced to see all sides. It gives you the opportunity to really think things out.’ Her search for solitude was fraught with difficulties as she encountered devastating fires and floods and became embroiled in myriad local issues and politics: the rights of Native Americans vs. those of property owners, the struggle between an antidevelopment coalition and civic planners and the endless studies of septic systems and water quality. All of this is chronicled in her book, a work of literary journalism, entitled ‘Malibu Diairy: Notes from an Urban Refugee’ (University of Nevada Press, 2004). O’Malley will speak at Village Books at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 24. Part personal memoir, part environmental and social history, the book takes a sharp look at the complicated relationship human beings have with the landscape and how moving to a beautiful locale next to nature to ‘get away from it all’ comes with unexpected responsibilities. ‘It’s a lot easier to say what you don’t want than what you do want,’ says O’Malley, who became frustrated by civic leaders who were prone to brand all commercial development undesirable and whose rigid thinking continually blocked constructive action. O’Malley, who still writes for the Malibu Times, now lives in Agoura. A devoted environmentalist, she is committed to educating herself about the entire region that’s affected by the Santa Monica Mountains and how to protect it. ‘I need to be in touch with people with different views,’ she says. ‘I need to get out of my own Malibu mindset.’
‘Anything Goes’ Is Musical Delight
A 1930s musical set on a ship could be a large feat for a small, community theater. Theatre Palisades’ production of Cole Porter’s ‘Anything Goes’ (book by Guy Bolton, P.G. Wodehouse, Howard Lindsay and Russell Crouse) meets the challenge with clever set design (Gene Smith) that allows for an entertaining night of song and dance. Directed by Lewis Hauser and produced by Cindy Dellinger and Andrew Frew, the show runs through July 31 at Pierson Playhouse. As the passengers board the S.S. American in New York, we meet well-known entertainer Reno Sweeney (Rene’ Travelli) and her four Angels, Chastity (Amy Coles), Charity (Sarah D’Agostino), Purity (Erin Holt) and Virture (understudy Victoria Miller). ‘If I’m not in the chapel, I’ll be in the bar,’ says Sweeney, whose seductive and engaging persona makes her queen of the ship. Billy Crocker (Ryan McCormick), assistant to businessman Elisha Whitney (Len Magnus), originally comes to see off both his employer and Reno but is struck by the sight of Hope Harcourt (Kimberly Peterson), a love interest with whom he spent one long night in the city. Hope, too, remembers Billy, though she admits she was engaged then and still is’to be married to Englishman Sir Evelyn Oakleigh (Michael German); they will marry when the ship docks in England. Hope’s stuffy mother, Mrs. Harcourt (Marjorie Throne), is the only real advocate of the marriage. The drama begins when Billy acquires a ticket and passport from gangster Moonface Martin (George Lissandrello), whose partner in crime, ‘Snake Eyes’ Johnson (‘Public Enemy Number One’), has not shown up for the trip. Bonnie (Christina Putrelo) is Moonface’s moll. Mistaken identities, clandestine romance and the wild goose chase for ‘Snake Eyes’/Billy are part of what makes ‘Anything Goes’ so amusing. But will Billy lose Hope’s love over his continuous and addictive need to assume various disguises? Will Sir Evelyn ‘find his sea legs’ with someone other than Hope? Actor McCormick is best when acting as an impostor, portraying an elderly lady he introduces as ‘Mrs. George Bernard Shaw’ and a Frenchman with a Spanish accent. Lissandrello plays the perfect sarcastic New York gangster, or ‘Public Enemy Number Thirteen,’ ready to pull another fast one or turn himself in. His comedic solo performance of ‘Be Like the Bluebird’ gets several laughs. Together, these actors’ dramatic pauses and glances towards the audience create the production’s sly and comic overtone. Some of the most dazzling performances come from Travelli, whose beautiful voice carries many of the musical numbers, including ‘You’re the Top,’ ‘Let’s Misbehave’ and her solo, ‘I Get a Kick Out of You.’ Peterson’s strong and sweet operatic voice is a pleasure to hear in songs like ‘All Through the Night,’ and the cheerful ‘It’s Delovely.’ The women team of Angels impress with their superb dancing. In sparkling sailor costumes, 1930’s-style hats and evening gowns (costume design by Joyce Gayle Smith), these actresses light up the set’s precisely painted ship exterior. The show is well-choreographed from start to finish by Victoria Miller, with the ‘Anything Goes’ tap dancing number earning loud applause. Music direction by Anoush NeVart, who plays piano, with James Bounds on bass and Jason Carmi on drums, really keeps the production in tune. Performances run Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. For tickets, call 454-1970 or visit the box office at 941 Temescal Canyon Rd., Wednesday through Saturday, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.
