Five Influential Gems
by Judd Handler

If influence is the power to sway or affect based on prestige, wealth, ability, or position; the task of selecting a mere five of the most influential people living in La Jolla is daunting. In fact, it’s almost impossible and certainly unfair to say this list of five represents the most influential people in La Jolla. More accurate would be five of the most.

Some La Jolla notables who could also have easily made this list include Qualcomm’s Irwin Jacobs as well as his wife, Joan; Saul Price (Costco, Price Club); Murray Gallinson (UC Board of Trustees, San Diego National Bank chairman); Jack McGrory (ex-San Diego city manager, Padres executive vice president and CEO Price Enterprises); and Gateway’s Ted Waite (who is rumored to be moving out of La Jolla in the near future).

What all the movers and shakers of La Jolla have in common is that they speak of their contributions with modesty. Like superheroes, they seem to fit 48 hours into one day. Their level of community involvement and the workload they carry to better La Jolla — and beyond — is astonishing and laudable.

Audrey Geisel — Honoring Seuss’ Works With Good Works Of Her Own
“Being CEO of Dr. Seuss Enterprises has become my life passion,” says 82-year-old Audrey Geisel, widow of deceased author Theodor “Dr. Seuss” Geisel who would have been 100 years old this year.

Under Geisel’s direction, Dr. Seuss Enterprises gives all of its proceeds to charity. Birch, Scripps, Salk, UCSD, you name it, Geisel has contributed millions to these venerable La Jolla institutions. In 1992, she donated more than 8,000 original drawings, books, and other memorabilia to UCSD. This collection is estimated to be worth over $2 million. Three years later, she donated $20 million to UCSD libraries. The central library at UCSD was renamed in her husband’s honor.

“I took Ted up to the [UCSD central] library one day,” remembers Geisel. “We were both taken by the imagination of this architectural gem. If I ever inadvertently strayed into architecture, I would have built something just like this.” Geisel believes Dr. Seuss is surely smiling from above knowing that the library was named in his honor.

In her Mount Soledad residence that her husband moved into during the early 1950s, Geisel is at peace and still thinks La Jolla is paradise. “I’m in Dr. Seuss’ house,” she says. “This is Ted’s home. He could have lived anywhere, but he moved here from the Hollywood Hills because he became so fond of this area.”

Geisel prefers to focus her charitable contributions on literacy and other causes that help the less fortunate. “So much of the philanthropic endeavors help the cultural aspects of San Diego,” she says, “which are important, but for many years I have chosen to give to more needy issues.”

After all she’s given to La Jolla establishments, Geisel knows her worth, both literally and figuratively. “I’m old enough that I don’t blush. I’m a modest person, but with all due modesty, I don’t think it’s a stretch to say I’m influential in La Jolla.”

This year’s San Diego County Fair will honor the life and work of Theodor Geisel, and is aptly themed A Seusessentenial Celebration.

Ron Evans — Prolific In Science
In research conducted over the past 20 years, Ron Evans is ranked as the tenth most cited scientist in the world, leaving just nine other scientists who have had their papers or studies referred to more by other scientists. A Canadian company, Thomson ISI, combed through 4,000 journals to rank the most influential scientists and Evans was the highest ranked San Diego-based researcher, though not by much.

To simply list Evans’ accomplishments would take up a significant portion of this magazine — his curriculum vitae is 27 pages. A professor at the Salk Institute’s Gene Expression Laboratory and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator, Evans is also the March of Dimes chair in molecular and developmental neurobiology. He benefits UCSD’s budding scientists as an adjunct professor in the Departments of Neuroscience and Biology, as well as Biomedical Sciences at UCSD’s School of Medicine.

“I had no idea I would be cited so often,” says Evans, who pioneered research on genetic switches (switches control gene activity) responsible for obesity and other diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.

Evans, who lives in Muirlands, quickly points out that his San Diego scientific brethren finished close on his heels in the influential Thomson ISI study. UCSD’s Michael Karin ranked 12th, Tony Hunter, a Salk colleague came in 22nd, and the Burnham Institute’s John Reed 25th.

“La Jolla is a superb scientific environment,” says Evans. “It has an impressive convergent web of biotech resources, which provides for a vibrant community, attracting the top minds in the world.”

Evans’ molecular insights into the world of chronic diseases has enabled drug companies to develop and combat the single largest component of the U.S. healthcare dollar — obesity. While Evans acknowledges that behavior modifications such as increased exercise and better nutrition are the ultimate panacea for the 60 percent of U.S. adults who are overweight, the reality is Americans are getting heavier and heavier.

The research of Evans has created bankable notoriety for La Jolla’s scientific community. His work, evidenced by the top scientific minds who cite him, is crucial in reversing the burden of obesity.

George Hauer — The Pentultimate Host
Restaurateur George Hauer is celebrating the 20th anniversary of George’s at the Cove, an inductee into the Fine Dining Hall of Fame, featuring an innovatively designed, three-tiered ocean view dining experience. Hauer’s popular restaurant draws La Jollans and tourists from around the globe. Previously, Hauer spent three years on the board of the Convention and Visitors Bureau. “I helped bring journalists and other influential travel people to La Jolla,” says Hauer, who also served for six years on the board of Promote La Jolla.

During the past 20 years, Hauer says one of his missions was, through various coalitions, “to invest money with the purpose of defining what La Jolla is and expose the city to San Diegans and the rest of the country.”

He serves on the board of the La Jolla High School Foundation and feeds the Museum of Contemporary Art’s major collectors so they are left with a satisfied taste and impression of La Jolla’s cultural scene. He also donates to the Scripps Clinic Orthopedic and Research Group and the Stewart art collection at UCSD. “I give to every school in the La Jolla district,” adds Hauer, who has lived in La Jolla since 1968. “Nothing is more rewarding than being intimately involved here and knowing that I’ve been involved in fostering positive changes in the community.”

As if Hauer’s reputation and philanthropy weren’t enough, his actions also better the environment. George’s is one of only a few dozen San Diego County restaurants with membership in the Green Restaurant Association, whose purpose is to get restaurants to become ecologically sustainable.

Hauer knows well the expression, “Think globally, act locally.”

Courtney Ann Coyle — A Law Affecting Citizen
Former president of the La Jolla Town Council, Courtney Ann Coyle, is the youngest person on this list. She was appointed to the redistricting advisory committee of San Diego County and helped La Jolla stay in District 3, under the jurisdiction of Supervisor Pam Slater-Price.

“I think a lot of people are happy with Slater-Price’s tenure,” says Coyle who was named California Lawyer Magazine’s Environmental Lawyer of the Year in 2004. Her list of impressive community involvement includes an appointment by the mayor to San Diego’s Commission for Arts and Culture, which benefits the Museum of Contemporary Art and the La Jolla Stage Company.

For over a decade, Coyle has served on the Torrey Pines Association, which oversees issues affecting the state reserve. The association, according to Coyle, wants to turn the closed portion of Sorrento Valley Road into a walking and biking nature path. Coyle is also on the San Diego Women’s Foundation, which gets women involved in choosing philanthropic causes. As a member of Patrons of the Prado, Coyle helps raise funds for the Old Globe Theatre and other museums.

Asked why she’s involved with so many causes and organizations, Coyle replies, “It’s a simple thing. It was the way I was raised. My family has always believed strongly in community involvement.” Coyle, who graduated with a law degree from the University of San Diego in 1994 adds, “If you don’t participate, you can’t complain.”

Although the crux of her environmental work is in San Diego’s backcountry and deserts (she has also worked in Imperial County, aiding the Quechan Indians in preserving the sacred land against mining interests), Coyle has done work for La Jolla’s environment to protect historic structures such as Heritage Place on La Jolla Boulevard, coastal landscapes along the Torrey Pines City Park and State Preserve, and also at Salk Coastal Canyon.

“My work is very gratifying,” says Coyle. “It combines protecting the environment with working with people to protect their cultural diversity, their arts, and beliefs.”

Councilman Scott Peters — A Resident Politico
Perhaps the most controversial on this list is District 1’s Scott Peters. He received flak for initially entering the 2000 race as a democrat and an environmentally-friendly attorney.

After Peters’ entry in the 2000 contest, he accepted over $100,000 (according to San Diego City Beat) in campaign funds from real estate developers. He was also criticized for aiding companies who sought to avoid environmental regulations. It seemed that Peters’ policies were not going to receive accolades from the Sierra Club.

A politician can’t please everybody. “La Jolla,” says attorney Peters, “has many chiefs, but not many Indians. In my opinion, it’s one of the hardest areas to represent.”

There’s no denying that Peters has greatly influenced La Jolla’s city works. Some environmental purists deride his approval of colossal coastal condos, parkway improvements, and biotech buildings without sufficient impact studies, however, Peters has near overwhelming approval for his projects.

Of his involvement in La Jolla, Peters claims, “We’ve gotten more done for La Jolla in the past three years than any council in recent memory.”

The La Jolla Parkway Intersection Reconfiguration project, at a cost of $9 million, changed the face and the underbelly of the second busiest intersection in San Diego: Ardath Road (which is now called La Jolla Parkway), Torrey Pines Road, and La Jolla Shores Drive. The reconfiguration, according to Cliff Williams, chief of staff for Peters, has reduced traffic by 50 percent in the area.

The reconfiguration project also replaced 80-year-old water and sewer pipes around La Jolla’s busiest intersections. Another $7 million was spent to treat contaminated storm water and replace pipes in Bird Rock. Peters’ administration also oversees a $2 million project to build new stairs and a wall at La Jolla Cove.

“It would be nice to see the children enjoy the seals more,” Peters says, referring to a plan that will alter the Coast Walk near the Children’s Pool. Just another of Peters’ visions for improving La Jolla.