Avis de décès de Barbara Dawson

Barbara Dawson, long time resident of La Jolla, passed away peacefully on April 6, 2009, of complications from Alzheimer's disease. She was a native of London, England, and immigrated to La Jolla, California, in 1920 with her parents. In 1934 she graduated from La Jolla High School, and then attended San Diego State College where she earned a B.A. in 1938. After graduation, she received a Fellowship to Claremont Graduate School and then finally earned an M.A. in School Administration from San Diego State College in 1954. She was a teacher in the San Diego Unified School District for a few years before ultimately becoming a school principal at Carver, Central, Cleveland and Jackson Elementary Schools. Active in the community after her retirement, she was one of the founders and the first president of the La Jolla Historical Society. For nineteen years she also served as a member of the Education Committee of the San Diego Zoological Society and helped raise funds for the San Pasqual Wildlife Park, she volunteered for the Old Globe Theater, served as a member of Bishop's School Board of Visitors and was on the Bishop School's Headmaster's Advisory Council from 1985 to 1987. In 1992, Barbara was selected as one of the San Diego Women's Club's Woman of Achievement in the area of sports. Lastly, she authored a book, La Jolla, A Celebration of Its Past, which was published in 2002. Her number one passion in life was playing tennis, which she did on an almost daily basis at the homes of her many friends and as a member of a tennis league until she was 87. In the late 1940's and early 1950's, Barbara was the San Diego City and County Women's Singles Champion. Then in 1951, she and Maureen Connolly teamed up and won the San Diego City and County Women's Doubles Championship. Barbara has been ranked nationally as a senior singles and doubles tennis player. When she was not playing tennis, she loved golf, traveling around the world, playing bridge, knitting, sewing and photography. Barbara Dawson is survived by her three children, Diane Dawson, Douglas Dawson and Joanne Dawson; sister, Phyllis Reinen; four grandchildren; and eleven great-grandchildren. A small family service is planned. A celebration of her life will be on Tuesday, April 28, from 1:00-3:00 pm at 780 Prospect Ave., La Jolla, CA 92037. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to either the La Jolla Historical Society, 7846 Eads Ave., La Jolla, CA 92037; La Jolla Historical Society Wisteria Cottage; St. Paul's Retirement Homes Foundation, 328 Maple St., San Diego 92103' or San Diego Hospice, 4311 3rd Ave., San Diego 92103.