Tim

Extra…

1. The Tomlinson family goes way back in La Jolla history. In the book ‘A Parish by the Sea: a history of Saint James-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church’ by Rev. Lawrence Waddy, Donnie’s Great Grandmother, Sarah Tomlinson, was one of the church’s founding grande dames. Her daughter, Frances Tomlinson, was one of St. James key members in the formative years, and had been at parties at the McKinnley White House.

Interestingly enough, fellow fishing buddy, Scratch’s Great Grandmother, Mrs. Good (her daughter married Nathan Rannells) was also part of a church group called ‘The Old Ladies of La Jolla’, which also included Ellen Browning Scripps.

2. I had only known Jack a few weeks in the summer of 1984. One night, we were in Pacific Beach and he stopped behind a truck, which had the bumper sticker, ‘Jesus was a Gill Netter’.
“Just want to say hello,”. In we went. Donnie was on the couch, recooperating from surgery. Baby Jack was 2 years old. Laurice was exactly the same.

3. Donnie was known to party it up in his younger years. One night, he was whooping it up at a local tavern, and the bartender was getting ready to page San Diego’s Finest. Jack pulled the guy aside and whispered, “Call his mother,”. A few minutes later, Pearl Tomlinson walked through the tavern’s front door. The minute Donnie saw his mom, the party was over. I heard she grabbed him by the ear and that was that.

Never underestimate the power of a La Jolla mom.

3. Winter surf. In the 50s, Jack and Donnie headed out diving, just north of the Cove. Jack realized he was nose-to-nose with a shark. He said it was the fastest swimming ever. Records were set.

4. November 1998. Donnie’s Memorial. All of a sudden, trucks are rumbling through the parking lot of South Mission. I looked back and realized the sound was the sound of Fire Trucks. A Fire Truck stopped at the memorial and several of the guys stopped by to pay their respect.