A new community facility named the Dorothy Visser Senior Center is being developed for seniors of San Clemente. I first became aware of this project in 2006 and joined the effort by making a contribution to the capital campaign on behalf of my real estate company McMillion & Associates of Prudential (See Bob's Blog "Dorothy Visser Senior Center" posting dated March 1, 2007). The Honorary Chairperson for the capital campaign is former San Clemente Mayor, Susan Ritschel (pictured above at the far left), and has as co-chairpersons Ralph Klassen and Rex Tyner (not pictured). The campaign cabinet is composed of honorary civic leaders and San Clemente community leaders:Honorary Cabinet Members
- Ken Calvert, U.S. Congressman
- Mark Wyland, State Senator
- Pat Bates, Orange County Supervisor
- Lori Donchak, San Clemente Councilperson
- Wayne Eggleston, San Clemente Councilperson
- Steve Knoblock, San Clemente Councilperson
Campaign Cabinet Members
- Jo Anderson, San Clemente Mayor Pro-tem
- Jeff Bott, Transportation Corridor Agency
- Ed & Maggie Chang, Community Leaders
- Dr. Marilyn Ditty, Executive Director, South County Sr. Services
- Gerald Gibbs, Gibbs Law Firm
- Geoff Layng, Community Leader
- Christine Lampert, Lampert Architects
- Cathy M. Lee, Director, Seaside Senior Center
- Karen Lichty, Community Leader
- Mike McGovern, SunCal
- Cherie Veach, Community Leader
- Bob Watson, Community Leader
Campaign Consultant
- Tom Larimore, Community Leader
The project is presently in the capital campaign phase seeking to raise $3.5 million. As of April 1, 2007 contributions and pledges total $2.7 million. When construction is completed the seniors of San Clemente will have a planned 8000 Sq. Ft. Senior Center in conjunction with a new fire station on the property facing Avenida Victoria near El Camino Real which today is a vacant lot behind the Hollywood Video/Starbucks building.
Building permits have not yet been issued yet, although both the San Clemente Planning Commission and the City Council have approved the site plan and the building plan. This is the front elevation of the what the combined facility will look like with the Senior Center on the left and the fire station on the right.
The new facility was named in honor of the late Dorothy Visser who was a longtime supporter and participant in the current San Clemente Senior Center. Over the years, Ms. Visser contributed more than $1 million to the senior organization. She passed away in 2006 at the age of 103. The capital campaign was bolstered by a contribution from Marblehead Coastal through the efforts of the late Jim Johnson who was head of the development project at Marblehead. Local real estate professionals have pledged $300,000 to the capital campaign. This commitment will be acknowledged by naming a large multi-purpose room in the new center "The South County Real Estate Professionals Ballroom."
Those wishing more information or to make a contribution to the capital campaign may call Susan Ritschel, Honorary Chairperson at (949) 683-7677, Cathy Lee, Director Seaside Senior Center at (949) 498-3322 or Tom Larimore, Campaign Consultant at (949) 498-1664.
