Anonymous
By Cheri Rae
In 1973, at the age of 84, Pearl Chase was named Grand Marshal of Fiesta. She was honored by the designation and honored to invite Fr. Maynard Geiger, the noted Mission archivist, to accompany her.
She accepted the invitation in a letter to the President of Old Spanish Days, with “deep appreciation,” and noted, “Father Geiger is widely known, greatly admired, respected and loved.” She closed her letter, “Hoping that the directors and their many co-workers will enjoy Old Spanish Days and that the sun will shine upon you.”
Pearl and the priest enjoyed their fifty-five-minute journey, in the open-air carriage borrowed from the City of Pasadena and used to transport the mayor of that city in the Tournament of Roses parade.
The Fiesta parade chairman termed it “a triumphant drive up State Street.” But at the end of the parade, there was some sort of snafu in transporting her to the reviewing stand. As Pearl good-naturedly described it, “They never found the driver and I had the distinct honor of riding in the smaller police care with a handsome patrolman.”
She apologized to Fr. Geiger, who had to walk back to his car, and expressed her gratitude for his company along the parade route. “Thank you again for riding with me and greeting our fellow citizens—old and young—light and dark—big and little,” she wrote.
(Excerpted from a longer article in “The Capital,” the newsletter of the Pearl Chase Society.)
It would be really nice to have a modern-day equivalent of Pearl Chase who was able to guide local government and city departments without offending most of the population. Instead, we get wishy-washy partisans who cannot see the future in any way, shape or form. I really wish someone who was capable was willing to step up to the plate and help guide our current pols to a brighter future….not the blight we are seeing now, especially in the downtown are. Calling all “Pearls” to take us forward!!!
Thank you for this wonderful article and fun photos. Pearl has done so much for making SB the beautiful city it is.
Does the Pearl Chase Society ever actually DO any thing? Example: I have never learned that the Board bothers to take a stand on serious concerns like the nightmare on State Street, the nightmare concerning what City Council is calling the revitalization of de la Guerra Plaza, the narrowing of streets, the over-development in our city, etc. If Miss Chase knew about the inaction she would surely twirl in her grave.