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HomeMy WebLinkAbout15 - Newport Beach Public Library Lecture Hall Approval of Naming Rights Donation Agreements and Second Amendment to MOU - CorrespondenceReceived after Agenda Printed November 15, 2022 Item No. 15 Summary Biography of Louise J. Woolsey and Roy B. Woolsey Louise and Roy Woolsey met at a dance at UCLA during their freshman year on campus and married five years later, while Roy was a law student at USC. They bought a small beach house on Lido Isle in 1952. For several years, they used it as a vacation residence during summers and as a school year rental. Then they remodeled and added an upstairs and moved to Newport Beach year round in 1960. They raised two children, both of whom graduated from Newport Harbor High School. Their son was class co -valedictorian and student body treasurer, and received a Ph.D. degree from Stanford University. Their daughter was an American Field Service student and spent a year with a family in New Zealand, as well as hosting on Lido Isle a student from Barbados. She is a graduate of the University of Redlands: Johnston College. Louise received a Master's degree in zoology from UCLA. Her thesis involved research on how the limbs of salamanders regenerated in the presence of thyroid. She found that too much thyroid actually stunted growth, but didn't believe the results and didn't include that finding in her thesis. Another researcher became famous some years later for making that discovery. She was involved with many local and civic organizations: She was a member of the Lido Isle Women's Club where she was very active for years in helping organize and attending events, the National Charity League, AAUW, and DAR, where she was proud of her ancestors that came to America on the Mayflower, fought in the Revolutionary War, and fought in the Civil War. She was a supporter of friends of the U.C.I. Library as well as the Friends of the Newport Beach Library. Roy was senior attorney in the Woolsey, Angelo and Thatcher law firm on San Joaquin Hills Road. He helped quite a few Newport Beach residents with their estate plans and other legal issues. He was commodore of the Lido Isle Yacht Club in 1969. He ran for city council, but unfortunately lost to a very well funded opponent. In 1994 he argued an interesting case on bankruptcy law before the Supreme Court, getting four votes, which was unfortunately one less than the number needed to win the case. He owned and sailed Lido 14 sailboats during most of his time in Newport Beach, winning many trophies and establishing the Roy Woolsey regatta at the Lido Isle Yacht Club that is still being held. He also sailed Lasers, and received the award on multiple occasions for the oldest skipper to finish the Flight of the Lasers. All of his sailing activities led to him being featured on page A6 of the Daily Pilot for December 26, 2005 in the attached article headlined "The Ancient Mariner." He was active in the Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary Club. He enjoyed travel. Roy passed away suddenly in 2007 after 90 good years, and Louise passed away in 2015. They were featured in the attached article on pages A9 and A10 of the Daily Pilot for August 29, 2007, the day after Roy passed away. They left a large enough estate for their son to make a significant gift in their memory. Roy Woolsey with one of his favorite boats in the Genoa Boat Garden on Lido Isle. 0 The ancient mariner By Matt Lewis Daily Pilot f you were curious about the history of yachting in Newport Beach, Roy Woolsey would be the man to find. The 88-year-old skipper has seen it all. If you can believe it, he remembers the days when there was still vacant land available on Lido Isle. Woolsey and his wife Louise bought a summer home on I.,ido in 1952 and made it their permanent home 10 years later. Even before moving to Lido Isle, Woolsey was well acquainted with sailing. At the age of 18, he read about it in his Boy Scout handbook and got interested. He and two friends headed down from Los Angeles to Newport Beach to rent a boat. Roy Woolsey knows plenty about sailing and the history of Newport Beach. The Lido Isle resident still wins awards for his sailing, even if most of them are for longevity. "They asked if we knew how to sail, land] the other two fellas pointed at me," Woolsey said. "And I didn't deny it." Woolsey said he was a little nervous on his first trip, but his first landing was the best he ever had. "It's been all downhill from there," Woolsey joked. Seventy years later, he is still active in the Lido Isle Yacht Club. He served as the club's commodore in 1969. As a former commodore, he still has input in the club's decisions. Woolsey owns two boats of his own — a Lido 14 and a Laser — and still sails as often as possible. He also knows the history of the Lido 14, which was invented in Newport Beach. The Lido was originated in Newport Beach in the Iate 1950s. "Bill Schock created the boat in 1958," Woolsey said. "He originally made 10, and they were shaped similar to a bathtub." Woolsey bought the 68th boat produced in 1958. Now, there are more than 6,000 in the water. "They aredt a high performance boat, because they have a jib and a main sail," Woolsey said. "It made it ineffective.' "It was also a heavy boat. It weighed 310 pounds when fully rigged." For racing, Woolsey prefers his Laser, which is much simpler, flat-bottomed and lighter. Woolsey has been a constant at the DON LEACH 1 DAILY PILOT annual Flight of the Lasers races, having participated every year since 1991. He has not performed exceptionally well, but manages to garner the oldest skipper every year. Woolsey enjoys downplaying his ability, joking about how he is not that strong of a skipper. But he has more skill than he lets on --- earlier this year, he finished fourth in the Lido 14 B Class at the Hoy Woolsey Regatta. And yes, the regatta was given his namesake. "1 think they just named it after me because I sailed, and I'm old," Woolsey said. Do you know any seniors who are still active in sports? Let the Senior Spotlight knowl E-mail James Lee at jamas.lea @latimes.corn. Woolsey remembered for his zest SAILING: Former Lido Isle Yacht Club Commodore, who recently competed in Lido 14 Championships, died Tuesday morning. By Steve Virgen Gaily Pilot t was only a week ago that Roy Woolsey drew cheers during one of the social parties at the Lido 14 Class Championships. Fellow sailors hollered for the man, who was known for his zest for life and who was known to continually ignore his age for the sake to become at one with the sea. That's how his family will remember Woolsey and that's how the community will also keep his memory. Woolsey, a former commodore of the Lido Isle Yacht Club, died at the age 90 early Tuesday morning. He suffered a massive stroke Friday while playing bridge with his son, Ray Jr. Last week, he competed in the Lido 14s, the regatta that celebrated its 50th year. Woolsey was there when it began, He said he always enjoyed the camara- derie that came from the event. He also treated it as a reunion because he was able to see friends from the past. He had lived on Lido Isle for the past 57 years. He and his wife, Louise, bought a summer home on Lido in 1952 and then made it their permanent home 10 years later. Woolsey's love for sailing intensified during his years on Lido. He remained relatively healthy because of his passion for the water. "lie was so vigorous and active," Lou- ise said. "He was always doing some- thing. Sailing was his first love and then bridge." Woolsey also carried a strong love for his wife. They were married 66 years ago. They met in 1936 at a dance when Woolsey approached his future wife, See ZEST. page Al DON LEACIi /DAV P'I.OT LOVE Lido Isle's Roy Woolsey, right, an avid sailor who died Tuesday morning, possessed a strong love for sailing and Louise, his wife of 66 years. AI O WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2007 DAILY PILOT' A ti h RAMIE FLANAGAN / DAILY PILOT AT ONE WITH THE SEA: Ninety -year -old Roy Woolsey raises the sail on his boat as he checks things over In preparation for the Lido 14 Class 50th National Championships that were in Newport Harbor last week. Woolsey, of Lido Isle, died early Tuesday morning. seventh in the silver fleet and U.S. Supreme Court. ZEST won the seventh race of the se- When he wasn't sailing or ries. He was the oldest sailor in playing bridge, he usually Continued from A9 the regatta That was usually made people smile and was the case. known for his sense of humor. asking for a turn on the floor. When he also sailed his la- He was also known for being In a recent article in the ser, he would be known as the modest. Daily Pilot, Woolsey said the oldest sailor. When the Daily Pilot ap- two danced when they cele- But age was not the essence proached him for an interview brated their 66th anniversary of this meam he jokingly said, "I thought you in May, "Everybody just admired wanted to sell newspapers. You At tunes, Louise would sail him so," said Cynthia Niblo, shouldn't be talking to me." with Woolsey during competi- who lived next door to A memorial service for tion. Woolseys son would said Woolsey for the past 43 years. Woolsey will take place Tues- with him, too. Roy Jr. was with "I went to the party on [Aug. day, Sept. 4 at 4 p.rh. at St. An - his dad last week when they 21]. There were such cheers for drews Presbyterian. competed in the Lidts 14s. him when he was introduced in place of flowers, the fami- "He was always doing some- to the podium. lie was just re- ly is asking to make donations thing," Roy Jr. said of his late vered by the sailors because no to The Newport Beach Sunrise father. "I would sometimes too many people are doing Rotary Foundation, P.D. Box joke with him that he never that at his age. It's basically his 8113 Newport Beach, CA knew how to relax. He always life since he retired from law" 92658. wanted to get the most out of Woolsey also served for the life and-. -do as much as he Navy. He later practiced law STEVE VIRGIN may be reached could." and nearly passed a case. re- at (714) 966-4616 or by e-mail at Woolsey, who was the LIYC quiring an interpretation of the steve.virgen CIatimes.com. commodore in 1969, finished Bankruptcy Code before the