Thursday, February 19, 2009

DREAM INN OF SANTA CRUZ

PHOTO: THE DREAM INN SITTING ADJACENT TO COWELL'S BEACH SANTA CRUZ, CALIFORNIA. (http://www.expedia.com/).





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IVANO SAYS: THE FORMER DREAM INN, THEN THE COAST SANTA CRUZ HOTEL, AND NOW THE DREAM INN ONCE AGAIN, IS THE SUBJECT OF A VERY INTERESTING STORY ABOUT IT'S ORIGINAL OWNER, BRADLY MALCOM McDONALD SENT TO ME BY GINO 'D'BAFFI' CAMPIONI.




In May of 1967 when I joined the Church, I was interviewed by Bishop Bradley Malcolm McDonald. He was a wonderful and very kind man. He always walked with crutches, as he had a leg ailment, and doctors did not dare do surgery, as he was a hemophiliac, and might not survive the operation.

He faithfully continued to serve in the Church, but with much pain.

At one time he had owned a night club in Capitola, but when he first joined the Church, he decided that such a business was not appropriate. He sold that place, and later had a hotel built on West Cliff Drive, near the Sisters' Hospital. He called the hotel, "Dream Inn". At the East end of the hotel was the "Twelve Winds Dining Room".

On a few occasions I enjoyed the wonderful food at the dining room with new friends I found in the Church. Sometimes I took the young missionaries there.

When I had to move to Oregon, I lost track of all those people. In 1992 I returned to Santa Cruz for the 40th reunion of my high school class. On the Sunday that I was there, I attended church services in my first meeting house, the Santa Cruz Ward building, (now the Santa Cruz Stake Center on Elk St.).

Spotting Bishop McDonald at the far end of the chapel I waved to him, and he waved back. He apologized for not having time to stop and chat, then ran to his next appointment! I learned that he had been to the Mayo Clinic, and a method had been found for safely doing his needed surgery. He no longer needed crutches. I was so thankful to know that.

The last time I saw him was about 10 years ago. I was then serving as the 2nd counselor to the Monmouth Stake Sunday School President, and was invited to accompany him to visit the Lincoln City Ward near the ocean.

This ward frequently has more visitors than regular members, due to its proximity to the beach and various places of amusements. When the teacher asked all visitors to introduce themselves, I found that there were three from Santa Cruz. Brad McDonald, now a Stake President, his good wife Bea, and myself. We had a short but fond renewal of friendship.

The McDonalds now live somewhere near Seattle, and continue to serve in the Church.

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Saluti, Gino

4 comments:

Ivano Franco Comelli said...

SO WHAT'S SO IMPORTANT ABOUT THE DREAM INN. Well, for one thing (as I mention in La Nostra Costa (P.161)it was built on the spot where we (my mother, brother and me,with others in tow) would cross over the barren landscape, downhill, to get ourselves situated (with our umbrella) on Cowell's beach (photo: LNC Page 172).

For another thing it was the place where my wife Mildred and I spent our Wedding Night in June 1980. Mildred would never forgive me if I didn't mention that bit of Santa Cruz History. ivno

Anonymous said...

I love this picture...THE DREAM INN..:):):))

Anonymous said...

I RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING E-MAIL from the Canadian Furlan:
Subject: Re: Nostalgia


Nostalgia


Just a little nostalgia for all my friends.
The other night I watched the "Bronx Tale", directed by Robert DeNiro written by Chazz Paliminteri. Both DeNiro and Paliminteri were in the movie. This is a great movie and fact based on Paliminteri's early years growing up in NY. If you have a chance get the movie you will enjoy it. There were some great sound tracks played in the movie which took me back to the early 60's and how life was, the big cars, the status, the music and the people.
There is one sound track which every time I hear it takes me back in time. I recall, as a kid, hearing this song regularly played on the radio many many times usually while helping my father work in his shop. So here it is, played by non other than our dear friend Dean Martin.
Turn up the volume, click on the sight and enjoy, some nice photo shots as well : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sTP994tOMk

Doriano

Ivano Franco Comelli said...

CANADIAN FURLAN: Yes 'Bronx Tale" is one of my favorite movies. Chazz Paliminteri playes a great part. It was also great of DeNero to take a secondary (but important) role in this movie. Sometimes these great actors do their best work as supporting players. (BTW: I never did know what a 'stoop' was until I saw this movie. We have only porches out west.)

Also, I saw Spike Lee's "Miracle at Santa Anna" the other night. I didn't agree with how Lee presented the movie on screen (in my opinion it was too fragmented, causing confusion in following the story) however, he did some good research making the story authentic. I really enjoyed the young boy singing "Faccetta Nera". In fact I sang along with him. Ivano