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Letters
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- Written by: Phil Smoley
Byron Whipple, broker/owner of City Center Realty, died Saturday night in a boating accident on Clear Lake.
If you did not get to know Byron, you missed an opportunity to know a truly wonderful man. A former water ski racing champion, he was injured in a fall nearly 30 years ago, and that led to him being confined to a wheelchair, with limited use of his arms. But rather than spending the rest of his life being cared for, he worked hard to be not only self-sufficient as possible, but also build and operate a successful real estate business and contribute to the community in a variety of ways.
I had the privilege to meet Byron as we both entered the Lake County real estate community back in the mid-80s. During that time, there have been competitors that I either liked, or admired or respected. But there have been only a few competitors that I have liked, and admired and respected; Byron was one of these.
I liked him because of his upbeat, positive, energetic personality. His sense of humor was a little strange, like my own. He was never a “downer.” Being around him was fun, informative and positive. He always came across to me as genuinely warm and caring. He had passion for real estate, for sports, for our community and for Clear Lake, and that passion was contagious.
I admired him because his obstacles to success were far greater than mine. He was in a wheelchair, but he could run circles around me professionally.
He took on being board president, chamber president, all while building a successful business. I would be racing from event to event, often showing up late or ill-prepared, only to find Byron already there ready to go.
He would get into work before me, and often be at work after me (I know as I often would drive by his office to work.). When tired or frustrated with work, often I would think of Byron: “If he can do it, so can I,” or “What's my excuse?”
Byron had every excuse not to perform, and yet he outperformed most everyone. No one would fault him if he just relaxed and lived off the help of others. Instead, Byron was out doing more for others than most healthy people ever dream of.
Never once did I hear him complain about his lot, even when his condition was at its worst. His attitude helped keep me from feeling sorry for myself when things were not going as I hoped they would. He made me wonder about people who would not come to work or give it their all because they "did not feel like it" or had an excuse as lame as "my toe is sore."
I respected him because he was a true professional in his vision, approach, ethics and honesty. He was not driven by greed. He was fiercely competitive, but never was cutthroat. I always felt that I could trust Byron.
Whenever we had a disagreement about some real estate practice, it was respectful and we always resolved whatever it was we needed to deal with. He did many things to give back to the community with his time and energy, and one would suspect, with his pocketbook.
All in all, the passing of Byron is not a loss just to his family and friends. His death is a loss to both our local real estate community and to the community at large.
I will miss him very much; it won't be the same without him. May his life and struggle be an inspiration to all of us.
Phil Smoley lives in Lakeport.
- Details
- Written by: Barbara Galvan
I picked up a copy of Don Anderson’s book, “408 Lakeport,” at his booth. Don’s book took me on a ride I’ll not soon forget.
I picked up the book for a quick glance but found I couldn’t put it down until I finished it. Don took me on a ride filled with anger, sadness and disgust, tears and occasional smiles and remembering how my brother, Jim, somehow always managed to keep the honor in his role as a police officer and firefighter. I found myself honoring a deputy I never knew, Sgt. Richard Helbush.
I’ve gained a greater respect for Don Anderson who literally had the opportunity to take the law into in own hands but chose to uphold the law and take the killers into custody.
I have a greater insight into the man I’m voting for as our next district attorney. He shares his private thoughts in this candid, heart-wrenching and emotional book.
If my brother were alive today I know he would be honored to shake Don’s hand and offer his support both emotionally and otherwise.
Barbara Galvan lives in Cobb, Calif.
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- Written by: Toni Funderburg
I am sure many of you are experiencing changes in your lives. This past weekend was a weekend of incredible changes in the lives of those that have known Gene Lovi and Byron Whipple – two icons of exemplary service to our community and two men I feel privileged to have known. It is tough loosing people like these two.
Each has been a leader in our community provided inspiration to make us want to be better people. Each with such wonderful human characteristics and now each have left legacies that will never be forgotten.
I have known Gene Lovi my entire life. He would come by our business to possibly purchase some tires but his visit was much more than a sale. He would always come in and share old stories about the times he had with my parents and how much they meant to him. Those times my parents spent with him trapshooting were great days for all of them.
He would tell me about the wonderful times he was sharing with his grandchildren going to their baseball games and rooting for them while feeling so proud of each and every one of them.
My brother has told me the memories he has from Gene being his baseball coach and how he affected his life.
Wow I remember that incredible smile of his with the dimples and his shorts with his very fit legs taking off to play tennis. I remember him being there in times when I had a loss. I will really miss those visits from Gene and I will never forget them or his smile.
Byron Whipple was a friend since high school. Later I was reunited with him when I married my husband. Bob always had so many wonderful stories to tell me about the crazy life of Byron. The two of them became good friends during their water skiing days.
Byron and Johnny Belvail helped build Bob’s first home in Lakeport. It’s a wonder it ever was completed and as beautiful as it was due to their frequent celebrations. Bob shared with me how difficult it was to see his good friend hurt so badly.
He shared that when he visited him at the hospital he would lay on the floor underneath him to talk with him as they had him hanging in some contraption after his skiing accident and the only thing Byron could do was blink his eyes.
He went from someone that spoke by blinking his eyes to a business owner that gave back whenever he could to our community. I loved visiting him at his office as his office had wonderful childhood memories for me. My grandmother owned the house where City Center Realty is and I have many childhood family memories in my grandmother’s house.
I have loved the respect and care that the Whipple family has given to my grandmother’s home. Bob, Derek and I will always have respect and admiration for Byron. His picture will hang with the other wonderful people that have been part of our lives and we will always have stories to tell about Byron and the difference he made in our lives.
Life is ever-changing. Please look around you and make sure you appreciate your family and friends. Life can change in an instant. Both Gene and Byron have impacted the lives of so many and will be missed but always remembered.
Toni Funderburg lives in Lakeport, Calif.
- Details
- Written by: Pat and Jon Meyer
The Acme Foundation would like to thank our fellow Cobb Mountain Lions Club members for their generosity for donating 100 percent of all the proceeds from their annual Labor Day Pancake Breakfast Rummage Sale on Sunday, Sept. 5, to the Acme Foundation.
Special thanks to President Toni DeHaven and Zone Chairman Frank DeHaven for the numerous laborious hours they spent organizing, preparing, setting up and cleaning up, after the successful event.
We also extend our gratitude to Dan Lambeth for transporting the numerous donations; Yvonne Scott of Clearlake Veterinary Hospital and Byron Blackwell, administrator of the Clearlake Oaks Moose Lodge, for assisting at the event; Christine Lynch for the numerous hours she spent helping setup and cleanup; and Joseph Foster and Sydney Youngblood for also helping setup.
Cobb Mountain Lions truly live up to the Lions motto, “We Serve.”
Thanks to the community who came out to purchase items to support the cause of the Acme Foundation, which is to give monetary support to the community’s low income seniors and disabled to help with the veterinary costs of their seriously ill cats and dogs.
Thank you, Cobb Mountain Lions Club and the community!
Pat and Jon Meyer, are foundersof the Acme Foundation. They live in Cobb, Calif.