I’m a retired urban planner. I was born and raised in Cincinnati Ohio and graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a degree in planning. After three years working for the planning department in Lexington Kentucky I moved to San Diego in 1969 to accept an offer of a position as a professional city planner with the City of San Diego. I worked in government planning agencies for the first ten years of my career and decided to step out into the private sector for the duration. I worked for myself.
I have always had a passion for maintaining and improving the living conditions and experiences made possible for those among us that seek the more intense life style offered in higher density environments. That was what I was offered in the particular position that I accepted, and that was the focus in all of my career.
About Gary Weber
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
I have been married to Nancy for almost 50 years now, and we have two children n in their mid-40s. Our daughter is an attorney and l/ives with her husband, also a lawyer and their three boys. Their three boys are now one of the many joys of our life as well, although when the boys move into their high energy mode they really more resemble a commotion machine. Our son lives, and has lived in Brooklyn for the last ten years and is deeply involved with music, both creating it, producing it and performing it. As for the family side of things, he has never been married and, in spite of his mother’s request for more grandchildren, seems comfortable spinning disks and managing high end music venues.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
I really didn’t know what I was getting into when I settled on a major but realize that somehow it became a perfect fit with my interests. I thought often as i walked to and from school how seedy my neighborhood was becoming, and I envisioned everything being repaired and rearranged because I could see what t was and imagine what it could become. When I first worked in planning after graduation I always gravitated toward the neighborhood planning assignments. I chatted with my family and my school mates about my desires to dix things, and understood that I had no real influence that could make those ideas happen. City planning has many disciplines within its purview. The ones that attracted my attention were the smaller things, things where I would and could actually affect changes. Because I usually worked with community boards and commissions I had an understanding of what they thought, and what they wanted, and what worked and what didv’t in terms of actually getting things fixed. Because of that I also engaged din the volunteering aspect and served on the boards of interest groups. That allowed me to actually se things change when I went after something. So I guess you could say that I was, and still.l am, attracted to the things that I d, and see in retrospect that I do, and how to get it done.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
Well, there could be a lot of answers to that. In my small world I would enjoying steering people into the things that I do and have done. I would give them all the support that I could muster, while trying desperately to teach them what works and what doesn’t in our urban cities, a nd encourage them to at lest pay attention to it.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
Well, at my age I will be lucky to see myself at all. I hope to remain in good enough health to see people looking into the future, and being what will be, not what could be
Gary Weber & Our Community
Q: What are a few of your favorite restaurants in our community?
Our favorite was always Casa Sanchez, right across from the theater, and Georiga’s Greek Cuisine, tucked away at Cherokee and Madison. Both are gone now.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
We bought a house in 1969 in Normal Heights, and bought the place we live in now in 1972, fifty years ago. Time flies.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
I’d say that would be Lou Curtis and his music. On my list of the many community ‘beyond the call of duty’ volunteers that I nurtured into community service, that would include Stave Temko who was instrumental in making the Normal Heights Community Association what it became and Doug Generoli for his work in developing the Adams Avenue Business Association. Together with their assistance we created the Adams Avenue Street Fair, which became what it as because of Scott Kesler.
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
To be honest, it woluld have to be Rosy O’Gradys It was the first existing business to be completely upgraded.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
Probably the Normal Heights sign, our icon, the subject and focus that brought people together with a mission, light the sign and keep it lit. Its worked for 40 years now.
Q: If you could choose anyone alive today and not a relative, with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would you meet for this lunch?
Former Governor Jerry Brown, on the back patio of the Olde Sod on a quiet afternoon.
For Fun
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
Movies – Casablanca, The Godfather, and any of the Jolhnny Carson Tonight Show episodes.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
Probably that I love gardening and our dog. I spend as much time as I can in my 2 acre backyard, my own private park, with our dog. She is a purebred German Shepherd, and honestly is smarter than some people that I know. I am astounded by her routines. She knows how to protect our property and scares the daylights out of strangers while at the same time being the sweetest and most loving member of our household.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
My 20 year old Lexus with it’s 70,000 actual miles on it. Every time I start it, it goes.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My wife and family, I would do anything they needed if they asked.
Q: What community organizations and/or local nonprofits do you admire/support?
We donate to animal welfare and civvil rights organizations.
Q: What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
Practice moderation in all things, and to thine own self be true.
Q: What Neighborhood do you live in?
Normal Heights
What I love about my Neighborhood:
It wants to be preserved and is centrally located, convenient to all those things we love about San Diego.
Please describe your ideal San Diego weekend:
Having no appointments or things to do that can wait until I feel like doing it. Oh, and riding the Giant Dipper rollercoaster in Mission Beach (which you did not include in your list of neighborhoods).
Q: Finally, what three words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Its safe, familiar and peaceful.
