Dedicated to swimming, fitness, and community service.
Swimming every day at various times of the day, every day.
About Cabrillo Beach Polar Bears Swim Club
Our History
Cabrillo Beach has had a New Year's Day Swim as far back as can be remembered under the names of King Neptune, King Nautilus and many others. It was led by the members of the Department of Recreation and Parks and/or the Lifeguards. The King would come ashore in a boat and lead the crowd back into the water at 12 o'clock noon each New Year's Day.
In 1953, John Olguin and Jack Cheaney started the Cabrillo Beach Polar Bears. John's wife, Muriel drew the original Polar Bear insignia which is still unchanged. The Polar Bears were an informal gathering of individuals that would meet in October and November and electing a King and Queen from the many daily beach enthusiasts at a beach party heald for that purpose.
In 1983, Ray Falk obtained permission for a room through the City Council Office, the Department of Recreation and Parks in the old Bathhouse/Museum in San Pedro. The Cabrillo Marine Museum abandoned the Bathhouse when they moved into their new facility on the inner beach. In 2005, Ray Falk and Kim M. White petitioned the City Council which declared the Cabrillo Beach Bathhouse as the official Home of the Cabrillo Beach Polar Bears.
Ray Falk organized the Cabrillo Beach Polar Bears patterned somewhat after the Dolphin Club in San Francisco which was established in 1888. The Polar Bear Club has an administrative staff with a President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary and Board of Directors. The King and Queen are elected each year to represent the Club at any Community function or service. They are featured in the San Pedro Christmas Parade on the Polar Bear float which won the Sweepstakes award for best float one year. They, of course, lead the New Year's Day crowd into the water each year.
Past Kings and Queens
2024 Jeremy Wehmeyer & Adriana Martinez Wehmeyer
2023 Robert Muthamia & Erin Sujan
2022 Kathleen Seixas-Greene & Steve Herbert
2021 John Montoya & Kathi Wolfrum
2020 Richard Welsh & Diane Holland
2019 Mihn Nguyen-Vo & Malia Wakinekona-Carlson
2018 Mike Schaadt & Beth Bachet
2017 Perry Guerr & Lisa Guerr
2016 Gary Buss & Lucrecia Jacobson
2015 Zach Ramirez & Toni O'Donnell
2014 RIchard Leach & Lorin O'Donnell
2013 Ben Francis & Theresa Francis
2012 Domino Santro & Miriam Santro
2011 Steve Skale & Marisa Solomon
2010 Mitchell Reiter & Jeannie Matthews
2009 Jack Simmons & Carla Esqivel
2008 Bret E. Boyd & Annie Donohue
2007 George Gabric & Regina Ryan
2006 Paul Ryker & Lydia Jewell
2005 Lou Mannick & Candice Gawne
2004 Martin Donohue & Bea Smart
2003 Courtland Cleaves & Ann Cleaves
2002 Richard Havenick & Kim M. White
2001 Ned Heaton & Rebecca Romero
2000 Bruce Nash & Nancy Utovac
1999 Marc G. Mendelsohn & Evon Mendelsohn
1998 George Pugsley & June Smith
1997 Michael R. Daum & Susan Loftus
1996 Dennis Trani & Annette McDonald
1995 Patrick Donohugh & Lisa Kay Marshall
1994 Clark Faulk, Jr. & Barbara A. Cottom
1993 Alan Shilling & Melissa Shilling
1992 Peter Mirich & Kathy Mirich
1991 Tom Guinn & Esther Bond
1990 Peter Goemans & Delora Bertsch
1989 Ben Derepentigny & Karen Derepentigny
1988 Anton Svilicich & Alice Turner
1987 Jerry Naughton & Jerri Naughton
1986 Hervey Yurak & Mary Croft
1985 David Fox & Phylis Svilicich
1984 Allan Johnson & Ursula Martozke
1983 Tony Malley & Julie Melwig
1982 John Burich & Sandy Burich
1981 Bill Samaras & Irene Parkinson
1980 Ray Falk & Ann Falk
1979 Tom Schmitz & Jo Ann Schmitz
1978 Forrest Taylor & Marie Eberhardt
1977 Lionel Bushling & Julia Fontes
1976 Albert Rea & Mary Bertsch Samaras
1975 Jack Carr & Anita Dragovich
1974 Victor Pappas & Margarethe Hamilton
1973 Mike Lauro & Felisa Harold
1972 Gene Hayes & Mary Ranni
1971 Kreso Grbac & Eva Grbac
1970 Lee Carver & Tillie Karnes
1969 David Jones & Margaret Tracy
1968 John Reiman & Katherina Berger
1967 John Durante & Bridget O'Gorman
1966 Wayne Pickens & Helda Berg
1965 Bob Browning & Odette Browning
1964 Willi Hoefke & Dyna Bertolotti
1963 Martin Vliet & Olga Vliet
1962 Charles Fisher & Irene Person
1961 Gregory Jilzov & Emily Copp
1960 Bob Engdal & Maria Pleso
1959 Marion Chuka & Trudie Logan
1958 Norman Pulver & Josephine Gearin
1957 Joe Anderson & Maria Wahlers
1956 Oscar Gunderson & Maria Trutanich
1955 John Truta & Florench Ferkich
1954 Bob Heron & Margaret Koch
1953 Raymond Pearson & Marguerite Gardiner
Photos
In The News
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Daily Breeze -
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