Bill And Norma Verbeck Recognized - ScoopSanDiego.com
Posted: Friday, February 3, 2012 8:00 am
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Updated: 4:16 pm, Thu Feb 2, 2012.
(La Mesa Courier, La Mesa, CA) – Officials of many East County
organizations recognized the contributions made by Bill and Norma
Verbeck at a special luncheon meeting of the Kiwanis Club of La
Mesa on Friday, January 20, at the La Mesa Community Center.
Verbeck was awarded the Kiwanis International 50-Year Legion of
Honor at the meeting. Tony Zambelli, president of the La Mesa
Kiwanis Club, made the presentation.
Over the years, the Verbecks, who were owners of Grossmont
Escrow before retiring, have made significant financial donations
to the East County Boys & Girls Club, the Home of Guiding
Hands, the Grossmont Hospital Foundation, the Jarrett Meeker
Foundation, and the Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca
College.
Contributions to the Grossmont Hospital Foundation include
funding toward the William and Norma Verbeck Tomography Cancer
Treatment Center. One of the homes for developmentally delayed
residents of Home of Guiding Hands as some facilities at the Boys
& Girls Club bears the Verbeck name, as well.Speaking at the luncheon, in addition to representatives of each
of these beneficiaries of the Verbecks’ generosity, were 2nd
District County Supervisor Dianne Jacob and City of La Mesa Mayor
Art Madrid. Madrid promised the Verbecks will be honored by a “Walk
of Fame” plaque in La Mesa Village after scheduled work on
sidewalks is completed.Recounting the Verbecks’ generous service to the community were
Jerry Fazio, East County Boys and Girls Club Foundation Executive
Director; Mark Klaus, executive director, Home of Guiding Hands;
Beth Morgante, vice president, Grossmont Hospital Foundation; Keith
and Judy Meeker of the Jarrett Meeker Foundation; and Marty
Eberhardt, rxecutive director, The Water Conservation Garden.In addition, Jim Miller, president of the La Mesa Parks
Foundation, thanked the Verbecks for contributions to the City of
La Mesa’s parks and recreation areas. Miller said the next new park
to be developed by the city will bear the Verbeck’s names.In association with the La Mesa Kiwanis Foundation, the Verbecks
have donated to the club’s annual scholarship program for
graduating seniors from Helix and Grossmont High Schools, as well
as the Chubby Sykes Memorial Scholarship Fund for vocational
scholarships for graduates of Chaparral High School. A total of 15
college scholarships are awarded annually through these programs.
Foundation President Tom LeDuc thanked Verbeck for his support.Through Grossmont Escrow, the Verbecks are also a major sponsor
of the Drew Ford/Kiwanis Club of La Mesa Soap Box Derby Races which
have taken place three times each year for the past ten years.
Immediate Past President and Derby Director Dennis Wilkes
recognized Verbeck for his support. Wllkes was Master of Ceremonies
at the luncheon.Also speaking were Joe Drew, owner of Drew Auto, and Caren Gage,
co-owner of Grossmont Escrow. In addition, in the 1980s, Bill
Verbeck served two four-year terms as an elected member of the
Helix Water District Governing Board, and Bob Friedgen, retired
general manager, recapped Bill and Norma’s life stories and
highlighted Verbeck’s service to the district.
