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Board of Directors

Willa Gupta is living in and renovating the house her father built in the 1930's in South Laguna. As a child she spent summers in Laguna, and remembers the gum groves and wide-open spaces.  She has spent time as a teacher, printer-publisher, and educational researcher.  She is active with the South Laguna Civic Association and is a dedicated gardener.

Jane Petty Janz was born and raised in Laguna, her family first coming to Laguna in the 1880s.  Jane is the granddaughter of Nick Isch [who was Joseph Yoch’s brother in law].   Nick Isch ran the local grocery on the corner of Laguna Avenue and South Coast Boulevard; he also served as Postmaster. Having grown up hearing stories of “the old days” Jane’s interest in Laguna’s history has only grown and she enjoys researching Laguna’s past. Her fondest wish for Laguna? A real History Museum.

J.J. Gasparotti and his family arrived in Laguna Beach in 1957.  J.J. is a Laguna Beach High School Class of 1964 graduate, and was a founding member of Laguna Beach high School Alumni Association.  He served on the Design Review Board for five years including one year as Chairman.  For a number of years, J. J. wrote the “Castles Made of Sand” column in the Laguna Coastline News.  J. J. was elected to the Laguna Beach County Water District Board, is a Board member of the Laguna Canyon Conservancy as well as the Laguna Beach Historical Society.

Gene Felder has been a long-time member of the Laguna Beach Historical Society.  Gene was raised in La Mirada, lived in Laguna Beach in 1970-71 returning in 1985 and resides on Park Avenue in the Top of the World Neighborhood.  He and his wife Johanna have been active in civic affairs and many non-profit organizations in town including the Friendship Shelter, Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Canyon Conservancy, Laguna Canyon Foundation, Laguna Greenbelt, Top of the World Neighborhood Association, and Village Laguna.

Eric Jessen is a 37 year Laguna Beach resident and long-time Board Member of the Laguna Beach Historical Society. The Jessen family settled in Santa Ana in 1869, and moved to Laguna in 1915, where they founded the first insurance company in town. Eric is Chief of the County of Orange Harbors, Beaches, and Parks Department. Prior to his current employment, he was a landscape contractor, during which he designed and executed the historic landscape restoration of Laguna Beach National Historic Landmark Villa Rockledge, He served the City as Chairman of the Historic Advisory Board that performed the original survey of historic buildings in town, as well as President, South Coast Water District.

Anne Frank has lived in Laguna Beach since 1966. During 1991-1992 she served as the first President of the newly formed Laguna Beach Historical Society.  Presently she is a member of the City of Laguna Beach Heritage Committee.

John Hoover has lived in Laguna Beach and been involved with organizations for decades, currently involved with eight such groups. John’s volunteering includes for: Festival of Arts, Laguna Art Muesum, Laguna Film Festival, Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce.  He still finds time to work at his home loan business.

Ed Perry came to Laguna Beach in 1966 and bought his present home at that time, moving down to Laguna in 1984. He and his wife, Connie, have three children who are mostly living up north. He retired from a family retail furniture business in Whittier in l980. Connie and Ed do volunteer work in Laguna. Ed is active in Lawn Bowling and swimming.  He has been interested in local history, first in Whittier, and now in Laguna Beach.

Kevin Spencer was born in 1952 in Los Angeles, and lived in Santa Ana until 1960, at which time he moved to Laguna Beach with his mother. Kevin attended El Morro Elementary, Thurston Junior High graduating from Laguna Beach High School in 1970. In high school, many students were very environmentally and historically conscious.  Kevin son and daughter also went to Laguna Beach High School.  His son has a masters degree in chemistry and his daughter has a masters degree in advertising. Kevin sells art objects and oil paintings from local artists, and from artists overseas who paint oil paintings of Laguna Beach as well as and other scenic locations.

Kimberly Stuart, a former Planning Commissioner (Chair 2002), and Design Review Board Member (Chair 2000), is pleased to be a Board member of the Laguna Beach Historical Society, looking forward to participating with members in preserving and enhancing the heritage of our community resources. Kimberly and her husband raised her 18 year-old daughter through the Laguna Beach school system and Anneliese’s School. Their  4 year-old son attends Anneliese’s preschool. Kimberly and her husband, both architects, have their own firm Stuart Architecture in town, focused on planning, architecture, and urban design. Kimberly served on the American Institute of Architects Orange County Chapter’s Board of Directors for eight years, President in 2002 of the 1,100 member chapter.  She continues to serve the AIA at the state level on two advisory committees.