Bill Verbeck, This Is Your (Appreciated) Life: Kiwanis Club Leads the Cheers

Unassuming in a yellow dress shirt and aided by caregivers, Bill Verbeck heard a succession of speakers at Friday give heartfelt thanks for decades of philanthropy to East County institutions and charities.

Norma, his wife of 63 years, was unable to attend; she’s been fighting cancer for years. But she, too, was saluted at a La Mesa Community Center luncheon that drew more than 100 civic lights, including county Supervisor Dianne Jacob and three La Mesa City Council members—Mayor Art Madrid, Ernie Ewin and Ruth Sterling.

“They don’t want the recognition—but, Bill, you deserve it,” said Beth Morgante of the Grossmont Hospital Foundation—one of many groups that the Verbecks supported with money and time. She introduced a cancer patient whose life was saved via TomoTherapy equipment at Sharp Grossmont Hospital the Verbecks provided as donors.

With seven Key Club teenagers from Helix Charter High School serving lunch and cake, friends of Bill from his days as an 8-year member of the Helix Water Board and fellow philanthropists saluted him, including former general manager Bob Friedgen.

Joe Drew of the La Mesa car dealership said: “They set an example for all of us … [This is] why the community is great.”

Caren Gage, a 26-year employee and co-owner of Grossmont Escrow—which the Verbecks ran for decades—called her former bosses “more important than just about anyone else in our lives.”

Supervisor Jacob, in pronouncing Jan. 20 a day in their honor throughout San Diego County, said: “There are so many lives you have touched … You have done so much for so many for so many years.”

And Mayor Madrid gave Verbeck, a Spring Valley resident, a key to the city—a small key for a small city, as he always notes.

Anywhere in the city, “you can park free of charge the rest of the day,” he said with a smile.

Finally, Verbeck, in his mid-80s, was presented the Kiwanis International 50-Year Legion of Honor pin for his decades of service to the Kiwanis Club, which he once led.

Tony Zambelli, La Mesa Kiwanis Club president, led the audience in a standing ovation.