The Stirling bench at the bluffs has been recently upgraded. It turns out that this is in response to the November death of patriarch Norman Stirling. The Palisadian Post obituary of Dr. Stirling referenced the bench improvements:
Many years ago he donated a bench on the El Medio/Asilomar bluffs for the people of the Palisades to enjoy the remarkable ocean views. This bench will now be updated with a plaque in his memory.
The obituary noted that there will be a memorial service for Dr. Stirling on January 19 at 2 pm at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church.
From the obituary, I garnered more information about Dr. Stirling than I'd been able to turn up for my earlier post about his family's bench: He was a dermatologic surgeon, a sailor, a gardener, the father of three daughters, and a member of the Optimists Club who walked in the annual Fourth of July parade.
The family (or Parks Foundation?) has done a beautiful job on the updated bench, which sparkles on the bluff in tribute to Dr. Stirling's memory.
Correction: The Doyen Family, who lives directly across the street from the bench instigated and paid for the upgrade of the bench simply because we love "our" view bench (and it was looking mighty sad.) When the Parks Department contacted the Stirling Family to make sure they were okay with our plan to refurbish the bench, the family decided to renew their plaque as well. Coincidental timing; the universe sometimes works like that. :- )
Posted by: Denise Gallardo | 09/25/2013 at 12:56 AM