The Way It Was
Ladies who lunched (from left) Winni Bennett, Augusta Borgatello, Ida Borgatello, Laura Borgatello, and Judy (Guitteau) Pearce
by Hattie Beresford
Lunch with the Girls
Note to readers: I had just finished writing this article about a lunch I attended two years ago with six longtime area residents, when I received word that Ida Borgatello had passed. It had been a special day for me, being invited to break bread with six respected elders, of whom Ida was one. Their life stories and their strength of character made a lasting impression, and I share the story of this day as a sort of tribute to them all. The Montecito Journal extends their heartfelt condolences to the Borgatello family for the losses they have suffered this year. (from left) Ida, Augusta, Mario, Charles, and Laura circa 1920 (Courtesy David Borgatello)
T
he customary daisy tucked behind her ear, Judy Pearce picked me up in her historic sedan one morning two years ago and took me to lunch with five other local
treasures. Strands of Judy’s family have lived and worked in the Santa Barbara area since 1894, so it is no wonder that Judy walks with one foot in the past. Luckily for me, her
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Ms Beresford is a retired English and American history teacher of 30 years in the Santa Barbara School District. She is author of two Noticias, “El Mirasol: From Swan to Albatross” and “Santa Barbara Grocers,” for the Santa Barbara Historical Society.
passion for the way it was in Santa Barbara and Montecito has remained unabated all these years, and her enthusiastic willingness to share her memories and stories has enriched this column many times. In fact, in the early days of the Montecito Journal, Judy herself wrote a column called “Montecito Scrapbook,” based on personal reminiscences and oral histories of life in Montecito. She knew and knows everybody. That day, we first drove to Winni Bennett’s adobe home. Greeted by Winni and her daughter Maria, we sat down for a chat about Winni’s incredible house. Winni’s husband, Bob, had loved Mexico and was determined that upon their marriage shortly after WWII, they would build an adobe home. From scratch! Winni’s story was recently documented in the Spring-Summer 2015 edition of Montecito Magazine. I feel honored to have met her and Maria and to have heard a portion of their story firsthand. Taking Winni with us, our next stop was Florence Dunn’s home in Mission Canyon. Florence was also a long-
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I was there to gather information about the Montecito Home Club, but, as such gatherings tend to go, the conversation flowed like an unruly cascade of a mountain stream, bouncing from rock to rock and slipping merrily into a variety of channels. All started well. The Borgatello sisters, whose brothers had formed Channel Disposal and MarBorg, remembered the Home Club well. “Too bad they did away with it,” said Ida. All throughout their school years at Montecito Union, Santa Barbara Junior High, and Santa Barbara High School, the sisters would go to the Home Club in the afternoons. “For the holidays and Christmas, they always had a Christmas tree and always had gifts, and we did the usual things you do for Christmas, like singing carols,” said Ida. “And
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time Santa Barbaran. Her parents had met while working at the Edgecliffe Beach Club on the bluffs just west of Miramar Beach. At Florence’s home, we met up with the Borgatello sisters, Augusta (then, 100), Laura (98), and Ida (96). This lively crew of ladies had been meeting for lunch and “chewing the fat” for many years. “Up until 10 years ago,” says Judy, “Augusta used to do the luncheon all by herself. She refused all help. And this was after she had cleaned out the horse corral and tended her chickens.”
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