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In Memoriam: Ernestine “Ernie” Bonn (1929–2026)
March/April 2026
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SOHO is deeply saddened by the passing of one of San Diego's staunchest preservationists and our friend, Ernie Bonn. A three-time SOHO People In Preservation honoree, including the exalted recognition of Preservationist of the Year, Ernie exemplified the very best of grassroots preservation and community leadership.
A force of nature, Ernie understood that preservation is not only about buildings, but about people, memory, and shared civic life. Her decades of tireless service strengthened the historic character, public spaces, and cultural traditions that define University Heights. The neighborhood so many cherish today bears her unmistakable imprint, and her legacy will endure for generations.
Ernie passed away on February 18, 2026 at Scripps Mercy Hospital at the age of 96, having contributed more than three decades of extraordinary volunteer leadership following her retirement from a career in the insurance industry. Armed with ever expanding knowledge and experience, she was a tireless advocate and true champion for University Heights.
Ernie was instrumental in establishing the University Heights Historical Society in 1997 and worked closely with historian Alex Bevil to secure historic designation for many of the neighborhood’s treasured sites. Among them are the Teachers Training Annex 1 on Normal Street, the former Adams Avenue Trolley Carbarn (now Trolley Barn Park), the historic entrances to Mission Cliff Gardens and the Bentley Ostrich Farm, the Mission Cliff Gardens cobblestone wall and lily pond, and the old trolley stop drinking fountain at Adams Avenue and Park Boulevard.
Her leadership extended into nearly every facet of neighborhood life. Ernie served multiple terms on both the North Park Planning Committee and Uptown Planners, helping guide thoughtful growth in a community uniquely situated between two planning areas. She used her considerable financial skills to help form the University Heights Parking District and Maintenance Assessment District, helped bring Old Trolley Barn Park to life, and played a key role in establishing the Willie Serrano Joint Use Field at Birney Elementary School. She was also instrumental in realizing the iconic University Heights Sign, crowned by a red trolley car and spanning Park Boulevard.
Ernie’s passion for historic preservation was especially evident in the creation of three historic districts within the North Park planning area in the late 2010s: Spalding Place, Melhorn & Son, and her own neighborhood of Valle Vista Terrace. She understood that protecting historic fabric safeguards the stories and character that make communities meaningful.
Beyond preservation of place, Ernie excelled at building community. Friends and colleagues admired her persistence, institutional knowledge, and belief that active citizens can shape their community for the better. She set the standard for civic engagement, not only attending countless meetings, but also mastering the details, following through, and inspiring others to step forward.
Few individuals leave such a visible and lasting imprint on a neighborhood. Ernie’s legacy lives on in the parks where families gather, the library that will inspire future generations, the historic landmarks she helped protect, and the vibrant civic culture she nurtured.
University Heights and San Diego are stronger because of her life’s work.
Ernie will be deeply missed and gratefully remembered.
With appreciation to Kristin Harms of the University Heights Historical Society for sharing background and historical details that informed this tribute.
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