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Roses All Around for PIP’s 40th Anniversary
September/October 2023
 Emcee James Newland takes the podium to announce the winners. Photo by Sandé Lollis |
Despite the preceding days of blistering summer heat with reminders to guests to dress for warm weather, a serendipitous drop in temperatures and a gentle breeze as the festivities began made for an auspicious start to SOHO's 40th anniversary People In Preservation Awards on July 27, 2023, in the Marston House garden.
Held in the late afternoon, the celebration showed the garden at its best. Tables covered in forest green cloths were set in the soft cool grass with centerpieces of fragrant and lush heirloom type roses. Their cheerful array of colors—reds, pinks, and yellows right at home in the blooming Marston rose garden—evoked a sense of timelessness where so many special occasions have been held for over 100 years.
David Goldberg, SOHO president, welcomed guests. He remarked that the last time we gathered together in person for PIP was in 2019, when we celebrated SOHO’s 50th anniversary, and that we were marking yet another milestone, with the PIP Awards’ 40th anniversary presentation. Over four decades, he continued, SOHO has honored more than 700 individuals with 432 PIP Awards for their unwavering commitment to preservation excellence. These two momentous anniversaries reaffirm SOHO’s resilience, accomplishments, and enduring commitment to preservation and outstanding preservationists. The remarkable total 432 commendations for well executed projects attest to the collective dedication that continues to enrich San Diego's architectural and cultural tapestry.
With great sincerity, David underscored the essence of these accolades, describing them as vessels of gratitude, tangible tokens of appreciation for those who have breathed life into the preservation ethos of San Diego. “These awards are all about gratitude, they allow us to say thank you to the people who make preservation what it is in San Diego, and who fill the wind in our sails,” he said.
Our emcee, James Newland, was inadvertently welcomed as a “retired” historian for State Parks. Good natured as usual, he jokingly noted that the historic home he and his wife Jennifer recently bought in Kensington will keep them working fulltime for some time. Jim is a gifted and natural speaker and his many personal connections with both winners and guests contributed to an extra warm, personal celebration of treasured human connections and shared legacies.
Our winners’ acceptance speeches and stories were heartfelt and beautiful, as they displayed the larger, intertwined narrative of preservation and wove a tapestry of dedication, ingenuity, and wisdom that spanned generations.
Take a look at the 2023 PIP Awards commemorative program booklet with all the winners and their projects. (14.8 mb)
Scroll to see the photo gallery from the evening PIP festivities. Capturing every moment of the 40th PIP Awards was a big task, and we had not one, not two, but three talented photographers dedicated to the mission, Sandé Lollis, Marti Kranzberg, and Paul Johnson.
As we sifted through over 300 images, we faced a delightful challenge: how to distill the spirit of the evening into a mere handful of photos? The answer was clear – we couldn't. Each snapshot, each candid scene, and each joyous interaction held a unique charm that deserved to be shared.
So here you have it – an expansive gallery of almost 200 images that unfolds the event of heartwarming conversations, shared stories, and positive celebratory energy. In sharing these photos with you, we not only document an event but hope to relive it together. Hope you enjoy it!
Photos by Sandé Lollis, Marti Kranzberg, and Paul Johnson
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