University Club Of Pasadena Celebrates Hitting the Century Mark

In 1922, Pasadenan Howard Carter and a group of friends first established the University Club of Pasadena in a “clubhouse” tucked away on Ford Place, a tiny cul-de-sac in Old Pasadena around the corner from City Hall. It was a place to hold meetings and social events in a quiet spot amidst the hubbub of the quickly growing city.

Saturday, the club celebrated its 100th year in Pasadena with a sparkling list of local luminaries as well as some (very) longtime members, some new members, and a captivating presentation of the club’s history, present and future.

Among the several hundred guests were Mayor Victor Gordo, former Mayor Bill Paparian, Interim City Manager Cynthia Kurtz, and Interim Police Chief Cheryl Moody. Former State Senator Jack Scott was also on hand, along with Pasadena City College Superintendent/President Erika Endrijonas.

Longtime club General Manager Cyrus Afshin happily strolled from table to table, greeting old friends and saluting new ones.

Mayor Gordo saluted the club on its anniversary, emphasizing his favorite theme: “Pasadena is the center of the universe.”

Said Gordo, “If we want to explore the universe, we have JPL. Before we go, if we want to learn about the universe, we have Caltech. And we don’t just have a game on New Year’s Day, we have the game, the Rose Bowl, played in “America’s Stadium.’”

Immediate Club Past President Brian Banks welcomed the crowd, and introduced the club’s newest president, Richard Chinen, who beamed as he welcomed a full house once again for the very special celebration.

Scott Vandrick of the Pasadena Symphony and POPS and LA County Court Commissioner Mary Lou Byrne stole the evening as they opened a “secret” on-stage box which revealed a “mystery” artifact retelling the club’s history, explaining the present and predicting the future in a series of projected videos, while Byrne and Vandrick leaned hard on the droll comedy lever.

Representing the club’s future and as a vivid symbol of the club’s present, were University Club Education Foundation $5,000 scholarship award winners Jacob Lau, who will attend USC in the fall, along with Tiana Lee, a planned biology major already accepted by Cal State Long Beach, and who is waiting to hear from USC and UCLA.

The warmth and camaraderie in the room were palpable, said University Club Membership and Communications Director Katelyn Barchowsky, when three members shared what the Club has meant to them in their lives: John Cushman, a member since 1967; Board member Veronica Corona, a member since 2018; and Eszylfie Taylor, a member since 2019.

During the event Club member Nat B. Read, who has written articles appearing in the Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times and several published books, released a coffee table book about the club’s history he wrote.

Read said that before he wrote the book, he had no idea how distinguished the founders of the club were.

“Among the first ten presidents of the club three were former college presidents and seven had doctorate degrees. The Club’s first vice president was awarded a Nobel Prize while serving that club role.”

“Pioneer members included Nobel Laureate Robert Millikan; astronomers Edwin Hubble and George Ellery Hale; California Impressionist painter Alson Skinner Clark; Mount Lowe Railroad engineer David Macpherson; father of Julia Child, John McWilliams, earthquake authority Charles Richter; and many noted architects including Henry Greene (of Greene and Greene) and Myron Hunt,” said Read.

As a historic membership club and event venue, the University Club of Pasadena hosts events for members and non-members.

“So many service organizations meet here. Many of our fellow institutions have held many memorable events in their histories with us, such as galas and fundraisers and things of that nature,” said Barchowsky.

“And so I think it holds a special place in the hearts of many people and institutions, and it’s also a place where families grow up together and generations continue on.”

Barchowsky recounted a few of the club’s milestones throughout the years. From being an all-men club, the club welcomed women in 1986. At present, the club is welcoming men, women, and people of all ages and backgrounds.

Another milestone is the 2019 launch of the University Club of Pasadena Education Foundation, which helps provide scholarships to local students pursuing higher education.

Despite changes in the club’s events and programs over the years, Barchowsky remarked it has remained the “center for professional, academic and social life in the community.”

“The way that people gather here may have changed, but the reasons why they want to come have really stayed the same through the generations. It’s really a chance to connect and to enjoy some unique dining experiences together, special events, and to get a seat at the table in the community,” she said.