Advertising Account Manager Jon Remy recently joined the newspaper, but he has a long history and deep ties to the Island and the community in Avalon.
The Remy family has ties Catalina since 1928.
Advertising Account Manager Jon Remy recently joined the newspaper, but he has a long history and deep ties to the Island and the community in Avalon.
The Remy family has ties Catalina since 1928.
“We had moorings in Emerald, Hen Rock and Avalon,” Remy said. “I used to dive for coins at The Great White Steamer at age 7,” he recalled. “There was a tough pecking order to observe. You put the coins thrown from the deck of the Steamer in your mouth to collect…the bigger kids would ‘accidentally’ kick your cheek. It was like an ATM machine for them.”
Beginning in the late ’20s and into the late ’30s, Remy’s grandfather and his two brothers delivered produce from Remy Brothers Park Produce in South Pasadena to Avalon restaurants on his vessel Happy Days, a 30-foot dual cockpit Chris Craft.
Remy said that after deliveries they would always get a round of golf on the then 18-hole Catalina Golf Course and stroll to dinner on the water.
“Sadly, the trips ended suddenly when they came back to the boat one morning and found the deck flush with the water,” he said. “The intake flaps were stuck open overnight. All they could see is a part of the windshield and the alcohol lantern anchor light glowing.” His father, Richard Remy, started his piano lessons at The Holly Hill House at age 8 in 1931.
“He remembers going into (controversial archaeologist) Mr. Glidden’s shack on the hill with his sister and says it was really scary as a kid,” Remy said. “My dad’s turning 90 this year. He still comes over and is so excited to see the new exhibit at the Museum on Mr. Glidden. Don’t miss it, the display is incredible!”
Remy’s first trip to the Island was when he was brought to Avalon in 1958 on the S.S. Catalina.
“I came with my mom, too young to make the crossing with my dad from San Pedro on a 30-foot CCC sailboat with no lifelines. I love looking at photos and models of the Great White Steamer in the Museum, I remember where we sat on the upper deck. I feel very lucky to have traveled on that boat, the history is amazing.”
Remy said his other memories include the seaplane with water gushing through the floorboards when landing right at the harbor entrance, manta rays jumping as high as the masts of boats just off Avalon, diving, fishing and hiking the interior.
Remy worked in TV during the ’80s-’90s for KABC, KNBC on “Today Show,” “Good Day LA,” “Eyewitness News,” “The Tonight Show,” and various game shows and comedies including “Wheel of Fortune,” “Jeopardy,” “Cheers,” and “Mork & Mindy.”
“One of my stranger duties was to zip up Vanna White’s dress before we taped the show,” he said. “All in all not a bad gig.”
For the past 20 years Remy has been in advertising and graphic design fields, working as an art and creative director for agencies and individuals.
Remy attended Orange Coast Junior College, Cal State Fullerton and UCLA. In his spare time he likes to surf, golf, dive, fish. However, overall, he loves to be near the sea.
“I can’t go more than 20 miles inland or I break into a sweat,” he said. “I am excited and honored to be part of The Catalina Islander and its rich 100 year history, and look forward to serving island businesses and growing relationships as summer moves forward. Thanks again and see you around town.”
