John Olguin
Encyclopedia
John Main Olguin was an American
aquarium
official who served as the museum director of the Cabrillo Marine Museum, which has since been renamed the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
, from 1949 until 1987, when he became director emeritus
. Olguin has been called the "father of recreational whale watching
", as he was the founder of the Cabrillo Whalewatch program and a founding member of the American Cetacean Society
.
An authorized biography, entitled "An Ocean of Inspiration - The John Olguin Story" detailing John's life is being released October 16, 2011 at the Autumn Sea Fair at Cabrillo Marine Aquarium. The book is co-authored by Dr. Stefan Harzen and Barbara J Brunnick, Ph.D. of the Taras Oceanographic Foundation and Mike Schaadt, the current Director of the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
.
, on February 18, 1921. His father, Roy Olguin, had moved to southern California
from Mexico
in 1910 and married Josie Main, a woman from Long Beach, California
, who became Olguin's mother. His ancestry also included some Chumash heritage.
Olguin became a lifeguard beginning in 1937.
Olguin graduated from San Pedro High School
in 1941. He attempted to enlist in the U.S. Navy and United States Coast Guard
at the beginning of World War II, but was rejected by both branches of the military because he wore eyeglasses. He was eventually drafted by the United States Army
during World War II
, serving from 1943 until 1945. Olguin was stationed throughout the Pacific theater during the war, including the Philippines
, New Guinea
and Japan
. Olguin was a recipient of the Silver Star
for his service in the Philippines.
and museum director of the newly opened Cabrillo Marine Museum. Lloyd stepped down from the position in 1949 and Olguin, who was a lifeguard captain at the time, succeeded him as director. He began enrolling in biology courses held at local universities and junior college
s to become more familiar with the exhibitions and science in the museum. Olguin established a number of educational programs, often aimed at school children, during his tenure as director. A new aquarium building, designed by Frank Gehry
, was opened in 1981.
Olguin remained either the director or co-director of the Cabrillo Marine Museum until his retirement in 1987. However, he remained active with the museum as its director emeritus. Additionally, Olguin persuaded fishermen from San Pedro to using their fishing boats for whale watching, which led to the creation of Cabrillo Whalewatch. He was also a founding member of the American Cetacean Society
coordinated the establishment of the Point Fermin Marine Life Refuge, an California marine state park
. The Cabrillo Marine Museum changed its name to the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
in 1993.
In addition to his work with the aquarium and education, Olguin was highly active in other local San Pedro institutions and organizations. Olguin established the San Pedro Independence Day Celebration fireworks
show in 1953, as well as the San Pedro Polar Bears Club. Olguin also spearheaded efforts to return the Fresnel lens
to the Point Fermin Lighthouse in 2006. The San Pedro Rotary Club honored Olguin as "Citizen of the Millennium" for his work in 2009.
John Olguin died at his home in San Pedro, California, on January 1, 2011, at the age of 89. he was survived by his wife of more than 50 years, artist and philanthropist
Muriel Olguin; two daughters, Vi Olguin and Moni Olguin-Patten; son John Cabrillo Olguin; siblings, Leonard Olguin, Albert Olguin, Belia Olguin Smith and Esther Olguin Riggs; and four grandchildren.
A public memorial service
attended by more than one thousand people, was held for Olguin at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium on January 22, 2011. Olguin's widow, Muriel Olguin, received an American flag from the Veterans Advisory Commission
during the ceremony. Olguin's red jacket, which he wore during whale watching
tours, will now be put on exhibition at the Cabrillo Marine Museum.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
aquarium
Public aquarium
A public aquarium is the aquatic counterpart of a zoo, housing living aquatic species for viewing. Most public aquariums feature tanks larger than those kept by home aquarists, as well as smaller tanks. Since the first public aquariums were built in the mid-19th century, they have become popular...
official who served as the museum director of the Cabrillo Marine Museum, which has since been renamed the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium is an aquarium in San Pedro, California, United States, a community within Los Angeles. It concentrates on the marine life of Southern California...
, from 1949 until 1987, when he became director emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
. Olguin has been called the "father of recreational whale watching
Whale watching
Whale watching is the practice of observing whales and other cetaceans in their natural habitat. Whales are watched most commonly for recreation but the activity can also serve scientific or educational purposes. A 2009 study, prepared for IFAW, estimated that 13 million people went whale watching...
", as he was the founder of the Cabrillo Whalewatch program and a founding member of the American Cetacean Society
American Cetacean Society
Founded in 1967, the American Cetacean Society was the first whale conservation group in the world. ACS is a 501 non-profit organization with an office in San Pedro, California and chapters in Los Angeles, Orange County, Puget Sound , Monterey, San Francisco, and a Student Coalition based out of...
.
An authorized biography, entitled "An Ocean of Inspiration - The John Olguin Story" detailing John's life is being released October 16, 2011 at the Autumn Sea Fair at Cabrillo Marine Aquarium. The book is co-authored by Dr. Stefan Harzen and Barbara J Brunnick, Ph.D. of the Taras Oceanographic Foundation and Mike Schaadt, the current Director of the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium is an aquarium in San Pedro, California, United States, a community within Los Angeles. It concentrates on the marine life of Southern California...
.
Early life
Olguin was born in San Pedro, California, a port district and neighborhood of Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, on February 18, 1921. His father, Roy Olguin, had moved to southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
from Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
in 1910 and married Josie Main, a woman from Long Beach, California
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
, who became Olguin's mother. His ancestry also included some Chumash heritage.
Olguin became a lifeguard beginning in 1937.
Olguin graduated from San Pedro High School
San Pedro High School
San Pedro High School is a public high school in the Los Angeles Unified School District and is located in the San Pedro portion of the city of Los Angeles, California. In 2003, the school celebrated its 100th Anniversary....
in 1941. He attempted to enlist in the U.S. Navy and United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
at the beginning of World War II, but was rejected by both branches of the military because he wore eyeglasses. He was eventually drafted by the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, serving from 1943 until 1945. Olguin was stationed throughout the Pacific theater during the war, including the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Olguin was a recipient of the Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
for his service in the Philippines.
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
During the 1940s, Olguin began working with William Lloyd, a retired dentistDentist
A dentist, also known as a 'dental surgeon', is a doctor that specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity. The dentist's supporting team aides in providing oral health services...
and museum director of the newly opened Cabrillo Marine Museum. Lloyd stepped down from the position in 1949 and Olguin, who was a lifeguard captain at the time, succeeded him as director. He began enrolling in biology courses held at local universities and junior college
Junior college
The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
s to become more familiar with the exhibitions and science in the museum. Olguin established a number of educational programs, often aimed at school children, during his tenure as director. A new aquarium building, designed by Frank Gehry
Frank Gehry
Frank Owen Gehry, is a Canadian American Pritzker Prize-winning architect based in Los Angeles, California.His buildings, including his private residence, have become tourist attractions...
, was opened in 1981.
Olguin remained either the director or co-director of the Cabrillo Marine Museum until his retirement in 1987. However, he remained active with the museum as its director emeritus. Additionally, Olguin persuaded fishermen from San Pedro to using their fishing boats for whale watching, which led to the creation of Cabrillo Whalewatch. He was also a founding member of the American Cetacean Society
American Cetacean Society
Founded in 1967, the American Cetacean Society was the first whale conservation group in the world. ACS is a 501 non-profit organization with an office in San Pedro, California and chapters in Los Angeles, Orange County, Puget Sound , Monterey, San Francisco, and a Student Coalition based out of...
coordinated the establishment of the Point Fermin Marine Life Refuge, an California marine state park
California Department of Parks and Recreation
The California Department of Parks and Recreation, also known as California State Parks, manages the California state parks system. The system administers 278 parks and 1.4 million acres , with over of coastline; of lake and river frontage; nearly 15,000 campsites; and of hiking, biking, and...
. The Cabrillo Marine Museum changed its name to the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium is an aquarium in San Pedro, California, United States, a community within Los Angeles. It concentrates on the marine life of Southern California...
in 1993.
In addition to his work with the aquarium and education, Olguin was highly active in other local San Pedro institutions and organizations. Olguin established the San Pedro Independence Day Celebration fireworks
Fireworks
Fireworks are a class of explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. The most common use of a firework is as part of a fireworks display. A fireworks event is a display of the effects produced by firework devices...
show in 1953, as well as the San Pedro Polar Bears Club. Olguin also spearheaded efforts to return the Fresnel lens
Fresnel lens
A Fresnel lens is a type of lens originally developed by French physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnel for lighthouses.The design allows the construction of lenses of large aperture and short focal length without the mass and volume of material that would be required by a lens of conventional design...
to the Point Fermin Lighthouse in 2006. The San Pedro Rotary Club honored Olguin as "Citizen of the Millennium" for his work in 2009.
John Olguin died at his home in San Pedro, California, on January 1, 2011, at the age of 89. he was survived by his wife of more than 50 years, artist and philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
Muriel Olguin; two daughters, Vi Olguin and Moni Olguin-Patten; son John Cabrillo Olguin; siblings, Leonard Olguin, Albert Olguin, Belia Olguin Smith and Esther Olguin Riggs; and four grandchildren.
A public memorial service
Memorial service
Memorial service is often used to describe a secular or non-religious funeral. A funeral is a religious service that is held with or without the body of the deceased present...
attended by more than one thousand people, was held for Olguin at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium on January 22, 2011. Olguin's widow, Muriel Olguin, received an American flag from the Veterans Advisory Commission
United States Department of Veterans Affairs
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs is a government-run military veteran benefit system with Cabinet-level status. It is the United States government’s second largest department, after the United States Department of Defense...
during the ceremony. Olguin's red jacket, which he wore during whale watching
Whale watching
Whale watching is the practice of observing whales and other cetaceans in their natural habitat. Whales are watched most commonly for recreation but the activity can also serve scientific or educational purposes. A 2009 study, prepared for IFAW, estimated that 13 million people went whale watching...
tours, will now be put on exhibition at the Cabrillo Marine Museum.