Jeff Pastorino Memorial Bench

Ironic it in dedication to a homeless man, yet they put a bar in the middle to prevent the homeless from sleeping on it.

There is a bench named in honor of a homeless man named Jeff Pastorino. He came to the community of Point Loma sometime in the 1990’s and never left. Most days when he was alive, he merely sat on a bench.
Yes-​he had mental problems. Many of us do. But he was a gentle soul who managed to touch the hearts and minds of the prosperous people of Point Loma like no other. There has been a book written about him called «The Man on The Bench» by Alton Jones.
Here is a brief overview from The Man on The Bench website: «The book chronicles the amazing story of Jeffrey Pastorino, the man we called the «Mayor of Point Loma.»
«He sat on a bench for nearly twenty years. People thought he was crazy and by many standards, he was. But after discovering his past and the events that brought him to that bench, I began to wonder who was truly crazy. The path of that discovery turned out to be the basis for this amazing story. The life of this unlikely man serves as a beacon for all of mankind when it comes to dealing with our insecurities and shortcomings.»
In his honor now there is a nice little set-​aside area with arbors and flowers at the Honorary Bench area on the corner of Rosecrans and Avenide de Portugal.
Many people drive by and don’t realize, it was in this very area that Jeff literally lived for so many years.
After Jeff’s death in 2009, (from heart disease that he refused to get treated) concerned friends of Jeff used detective work to find his family and they contacted them with news of Jeff’s passing. This was a blessing in itself since Jeff’s family had long since given up hope of ever finding him.
His brother flew out to California from Pennsylvania and claimed his brother’s ashes and met the people who befriended their brother. Over the years, community people hooked Jeff up with food and drink-(not alcohol) from nearby merchants and offered him clothing and blankets. Not to mention their friendship and yes-​respect. Jeff opened the eyes of many a Point Loman.
The OB Rag mentioned that rich Point Lomans assuaged their guilt by friending Jeff. The OB Rag stated: «Is this gush of emotion simply material well-​off Peninsulans massaging their own guilt about homeless people, and that particular homeless man?»
I don’t think so. And I think it is so awesome that next to the Memorial Benches to the Peckhams (big time rich!) and other movers-​and-​shakers on the scene, there is a beautiful bench that honors dearly departed Jeff Pastrorino-«The Mayor of Point Loma.»
No less a big shot in my book-​and I hope not yours either!