SAN DIEGO — A special luncheon—Celebrating 50 Maritime Years—will be held October 4 at 11:30 a.m. at Miguel’s Cocina in Old Town San Diego to honor the men and women who have devoted more than 50 years to shaping and sustaining San Diego’s working waterfront. Hosted by master painter Mike Alvarez, the event will recognize individuals whose contributions span industries from yacht building to sportfishing, marine services, and community leadership.
The luncheon will celebrate a cross-section of the working harbor—boat builders, major boatyard owners, advocates, and master painters—spotlighting the traditional crafts that helped define San Diego’s maritime identity. That includes Alvarez himself, who has brush-painted some of the largest vessels in the world and notes that true brush work is a specialty few painters still practice. In contemporary yards, application is typically done by airless spray (with HVLP for fine work), using solvent-resistant rollers and quality brushes for edges and touch-ups, all masked with marine tapes and sheeting; between coats, crews pressure-wash or solvent-clean, vacuum-sand, and tack-rag to maintain finish quality.
Alvarez’s own career traces a remarkable arc. In an article titled “Largest Polyurethane Bushing Project Done on San Diego Yacht,” published in the December 12, 1986, issue of The Log, Alvarez remembers the story of the Yelad, an 87-foot Knight & Carver motor yacht owned by San Diego boat builder Don Daley, which Alvarez had the honor of painting by brush. Over the decades he has painted boats as long as 478 feet—work that speaks to the scale and skill long associated with San Diego’s yards.
Alvarez is very proud of the work he has contributed to the marine painting industry: “I’ve been painting since I was 18 years old,” said Alvarez. “I paint with a 6-inch brush; It is made out of camel and horse hair, and a little bit of monkey. In 1978, my dad gave me two brushes, one 5-inch and a 6-inch. Today I use leather strap brushes. Leather strap brushes have a long history in painting, back from the 1700s.”
Among those being honored is Steve Rock, owner of Fiddlers Green on Shelter Island: friend, mentor and host who created a place where mariners could gather and share their adventures. The luncheon will also recognize Marjie Carver, wife of the late Hugo Carver, alongside John Knight, co-founders of Knight & Carver YachtCenter. Beginning in 1971 on Hancock Street, Knight & Carver grew into one of the region’s most respected yacht builders, leaving a legacy now carried forward by The Marine Group.
In the realm of sportfishing advocacy, Ken Franke, President of the Sportfishing Association of California, leads a team of industry specialists who speak out on behalf of their interests and work with many agencies and stakeholders including Fish and Game, Coast Guard, Navy, Marine Fisheries, Federal Communications, Congress, California Legislature and the Mexican Government. Another honoree, Catherine Miller, the granddaughter of one of the principles of H&M Landing, founded in 1935, continued the legacy by hosting and producing “Day at the Docks.” Organized in 1980, this celebration of sportfishing features marine attractions, boat tours and waterfront access, inviting the public to enjoy the sport and experience its rich history.
The legacy of Brian and Anthony Osterberg, part of three generations of optical specialists at Baker Marine, will also be celebrated. Their work has supported countless vessels and mariners over the decades, reflecting the interwoven nature of family, skill, and tradition on the waterfront. Additional names include Tom Jarvis, an outside salesman with San Diego Marine Exchange—the key waterfront ship chandlery servicing all San Diego Port tenants and beyond—who has spent five decades serving the maritime community. Like so many others on the honoree list, Jarvis represents the backbone of an industry that often thrives on quiet dedication rather than public recognition.
Organizers estimate that about 30 individuals will be recognized during the luncheon. While the guest list spans a variety of trades and businesses, the common thread is clear: decades of commitment to the waterfront and to the people who depend on it. Alvarez, who was featured in The Log in 1986 for his storied career in marine painting, emphasized that this event is both a celebration and a long-overdue acknowledgment. “These are the people who kept the waterfront alive for half a century,” he said. “Without them, it wouldn’t be what it is today.”
