At Home With Caroline and Emil Wohl

Twenty-seven years ago, on a tidy, palm-lined street in San Diego’s historical Kensington, Caroline and Emil Wohl found a treasure — a classic Spanish Colonial bungalow built in 1929. Caroline, who had grown up in the neighborhood just around the corner from her grandparents and down the street from her aunt and uncle, had in a sense “come home.” Her brother and parents also live close by.

“I am lucky I grew up here,” says Caroline of Kensington. “People care for each other.” Adds Emil, “There’s a real sense of community” in their diverse, multi-generational neighborhood. The town hosts a ten-block “Mayberry-style” parade (a reference to the small, mythical town in the TV series The Andy Griffith Show) on Memorial Day with silly floats, front yard bands, and marchers from the cheeky “Pessimists’ Club,” a rival to the sunny Optimists. On the Sunday before Christmas, neighbors gather for a progressive dinner now attended by their adult children, some with kids of their own. A popular place in town is Clem’s Tap House, where Emil says new arrivals mingle with people who’ve frequented the pub for generations. 

The couple loves their ’hood, but initially faced some challenges in restoring their home to its roots. The previous owners had removed most of the details that characterized the original home’s style. So, the Wohls went to work, rounding up pieces from the past: curtain rod finials found in the basement of her late grandparents’ home, a chandelier that once graced the dining room of her aunt and uncle’s home.

They sourced Spanish Revival lighting fixtures from Santa Barbara’s Steve Handelman Studios and vintage lights for their outdoor patio at Tap Lighting in Hillcrest (now relocated to La Mesa). Their neighbors also shared resources for vintage tile and other details. 

The Wohls also began collecting Early California plein-air landscape paintings when a neighbor got Emil hooked on the style. They now have quite a collection — more than 40 paintings found at auction, estate sales, and even a back shelf in a used furniture store. That painting proved to be a real find, and a bargain at that. “We traded an ottoman for it, did some research, and discovered it is the work of a listed artist,” says Caroline.

They also had to be creative in other ways. For example, the house is small, so the couple created outdoor living and dining areas, complete with a fireplace, spaces that they use year-round. Modern cars are too big for their garage, so they converted it into what they jokingly call “Mon Cave,” a man cave for Emil which displays “guy stuff” and his family’s memorabilia, including photos and equestrian gear. His late father and grandfather were members of Rancheros Visitadores (“Visiting Ranchers”), an exclusive men’s riding club founded in the 1920s that over the years included Ronald Reagan, Walt Disney, Leo Carrillo, and Paul Ecke, to name a few.

The Wohls’ love of history and community extends to philanthropy. Caroline was honored by the Salvation Army as a Woman of Dedication in 2024 for her extensive volunteer work, which includes serving as a trustee of the San Diego History Center.

On February 28, she will chair the longest running charitable event in San Diego — the 117th Anniversary Charity Ball at the Hotel del Coronado, to benefit Rady Children’s Hospital. Her family has attended the event 55 times over the years, her aunt chaired the ball in 1983, and her mother co-chaired it in 1988. Her late grandmother Eugenie Sedlock, who was a longtime newspaper reporter and columnist, also covered the event. Dressed in formal attire, with notebook in hand, she took the ferry from San Diego to Coronado to report on the festivities. (Sedlock was nicknamed “the Admiral” for her military coverage.)

Proceeds from this year’s ball, which includes a formal dinner, dancing, and entertainment, benefits research and patient care at the hospital’s Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top children’s hospitals in the country for cancer. It is named in honor of Michael and Lisa Peckham for their generosity, philanthropy, and volunteerism. The center, with 38 private, family-friendly rooms, offers an integrative medicine program to reduce side effects from treatment, a healing environment called Carley’s Magical Garden, and a Wellness Center.

Caroline selected “Kaleidoscope: Endless Possibilities” as the event theme. “I wanted to have a theme that reflected the playfulness of children, and offer a message of hope to patients and families,” she explains. 

In addition to state-of-the-art medical care, Peckham offers psychosocial services to enhance well-being for children braving cancer. The funds raised from Kaleidoscope will benefit all the efforts at Peckham — from research and care to patients’ emotional and social needs.

Cancer causes are very close to the hearts of both Caroline and Emil, who met at the University of Southern California and have long been involved with Cancer for College (CFC), founded in 1993 by classmate Craig Pollard, a two-time cancer survivor, and his wife, Stacy. With help from another classmate, comedian and actor Will Ferrell, the nonprofit has awarded more than $8 million in scholarships to more than 2,000 cancer survivors. The Wohls also created a CFC scholarship in honor of Emil’s late parents after his father died of pancreatic cancer and his mother from a stroke.

“One of the most rewarding aspects of our involvement has been getting to know the cancer survivors,” says Caroline. “Despite having incredible challenges, they are the most hopeful and optimistic group of college kids I have ever met. It is such a rewarding cause and it is why I wanted to direct this year’s Charity Ball funds toward cancer patients and their families through Peckham.” radyfoundation.org/charityball