Why this La Jolla Shores home is inspiring a Venetian-themed gala

Jenny and Mike McGowan welcome Ranch & Coast to their lovely home in La Jolla Shores, just a short walk from the beach, shops, and restaurants in this coastal enclave. Jenny  is chair of this month’s Las Patronas 80th Jewel Ball, and Mike, a mediator and pro tem judge in San Diego Superior Court, served as a deputy San Diego city attorney for 20 years.

The couple met in the ninth grade at La Jolla’s Bishop’s School but went their separate ways, returning to San Diego years later — within a month of each other. After graduating from the University of Southern California, Mike’s first job was as a sportscaster at a television station in  Montana. Two years later he returned to San Diego, where his Dad was an estate attorney, and attended law school at the University of San Diego. 

Meanwhile, Jenny moved back to San Diego from Washington, D.C., where she was a commercial real estate manager. The couple reconnected through friends. Their first “real date” was at the now closed Fio’s Cucina Italiana in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, followed by a movie date to watch The Full Monty. Three daughters later, the couple will soon celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary.

Their house, originally built in the 1950s, was a “tear down” when they bought it as an investment property. The McGowans initially planned to rebuild the home and resell it, but the real estate market took a hit during a global financial crisis in 2008. The couple worked with Tim Golba Architects to transform the one-story, two-bedroom house into a two-story family home with five bedrooms and 4.5 baths.

On the day of the photoshoot, the house is bustling with activity. While Photographer Pablo Mason and Publisher Bob Stefanko set up a shot in the kitchen, the couple’s 18-year-old daughter, bound for college this fall, stops to say “hello” as she heads out the door. Another daughter pops in with a friend, both barefoot and wearing bathing suits on this balmy day after a swim at her grandmother’s house across the street. In the dining room, three frisky puppies — Romeo, Sweetpea, and Buttercup — vie for our attention. 

In the comfortable, family-friendly living room overlooking the backyard patio, I notice that bookcases flanking the fireplace are filled with books on Venice and Italy, Venetian glass, and a masque from the annual Carnival of Venice. In the stairwell are photographs of St. Mark’s Square taken by the family from the famous bell tower or campanile overlooking the piazza. I quickly realize those Venice vacations are the inspiration for this year’s 80th Jewel Ball: “Festa di Venezia” on August 8 at the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club. “I wanted to do something romantic,” Jenny says, adding, “I think Venice is the most romantic place in the world.” She is also fascinated with its rich history which dates to the 5th century. Once ruled by wealthy merchant families fueling a golden age of art and architecture, she says that this “floating city” is now a UNESCO World Heritage site and a favorite global tourist destination.

Jenny and her committee, including Las Patronas President Colleen Lighter, have been working nonstop on the Jewel Ball, and the McGowan home has become “Venezia Central,” a gathering place to plan and prepare for one of the oldest and most anticipated fundraisers in San Diego County. Since 1946, Las Patronas has granted more than $28 million to more than 1,000 nonprofits.

Major beneficiaries from this year’s ball include: Alpha Project for the Homeless, Canine Companions, Meals on Wheels San Diego County, National Marine Mammal Foundation, Promises2Kids, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, and Workshops for Warriors. Dianne Bashor is Honorary Jewel Ball Chair. 

Jenny became involved with Las Patronas after a long career working as a contract and proposals manager for a large federal contractor. “My girls were not babies anymore. I was getting some time in my life to think about me again,” she says. “But I wanted to do something that made a difference outside of my normal life. It was time to stretch myself a bit.”

“What I’ve been able to do is step out more into the community and spread the good that is Las Patronas,” Jenny continues. “I feel that my impact is making a positive difference to improve on the success of an already successful charity organization. This charity has thrived and grown in its 80 years and my goal is to expand its impact. To that end, marketing digitally, doing personal visits out in the community, and sending information via old-fashioned
U.S. Mail is essential. This  year, you will see more corporate sponsors than perhaps ever. We are also focusing on having as many folks step in with a donation, however big or small. We want everyone to be a part of the story that is Las Patronas.”

The event includes a cocktail reception, Italian-inspired dinner, live entertainment, and dancing beneath the stars along the storied shore at the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club, the ball’s host for decades. “I’m really focusing on making this ball stand out and be memorable for the attendees,” says Jenny. “To do that, beyond having amazing entertainment, food and atmosphere, you must have some delightful surprises sprinkled in. So, prepare to be wowed. If there’s one thing I know how to do, it’s throw a fantastic party. Andiamo!”
laspatronas.org/jewel-ball