Seagull Droppings

Welcome to the website for former employees of:

	San Diego Federal Savings & Loan
	Great American (Federal) (Savings) Bank
	Systematics @ GAB

This site was created by Lois Van Ewijk to give her former co-workers a way to stay in touch and help them remember their good times together. Lois' passing in early 2005 saddened us all. Please visit her personal web site Timely Computer Stuff which is now a retrospective in her honor.

Ralston “Rollie” Ayers 1/25/1932 – 4/4/2012

Rollie was born in Los Angeles at Queen of Angels hospital. He attended Laurel Grammar School, Bancroft Jr. High, Fairfax High, L.A. City College and graduated from Los Angeles State College.

Rollie moved his young family and career with the YMCA from Hollywood to Encinitas in 1963 to accept the job of building the new “North Coast Family YMCA” from scratch. Rollie started the new Y in a small house on Third Street in Encinitas (it is still there). It was from this small house that Rollie organized the first surfing contest at Moonlight Beach and many other healthy activities with the YMCA name.

He and his new Board members sunk their teeth into developing the Aquatic Park facility in the middle of the three Agua Hedionda Lagoons in Carlsbad. Millions of people pass the facility on the west side of I-5 every year.  The Aquatic Park continues to serve thousands of people each summer with camping, boating and swimming activities.

Rollie was one of those guys who could not go anywhere in Encinitas without running into two or three friends or acquaintances.

By the time Rollie left the Y, the North Coast Family YMCA had established itself at its current site - 200 Saxony Road - on 5 acres donated by the Ecke Family. Construction of the first building and pool had started in 1970. In 1971 Rollie, Paul Ecke Jr., Don Hubbard, Ed Harloff and Irv Roston created “Roof Raisers” to raise funds to pay for the construction of the first roof on the new YMCA facility.  Roof Raisers is still an annual event having raised nearly $4,000,000 for his Y.

Even after leaving the Y Rollie served continually on the Board of the YMCA and its Roof Raisers Committee.  Rollie also served in various capacities with the Rotary Clubs of Del Mar, Kearny Mesa, Encinitas and Rancho Santa Fe.

In 1972 Rollie joined San Diego Federal which later became Great American Savings and Loan. In 1990 Rollie was its Sr. V.P. for Community Relations.  In that role he initiated many functions for the community.

Rollie was the driving force behind the many reunions of former SDF / GAB / GAF employees that took place every few years since the first one in 1999. These were widely attended by many of us who enjoyed reconnecting with one another and reminiscing about our time together at one of the best companies many of us had had the pleasure to be part of. Rollie also is certainly to blame for convincing me into taking over the maintenance of the Seagull Droppings web site when its creator, Lois Van Ewijk, passed in 2005.

Rollie went on to work for Vagabond Motels and Enterprise Car Rental before retiring. He enjoyed his travels to Australia, China, Cuba, Europe, Jordan, Israel, Syria, the Hawaiian Islands and Mexico.

Up to the time of his passing, Rollie drove for Meals on Wheels and served on the Board of M.A.E.G.A., a scholarship program that assists local students with college scholarships.

Rollie passed peacefully in his sleep the evening of Wednesday, April 4, 2012.  He leaves three sons, Bill Ayers of Redmond WA, Ken Ayers and Bob Ayers who live in Encinitas. He also leaves two grandsons, Hayden Ayers and Bryce Ayers. The entire family remains involved with the YMCA and Rollie’s spirit of contributing to the community.

The family recently held a small private gathering at Rollie’s home of 50 years on Cornish Drive as were his wishes.

On Sunday, July 29, 2012 from approximately 4:30 to 7:00 pm the Magdalena Ecke Family YMCA in Encinitas will host an informal community gathering in its outdoor Courtyard to reflect on the life and times of Rollie Ayers.  In lieu of flowers please consider making donations, in Rollie’s spirit of giving, to the Magdalena Ecke Family YMCA, M.A.E.G.A. and/or Meals On Wheels.

Please feel free to attend the community gathering on July 29 at the Y.  No RSVP is necessary. For additional information, send an email to rollieayers@sbcglobal.net. 

Jim Short – SDF 1970 - 1979

View the directory of former employees by last name.

View the directory of former employees by department.

See the flyer and list of attendees for the 2006 reunion.

See the flyer and list of attendees for the 2003 reunion.

	Find out WHAT'S NEW with people and the website in the past 4 months!
	ANNOUNCEMENTS of this and that... You want to be "in the know"?  Go here!
	The HISTORY of Great American reports on the Founders of the company and the Senior Management since 1885.
	All the NEWS that's fit to print; hot off the press.  Well... luke warm...
	BRANCH buildings -- as they were THEN...   and as they are NOW...

	The HUMOR page takes a somewhat irreverent view of GABs history and, of course, seagulls.
	MEMORABILIA contains pictures of old things...
	SEAGULLS -- Photographs and drawings that don't really have anything to do with the company.  But I wanted pictures...  and since the logo has seag...  WHAT??   You say those aren't seagulls...  they're "SOARING FORMS"...   Well..., I'll be...
	HEADQUARTERS buildings -- photos from 1885 to "600 B Street"
	Re-live the 1999 Reunion.

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Reunions: 1999  |  2003

Photos: Headquarters  |  Branches   |  Seagulls   |  1999 Reunion

This site was designed and created
by Lois Van Ewijk
and is being maintained by Jim Short.
It was last updated on 3/16/2008.