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Dave PonTell remembered as pioneer in Big Bear Valley
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David F. PonTell, a 38-year resident of Big Bear Lake, died Sunday, May 4, 2008, of natural causes. Born Nov. 28, 1923, in Monterey, Calif., he grew up on the Monterey Peninsula in Pacific Grove, finishing high school as class president.
Dave and his wife of 43 years, Dee, owned Eagle Point Cottages where the current McDonald’s now sits. Dave was a real estate broker and established a partnership with Norma Harper, the agent for Bear Valley Mutual Water Company of Redlands. PonTell Harper Realty served Big Bear Valley for more than 30 years.
“His gift was seeing the value of someone and seeing potential,” said Jeannie Antes, owner of O Koo Ran, about Dave PonTell. Antes was Dave’s tenant for many years, but their relationship started much earlier, she said.
“He knew me from Leroy’s and knew I had the experience to make it in retail,” Antes said about Dave. She made it with some help.
Antes was 28 years old when she opened her store, and getting a commercial lease at a young age isn’t easy, she said. “I think knowing me and knowing my father helped, but without his help I might not have made it,” she said.
Dave was very involved in stimulating, improving and providing leadership for businesses in the Village area. He initiated or became involved in:
Forming the first Business Improvement District in San Bernardino County for the Village Area.
Taking a leadership role in the Main Street project helping to organize events and improvements in the Village.
Being a driving force behind rerouting the state highway and implementing the Village Streetscape project.
Helping to develop the first sign ordinance and serving on the first architectural review panel.
Performing a role in the successful cityhood for Big Bear Lake.
Supporting Big Bear’s public parks, library and Performing Arts Center with his wife, Dee.
Dave was a founder of the Toastmasters Club of Big Bear Valley and served as president of the Big Bear Valley Republican Club. In addition, he served a term on the park district advisory commission, helping to create the 10-year master plan for the Big Bear Valley Recreation and Park District.
Leo McCarthy of Pine Knot Landing started working for Dave straight out of college. “He was a fair and honest man, and working for him was a pleasure because he had no hidden agendas,” McCarthy said.
McCarthy got to know his boss on a personal level too. “He studied art and painting and had a large collection of first edition books by California authors,” McCarthy said about Dave. “He played violin from the time he was 6 years old,” McCarthy said.
Dave was a civic leader, even though he wasn’t as visible as others, McCarthy said. “He was always behind the scenes making something happen,” McCarthy said.
Dave worked with a committee to take control of the domestic water service from SoCal Water and place it in the hands of the city of Big Bear Lake. In a rare willingness to accept public accolades, Dave accepted the naming of a DWP reservoir in his honor.
Dave encouraged the success of businesses ranging from O Koo Ran, Room to Room and Big Bear Choppers, just to name a few.
Kevin Alsop met Dave in 1999. Alsop owns Big Bear Choppers and rented a commercial space from Dave for six months. “He saw what I was trying to do and knew my business would grow,” Alsop said. Dave came into Alsop’s shop with a surprising offer. “He wanted to sell me the building,” he said.
Dave knew Alsop didn’t have the credit to buy the building, so Dave offered to hold the mortgage while Alsop purchased the property, Alsop said. “I remember when he told his wife what he was doing. She couldn’t believe he would do that,” Alsop said.
Big Bear Choppers is a nationally known motorcycle company and Alsop said some of the credit goes to Dave PonTell. “He was very proud of what we accomplished and how he was able to help,” Alsop said.
People who had the honor of being Dave’s friend, and there are many, spoke of him as honest, straightforward, reliable and gentlemanly. Furthermore, he was great dad and husband his family says. Dave was honored by his daughter Rene as a Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow.
Dave was an officer in the Navy Submarine Corps, graduated from Pomona College as an English literature major. He collected books including special edition classics by California authors. Dave studied painting under Ed Runci and played the violin. Dave and Dee collected World’s Fair artifacts spanning from the first Crystal Palace Exhibition of London in 1851 to exhibitions in Germany and Asia. The collection will be donated to a museum in Dave’s honor.
Dave owned Presentation Industries prior to settling in Big Bear Lake. The company designed and built exhibits for museums and world’s fairs. The exhibits include IBM’s Mathematica and exhibits in San Antonio, Seattle, Vancouver and New York.
Dave overcame major life-threatening illnesses, from a liver transplant to bypass heart surgery. In an article by Elizabeth Stevens in The Grizzly on Nov. 15, 2000, Dave was asked what it takes to survive victorious from such physical trauma as he has endured. Dave responded with vigor, “A solid Christian faith and belief in Jesus, and to be as lucky as I am to have a good partner and excellent doctors.”
The PonTells chose Redlands as a retirement retreat where they purchased a Fisk-designed home in the Historic District, with a Historic Register designation built in 1901. They are members of the Redlands Historic Society, and Town & Gown of the University of Redlands.
Dave is survived by his wife of 43 years, Dee, a graduate of the University of Redlands; his children Rene Briggs of Ojai, Leslie Schreiber of Tiburon, Steve PonTell of Ontario, and Annette Kesler of San Francisco. He was preceded in death in 1978 by his son, David Francis PonTell, Jr. He is also survived by six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, his sisters Jacquelin Jones of Pacific Grove and Sara Service of Union City, and a brother, Sheldon Hawkins of Houston, Texas.
A memorial service and celebration of life is Saturday, May 17, 11 a.m. at the Big Bear Lake Performing Arts Center.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Dave’s honor to the American Liver Foundation, 5777 Century Blvd. Suite 865, Los Angeles, CA 90045; 800-223-0179 ext 231; www.liverfoundation.org, or the Salvation Army, c/o Leah Sanders: Attn: Personal 2320 5th Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101; 619-446-0283; http://www.salvationarmyusa.org.
Dave and his wife of 43 years, Dee, owned Eagle Point Cottages where the current McDonald’s now sits. Dave was a real estate broker and established a partnership with Norma Harper, the agent for Bear Valley Mutual Water Company of Redlands. PonTell Harper Realty served Big Bear Valley for more than 30 years.
“His gift was seeing the value of someone and seeing potential,” said Jeannie Antes, owner of O Koo Ran, about Dave PonTell. Antes was Dave’s tenant for many years, but their relationship started much earlier, she said.
“He knew me from Leroy’s and knew I had the experience to make it in retail,” Antes said about Dave. She made it with some help.
Antes was 28 years old when she opened her store, and getting a commercial lease at a young age isn’t easy, she said. “I think knowing me and knowing my father helped, but without his help I might not have made it,” she said.
Dave was very involved in stimulating, improving and providing leadership for businesses in the Village area. He initiated or became involved in:
Dave was a founder of the Toastmasters Club of Big Bear Valley and served as president of the Big Bear Valley Republican Club. In addition, he served a term on the park district advisory commission, helping to create the 10-year master plan for the Big Bear Valley Recreation and Park District.
Leo McCarthy of Pine Knot Landing started working for Dave straight out of college. “He was a fair and honest man, and working for him was a pleasure because he had no hidden agendas,” McCarthy said.
McCarthy got to know his boss on a personal level too. “He studied art and painting and had a large collection of first edition books by California authors,” McCarthy said about Dave. “He played violin from the time he was 6 years old,” McCarthy said.
Dave was a civic leader, even though he wasn’t as visible as others, McCarthy said. “He was always behind the scenes making something happen,” McCarthy said.
Dave worked with a committee to take control of the domestic water service from SoCal Water and place it in the hands of the city of Big Bear Lake. In a rare willingness to accept public accolades, Dave accepted the naming of a DWP reservoir in his honor.
Dave encouraged the success of businesses ranging from O Koo Ran, Room to Room and Big Bear Choppers, just to name a few.
Kevin Alsop met Dave in 1999. Alsop owns Big Bear Choppers and rented a commercial space from Dave for six months. “He saw what I was trying to do and knew my business would grow,” Alsop said. Dave came into Alsop’s shop with a surprising offer. “He wanted to sell me the building,” he said.
Dave knew Alsop didn’t have the credit to buy the building, so Dave offered to hold the mortgage while Alsop purchased the property, Alsop said. “I remember when he told his wife what he was doing. She couldn’t believe he would do that,” Alsop said.
Big Bear Choppers is a nationally known motorcycle company and Alsop said some of the credit goes to Dave PonTell. “He was very proud of what we accomplished and how he was able to help,” Alsop said.
People who had the honor of being Dave’s friend, and there are many, spoke of him as honest, straightforward, reliable and gentlemanly. Furthermore, he was great dad and husband his family says. Dave was honored by his daughter Rene as a Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow.
Dave was an officer in the Navy Submarine Corps, graduated from Pomona College as an English literature major. He collected books including special edition classics by California authors. Dave studied painting under Ed Runci and played the violin. Dave and Dee collected World’s Fair artifacts spanning from the first Crystal Palace Exhibition of London in 1851 to exhibitions in Germany and Asia. The collection will be donated to a museum in Dave’s honor.
Dave owned Presentation Industries prior to settling in Big Bear Lake. The company designed and built exhibits for museums and world’s fairs. The exhibits include IBM’s Mathematica and exhibits in San Antonio, Seattle, Vancouver and New York.
Dave overcame major life-threatening illnesses, from a liver transplant to bypass heart surgery. In an article by Elizabeth Stevens in The Grizzly on Nov. 15, 2000, Dave was asked what it takes to survive victorious from such physical trauma as he has endured. Dave responded with vigor, “A solid Christian faith and belief in Jesus, and to be as lucky as I am to have a good partner and excellent doctors.”
The PonTells chose Redlands as a retirement retreat where they purchased a Fisk-designed home in the Historic District, with a Historic Register designation built in 1901. They are members of the Redlands Historic Society, and Town & Gown of the University of Redlands.
Dave is survived by his wife of 43 years, Dee, a graduate of the University of Redlands; his children Rene Briggs of Ojai, Leslie Schreiber of Tiburon, Steve PonTell of Ontario, and Annette Kesler of San Francisco. He was preceded in death in 1978 by his son, David Francis PonTell, Jr. He is also survived by six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, his sisters Jacquelin Jones of Pacific Grove and Sara Service of Union City, and a brother, Sheldon Hawkins of Houston, Texas.
A memorial service and celebration of life is Saturday, May 17, 11 a.m. at the Big Bear Lake Performing Arts Center.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Dave’s honor to the American Liver Foundation, 5777 Century Blvd. Suite 865, Los Angeles, CA 90045; 800-223-0179 ext 231; www.liverfoundation.org, or the Salvation Army, c/o Leah Sanders: Attn: Personal 2320 5th Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101; 619-446-0283; http://www.salvationarmyusa.org.
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Samantha Berryessa wrote on May 19, 2008 11:07 AM:
His marriage was a great example to us all.
"