Allen Anthony Hazard

Allen Anthony Hazard, a native son of San Diego, passed away suddenly at the age of 71 on October 6, 2024. The previous morning, he had run 90 minutes and showed no signs of slowing down. He was a vibrant, witty intellectual who sought and shared ideas and knowledge with delightful humor. He was a teacher and an avid hobby photographer.

A lifelong runner and surfer, Allen embraced the ocean and the trails. As a teacher, he inspired curiosity and passion in others, leaving a lasting impact on his students.He had his priorities straight.

Since 2022, Allen was a Professor Emeritus at Southwestern College (SWC), capping a 27-year career as an adjunct professor. He taught college-level courses in health, nutrition, kinesiology, EKG, and first responder training across several San Diego County community colleges, including SWC and National University. Though he aspired to a full-time teaching position, changes in hiring practices led him to become a "freeway flier," commuting between campuses such as Mesa College, Grossmont College, and SWC. Despite these challenges, his passion for education and commitment to making a difference never wavered.

Concurrently, until 2013, Allen worked as a Clinical Exercise Physiologist and Health Educator in cardiac rehabilitation programs including from 1992 to 2001, as manager of the Scripps Chula Vista's Cardiac Rehab program. He also served as a Clinical Exercise Physiologist and Health Educator at various hospitals throughout San Diego, and Palomar Medical Center in Escondido. As a clinician, he had excellent bedside manner.

Allen served as President of the California Society for Cardiac Rehabilitation, Southern California, from 2000 to 2001, and served on the South Bay, American Heart Association Board, and Speakers Bureau (1996-1998). He was dedicated and embodied teaching in everything he did

Born to Run

Learning and teaching about optimizing health began in his early days of running, study, and coaching. When he ran his first track race, he finished second to last. He stated: ”I was just grateful that I wasn't the last one to finish. ” He did not give up.

His determination paid off as he went on to run for Sweetwater High School's Red Devils, before being recruited to Southwestern College (SWC), where he broke eight school records. He admitted that some of those records remain unbroken as indoor meets are no longer held. In 2013, he was honored with induction into the SWC Hall of Fame!

After SWC, he was recruited to Boise State, but that didn't last long. He transferred to San Diego State University ("SDSU") where he joined the track and field team as a Red Shirt racing and trained with with elite athletes. At the time, SDSU track and field was ranked within the top 20 Division One NCAA dual meet teams in the country. He was determined and worked hard.

He continued running as he completed his Master’s thesis managing altitude studies at Mammoth Mountain. His research, titled The Acute and Chronic Effects of Training at 2,440m on Maximal Oxygen Uptake in Young Male and Female Distance Runners, was influential in the field, cited in over 10 published articles including the Journal of Applied Physiology.

When asked: What was the best thing about his time at SDSU? Allen quipped, "The women". Title Nine expanded the track program, and from 1980-1982, he served as SDSU's Head Cross Country and Assistant Track and Field Coach. During his coaching career, he guided a three-time Olympic Gold Medalist, three other summer Olympians, and several All-Americans.

After graduating from SDSU's Master's program, Allen continued running competitively for the Maccabi Union track club. His impressive personal records were 1:51.2 in the 800 meters, 4:04 in the mile, and 13:59.5 in the 3-mile.

Save Our Heritage Organisation

Allen’s passion for teaching and his coaching skills extended beyond the classroom and blossomed into teaching San Diego history through entertaining walking, biking, and cemetery tours, managing home tours, lectures and presentations, a book, numerous articles, newsletters, Facebook, and other publications.

Around 2000, he joined Save Our Heritage Organisation (SOHO) and dedicated himself to advancing historic preservation for the rest of his life.

An active volunteer, Allen served on the SOHO Board of Directors at various times and was serving a current term. In 2004, he became more involved and since then contributed to various committees, including the Events and Education Committee, Marketing Committee, and Preservation Action Committee.

He played key roles as an event chair or organizing members for home tours and volunteered at countless events, representing SOHO as a guest lecturer or expert at venues such as the Lakeside Historical Society, San Diego Historical Society, and the Old House Fair.

Allen shared his expertise through lectures like The Lost Builders of San Diego and The Prairie School Influence on San Diego. He also created numerous walking tours, designed a bike tour, and co-authored a Mission Hills Modernism virtual tour, always striving to make history accessible and engaging for the community.

Mission Hills Historic District

With guidance from SOHO, Allen's ingenuity and dedication led to the creation of the Mission Hills Historic District, the first of its kind in the U.S. After moving to Mission Hills in early 2001, Allen became concerned about the increasing demolition of historic buildings. He recognized the urgency of preserving the area’s historic homes, even if the city was unable to prioritize the effort given the city’s budget deficit at the time. When faced with bureaucratic obstacles, he asked the Historic Resources Board staff, "Why don't you let us do the research report?" They agreed, opening the door for a community-led initiative that would preserve historic resources at reduced city costs. Then, Allen and his wife Janet, worked with the city to establish boundaries to form the Mission Hills Historic District. This was a significant turning point that changed their lives. It also gave Allen more reasons to uncover stories about the neighborhood he loved. The report was completed on time in 2004, and the Mission Hills Historic District was officially designated in 2007.

The Mission Hills Historic District included a portion of the total area of the subdivision. As the first residential historic district in the United States it received national press coverage. Allen, Janet, and the help of researchers and many neighbors rallied to complete the requirements. Allen's work didn’t stop there; besides creating designation reports with Janet, they promoted this model to advocate for historic preservation in other areas of Mission Hills and San Diego, as a proactive approach to safeguarding the city's architectural heritage.

Mission Hills Heritage

Allen was instrumental in founding Mission Hills Heritage. The group initially met at his house to get organized. From 2004 - 2008 he served as a Board Member & Vice President, as well as Events Chair. Besides the initial victory that included citizen input in a discretionary project (Paseo de Mission Hills, now One Mission) that showed the power of community involvement, his foresight helped amass funding to support the new organization by creating home tours, member parties, and walking tours. Additionally, he authored numerous articles and conducted oral histories, including participation in a Family Album Day capturing the stories and memories that help define Mission Hills.

Historic Mission Hills

In approximately 2009, he began a Facebook group called Historic Mission Hills that attracted thousands of followers. However, advertisers infiltrated the group, so he shut it down. He then re-formed a private group with the same name to enable members to engage with each other more effectively.

The Historic Mission Hills Facebook group led to the 2015 publication of Mission Hills: Images of America, that Allen co-wrote with Janet O'Dea. It shares images collected primarily from long-time or older area residents that highlight the architecture and character of this streetcar suburb.

From 2013 to 2021, he served as the co-owner with Janet and Vice President of Powers Plumbing until the business was sold to new owners. He worked at Powers Plumbing while still teaching. He created Power Walks, a booklet of three walking tours, to fund the replacement of a worn plastic advertising bus bench in front of the shop with a metal bench that was more fitting for the areas character. Powers Plumbing became a central meeting or drop-in spot when working on the Mission Hills Images of America book and served as a resource for preservationists and neighbors looking for information about their house and neighborhood history.

Beyond Mission Hills

Allen was a passionate advocate for historic preservation, not only in Southern California but across the country. A lifelong scholar he dedicated himself to learning about the Arts and Crafts Movement and decorative arts. He shared his knowledge by lecturing for Pasadena Heritage and leading a walking tour of Mission Hills for the Initiatives in Art Conference when it was in San Diego. Allen also presented twice at the National Arts and Crafts Conference, at the Grove Park Inn, in Asheville, NC. where he brought attention to San Diego with topics such as The Prairie School Goes West in 2023 and Irving Gill, the Greatest Architect You're Never Heard of in 2019.

As a devoted volunteer, Allen received accolades for his tireless work in preservation. Among his honors are:

Awards and Recognition

People in Preservation Awards from Save Our Heritage Organisation for Community Preservation: 2005 In the Trenches Mission Hills, 2007 (with Mission Hills Heritage) and 2012 “Caped Crusader” for Historic Mission Hills and General Preservation

SOHO Lady Award (2009) for outstanding preservation work.

City of San Diego Historical Resources Board Community Preservation Awards: As a founding member of Mission Hills Heritage (2007) for the Mission Hills Historic District (2009) and for contributions to the Mission Hills book. (May 2016)

Congress of History of San Diego and Imperial Counties Award of Honor (March 2017) for his efforts in sharing the history of Mission Hills.

Family Members:

Allen was a loving husband, nephew, cousin and uncle. He is survived by his wife, Janet O’Dea.

His Uncle James (Edna) Boston and cousins lovingly referred to as the "Boston brats" Jennifer Boston Mendenhall, Jo Boston, Jeannette Adams (Gordon) and Jill Boston Richard (Terry) Phoenix, AZ; Barbara Scoville Anderson (Ed) of Escondido; Kathy Scoville of Payson, AZ; Wayne Scoville of Strawberry, AZ; Joe Buchmiller (Debbie) Troy, MI; Nick Buchmiller (Judy), Miles; Michael Buchmiller, (Rachel Bradley), Lucy Buchmiller; and Patricia Denny Thomas. His aunt Tony Jo Oliver of Redmonds, OR.

He was brother-in-law to the O'Dea siblings from Illinois Nancy (James Morawski), Diane, Patricia O’Dea- Evans (Don Klimek), John and Tim. He was uncle to Theresa Morawski Pulickal (Henish) of San Diego; Michael Morawski, Stephen (Beeta) Morawski (Atlanta, GA); Luci O’Dea; Thomas and Chris Evans; Michael (Katelyn) Klimek and Mark (Sharon) Klimek.

He is also survived by sisters Roseanna Ward of Blythe, CA; Linda Carvey Welch (David Covert) of Jamul, CA; Annette Carvey Alba (Gonzalo), nephew Michael, and niece Alyssa Arce (Andrew) of National City; Nieces Susan Welch; Chani Welch Moy (Ming) of Escondido, CA; and Alia Welch Partida (Frank) of Chula Vista, CA. He was a great uncle to sixteen. He will be greatly missed by a wide circle of wonderful friends and colleagues.

Allen is preceded in death by his father, Perl Allen Hazard (Karen) his mother, Beverly Jean Boston Hazard Carvey, sister Cindy Hazard Anderson (Curtis), and stepfather, Lyle Carvey of National City. Extended family members including Aunt Ethel "Ginger" Boston Scoville of Phoenix, AZ, cousin Deborah Buchmiller of Temecula, Aunt Betty Davis, and Cousin Johnny Boston of Phoenix, AZ.

Chicago area - Celebration of Life

December 28, 2024

2:30 PM - 5:30 PM

The Abbington 3S002 Route 53, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 (Corner of Route 53 and, Butterfield Rd,)

Please RSVP: https://forms.gle/4ukERFAqVkrgeDuo6

For more information, please contact Janet O’Dea:

Email: [email protected] (please include "Allen Hazard Celebration of Life" in the subject line)

Phone: 619-794-2781

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to:

Save Our Heritage Organisation: https://www.sohosandiego.org/giving/inmemory.htm

World Central Kitchen Asheville: wck.org

Special thanks to Alana Coons, Save Our Heritage Organisation, and Silver Connections for their support.