Q&A with Beth Roach, chairwoman of the Point Loma Association

In an occasional series, the Point Loma-OB Monthly shines a spotlight on notable locals through a Q&A. This month’s featured personality is Beth Roach, chairwoman of the Point Loma Association.

This is Beth Roach’s sixth year on the Point Loma Association’s board of directors, helping the nonprofit conduct cleanups, maintenance and other beautification efforts along the Point Loma peninsula. It also installs community signs, lights, benches, banners and other landmarks, spearheads creation of public art on utility boxes, murals and sculptures and advocates on community issues.

Roach grew up in San Diego, where her great-grandfather Robert Hicks arrived in 1914 to build vaudeville theaters. Downtown’s Balboa Theatre is the last remaining theater he built.

Roach has been a Realtor with Willis Allen Real Estate in Point Loma for 20 years, with expertise including trust and probate sales, investment property analysis and sales in other states.

Before her career in real estate, Roach worked in management at a computer software company based in New York.

She is a graduate of La Jolla High School and UC Berkeley. Her husband, Josh, is a software executive and they have two grown sons.

Now on to the questions:

Q. What attracted you to the Point Loma-Ocean Beach area as a place to live and/orwork?

A. My family has been in San Diego for over a century. I grew up in La Jolla but I had never spent much time in Point Loma. After college, I ended up in Ocean Beach and fell in love with this peninsula. There is so much natural beauty — we are surrounded by water and great views from all sides. I love the active lifestyle — you can find opportunities for almost any type of sport, whether it be running, biking, yoga, sailing, kayaking or surfing.

With the redevelopment of the old Naval Training Center into Liberty Station, we now have a vibrant cultural hub right in our own backyard. We are so fortunate to have an abundance of cultural activities like exciting restaurants, breweries, art galleries, music, dance and theaters in our community.

Having lived on the Point for many decades now, I’ve found the people to be its best asset — a group of friendly, down-to-earth people who care about the community and are willing to give back.

Q. What do you like to do in Point Loma and/or Ocean Beach?

A. I live in Sunset Cliffs and walk along the cliffs nearly every day. It’s my mental health therapy and a way to recharge.

I love the view from Cabrillo National Monument and ride my bike up there frequently. I also love wandering around Liberty Station for food, shopping or having a glass of wine. I just had a tour of the new Cygnet Theatre in Building 178, and it is going to be amazing for Point Loma and Ocean Beach.

Q. If you could snap your fingers and have it done, how might you improve the area?

A. I would … have no one living on the streets in Point Loma, Ocean Beach or the Midway area.

Q. Who or what inspires you?

A. I have been so inspired by my fellow board members and past board members of the Point Loma Association. All of us are volunteers. It is incredible to see how much PLA has been able to do for the peninsula over the decades by people who care about the community and are willing to give their time and expertise to get things done. This is a very committed group of people.

Q. Tell us about what you are currently reading or watching on TV.

A. We are huge Padres fans, so most of our TV time is spent watching baseball games.

I enjoy reading and am in two book clubs. I like historical fiction and memoirs. I most recently read “The Lion Women of Tehran.”

Q. What are your five favorite movies of all time?

A. “The Godfather,” “Casablanca,” “Almost Famous,” “Bull Durham” and “Top Gun: Maverick”

Q. What is your most prized possession?

A. My family.

Q. What is your motto or philosophy of life?

A. There is a phrase “Bloom where you are planted.” To me, that means whatever I am doing, wherever I am in life, I will make an effort to help improve things for me and those around me.

Do you know someone you’d like us to feature in a Q&A? Send an email with your suggestion to robert.vardon@lajollalight.com.