Welcome to the Palomar Estates West Residents Association (PEWRA) Board Page.
Here you can get to know your Board members and review the Bylaws by which we operate. The Board meets in the Pavilion the first Tuesday of each month at 6.30 PM. There is a General Meeting three times a year; February, June and October, with June being our annual meeting. Click here for PEWRA ByLaws
Garry Larson, President
After living my entire working life in the Pacific Northwest, I retired to Oro Valley Arizona. After four brutal summers there Melissa and I started looking for a home in the San Diego area, where she had lived for over 30 years. Several trips later we struck gold when we found Palomar Estates West. We have it ALL here, beautiful weather and vistas, excellent updated indoor and outdoor facilities and best of all, many great neighbors and friends.
I enjoy playing on the mens billiards team and am looking forward to the post-Covid era.
I will be an advocate for you and I will do my best to assure our safety and well-being as we age.
It is my honor to be your representative on our Residents board. Please contact me with questions, concerns and ideas to help us continue to ensure Palomar Estates West remains an inclusive and vibrant paradise.
Cathie Byrd, Vice President
My husband, Ron, and I have lived in PEW for 7 years. We enjoy catching some rays at our local beaches, taking in concerts at local music venues and spending time with family and the many friends we’ve made at PEW. Together, we’ve raised 8 children and have 4 (with one on the way!) grandkids.
My “work” life has been varied and NEVER dull! My 20 years of work experience with nonprofits includes volunteer, program and event management with CASA and Big Brothers Big Sisters. I’ve failed at retirement ( twice) and am currently contracted with the Community Resource Center in Encinitas to manage their nonprofit fundraising events. I also do a bit of catering just for fun!
My volunteer service experience includes foster parenting and serving with various organizations including the Community Resource Center and the San Dieguito Interfaith Ministerial Association. While living at PEW, I’ve served on the breakfast committee, the social connection and delivered the welcome packets to new residents. I’m now looking forward to kicking my volunteer service up a notch with this opportunity to serve as a PEWRA Board member because…in the words of Dr. Suess “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s Not.”
Joan Ellen "Jo" Gehringer, Secretary
I moved into my home in Palomar Estates West in 2018. After retiring from full time employment, I wanted to be close to my daughter who lives in Carlsbad and on one of my exploration trips searching for a new home I was fortunate enough to discover San Marcos and Palomar Estates West. It has been a great down-size adventure and I have really great neighbors in a friendly and active community.
After working for several years for TWA in Philadelphia and Hartford, marriage brought me to California. Over the next several years and homes in several cities (Anaheim, Arroyo Grade, San Luis Obispo and Fresno) I achieved my licensure as a registered nurse and post graduate studies in Psychology. After 40 years in nursing and Hospital administration I retired in 2017.
After a two year interruption courtesy of Covid quarantine I am eagerly looking forward to meeting even more PEW residents and hope my activities with the board members and general population can contribute to this very special community and its continuing growth and development.
Simon Spears, Treasurer
My wife, Tricia and I have lived in PEW for 5 years. We remain constantly amazed at what a great place it is, not only for the excellent facilities, but also for the sense of community. I believe in thinking globally, but acting locally, where it is still possible to make a difference. When the opportunity came along for me to join the Social Connection I jumped at it, I wanted to volunteer and give something back. Having been in the audio business all my life it seemed obvious that helping with the sound system, providing music for events and hosting Movie Nights, was a good way to start.
When the request came to find new board members for the Residents Association, Trish and I discussed it and agreed that I should volunteer. It has a great team of people, and I would be honored to join in any way that can help.
I’m an experienced Sales and Marketing Consultant with a demonstrated history working in the custom Smart Home, Custom Home Theater, and Architectural Speaker industry. Strong sales professional, skilled in communications, negotiation, consumer products, distributed audio, and home automation, I have served on the board of two associations; the Federation of British Audio and the Custom Electronics Design and Installation Association. I am familiar with the way volunteer-based association boards work, am well versed in presentations and am competent in Microsoft Office, including Excel. I am comfortable creating and managing budgets in a spreadsheet format and reporting progress and results.
David Brennan, Member
My better half and wife, Gretchen, and I moved from Palomar Estates East to West in 2021. We love it here, have made many friends, and are very happy that we did too! Not only did we get married and have our reception (during COVID) in West's clubhouse but we joined longtime friends that already lived in West, after we urged them to move up here from Old Town. Currently, I own a small but thriving business with 50+ employees in Poway and am trying to semi-retire by only working a few days a week. At 61, although I love my job, I am willing, have the time, and the energy to be able to serve others any way that I can. In Palomar East, I served on their resident's board as the Membership person. I look forward to serving you, my neighbors, and making new friends along the way.
Katie Rodriguez, Member
My husband, Les and I moved into this Paradise in 2016. I am very honored to be on the Board and represent my community. We lived in Encinitas for 30 years. I managed a small, family owned Dental Office in Cardiff.
When I retired in 2001, I wanted to do something fun to occupy my time, so I went to work for Trader Joes. 16 years later, I am still working at the Carlsbad, Bressi Ranch store. Our only daughter and her husband, new puppy and crazy cat live in Vista. I have a lot of energy and a lot of interest in making PEW a great place to live.
Lori Magnusson, Member
I am looking forward to participating on the Board, rubbing elbows with those in the know, and meeting more residents in our slice of paradise. We all have a stake in maintaining the quality of PEW and I’d like to contribute to our ongoing growth. I have served on the boards of the San Diego Psychological Association and the California Psychological Association and have been members of their PACs, so I bring to the Board particular interests in maintaining our affordability and our rights as mobile home community residents.
I’ve recently moved here all the way from Carlsbad, a 30+-year stint, and after retiring from my psychology practice. My sons are living in my Carlsbad place—who can afford the housing costs in this area? (We’ve got the secret.) Outside of spending a lot of time rehabbing my place due to this winter’s rains, I love to hike, backpack, travel in my RV, and create art. I hope to get out to the pickleball courts, too, if they’ll have me!