Peninsula people – Elliott was a generous builder
Julian and Carolyn Elliott during an Asia America Symphony chamber orchestra performance at their home in October, 2011. Photo
On Sunday, November 25, the Elliott home on Resort Point, overlooking Lunada Bay, will be the site of the annual Asia America Symphony Guild Holiday Benefit and Boutique. But, for the first time since Carolyn and Julian Elliott began hosting the fundraiser in the early 1990s, Carolyn Elliott will host the event alone. Her husband, home builder Julian Elliott passed away in August, at age 87.
Julian Elliott Weisstein was born on September 26, 1930. During his early childhood, his family lived in East Los Angeles where Julian’s father Al Weisstein, mother Yetta Shneer and his uncles opened the Belvedere Gardens Market on Whittier Boulevard, pioneering the concept of the modern supermarket. In 1935, after the family moved to Beverly Hills, his father and partners opened Food Giant, Panorama and Servol markets throughout Los Angeles.
Julian he played football at Beverly Hills High School, and received the “Blanket Award” for outstanding athletic performance. At UCLA, he earned the Jewish Athlete of the Year Award after being a “walk-on” under legendary football coach coach Red Sanders.
In 1952, he married Jacqueline June Shepard and entered the Air Force, where he also played football.
Julian was the first builder to convert a Manhattan Strand apartment to condominiums. Following that success, he converted a large apartment complex in Lomita to condominiums.
“People thought he was crazy and even he wasn’t confident that condo conversions would sell. When the Lomita complex sold out within 24 hours he was mad at himself for underpricing them,” recalled Carolyn, who by then had become his second wife..
Carolyn was introduced to Julian by Realtor Carol Stewart, a fellow member of the Manhattan Beach Dolphin Club.
“Julian said to me he wished we could meet again in few years because he liked me but he wasn’t ready to settle down,” Carolyn recalled, who owned Manhattan Ranch Preschool. “I thought it was the best pickup line ever.”
Several years passed. Then in 1971, Carolyn asked Stewart if she was still in touch with Julian.
Stewart told her that Julian played pool at Doc’s on Manhattan Avenue. So Carolyn called the bar and asked if Julian was there. The bartender said he was.
“Everything was going well until one of Julian’s friends said, ‘You can’t talk to her, she has a boyfriend.’”
“Julian was very proper and asked me if it was true that I had a boyfriend. I told him, ‘Not anymore,’ which was also true because my boyfriend and I had recently broken up. The couple married two years later.
Julian built his new wife a new preschool, which grew to nearly 150 students before she sold it in the early 1980s and the couple built their Paseo Del Mar home in Palos Verdes.
With Carolyn able to devote time to helping her husband, Julian Elliott Construction grew to become one of the most respected builders in Southern California.
The couple was generous with their success. In addition to opening their home to the Asia America Symphony Association they began hosting events for other community organizations, including an annual summer garden party for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, concerts by the South Bay Chamber Orchestra, and the Sunday by the Sea food and wine tasting for the Providence TrinityCare Hospice Foundation.
in addition to Carolyn, his wife of 47 years, Julian is survived by his four daughters and sons-in-law: Cathy Waits, Laura Adams (Thomas), Stacey Elliott, Michelle Thomas (Rick); as well as his step-daughter Valerie Horlacher (John Carter). He is also survived by six grandchildren, six great grandchildren and his sister Maxine Tobey.
Private services were held in September. Pen