The legacy of Sam Povar lives on through his family and the community. Photo by George Robertson
Sam Povar was a man who loved Ventura and who spent his time and resources in creating, preserving and protecting the beauty of the city that he loved. Sam passed away in 2015, but he sparked a commitment to continue beautifying the city for residents and visitors alike.
Michael PovarSam’s son and daughter, Michael and Paulette, are continuing this legacy of giving back to the city. “Our father wanted to recognize the beauty of this place and to make a mark that lasts,” says Paulette. “We are celebrating Ventura as a place where residents and visitors can come to talk, walk their dogs, and enjoy the beauty of the Pacific Ocean.”
Sam’s dream of refurbishing the San Salvador, that sits on the sand in Marina Park is now happening.
“Almost every day you can see children playing on the replica of a Spanish galleon in Marina Park “ says Michael. “The large boat represents Juan Cabrillo’s flagship, the San Salvador. Our latest project includes refurbishing the big ship with new paint, aluminum flagpoles and flags celebrating the 150 years of Ventura’s cityhood.”
The Povars are happy that homeowners are contributing to the efforts in Marina Park. Michael explains, “We think this is the most beautiful park, with close to a 360 degree view of water, including the harbor, the inlet and the Pacific itself. It’s a historical place and a very beautiful one. We want residents to have a stake in continuing to make this area a more beautiful place and keeping it that way.”
“ I want to thank our neighbors for their donations. Please tell your friends and neighbors to donate. This is our community, our park and our ship. There is nothing better than donating to the ship and to see the results of your donation on happy faces (kids and adults).”
Sam Povar’s vision was to inspire others to use private capital along with public cooperation and support to envision something beautiful then make it happen. “This is something we are passionate about,” says Paulette. “We hope members of the community will join us not only in beautifying the park, but also in continuing to contribute to Ventura’s future.”
Donations are accepted for continuing projects at the Ventura Community Partners Foundation for the Sam Povar Memorial Fund. For further information, call Michael Povar at 818-705-7600.
