Yesterday’s Walk: the Relevance of Landmarks

While visiting San Francisco, I have learned that one of our family’s favorite Sutro Historical District landmarks, The Cliff House, closed its doors permanently on Dec. 31, 2020. This 157 year old establishment survived multiple ownerships and renovations before falling victim to the COVID-19 pandemic and failed contract negotiations with the National Park Service. In March 2021 the restaurant equipment and associated memorabilia were auctioned off.

My personal connection to this site was initially via my mother-in-law, Millie Tissot. Millie grew up in Oakland and absolutely loved The Cliff House. My first meal at The Cliff House was in 1993 with her. The two of us went to lunch there and enjoyed the spectacular ocean view from our table. There are two reasons 1993 is a significant and relevant year: that introductory meal (which was delicious) and the fact that that is the year, my father-in-law Gene Tissot, gave my husband a kidney. At the time of the kidney transplant, our daughter was a toddler and our son, just a twinkle in our eyes. In recent years, my husband and I have enjoyed meals at The Cliff House.

Just below and adjacent to the restaurant is the former Sutro Bath site and the Coastal Trail. I have always wanted to spend some time at this historical site, the remnants of which look like a much older archaeological site. Yesterday, my adult daughter and I chose this location for our daily walk. Like 1993, this choice was befitting for a couple of reasons: we got to explore this awesome site in conjunction with my husband’s second kidney transplant. A kidney that he was fortunate to receive on March 24 from a live anonymous donor in Minneapolis.

Today our grown son, walked into the USCF Medical Center to reciprocate and selflessly donate one of his kidneys to an anonymous UCSF patient. This was done through an important and impressive organ donation program called The National Paired Donor Program. So our attachment to San Francisco and it’s landmarks like The Cliff House and Sutro Baths have a unique connection to our family.

Organ donation is one of the most generous gifts one can give. Many states have an option for potential donors to declare their intention to donate when renewing one’s drivers license. If your in good health, you can be a living donor and donate a kidney. Something to think about.

Enjoy my pics! #iluvtowalk #sanfrancisco #landmarks #history #UCSFmedicalcenter #nationalkidneyfoundation #nationalpaireddonorprogram #sutrobaths #coastaltrail