Elsa Olson

PACIFIC BEACH —

On the eve of her 99th birthday, Elsa Olson of Pacific Beach was called home to the Lord with her family by her side, singing “Happy Birthday” and “Amazing Grace,” offering love and comfort.

Born just before the Depression Era in Reedley, California, into a large and loving Greek family, Elsa Calafat Olson picked and packed fruit to help out the family business during her childhood. She also devoted her time to the church, where she played piano, violin, and clarinet.

Following High School, the family moved to Pasadena, where she worked for the Draft Board during the Second World War. Here she met and married Curtis Olson, an electrical engineer, and the couple moved to the city of Orange. While raising two children, she became a well-recognized civic volunteer and successful businesswoman. She volunteered as a teacher’s aide and was president of the PTA, later spending many years mentoring young women in the Miss Orange Pageant. Elsa always encouraged and supported people to improve themselves through training and education. The training she provided to the

January 22, 1924 - January 21, 2023 pageant contestants also offered them opportunities to further their education.

Elsa had an adventurous spirit, was always driven to self-improvement, and demonstrated a ‘can do’ attitude. She opened and ran three “Carri Wicket” dress shops: in Orange, Fullerton, and Balboa Island. Serving her community as Chamber of Commerce Director, Chair of the Beautification Committee, and instituting the Orange Street Fair, she was honored with the Rotary Club’s “Community Service Award” and the Soroptimist Club’s “Women Helping Women” honor, in addition to acknowledgment by the California State Senate as “an inspiration to all of us…an outstanding example of what hard work and determination can accomplish.”

During the era of “Disco Fever,” Elsa and her husband started the Circle City Disco in Orange, a non-alcoholic dancing venue for teens that became extremely successful and had lines down the block. They also opened the SOS Ranch, a 60-horse stable, and Foothill Feed Store. Her men’s clothing version of Carri Wicket in downtown Orange was known as “Sir Wicket.”

At the age of 65, Elsa was proclaimed by the Mayor and the City Council of Orange as the very first “Mrs. Orange” for her many acts of service to the community, calling her “a real asset to the city.”

Upon her retirement, Elsa moved to Pacific Beach in San Diego to live near her son and his family. Family was always ‘number one’ for Elsa, and she helped raise her grandkids for both her son and daughter, teaching them the importance of faith in God and good Greek cooking.

Elsa had a morning routine of walking on the beach and sharing shells and other sea treasures with tourists she met. She was well-known by many early morning beach regulars, sharing her morning cheer. In the words of a former employee of hers: “She sees the good in all people and brings out the best in everyone, as a friend to many and a savior to the lucky few.”

Her final years were spent as a founding resident of Oakmont Senior Living Facility in Pacific Beach, where she was a natural ambassador, welcoming new residents and encouraging other residents to take part in all the activities. She gave management suggestions for improving the Oakmont experience and advised staff to improve their lives through further training and education, all the while continuing to share her Christian faith.

Elsa is survived by her daughter, Cheryl Hanlon, her son, Chris Olson, and his wife, Bridget, and she was very proud of her four grandchildren, and their careers helping others: Kara Dimitriou Maddock, a Special Education teacher; Julia Olson, a public defender; Dimitri Dimitriou, an English teacher and Olivia Olson, an Intensive Care nurse.

The family will hold a Celebration of Life for Elsa on Saturday, February 4th, at 10:30 am, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Pacific Beach.

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