GRIT Newsletter: February 2025

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The February 2025 GRIT had two main foci: the upcoming SHHA annual meeting, and remembrances of the life of Ben Abruzzo, the visionary developer who created Sandia Heights. The issue did, however, began as usual with the President’s letter, which mentioned a new formal policy for resolving violations before litigation is initiated. The President’s letter also contained an admonition to be very conscious of fire safety, as the Sandia Heights environs were not too dissimilar from those in Los Angeles where fires were continuing to rage in early 2025.

Following the President’s letter was the Agenda for the February 22, 2025 Annual Homeowner’s Association meeting, slated to be held as usual in the Church of the Good Shephard. The emphasis on the Annual Meeting continued in the form of brief biographies of current and potential SHHA Board members, which in February 2025 included the following: Jim Stewart, President; Eric Faulring, Vice President; Charles Ewing, Treasurer; Kathleen McCaughey, Chair of Environment & Safety Committee, and member of CSC; Martin Kirk, Secretary; Stan Davis, Chair of the Covenant Support Committee; Phil Krehbel, Chair of the Architectural and Control Committee; Heidi Komkov, Chair of the Information Technology Committee; Claudia Mitchell, Chair of the Communications and Publications Committee (as well as editor of The GRIT newsletter); Terry Walker, member of the Finance Committee; Larry Dragan, member of the Finance Committee; Anderson Kressy, member of the Information Technology Committee; Cathy Yandell, member of the Community Service and Membership Committee, Randall Tripp, member of the Finance Committee, Arthur Romero, member of the Covenant Support Committee as well as the Nominating Committee; and Larry Layne, new Board nominee.

The three articles devoted to Ben Abruzzo began with “A Memorial to Ben Abruzzo” by Merrilea Mayo. This article provided a brief overview of Ben’s local career as a real estate developer as well as his international career as a premier balloonist. Ben received awards for the first manned balloon flight across the Atlantic, and several years later the first manned balloon flight across the Pacific. Ben’s untimely death in a small plane crash in 1985 cut short both careers. This introductory overview segued into an article by Ann List, a self-professed “old-timer” resident of Sandia Heights, who retold stories of coming to live in Sandia Heights and her remembrances of Ben Abruzzo as a very approachable person who regularly interacted with residents. Finally, the trio of Ben Abruzzo articles closes with a reprinted column written by Ben Abruzzo himself, describing his vision for Sandia Heights as of February, 1980. Ben’s column mentions features that are still here today, including the tram, the ski company, the fire station, and the restaurant at Sandia Peak. Ben also mentions features now missing: specifically, the horse stables, swimming club, and tennis courts that were available to early residents.

Closing out the GRIT Issue were articles focusing on more recent news: Claudia Mitchell penned a background piece on Anna Levchuk, the intrepid Ukranian refugee who had just been hired to complement the SHHA office staff; Kathleen McCaughey provided an update on electrical upgrades for the nearby Elena Gallegos Open Space; and Claudia Mtchell also relayed news of the Service Awards presented by SHHA President Jim Stewart, to both Joyce Harkwell (for her 6 years of service to the Covenant Support Committee) and Gerard Del Monte (for his work as a volunteer consultant to the SHHA Architectural Control Committee).

As always, the standard monthly reports were sprinkled throughout the issue: the number of Covenant Support Committee violations and their status; a list of recent Architectural Control Committee approvals, and a short Community Events announcement.