As political VIPs take center stage at Friday’s inauguration of Donald Trump, former San Diegan Tim Mitrovich is playing a key role.
This marks the third presidential inauguration in which Mitrovich has taken an active part. Four years ago, he took a six-month leave from his regular job in the Senate Sergeant at Arms office to be the “Capitol Coordinator,” overseeing all inauguration activities in the Capitol.
This time his inauguration title is “Chute Director.” His assignment? To make sure members of the diplomatic corps, governors, Senate and House leaders, former vice presidents, presidents and first ladies take their seats; and to ensure the PA announcer has the correct names and information.
Mitrovich is a graduate of San Diego State and La Jolla High School. The son of George Mitrovich, founder of the City Clubs of San Diego and Denver, has worked in the Capitol for nearly 25 years.
Timing is his biggest challenge tomorrow — getting everyone seated before noon so the swearing-in takes place on time, rain or shine. If it does rain, they’re prepared for that, too — with a stockpile of see-through ponchos.
While he comes from a staunchly Democratic family (his dad was once a press aide to Sen. Robert F. Kennedy), Mitrovich puts talk of politics aside, saying he respects the institution and office of the President “regardless of whether or not I agree with the politics of who’s taking that job.”
Student note: The San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts is playing a role, so to speak, in inauguration festivities. Its students are providing entertainment at the California State Society’s presidential inaugural luncheon Thursday in Washington, D.C.
Moon talk: The passing of astronaut Eugene Cernan reminded Bill Seaton of a visit by the astronaut to SeaWorld here in the late ’70’s, when Seaton was public relations head. He escorted Cernan and his young daughter around the park.
Their tour ended with a special act in the Dolphin Lagoon. A young diver would slowly climb a temporary 70-foot tower to dive dramatically into a shallow tank of water below.
As the daredevil began his slow, ascent up the steep, not-too-steady tower to dramatic music, Cernan whispered to Seaton: “Is he going all the way to the top of that thing?”
Seaton nodded. The last human to walk on the moon sighed in disbelief, saying, “Oh, man, you would never get ME up there!”
Unmoving story: The announcement by a group of local movers that they would not take part in the Chargers relocation to Los Angeles, if asked, unleashed a storm of publicity and national news coverage.
Ryan Charles, instigator of the protest and VP of HireAHelper here, was elated when he received an email that the WSJ wanted to interview him.
His enthusiasm was short-lived, though. He reported to his father-in-law, Dan Greenblat, that it wasn’t the venerable Wall Street Journal after all, but the Winston-Salem Journal.
Remembered: Family and friends of Bill Trumpfheller gathered at San Diego State University Tuesday to celebrate the life of the longtime PR professional and head of Nuffer, Smith, Tucker. Among speakers was client and friend Garry Ridge, founder of WD-40.
Trumpfheller, 53, died of cardiac arrest Dec. 29 while in the mountains with his family. The firm has named Vice President Teresa Siles as its new managing director.
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