Characterized as the unofficial mayor of Ocean Beach and the community’s “go-to gal” who went by “OB Rebel” in her email, Claudia Peters Jack died in the early morning hours of March 30.

She was 78 years old, just shy of her 79th birthday. Jack is survived by her sons Jimmi, Jonny, and Joey Guilmet.

A lifelong fixture and a virtual institution in the beach community, Jack, for all her community service over the years, was presented with a lifetime achievement award by OB Town Council in 2014.

Jack also worked previously for the community’s business improvement district, Ocean Beach MainStreet Association (OBMA), where she was a high-profile figure often seen riding a golf cart during the Wednesday Farmers Markets in OB.

News of her passing led to an outpouring from community members who knew and loved her:

“We were neighbors with Claudia years ago when we were starting our small business,” said Shane Bancroft owner of Shore Thing Pet Supply. “She went to bat for us from the very beginning and helped us get our footing in the community through the OBMA. She was always thinking of us for events such as the restaurant walk, which gave us a great head start with getting our name out there. She was always willing to lend a helping hand without expecting anything back in return. We were lucky to have her as part of our journey.”

“Claudia had been helping me out, since the 1990s, with the OB Chili Cook-off,” said Mike Akey of Pacific View Real Estate. “She was always there to see me through the day of the event and getting me ready for the next year. We both put on the first Imperial Beach Chili Cook-off. She was a good foundation for many events in OB for many years. She will be missed in OB.”

On its Facebook page, Hodad’s Ocean Beach posted: “Ocean Beach doesn’t toss the word ‘legend’ around too easily. Same with ‘local.’ So when we tell you that OB lost a true local legend, it is with the utmost respect. Claudia Peters Jack… Never enough ‘thank you’s’ for all of the energy you pumped into this community. Rest in Peace.”

“Claudia was a tireless community volunteer for dozens of projects, events, and causes over the years,” noted Byron Wear, former San Diego City Council member of Point Loma. “Her vision was to create an Ocean Beach public art project of a beautiful mermaid along our waterfront.”

In her later years, Jack was known for winning over OBecian’s hearts for her crusade to turn a blue-haired mannequin-turned-mermaid named Marina, who had once straddled the 50-foot-high “Bird Sh*t Rock” at Sunset Cliffs, into the community’s de facto mascot.

Marina mysteriously disappeared from her lofty perch in June 2018, only to be replaced by her “sister,” Vera, a mythical figure Jack created and described as representing “positive magic and energy in Ocean Beach.” Along with her “crew” including interior decorator Marna Cahn and muralist Janis Ambrosiani, Jack was responsible for the nautical nymph’s triumphant return as her sister Vera.
“Vera is a happy piece of OB, another piece of history here,” noted Jack about the born-again mermaid who has been an entry in OB Christmas parades ever since riding in a lifeguard boat surrounded by her “court” of 20 mermaidettes and their parents. Vera subsequently graced OB storefronts as OB’s mascot, switching locales every month.

Jack’s oldest son, Jonny Guilmet, perhaps summed things up best about Claudia in this recent post: “My mom was heavily involved in everything OB. She was the Ocean Beach Town Council president, ran the snack shack at Peninsula Little League, was a huge part of the OBMA, volunteered, and was heavily involved in the OB Christmas Parade, OB Street Fair, OB Fireworks, OB Restaurant Walk, and so much more. My mom was a team mom for us in Little League even not knowing anything about baseball. She would feed the entire football team when my brother played for the Pointers. In the 2000s, she got involved in The Irish Congress of San Diego. She was Irish Woman of The Year.

“I lost my mother, but the Ocean Beach community also lost their mother,” continued Guilmet. “She loved this community so much. Seeing how many people have been impacted by my beautiful mom made me smile. She knew she was loved by everyone, but I really wish she could see all the posts and comments. It truly shows how much people loved my mom. We as a family are going to take some time to regroup. There will be a celebration of life in the near future.”