Eugene Bynum
Eugene Bynum
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Interviewed by Camille Antinori and Robert Bermudez at Berkeley Waterfront, July 30, 2024
Eugene Bynum is a retired engineer from Eastman Kodak and AT&T. He grew up in San Francisco and later moved over to the East Bay, where he discovered the Berkeley pier. He recalls the atmosphere on the Berkeley fishing pier as a community, and the "unusual" bait fishers used to use. He and his wife would bring their kids and their cousins out here to fish, and he valued the chance to let them interact with "God's creation" and show them a broader, deeper view of life. Together with his wife, they enjoyed His Lordships restaurant and generally greater affordability of the area. When he worked as an engineer, he recalls being tasked with checking on the methane gas towers and monitoring stations in Cesar Chavez Park, a place he and his wife still frequent regularly for long walks. The interview includes his comparisons of the Berkeley pier with other nearby piers, past and present, and desire to see a reopened Hs. Lordships restaurant and pier.
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Clip
Full Interview
Full Interview
Full interview - MP3 (54.4 MB)
Topics (in order):
Topics (in order):
Background, working for Kodak and ATT as engineer
Moved to East Bay from San Francisco
Now retired and come to waterfront to enjoy themselves, visited HsLordships restaurant frequently, marveled at length of pier
Learned to fish along SF shoreline near what is now Chase Center, and off the drawbridge; caught flounder, salmon, perch
Taught kids to fish at Berkeley pier, caught tiger sharks and stingrays, and sharing their experiences at school
Keeping fish if they were the right size and interactions with game warden
Community atmosphere on pier and sharing tips on bait
Crabbing
Comparison to other nearby piers
Watching birds diving in water and showing you where the fish were
Wife taking their daughters and other family out to fish
Greater difficulty of catching perch over the years and still come out to enjoy view
Space as opportunity to teach kids about "God's creation," and respecting the environment
History of pier as a car ferry and desire to see pier open up again
Favorite memories of coming to HsLordships
Observing current use of empty HsL parking lot as a dumping ground
Bringing granddaughter down to enjoy the view
Affordability
Walking Cesar Chavez Park (CCP) with his wife
Recalling going to CCP as an engineer to change filters and hearing the buzzing on towers to signal methane gas buildup or release from the monitors.
Still comes down here everyday
Thoughts on desire to see the pier reopened.
Images:
HsL sign, Traveler Y., 4/12/2007, https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/hs-lordships-berkeley?select=8AmXdbnrRo2YKX90KRTKEA
Buffet at HsL, Credit: Mary J 4/20/2009 https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/hs-lordships-berkeley?select=xBgjlLmLk3zMja9zDmgguA
Chocolate fountain at HsL, Danielle L., 12/8/2010, https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/hs-lordships-berkeley?select=Xi79JoMoXg1Ed9JOl4gBKw
Full interview transcript
Full interview transcript
Full interview transcript (PDF)
Citation (APA style):
Eugene, Antinori, C, & Bermudez, R. Exploring Intergenerational and Community Connections to the Outdoors. (2024). Interview with Eugene conducted by Camille Antinori and Robert Bermudez, July 30, 2024. [Pdf] Retrieved from the Berkeley Fishing Memories Oral History Project: https://www.cmantinori.net/berkeley-fishing-memories-oral-history-project/interview-with-eugene.
Image: Snapshot from video of fishermen catching a halibut from the Berkeley shoreline, Eugene Bynum
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