Dr. Deane Andrew Ebner, who practiced dentistry in Point Loma for
40 years, left his mark on more than the teeth of the children and adults of the beach area.
He served on the Mission Bay Planning Commission and City of San Diego Long Range Planning Commission in the 1960s, which were responsible for the planning and development of Mission Bay Park and helped get the Ocean Beach Pier built in the Ocean Beach business district, rather than further south on Point Loma as the original proposal for the pier was presented.
Dr. Ebner passed away Tuesday, April 3, at the San Diego Hospice after a long battle with cancer.
Born in Minneapolis, Minn., on Dec. 4, 1925, Dr. Ebner graduated from Excelsior High School in Excelsior, Minnesota, and began college at UCLA only to have his education interrupted by World War II. Dr. Ebner joined the Army and served in France and Germany during the war.
After the war, Dr. Ebner settled in San Diego where he held jobs in sales, construction and aerospace while attending San Diego State University. While at SDSU, he met his wife, the former Mary Saul. They moved to the San Francisco Bay area where he continued his studies, first at UC Berkley and later at the UC School of Dentistry in San Francisco, where he earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 1954.
After his graduation he worked in Fort Knox, Ky., for two years before returning to San Diego to set up his Ocean Beach practice on Cable Street in 1956. He would remain here while he and Mary raised their four children.
Dr. Ebner committed much of his time to the youth of the peninsula area, coaching and managing Little League and Pony League activities and helping to organize the first Peninsula Aquarama, which included one of the first sanctioned surfing contests in San Diego.
Dr. Ebner served in the Army Reserve for 40 years, retiring in 1985 with the rank of colonel. Among his many civic positions, he served as presidents of the Kiwanis Club of Ocean Beach, Ocean Beach Merchants Association and Peninsula Pony and Colt leagues, among other civic commitments.
In addition to his work in the community, Dr. Ebner and his family spent time camping and trout fishing throughout the western states.
He was an avid musician, singing and playing banjo in a barbershop quartet with his brothers, while also singing tenor in the Point Loma United Methodist Church choir. He joined the choir in 1961 and sang in it until shortly before his death. At the church, he also he chaired many of the congregation’s committees.
His wife of 55 years, Mary Jane Ebner, passed away in November 2002.
He is survived by his sister, Joyce Ross of Point Loma; four children, Denise Martinez of Point Loma, Curtis Ebner of Point Loma, Greg Ebner of La Jolla and Steven Ebner of Mission Village; five grandchildren and one great grandson.
A memorial service was held at Point Loma United Methodist Church on Tuesday, April 24. Inurnment took place at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, he requested before his death that donations be made to the Point Loma United Methodist Church Memorial Fund.