Members of the La Jolla community will remember the late Alfonso de Bourbon — dubbed “The Count” by some due to his claims of royal Spanish lineage dating back to King Alfonso XIII — for his charmingly eccentric personality, dapper dress and culturally packed conversations. De Bourbon was a common sight strolling around the village on any given day. A bizarre accident, however, would make his daily strolls and casual encounters with La Jollans only a memory. According to the police report, a Jonathan’s Market employee found a man in his early 80s pinned between a dumpster and loading-dock wall around 7 a.m. on Jan. 11. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene behind the gourmet grocery store on Fay Avenue. Through video surveillance, police discovered that a Roadway 18-wheeler backed into the loading dock area and made a three-point turn around 6 p.m. the night before. Police say it is possible that the driver of the vehicle — who has been identified and is currently being interviewed — hit the dumpster but was unaware that anyone was behind it. “The original reporting party did not identify the man — only that they found a body pinned between the loading dock and the dumpsters,” said San Diego Police spokeswoman Lt. Andra Brown. “It is my understanding the man was a well-known resident of La Jolla, and many people have identified him as somewhat a fixture in the village.” That well-known figure, Jonathan’s Market employees said, was 83-year-old de Bourbon — a regular customer at the gourmet grocery store, as well as many other locations throughout the village. Although he was known to have an odd hobby of “dumpster diving,” de Bourbon owned a condo on Eads Avenue and was a regular guest at cultural and social events around town. The accident came as a shock to many who saw him on a near-daily basis. Village storeowners said they could just about set their watches by the appearance of the charismatic La Jollan in their shops each day. “At 2:30 p.m., he would have lunch here, go for a walk and come back to have some coffee around 5 p.m.,” said Diana Goedhuys, owner of Girard Gourmet, recalling the last time she saw him leaving her cafe around 5:30 p.m. on the evening of his death. Just before his 5 p.m. appearance at Girard Gourmet, executive director of the La Jolla Athenaeum, Erika Torri, had two pleasant encounters with de Bourbon — the first in the afternoon when the two greeted each other in their “usual lighthearted and happy way,” and another just as Torri was returning to the Athenaeum from a visit to the Gagosian Gallery nearby. “I was carrying a large package with an Ed Ruscha book … Seeing the large package, he offered to carry it for me. I thanked him, but politely refused his offer. Then he offered to open the Athenaeum door for me. Again, I refused and said to him, ‘Alfonso, this is a good workout for me.’ He in turn said, ‘Well, that is how you keep your lovely figure,’” recalled Torri of the last time she saw him. “That is what I remember about Alfonso. There was always a compliment — a small upbeat remark that stayed with you for the day.” La Jolla Town Council president Rick Wildman said he will remember de Bourbon for his extravagantly polite speech, worldly conversations and affinity for beautiful women. “He would tilt his head and gesture as he spoke of grand themes, never hesitating to share his well-read and worldly knowledge,” he said. “Mr. de Bourbon always offered to share these gifts of conversation and company with as many beautiful women as he could. He was eager to escort any such available woman to dinner, dancing or any gala event if only they would cover the cost.” The longtime La Jolla resident will be remembered through the fond memories and encounters he shared with neighbors for nearly 40 years in the village. “He was always cheerful, even when his plans did not meet with success. I will remember him as the proud aristocrat, content to reign in his chosen heaven-on-earth,” Wildman said. “Mr. de Bourbon’s gifts to us are not lost with his departure.”