No one believed more strongly than Louis J. Bitterlin in the education provided in a military academy environment.
Yet, Mr. Bitterlin, the founding headmaster of the former San Diego Military Academy in Solana Beach, neither served in the military nor attended a military school.
"He was a pacifist, a conscientious objector," said daughter Gretchen Bitterlin of San Diego. "It was a moral decision he made after college."
The personal philosophy did not detract from his dream, which was to administer an all-boys boarding school that would provide military-style discipline and the highest academic standards.
When the San Diego Military Academy opened in 1958, with grades two through 12, Mr. Bitterlin got his wish.
He remained headmaster until SDMA closed in 1977, leaving Army and Navy Academy in Carlsbad as the county's lone military school.
Mr. Bitterlin, disabled five years ago by a stroke, died Jan. 20 at Casa Palmera Care Center in Del Mar. He was 88.
Mr. Bitterlin, a native of Guaymas, Mexico, emphasized diversity in enrollment. Students from Mexico, South America, Europe and the Far East attended the San Diego Military Academy over the years.
In a 1977 interview with The San Diego Union, Mr. Bitterlin said his mission was "not to make soldiers" but to "offer structure and supervision in a controlled environment."
In 1996, he published a booklet, "The Four Academies," detailing the history of Southern California military schools.
It was at California Military Academy in Los Angeles that he was first exposed to a military-style education. Mr. Bitterlin, who received a master's degree in political science from Stanford University, taught and coached football, basketball and baseball at the academy.
In the late 1940s, he moved to San Diego and became headmaster at Brown Military Academy, which was founded in 1910 at 1800 Garnet Ave.
When Brown Military moved to Glendora, Mr. Bitterlin recruited investors to open San Diego Military Academy on 17 acres in the Santa Fe Hills overlooking Eden Gardens and the Del Mar Racetrack.
The land previously had been the site of Las Flores Inn.
Before the academy instituted a summer program, its rooms were rented to visitors during the Del Mar racing season, Gretchen Bitterlin said.
Over the years, the 200-student school added a two-level dormitory building designed by Russell Forester. A library was built in 1962, and the graduating class of 1968 built a senior lounge from the ground up.
In explaining the school's 1977 sale to Christian Unified Church School of San Diego, Mr. Bitterlin told the Union that shareholders were ready to cash in on their original investment. The purchase price, he said, was "a little over $1 million." Santa Fe Christian School now operates on the site.
Mr. Bitterlin, who lived in University City before his stroke, spent the first few years of his life in Guaymas, where his French-born father operated a business.
He lived in Los Angeles as a youth and excelled in tennis at Santa Monica High School, ranking No. 1 in singles for the 1932 CIF Southern Section champions.
After settling in San Diego County, he became president in 1964 of the Del Mar Rotary Club and served as a president and board member of the Western Association of Private Schools.
His wife, Dustine, the daughter of silent-screen stars Dustin Farnum and Winifred Kingston, died of breast cancer in 1983.
In addition to daughter Gretchen, Mr. Bitterlin is survived by another daughter, Victoria Guidi, and sons Mark Bitterlin, Chris Bitterlin and Jody Bitterlin, all of San Diego; and eight grandchildren.
A memorial Mass was celebrated at All Hallows Catholic Church in La Jolla.
Yet, Mr. Bitterlin, the founding headmaster of the former San Diego Military Academy in Solana Beach, neither served in the military nor attended a military school.
"He was a pacifist, a conscientious objector," said daughter Gretchen Bitterlin of San Diego. "It was a moral decision he made after college."
The personal philosophy did not detract from his dream, which was to administer an all-boys boarding school that would provide military-style discipline and the highest academic standards.
When the San Diego Military Academy opened in 1958, with grades two through 12, Mr. Bitterlin got his wish.
He remained headmaster until SDMA closed in 1977, leaving Army and Navy Academy in Carlsbad as the county's lone military school.
Mr. Bitterlin, disabled five years ago by a stroke, died Jan. 20 at Casa Palmera Care Center in Del Mar. He was 88.
Mr. Bitterlin, a native of Guaymas, Mexico, emphasized diversity in enrollment. Students from Mexico, South America, Europe and the Far East attended the San Diego Military Academy over the years.
In a 1977 interview with The San Diego Union, Mr. Bitterlin said his mission was "not to make soldiers" but to "offer structure and supervision in a controlled environment."
In 1996, he published a booklet, "The Four Academies," detailing the history of Southern California military schools.
It was at California Military Academy in Los Angeles that he was first exposed to a military-style education. Mr. Bitterlin, who received a master's degree in political science from Stanford University, taught and coached football, basketball and baseball at the academy.
In the late 1940s, he moved to San Diego and became headmaster at Brown Military Academy, which was founded in 1910 at 1800 Garnet Ave.
When Brown Military moved to Glendora, Mr. Bitterlin recruited investors to open San Diego Military Academy on 17 acres in the Santa Fe Hills overlooking Eden Gardens and the Del Mar Racetrack.
The land previously had been the site of Las Flores Inn.
Before the academy instituted a summer program, its rooms were rented to visitors during the Del Mar racing season, Gretchen Bitterlin said.
Over the years, the 200-student school added a two-level dormitory building designed by Russell Forester. A library was built in 1962, and the graduating class of 1968 built a senior lounge from the ground up.
In explaining the school's 1977 sale to Christian Unified Church School of San Diego, Mr. Bitterlin told the Union that shareholders were ready to cash in on their original investment. The purchase price, he said, was "a little over $1 million." Santa Fe Christian School now operates on the site.
Mr. Bitterlin, who lived in University City before his stroke, spent the first few years of his life in Guaymas, where his French-born father operated a business.
He lived in Los Angeles as a youth and excelled in tennis at Santa Monica High School, ranking No. 1 in singles for the 1932 CIF Southern Section champions.
After settling in San Diego County, he became president in 1964 of the Del Mar Rotary Club and served as a president and board member of the Western Association of Private Schools.
His wife, Dustine, the daughter of silent-screen stars Dustin Farnum and Winifred Kingston, died of breast cancer in 1983.
In addition to daughter Gretchen, Mr. Bitterlin is survived by another daughter, Victoria Guidi, and sons Mark Bitterlin, Chris Bitterlin and Jody Bitterlin, all of San Diego; and eight grandchildren.
A memorial Mass was celebrated at All Hallows Catholic Church in La Jolla.
No one believed more strongly than Louis J. Bitterlin in the education provided in a military academy environment.
Yet, Mr. Bitterlin, the founding headmaster of the former San Diego Military Academy in Solana Beach, neither served in the military nor attended a military school.
"He was a pacifist, a conscientious objector," said daughter Gretchen Bitterlin of San Diego. "It was a moral decision he made after college."
The personal philosophy did not detract from his dream, which was to administer an all-boys boarding school that would provide military-style discipline and the highest academic standards.
When the San Diego Military Academy opened in 1958, with grades two through 12, Mr. Bitterlin got his wish.
He remained headmaster until SDMA closed in 1977, leaving Army and Navy Academy in Carlsbad as the county's lone military school.
Mr. Bitterlin, disabled five years ago by a stroke, died Jan. 20 at Casa Palmera Care Center in Del Mar. He was 88.
Mr. Bitterlin, a native of Guaymas, Mexico, emphasized diversity in enrollment. Students from Mexico, South America, Europe and the Far East attended the San Diego Military Academy over the years.
In a 1977 interview with The San Diego Union, Mr. Bitterlin said his mission was "not to make soldiers" but to "offer structure and supervision in a controlled environment."
In 1996, he published a booklet, "The Four Academies," detailing the history of Southern California military schools.
It was at California Military Academy in Los Angeles that he was first exposed to a military-style education. Mr. Bitterlin, who received a master's degree in political science from Stanford University, taught and coached football, basketball and baseball at the academy.
In the late 1940s, he moved to San Diego and became headmaster at Brown Military Academy, which was founded in 1910 at 1800 Garnet Ave.
When Brown Military moved to Glendora, Mr. Bitterlin recruited investors to open San Diego Military Academy on 17 acres in the Santa Fe Hills overlooking Eden Gardens and the Del Mar Racetrack.
The land previously had been the site of Las Flores Inn.
Before the academy instituted a summer program, its rooms were rented to visitors during the Del Mar racing season, Gretchen Bitterlin said.
Over the years, the 200-student school added a two-level dormitory building designed by Russell Forester. A library was built in 1962, and the graduating class of 1968 built a senior lounge from the ground up.
In explaining the school's 1977 sale to Christian Unified Church School of San Diego, Mr. Bitterlin told the Union that shareholders were ready to cash in on their original investment. The purchase price, he said, was "a little over $1 million." Santa Fe Christian School now operates on the site.
Mr. Bitterlin, who lived in University City before his stroke, spent the first few years of his life in Guaymas, where his French-born father operated a business.
He lived in Los Angeles as a youth and excelled in tennis at Santa Monica High School, ranking No. 1 in singles for the 1932 CIF Southern Section champions.
After settling in San Diego County, he became president in 1964 of the Del Mar Rotary Club and served as a president and board member of the Western Association of Private Schools.
His wife, Dustine, the daughter of silent-screen stars Dustin Farnum and Winifred Kingston, died of breast cancer in 1983.
In addition to daughter Gretchen, Mr. Bitterlin is survived by another daughter, Victoria Guidi, and sons Mark Bitterlin, Chris Bitterlin and Jody Bitterlin, all of San Diego; and eight grandchildren.
A memorial Mass was celebrated at All Hallows Catholic Church in La Jolla.
Yet, Mr. Bitterlin, the founding headmaster of the former San Diego Military Academy in Solana Beach, neither served in the military nor attended a military school.
"He was a pacifist, a conscientious objector," said daughter Gretchen Bitterlin of San Diego. "It was a moral decision he made after college."
The personal philosophy did not detract from his dream, which was to administer an all-boys boarding school that would provide military-style discipline and the highest academic standards.
When the San Diego Military Academy opened in 1958, with grades two through 12, Mr. Bitterlin got his wish.
He remained headmaster until SDMA closed in 1977, leaving Army and Navy Academy in Carlsbad as the county's lone military school.
Mr. Bitterlin, disabled five years ago by a stroke, died Jan. 20 at Casa Palmera Care Center in Del Mar. He was 88.
Mr. Bitterlin, a native of Guaymas, Mexico, emphasized diversity in enrollment. Students from Mexico, South America, Europe and the Far East attended the San Diego Military Academy over the years.
In a 1977 interview with The San Diego Union, Mr. Bitterlin said his mission was "not to make soldiers" but to "offer structure and supervision in a controlled environment."
In 1996, he published a booklet, "The Four Academies," detailing the history of Southern California military schools.
It was at California Military Academy in Los Angeles that he was first exposed to a military-style education. Mr. Bitterlin, who received a master's degree in political science from Stanford University, taught and coached football, basketball and baseball at the academy.
In the late 1940s, he moved to San Diego and became headmaster at Brown Military Academy, which was founded in 1910 at 1800 Garnet Ave.
When Brown Military moved to Glendora, Mr. Bitterlin recruited investors to open San Diego Military Academy on 17 acres in the Santa Fe Hills overlooking Eden Gardens and the Del Mar Racetrack.
The land previously had been the site of Las Flores Inn.
Before the academy instituted a summer program, its rooms were rented to visitors during the Del Mar racing season, Gretchen Bitterlin said.
Over the years, the 200-student school added a two-level dormitory building designed by Russell Forester. A library was built in 1962, and the graduating class of 1968 built a senior lounge from the ground up.
In explaining the school's 1977 sale to Christian Unified Church School of San Diego, Mr. Bitterlin told the Union that shareholders were ready to cash in on their original investment. The purchase price, he said, was "a little over $1 million." Santa Fe Christian School now operates on the site.
Mr. Bitterlin, who lived in University City before his stroke, spent the first few years of his life in Guaymas, where his French-born father operated a business.
He lived in Los Angeles as a youth and excelled in tennis at Santa Monica High School, ranking No. 1 in singles for the 1932 CIF Southern Section champions.
After settling in San Diego County, he became president in 1964 of the Del Mar Rotary Club and served as a president and board member of the Western Association of Private Schools.
His wife, Dustine, the daughter of silent-screen stars Dustin Farnum and Winifred Kingston, died of breast cancer in 1983.
In addition to daughter Gretchen, Mr. Bitterlin is survived by another daughter, Victoria Guidi, and sons Mark Bitterlin, Chris Bitterlin and Jody Bitterlin, all of San Diego; and eight grandchildren.
A memorial Mass was celebrated at All Hallows Catholic Church in La Jolla.
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