Roberto Alvarez, Class of 1938

Roberto was born on January 8, 1919, in La Mesa, but he lived and went to elementary school in Lemon Grove. The decision was made by the Lemon Grove Grammar School to segregate the students of Mexican heritage (most were born in the US) in a specially built school. The board’s justification for this action was that all of the students needed remedial help.

The parents of the students took immediate action, forming a neighbors committee, and sued the school district for discrimination. Roberto was named the head plaintiff in the lawsuit: Roberto Alvarez vs. the Trustees of the Lemon Grove School Board. He was one of the best students in the school. The school board lost the lawsuit. The parents won one of the first successful anti-discrimination lawsuits in the US.

After graduating from GHS in 1938, Roberto began work at a Penny Food store in downtown San Diego. During WWII, he served as a storekeeper in the U.S. Navy and learned bookkeeping and how to store, ship, and distribute supplies.

In 1950, these experiences became the foundation of Roberto starting his own business: Coast Citrus Distributors Inc., which grew to be one of the leading Latino owned businesses in the US.

Roberto Alvarez’s life is a wonderful example of the “American Dream Come True”.

Museum Contact Info

Summer and Fall 2026 GHS Museum Hours
From 10-1 Saturdays for All: September 19th (Class of 1971 Reunion), October 10th (Classes of 1956 and 1966), October 24th (Class of 1976), and November 21st OR Fridays by prior appointment when school is in session.

OR Fridays by appointment when school is in session
You will need to check in at the front school office.
Email us or call to schedule an appointment.
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phone: 619-668-6140

We are located near the pool
on the east side of campus.

Thank you, Bill Hoffman, Class of 1964

In Spring 2026, Bill surprised us with a wonderful tribute to the museum. He wrote and recorded two versions, a Pop and a Country Western style, of a song about the GHS Museum: “Hymn to Connie and Lynn and the Grossmont Museum.” You can read the lyrics of the song while you listen to the two versions below.

Prepare yourselves for a good time!

Hymn To Connie & Lynn (Country)

Hymn To Connie & Lynn (Retro Pop)

Museum Directors
Connie and Lynn Baer

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(619)-668-6148
Alum/Museum Facebook
Foothiller Foundation

Jackson Naah, Class of 2028, frequently visits the Museum. Jackson plays his banjo on Fridays at the La Mesa Farmers’ Market.

Class of 1959 Alumni Kitty Gregg Kope, Nancy Berg Lamb, Sue Cosby Kaplan, and Marti Ballance Guarin have been getting together yearly since 1987. They stand in front of the 2 drawings of GHS they inspired Artist Bob Happ to create for Grossmont High School.

Click Map for Larger Image

Closest parking available off Dennstedt Place, near the tennis courts. Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Thank You for Your Support

The Museum operates solely on donations, which are used to create the Museum displays, to preserve our memorabilia, and to celebrate Grossmont's history.

To make a tax-deductible financial donation, please use the DONATE button below. If you would like to sponsor a certain project, please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

You may also write a check, payable to the GHS Educational Foundation, and mail it to Connie and Lynn Baer, 5999 Avenorra Dr., La Mesa, CA 91942. In the check memo, please specify your sponsorship of a certain project or specify Museum General Fund.

Grossmont High School Honors Astronaut Alumni With Inspiring Campus Mural

10News San Diego
Bill Anders, Class of 1951
Ellen Ochoa, Class of 1975
Frederick W. “Rick” Sturckow - Class of 1978