Volunteer Spotlight - Bob & Molly Dinneen

Published: October 2005

"Where's the rest of my paper?" Bob demanded as Molly walked into the living room. "What do you mean?" she wondered. He held up that day's San Francisco Chronicle, displaying the big, missing square in the middle. "Who cut this part out?" He pointed to the absent piece of this deepening puzzle. "There was something I needed—right there."

Molly grinned as she reached into her purse and produced the carefully sliced ad asking for volunteers at the Farallones Marine Sanctuary Association (FMSA) and the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary (GFNMS). Turns out she saw it too, before her dad had a chance to get to it. And so began the spirited father and daughter Beach Watch volunteer team of Bob and Molly Dinneen, on a serendipitous day in the spring of 1996.

After some friendly, familial competitiveness, the pair decided to attend the Beach Watch volunteer orientation meeting...together. They were completely blown away by the sheer number of people packed into the room. It turns out that FMSA received approximately 500 volunteer applications during that recruitment period—and all of those candidates were vying for 50 available positions! Bob and Molly offered to team up and share a beach, in order to open up additional opportunities for more people. Only they left a bit discouraged; assuming they had little chance over the many credentialed scientists and park rangers who'd also applied.

But Molly was determined, so she phoned the next day and asked what else they could do to convince the volunteer supervisor to choose them. The next day she received a call and was offered one of the coveted spots, along with her teammate and father, Bob.

"Begging works," she playfully reminds me.

After the completion of nearly 80 hours of course and field work training, the team was ready to select a beach. They chose reigning monitoring duties at Ocean Beach South #310.

Bob and Molly have been overseeing their part of Ocean Beach for nearly ten years—and they've seen a lot in that time. In fact, Bob grew up right here in the Sunset District, back when it ended at 25th St., where he attended school in an old ranch house. He used to walk out to Ocean Beach after school, through the abundant land and trees that are now paved over with roads and buildings out to the beach's edge, armed with the surfboard he crafted in woodshop class. He even used to surf a bit with former Banzai Pipeline legend, Fred Van Dyke.

But in those days, he tells me, "We didn't have wetsuits or leashes. I got ice cream ears all the time!"

The pair describe their beach as somewhat "mellow" in comparison to other beaches, especially those up in Marin, near Point Reyes. Initially, Molly lobbied her dad to try and get "a more exciting beach" with a wider array of wildlife. But she now admits that their sliver of Ocean Beach was the absolute best choice, since Bob lives fairly close and visits there often, and not only for scheduled monitoring. This has allowed them to be consistent—one of the most important aspects of the Beach Watch Program.

Prior to volunteering as a Beach Watch monitor, Molly worked in advertising and lived in Japan for several years. She now resides in Berkeley with her two young children (one being a newborn infant) and, had they chosen a more active beach further north in Marin, it would be difficult for her to get up there on a regular basis. "So it all worked out for the best," they tell me.

When asked about the most interesting or unusual thing they've ever found on their beach, Bob answers without hesitation, "A dead sea lion. It was bigger than an SUV!" They don't see too many dead pinnipeds around Ocean Beach, but he sure remembers this one. He also mentions that some of the other volunteers up north, near the dairy ranches at Point Reyes, have found dead cows washed up on their beaches.

Molly discusses some of the most common "live" animals she observes: plenty of seagulls and dogs. She's also had to speak with the janitor at the San Francisco Zoo about the little footprints she's seen dotting the beach. Apparently the rats have been finding their way down to the beach at night.

They both really enjoy identifying the birds, and have benefited greatly from Volunteer Supervisor, Shannon Lyday's detailed disk of information and updates that helps them carry out this fascinating task. The day I follow them around on one of their monitoring sessions, Bob impresses me endlessly with his keen and quick observations from all distances. Of course, they remind me, there are the highly informative lectures and classes offered by the inimitable bird expert, Rich Stallcup.

Now a retired chemical distribution manager, Bob's been walking this beach for well over 50 years, and he's still captivated by the seasonal changes he observes. What he's learned through Beach Watch has really expanded his understanding of an environment he already loved.

"Being able to identify what I see has made me so much more aware of what is there."

Bob and Molly are two of Beach Watch's most dedicated and caring volunteers. They are truly a delight to know and a pleasure to work with. Because of the steady commitment from concerned "citizen scientists" like Bob and Molly, FMSA continues to expand its award-winning Beach Watch program throughout the Bay Area.

If you are interested in becoming a Beach Watch or Sanctuary Naturalist volunteer or one of the many other programs contact, Joanne Mohr, Volunteer Program Coordinator at jmohr@farallones.org or 415.561.6625 x307.