When I was growing up, New York City had three center fielders, and each was a legend. The Yankees had Mickey Mantle, the Giants had Willie Mays and the Dodgers, of course, had the Duke — Duke Snider — who was unquestionably the best of the three, as any objective analysis by a jury of 12 Brooklynites would have clearly held.

In the ’50s, baseball was the sport, and center field was where the gods roamed. But no matter how well Mantle, Mays and Snider played, they were merely ordinary gods, and they had the misfortune to be following in the footsteps of a baseball immortal, Zeus incarnate, who went by the name of Joe DiMaggio.

This week, Joe DiMaggio died, and it was the passing of a cultural icon. It’s strange. I never met DiMaggio. I never saw him play. Yet I feel, like most Americans, a sense of personal loss.

It didn’t matter that the Yankees were our perennial enemies. DiMaggio’s name was always uttered with reverence.

It’s practically 50 years since he last played, and yet his luster hasn’t dimmed at all. Kids today know that name as well as the kids of my day.

I think it’s because DiMaggio was the American ideal. He was what we all wanted to be. He was a superbly talented athlete. There was nothing he couldn’t do as an athlete that wasn’t better than just about anyone else. He also did it with a seemingly effortless grace. He always appeared relaxed and casual.

He also was a handsome man who aged gracefully and was always beautifully dressed.

He came from humble origins, and yet he exuded class, and he seemed to do it the way he played ball — effortlessly.

His women were beautiful. He wooed and won the queen of our age, loved her dearly and stayed loyal to her until he died, for which we all loved him.

Perhaps he was just a man of a different time, a much more tolerant time. A time that left its heroes alone. We may never see another DiMaggio, because, I suspect, we live in a time that wouldn’t allow a contemporary DiMaggio to exist. Now we build up idols and then immediately go about tearing them down.

Then again, maybe it wasn’t just the times. Maybe DiMaggio was truly different. He was a man totally under control.

His emotions never showed. He was a man filled with angst, but he kept it all inside, never let on it existed and still performed flawlessly. If he was in turmoil, he never let us see it, for which he must have paid one hell of a personal price.

The only time I can ever remember him showing any emotion as a player was when Al Gionfriddo robbed him of a home run in the World Series, and the great DiMaggio actually kicked the dirt. Not exactly today’s ballplayer. Then again, I can remember him crying at Marilyn’s death, and we cried with him.

He was John Wayne, Gary Cooper and Jimmy Stewart all rolled into one. Tough, capable, quiet, loyal and laconic. It’s the way we like our heroes, and he certainly was our hero.

So long, Mr. DiMaggio. It will be a long time before we see another one of you.

At the March meeting of the Juan Cabrillo PTA, our parents resolved to tackle a nagging yet vital issue at our school. For once, the issue did not revolve around raising money or figuring out strategies to provide superior educational programs for our kids. Our problem was this: How do we let our interim Principal Pat Cairns know that she is truly appreciated and that the parents at Juan Cabrillo think she is doing a terrific job?

So the motion carried that as president of the PTA, I should write a letter to the paper and tell Malibu what good fortune Cabrillo has had to be able to call Mrs. Cairns our principal. Mrs. Cairns, for all who have the privilege to know her, is a warm, encouraging, sensitive and enthusiastic educator. She inspires the trust of our students, the passion of our teachers and the faith of our parents. Starting her new job at Cabrillo in December, Mrs. Cairns hit the ground running and hasn’t stopped to take a breath. Her energy and commitment to excellence are inspiring. We have enjoyed watching her get to know the 400 children who learn there every day.

This hasn’t been an easy year at Cabrillo. Losing Betty Glass who had dedicated so much of her last six years to Cabrillo was hard enough. The uncertainty and insecurity we faced when the district conducted their search for her replacement was tough on the parents who know how important a principal is to the vitality of a school. Speaking for the PTA, I can wholeheartedly say that Pat Cairns has been the answer to our prayers. Malibu is blessed to have citizens like Pat Cairns who care so deeply about the welfare of our children. Thank you, Pat! Please consider staying put and making your position as interim principal permanent.

Heather Anderson,

president, Juan Cabrillo PTA

Two recent events bode well for Malibu. First, the “over the top” response to the PARCS group survey has corroborated what many individuals, young families and seniors know in their daily experience — that there are too few parks, fields, meeting places and other public facilities to meet their needs for active recreation and congregation. The more we discuss these needs as a community, the more likely we will do something as a community to address them. Kudos are therefore in order for the hard working folks at PARCS. They are performing a truly worthwhile service and should be congratulated.

The second event is the council’s vote to study ways of making a deal with the Malibu Bay Company that would result in meeting some of the needs identified by PARCS. Unlike PARCS, the full council doesn’t seem to have its heart in the exercise, but they have agreed to seriously look at the issue, and that is a point solidly in their favor. Indeed, it is a sign of real maturation on their part.

So kudos also to the Malibu City Council, as well. I hope your readers will take the time, as I will, to encourage both PARCS and the City Council in their efforts.

Paul Major

City Manager Harry Peacock’s remarks at last Monday’s council meeting were right on target. The Malibu Bay Company proposal does present a golden opportunity for our city to explore ways to provide land for recreation-related services in Malibu. It also seems to be essentially risk free, since the city has only agreed to study the matter within the framework of a development agreement with the Malibu Bay Company which they can either accept or reject in public, with public input and comment.

It seems to me that’s about as good as it gets in municipal government. I am pleased with Mr. Peacock’s assessment of the situation and pleased that the City Council has for now seen it his way.

Karen Verham

I read with interest the account of how the City Council on Monday arrived at its unanimous decision to consider allowing Malibu Bay Company to develop in the Civic Center and at Point Dume in return for much-needed land for recreation.

It’s about time council allowed a full and meaningful discussion of this issue, and the proposed development agreement offers the perfect possibility. There is a big and growing need to provide active recreation and community-serving amenities in Malibu, especially for our younger citizens, and the MBC proposal seems to make that achievable at a cost the community can bear. At least we ought to look at it closely.

Heretofore, what has issued from council in regard to development in the Civic Center, especially from members Van Horn and Keller, has seemed more like doctrine than planning, more like personal agenda than leadership. Their unanimous vote to study the development agreement signals a most welcome change in approach.

In sum, the City Council is to be congratulated for doing the right thing.

Barbara J.