Alice Francis Minney

Minney, Alice Francis Alice F. Minney, who was an accomplished musician, business woman, school teacher, mother of five children and owner of Josh Slocum's, a popular Newport Beach waterfront restaurant, died on May 10th, just two days shy of her 88th birthday. Alice was born May 12, 1913 and was raised in Long Beach, Calif. She married her husband George in 1933 and moved to Newport Beach in 1947. Alice managed George's busy yacht brokerage in the Bowman Shipyard on Mariner's Mile in Newport Beach, she also did the bookkeeping for the shipyard which they had under lease. Joe's Crab Shack restaurant now stands on that property. In the early 50's George fell in love with a 65' schooner named Kelpie. Alice encouraged him to purchase the boat and soon George and Alice and their five kids were a familiar sight sailing the big schooner inside Newport Harbor and Southern California waters. Shortly after purchasing Kelpie, Alice and George purchased the property where Josh Slocum's restaurant presently stands. Their yacht brokerage office was moved one door to the east and Kelpie now had a permanent dock. In addition to raising five children and being indispensible to George's yacht charter and brokerage business, Alice started attending night school at Long Beach State College. Children were Alice's first love. She breezed through the college academics and soon had her diploma and teacher's credential. It was George's loss and the Fountain Valley school district's gain when Alice walked into her new classroom as a teacher. Alice taught fourth grade and touched the lives of hundreds of students and dozens of teachers. Alice taught school and was head of the music department in Fountain Valley for over 20 years. School officials begged her to go into administration and hinted that she would make an outstanding principal. Alice refused to move up the ladder, she loved the classroom and the kids she taught. After Alice retired from teaching, she and George took to the road in their camper and traveled from Mexico to Alaska. In the late '60's her son Ernie and George opened a yacht salvage store called "Minney's Ship Chandlery", next door to the family property on Mariner's Mile which was now leased to a restaurant called the Monterey Mansion. Alice applied for the job as bookkeeper at the Chandlery, which of course she got because she agreed to work for free! Shortly after the death of her husband in August of '75, Alice had to deal with a bankrupt restaurant on her bayfront property. Her sons and daughters talked her into leasing them the property so they could give the restaurant business a try. Josh Slocum's restaurant was born and for twenty years it was one of the most successful bayfront restaurants in Newport. Alice's restaurant was a tribute to her husband George, and all of those that go down to the sea in small sailing vessels. Slocums rapidly became the "Cheers" of the local boating community. Alice was of course, the bookkeeper of the restaurant, a job she cherished well into her 80's. The restaurant was sold about five years ago and at about the same time Alice's health started to decline. The Godmother, as her kids lovingly refer to Alice Minney, is survived by sons Joseph of Paso Robles, Owen of Newport beach and Basalt, Colorado, Ernest of Newport Beach, and daughters Patricia Phinney of Costa Mesa and Cindy Avena of Mammoth Lakes. Alice also had nine grandchildren. Alice was reunited with her husband George on May 10th. A rosary, mass and interment were held on May 15th and 16th at All Souls Chapel and cemetery in Long Beach. Services were conducted by Alice's godson and nephew, Monsignor Anthony Leuer. It's a little late for flowers but if you wish, donations may be sent to the Boy Scout sail training ship, Argus, c/o the Boy Scout Sea Base, Pacific Coast Hwy., Newport Beach.