The Switzers and the Parkers

While Bud is acknowledged as the Pumpkin Man of Sierra Madre, he would tell anyone who listened that his neighbor Doug has taken carving to a whole new level. Parker is the pumpkin man now, but Bud is the original.

I contacted the Parkers (Doug and Heather), and asked if they had a story or two they might share about Bud, and naturally, they had many...

The Pennies

Veteran's Memorial Wall

Juniper Bushes

The Greeter Pumpkin

Tribute to Bud and Donna Mae

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Bud and Donna Mae Pumpkin Tribute:

Two years ago, after Donna Mae passed away, Parker wanted to build a Pumpkin Tribute to Bud and Donna Mae.  With the help of my brother, they carved pumpkins in the “Bud and Kevin styles” and placed them on a three-tiered wooden structure that Parker built and displayed at the front of the west lawn.  Parker took Bud’s carved Greeter Pumpkin and placed it on the lawn in the middle of the structure.  Bud was quite delighted and touched with the tribute. 

This year, Parker will do another tribute to Bud, incorporating his Greeter Pumpkin.  As I wrote in Facebook, “Everything this year, from the decorating to carving Parker’s homegrown pumpkins, has a bittersweet significance to it, for it all will be devoted to honor our dear Bud Switzer, who so greatly inspired Parker to start building his unique pumpkin structures 37 years ago. How we will miss Bud. He came over every year and chose one of Parker’s Big Max pumpkins to carve and add to his already beautifully stunning display along his driveway. He’d sit on our pumpkin cloth covered couch inside and tell me how wonderfully “Halloweeny” everything looked. How he touched all of our hearts.

He gave me strength and encouragement throughout 2019 as I fought my cancer and eventually won, with God by my side. Bud was considered part of our family, and his warmth, affection, and wonderful sense of humor brought us such joy and will be so missed. So, this Halloween is for you, Bud, down to the last little felt Halloween mice I put around the house. Parker will be building a pumpkin tribute to you. You graced our lives in so many ways. We know you are and will continue to be here in spirit, as we are with you. Bless you, Bud, and bless your beautiful family.”

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The Pennies:

On Halloween night, 1989, I was accompanying Kirsten, who was 5, and carrying Kyle, who was 2, as they went trick or treating on Alegria.  We had moved into our home two doors down from Bud in November of 1988, after having lived on the other side of Mountain Trail on East Alegria for five years.  Bud was at the gate of his driveway, and greeted us so happily, leaning down to quietly tell Kirsten to look upon the tops of the short walls along his winding driveway for the special pennies that were there just for the children.  Sure enough, as we walked up with the multitude of beautiful, magical pumpkins surrounding us on either side of the driveway, Kirsten looked upon the walls and did find pennies!  Bud placed pennies on his driveway walls for the children every year; Kirsten remembered his words and Kyle learned to always check Bud’s walls for the pennies each Halloween, and they were always there.  Click photo to enlarge.

The Veterans’ Photo Wall:

When Bud was working on the Veterans’ Photo Wall in Memorial Park, he asked me if any of my relatives had served in WWII or the Korean War.  I told him my dad had been a War Correspondent in both wars (Clete Roberts--the television series MASH, set in the Korean War, had even asked Dad to recreate his role for two segments called The Interview.  Dad wore the actual coat and hat he’d worn in Korea for the series).  Bud was so enthusiastic in urging me to get a photo of Dad to him to add to the Wall; alas, I did not get one to him in time.  I believe that Bud, Tonia Biely Patino’s dad (who lived next door to Bud and served with him in the Korean War), and Dad are all enjoying each other’s company now in Heaven, discussing that war as well as the current times. Click photos to enlarge

The Juniper Bushes:

Bud was an avid runner, as you know.  He ran daily on the street.  One day Parker and I were out tending to the poor juniper bushes that were on either side of the front walkway that unfortunately were dying because Parker had accidentally trimmed them too much.  Bud was running by and stopped.  He listened to me lament about their demise.  Right away Bud suggested that we not cut down the branches and trunks, but rather use them to train rose bushes to grow on them.  Because of Bud, the juniper bushes continue on to this day, holding up the Climbing Iceberg roses that have been there for years, another example of his constant positivity.

The Greeter Pumpkin:

Background--Parker began growing his own pumpkins 21 years ago, in 1999.  The crops were quite prolific in those years, yielding very large Atlantic Giants (Big Cat (yes, I name our pumpkins) was about 600 pounds; Rupert was 800 lb) and smaller but still large (100+lb) Big Max pumpkins.  We gave Kevin a 450 lb pumpkin in October, 2001, on which he carved the two New York firefighters holding up a flagpole at the World Trade Center after the September 11 attack, and which he displayed at the front of their driveway on Halloween night.  Visitors were most appreciative of his efforts during what was a most difficult and painful time.

Bud would always come over and pick out one of Parker’s Big Max pumpkins to be his Greeter Pumpkin.  Parker and he would roll it off of the lawn into a wheelbarrow and move it up the street to his home.  After Bud and Kevin no longer carved the multitudinous pumpkins for his driveway, Bud still came over and chose a special Big Max to be his Greeter Pumpkin behind his fence.  During the last two years, after Bud had sold his home, he still came up with his home care assistant to choose a Big Max pumpkin and sit at Parker’s carving table with Parker and my brother Chris.  He carved his wonderful Greeter Pumpkin as the three of them enjoyed each other’s company.

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