Jack Larimer, Director of the Vista Historical Museum at Rancho Minerva has announced his retirement as of January 3, 2025.
Larimer, a Vista native, has been director of the museum since June of 2002.
During this time, he managed both museum locations and the change of the museum from next to Wildwood Park to its current location at Rancho Minerva on old Foothill Drive in 2009.
During his tenure with the museum, he and his wife Sharon were awarded the Ben Dixon Award for excellence in history and their contribution to the preservation of the history of Vista by the Congress of History of San Diego and Imperial Counties in March 2019. He was also awarded the 2024 lifetime achievement award by the Vista Chamber of Commerce at the Heroes of Vista celebration.
He attended Vista schools and graduated from the Army Navy Academy in Carlsbad. He is also a graduate of the University of California at San Diego with a BA in economics, and San Diego State University with an MA in economics.
Previously, he worked for the City of Vista in the planning department for 30 years. His wife Sharon upon her retirement from the City of Vista after 36 years has been on the board of directors of the Vista Historical Society since 2010.
Larimer wishes everyone well and thanks his wife and those board members who supported him at the museum in his 22 ½ year career.
