ALTHOUGH THE Pacific Grove City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to establish a John Denver memorial near Lovers Point, a debate arose over whether to include information on the bronze plaque about the folk’s singer’s death. And one local activist said the plaque shouldn’t be allowed at all, because he didn’t want P.G. to turn into Grauman’s Chinese Theater.

Denver died Oct. 12, 1997, after his experimental airplane crashed about 200 yards off the coast near the Pacific Grove lighthouse. Denver’s family and California Friends of John Denver are working with the city to create the plaque, which some believe should honor the singer without mentioning how he died.

“This was a very well known, popular singer,” said Mayor Dan Cort. “I don’t think I need something that says, ‘He lost his life in an airplane crash 200 yards offshore.’”

Three other members of the public during Wednesday’s council meeting also suggested Denver’s life, not death, should be celebrated.

“The family didn’t want the death mentioned,” said one woman. “It’s been very hard for them.”

But Cynthia Doe, president of the fan club, California Friends of John Denver, said the family supports the decision to include the information on the plaque, which marks the first Denver memorial the singer’s family has been involved with.

“We’re thrilled with the memorial,” said Doe. “It’s a fact that John Denver perished in Pacific Grove doing what he loved best. That area speaks and reflects and mirrors his life.”
John Denver’s brother, Ron Deutschendorf, told The Pine Cone Thursday his family doesn’t have a problem mentioning his brother’s death.

“Of course,” Deutschendorf said, “that would not be a problem with us at all because it is the site” where he died.

Several council members said the 14-by-14-inch plaque, or a separate sign next to it, should contain a brief note that Denver died in Pacific Grove, for those who are unaware of the fact.

Pacific Grove activist David Dilworth told the council he thought memorializing a celebrity could set “a precedent” in the city “not unlike Grauman’s,” the famed Hollywood theater known for its handprints of celebrities.

“John Denver wrote some marvelously inspiring songs and inspires people worldwide,” Dilworth said. “As laudable as Mr. Denver was, I’m not sure this is the right thing to do.”

Deutschendorf said much of the design of the plaque is finished and that it’s “everything the family could hope for.” Other memorials, such as at the Aspen airport, were created without the family’s help and have included images of Denver that don’t look anything like him.

“That’s one of the reasons why I have gone to great pains to make sure that something like this — especially since it’s going to be at the site that John perished — looks like my brother and is as tasteful as it can be,” he said.

A mock-up of the plaque features lyrics from the Denver’s tune “Windsong,” his birth name, Henry John Deutschendorf, and the dedication date. The bronze plaque, which will also have the singer’s engraved likeness, will be mounted on a boulder and placed in a turnout on Ocean View Boulevard between Asilomar Avenue and Acropolis Street.

A two-hour ceremony to unveil the plaque is proposed for Sept. 27. Meanwhile, the city will seek permission from the California Coastal Commission to place the plaque in Pacific Grove.

“This is the 10-year anniversary of John’s accident,” Deutschendorf said. “And this is only fitting. It’s the time to get this plaque set up here since the city and the family are in favor of it. I think it’s great.”