Saturday, June 13, 2009

A Man Named "Ski" with Parrots

Roxanne asks if anyone remembers a guy named "ski" who wandered around Newport Beach with parrots...

Does anyone remember a guy named "ski" who used to walk around Newport Beach with parrots on his shoulder? If you were female he could be a bit of a pervert but he was harmless. My friends and I first came across him when he was living at the Ambassador Inn Costa Mesa. He then moved to Newport Beach and would walk up and down the boardwalk showing of these amazing birds and trying to pick up chicks of course.

22 comments:

  1. Yes, that sounds like Ski Demski, who ended up living in Long Beach years later. He became famous for having this huge flag that made lots of noise when it flapped in the wind at night... and when he died, he had himself on display in a (I kid you not) clear coffin! He was always visible on 2nd Street in Belmont Shores with his parrots before he became ill.

    Doug Mason

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  2. i don't remember the guy's name but i just to see him at the newport beach pier. he had a white old van and we used to call him the bird man.

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  3. I just saw him about 5 years ago all tan and white ,yellowed hair still had his bike and the parrots on the handle bars,Parked in front of the Doryman .I said to my sister he is still here we saw him as small kids.Dee

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  4. Check this article out...

    http://articles.latimes.com/2005/mar/21/local/me-peeled21

    doug

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  5. I used to see him all the time in the early 1980's. Then again years later.

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  6. OMG! Yes I totally remember this guy down at Newport around 77-79. What a fun memory. Hadn't thought about that in YEARS!!

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  7. As of 10/27/09 the bird man is in Hoag memorial hospital suffuring from the result of a fall at home. He will probably be released in a couple of weeks. His birds are being taken care of by his caregiver. When he will return to the newport pier is pending on his recovery progress.

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  8. http://dailypilot.com/dailyblogger/bbailey/?tag=ski-meinschein

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  9. This man, is now in a nursing home and very ill but I am sure he would appreciate visitors, cards, etc. It seems he put smiles on the faces of so many, wouldn't it be nice to do the same for him?

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  10. he was also in some movies filmed at newport

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  11. Birdman of long beachAugust 28, 2010 10:35 PM

    Sounds like this guy had more fun than a human being should of been allowed to have and I am jelous.

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  12. I saw Ski at the nursing home this last Christmas, when we went there to sing Christmas carols. He still had the white beard, and didn't look much different. He was happy to talk about his birds, as they were such a happy memory for him. He was always at the NB pier when we used to go back in the 80s and 90s. He is sort of a legend I think, and a good guy. :)

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  13. These two men cannot be the same...Thomas "Ski" Demski of Long Beach, CA passed away in 2002, and lived in Lb as long as I can remember; I first saw him in 1982. I was given his favorite blue parrot Peppy in 2005. She is still alive and well !

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  14. I grew up on 24th Street and he lived right down the street from us until last year when he fell in his apartment and never returned. He was a funny chartacter!

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  15. oh how i remember "ski" i lived on the corner of 4th and atlantic in the olive apartments, i remember the noise that it woud make at night or when the rain started, and i would ask ski does that bother you at night?, He would say to me that it was the sound of freedom, as i would open my bay window and stare at it with pride. thanks "ski" now i reside in san antonio texas and still here the wonderful sound.

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  16. I remember going to the beach in the late 60's and seeing "the bird man" parked usually close to the donut shop. I remember going to "The Beach Ball" after sunnying all day and seeing him with his birds walking all over while people would stop him and want to pet his birds. Good memories of Newport.

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  17. George "Ski" Meinschein, the Birdman of Newport Beach who put many smiles on faces with his birds, passed away this a.m. after a lengthy illness. Memorial services will be held at Pacific View Memorial Park in Corona Del Mar (Newport Beach, CA) Public welcome to pay their respects.

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  18. anyone know the name of the nursing home ski is at? we were friends for quite a number of years. the we just drifted apart. I would like to see him again

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  19. Ski Meinschein was the "Birdman of Newport Beach" and I remember Him I was just remembering Him this afternoon. He used to display his birds on the Hood of His Car on a big old Manzenita Branch. He only had one Parrot and a couple of Lory's back then, and I seem to recall a dwarf Parrot as well. I'm sorry to hear He's not doing well now and in a Nursing Facility

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  20. I was at Newport Beach, near the pier, today. He was not there.

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  21. I know these are old posts, but for some reason today I remembered bird-man and wondered if he was still alive. I got my answer. I wonder how old he was cuz he was old when I encountered him at Newport from 1979 thru 1988. He was always on his bike w/ a bird cage attached to the handlebars and always friendly. Man...what a perv! He made a flirt/comment to me once about how I looked in my bikini top. I was 14 and super flat! He was harmless and I was so embarrased. RIP birdman.

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  22. YES I REMEMBER HIM NOT ALL GOOD MEMORIES SAD TO SAY BUT MAY HE REST IN PEACE AND HOPE HE MADE AMENDS WITH HIS KIDS AND THAT GLASS COFFIN THING WOW YEA SOUNDS LIKE HIM ALRIGHT

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