Benny Bufano’s “Nursing Bear and Cubs” in Crocker Park
On February 11, 1980, Benny Bufano’s iconic sculpture, Nursing Bear and Cubs, found its permanent home in Crocker Park. The successful installation was made possible through the generosity of Denny McLeod and his company, Rigging International, after a three-year campaign by the Piedmont Beautification Foundation. Nursing Bear and Cubs is Number 9 of a limited edition of 25 sculptures, with only five pieces thought to be in the Bay Area. The sculpture is made of ground granite, stands over five feet tall, and weighs 2.5 tons. At the time of its arrival, its estimated value was $40,000.
About Beniamino Bufano
Beniamino Bufano, the creator of “The Bears,” as we often refer to the sculpture, was born in Italy in 1890. He moved to the United States with his family in 1910, first settling in New York City, and then relocating to San Francisco in 1915. Bufano’s first public commission in San Francisco was for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in 1915, where he created a piece for the Court of the Universe on the Arch of Triumph. In his early years, Bufano became known for his sculptures with themes of peace and, in later years, animal-themed works like the Nursing Bear and Cubs. His art can still be seen in various public places in San Francisco. Bufano died in August of 1970, more than ten years before Nursing Bear and Cubs was installed in Crocker Park.
The Gift and Community Effort
The sculpture was a gift from Jerry S. Mosher, a long-time collector of Bufano’s works and principal owner of Mosher Investment Services, based in Lafayette. As an Oakland resident and Piedmont neighbor, Mosher hoped that the community would appreciate the sculpture and that he would be able to enjoy it as well.
Upon hearing about Mosher’s offer of the sculpture, Norma Wells, who was the President of PBF at the time, was keen to make the project a reality. She enlisted Jean Wolfe, with whom she had previously worked on the Tea House project in Piedmont Park. They contacted Bob Leefeldt, a former Chair of the Park Commission, and a long-time champion of Crocker Park to join the cause.
However, the timing was difficult. Proposition 13 had just passed, and local governments throughout California were thrown into financial chaos. Piedmont, like many cities, was struggling with budget constraints, and there were concerns about how to fund the sculpture’s acquisition and maintenance. Some were skeptical of PBF’s ability to raise the required funds. The project was also met with debates about where the sculpture should be placed.
Despite the challenges, Wells, Wolfe, Leefeldt, and other PBF trustees worked tirelessly over three years, eventually securing the necessary funds on behalf of PBF. These funds spared the City unwanted expenses and provided the crucial support needed. After a contentious City Council meeting, the decision to proceed with the acquisition was narrowly approved by a 3-to-2 vote, and the project moved forward.
By February 20, 1980, the sculpture was installed, and a grand celebration followed. The Piedmonter newspaper (long since defunct) shared a heartwarming moment from the event: a young girl said, “I hope no one ever hurts it.” She is not named in the article, but this author has a suspicion. Lilla Wells, then 8 years old, attended the celebration with her grandmother Norma Wells who was presiding. Lilla, the daughter of former Mayor Susan Hill, and now a grown adult living in Piedmont, recently said she “is proud that many residents now call it ‘Bear Park’ rather than Crocker Park.
Walk through the park on any given day and you will see small children playing around and on the Bears. It is a happy ending to an “only in Piedmont” story.
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