By Shari Young | January 2025
Our first featured member, Carra Johnck, joined the South Lake Tahoe Yacht Club in 1997. Having moved to Tahoe to live in the house she inherited from her mother, she was looking to meet people. Her neighbor, party animal Roger Rudicoff, was a yacht club member and strongly encouraged her to join—so she did. In 2000, John moved in with her, and they lived in blissful sin until their wedding in February 2010.
They owned a 1974 SeaRay inboard runabout, which the family used for waterskiing around Emerald Bay (back when it was still allowed). Once both were involved in the yacht club, they were really involved (see the accompanying photo of their impressive name badge collection). At one point, they served as King and Queen Neptune, overseeing attendance and raffle ticket sales. From 2014 to 2018, Carra was the Ship Store Manager, a board position on the club’s Board of Directors.
Memorable Social Events (2010–2018)
- Secret Cruises (destination unknown!)
- Genoa Ghost Tour
- Homewood Boat Museum Tour
- Shakespeare Theatre productions at Sand Harbor
- Picnic at the Hellman-Ehrman Mansion (Tahoma)
- Formal Holiday Party at Edgewood, with overnight stay
- Virginia City trip, including a visit to the Bucket of Blood Saloon (overnight stay)
- Safari Rose day tour with catered event
Until recently, John served as the club’s treasurer for several years. Now, with more free time, they are traveling more and spending time with their grown children—all of whom have impressive careers. John has three sons: a video producer, an A1 engineer, and the chief hydrologist for the Yuba County Water District. Carra’s daughter, Heidi, was a school district administrator for many years. Their family also includes three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Fun Facts About John
- He became a member of the Olympic Club in San Francisco at age 10—and has kept that membership for 75 years!
- He graduated from Saint Ignatius (all-boys) High School in 1956, and about 40 of his classmates still meet four times a year for a Basque lunch in South San Francisco.
- After JFK’s assassination, he joined the Peace Corps (1964–1967) and lived in Peru.
- From 1982 to 1986, he served as Chairperson of the Republican Party for San Francisco County.
- He has a photo of himself shaking hands with President Ronald Reagan.
Fun Facts About Carra
- She graduated from Castilleja School (all-girls) in 1956 in Palo Alto, with a class of just 15 students.
- She earned her Education degree with a secondary degree in Physical Science from the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) in 1960.
- Her 35-year teaching career included elementary school positions in Los Angeles and Reno.
- She is an accomplished skier and was a ski instructor at Mt. Rose, Slide Mountain, and Sierra Ski Ranch.
- She once worked with a Swiss ski instructor named Heidi, whose profanity-laced lessons were legendary—but so was her Swiss fondue.
Where They Are Now
These days, Carra and John split their time between Tahoe, San Francisco, Hawaii, and the Russian River (where John’s family cabin, built in 1942, still stands). They love where the yacht club is headed, though they hope to see a stronger powerboat presence in the future.
John remains optimistic that our new generation will double the club’s membership in the coming year—and with members like them, that enthusiasm is contagious!
