For John Colich and Mark Paullin, friendship has been
a constant for decades. The two met as dads at Rolling Hills Country Day School and have a shared love of USC, forming a bond that would carry through the years. Over time, their lives evolved in parallel. They built successful careers, raised families and remained closely connected — not only to each other, but to the South Bay. Today, both families reside in Palos Verdes while maintaining deep ties to the San Pedro community that helped shape their lives.

Together, John and Janine Colich and Mark and Barbara Paullin have transformed that friendship into a shared act of philanthropy: a gift to name the Paullin and Colich Emergency Department at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center San Pedro. For both families, the decision to give is rooted in something personal — a long history in San Pedro and a strong sense of responsibility to the community.

San Pedro has always been defined by its harbor, its shipyards and the generations of families who built their lives around them. It is a place where work is hands-on, where neighbors know one another and where pride in community runs deep. Both the Paullin and Colich families are connected to that legacy, where long days, steady work and commitment to something bigger than yourself were simply part of life.

For the Colich family, that legacy began generations ago. Janine has deep family roots tied to the harbor, and a childhood shaped by time spent in and around San Pedro. The community has long been part of her story. Frequent visits to see extended family, dinners at local restaurants and time spent within the tight-knit community made San Pedro feel like a second home. 

“My grandfather came here with just a few dollars in his pocket,” Janine shared. “My family worked hard, built a life and never left.” That story of building something from the ground up and staying rooted continues to guide their family today.

That legacy also shaped John’s perspective. He often reflects on that history through the work his family helped build across Los Angeles. His father was a welder at Terminal Island during World War II, contributing to the shipbuilding efforts that defined the harbor at the time. He later built a career in underground utilities, continuing a legacy of helping shape the infrastructure of Los Angeles — including San Pedro itself. “You can drive almost any street in Los Angeles and there’s a story there,” he said. “It’s a perspective shaped by decades of creating, investing and contributing to the physical and economic fabric of the region.”

For Barbara Paullin, the connection to San Pedro is just as tangible. Growing up near the harbor, she experienced firsthand the closeness of the community, the kind where people show up for one another without hesitation. “I knew San Pedro like the back of my hand,” she said. Mark shares that same connection. “We’ve been here a long time,” he said. “You feel connected to the people and the community.”

Like the Colich family, their story is rooted in a history of hard work and building from the ground up. Over the years, Mark built his career while remaining closely tied to the South Bay, carrying forward the same values of consistency, responsibility and community that have long defined San Pedro. After meeting in college, Mark and Barbara built a life rooted in family, raising four children and staying closely tied to the community they continue to support today. Over time, their connection to San Pedro remained constant — not just as a place, but as a community they continued to return to and invest in.

Those experiences have shaped how both families approach giving. For them, philanthropy is not separate from everyday life — it is an extension of it. “I couldn’t see waiting until you die to help others,” Janine said. “I’d much rather give while I’m alive and see the impact.” That philosophy is something both families have carried into the next generation, making a conscious effort to involve their children and grandchildren in giving back, not just financially, but through a shared understanding of responsibility to community.

Their support of the San Pedro Emergency Department reflects that belief. In moments of an emergency, when time is critical and decisions are urgent, access to high-quality care close to home can make all the difference. For the Paullin and Colich families, investing in that care is deeply personal, a way to ensure their community continues to have what it needs, when it matters most.

Their commitment was celebrated at a special event last year, where caregivers, community members and loved ones gathered to mark the naming of the Paullin and Colich Emergency Department. It was a moment that reflected generosity, decades of friendship, shared history and a collective belief in giving back.

Because in a community like San Pedro, legacy is not only defined by what you build for yourself — it’s defined by what you build for others. Through their friendship and their philanthropy, the Paullin and Colich families are helping ensure that care, compassion and community remain strong for generations to come.