Leisure Worlder of the Month Honorees

A Story About Special People 1976 -2012

In the early years of Leisure World, there were many outstanding men and women who had distinguished careers and lives before moving here and then went on to contribute their knowledge and skills to the community during their retirement. The Rossmoor Corporation (developer of Leisure World/Laguna Hills) decided to do something to honor these people. In January 1976, the “LEISURE WORLDER OF THE MONTH” program was initiated. Over the years, the focus changed to honor residents of Leisure World whose volunteerism and talent greatly increased the quality of life in the community.
 
Each month an honoree was selected by a special citizens’ committee. A public ceremony was held to which all members of the community were invited; a portrait and written testimonial were presented to the honoree.
 
In August 1981, Home Federal Savings and Loan took over the program from the Rossmoor Corp. and assumed responsibility for presenting the honorees to the public. At this time, the Leisure World Historical Society became a consultant to the program, selected the honorees, and assisted in the public ceremonies.
 
The list below of past honored “Leisure Worlders” is significant not only because it helps to characterize the early inhabitants of Leisure World, but also because it reminds us of the many people who, in retirement, continued to serve and be active participants in the life of the village.
 
Primarily due to budget constraints, the frequency of the Leisure Worlder of the Month program was changed in December 2011 to a quarterly program and renamed simply ” Honoree Program“. The program did not last long after this change.
 
End of the Program. The end came in the form of a letter from a donor of the Honoree of the Month Endowment Fund, dated June 12, 2012. “During the last two years, it is apparent that the community has lost interest in the Honoree Program and that the number of people residing in the community deserving of this honor has significantly diminished.”
 
The Leisure Worlder of the Month program ran from January 1976 to May 2012 and honored 417 honorees.
NAMEDATENAMEDATE
Ackerman, Manny3/1/1997Levin, Beatrice11/1/1997
Adamson, Milton6/1/1989Levy, Elaine12/1/1976
Allen, Lucille1/1/1989Lew, Lawrence3/1/1976
Allen, Ruth5/1/2005Liebman, Minna12/1/1979
Alm, Vern4/1/1984Linzer, Edward8/1/1990
Appleman, Ross10/1/1985Little, Charles2/1/2000
Arine-Beer, Mary5/1/2004Loring, Helen9/1/1976
Aronson, Sydney6/1/2001Luetzow, Carlann2/1/1998
Ast, David5/1/1987Luhring, John5/1/1982
Awtry, John6/1/1977Lukawiecki, Leigh9/1/1978
Baker, Clara6/1/2011Lux, Lois5/1/1984
Barrett, Mary9/1/2004Lydecker, Mildred2/1/1995
Barzilay, Sybil10/1/1998Lyon, Helen7/1/1994
Batman, Erma2/1/1985Mabie, Ethel10/1/1983
Baumann, Betty5/1/2006MacAuley, Jean8/1/2000
Baumann, Howard5/1/2006Maguire, Dorothy11/1/1993
Beaumont, Arthur8/1/1976Mandelstam, Benjamin1/1/1991
Beckwith, Eleanor8/1/1995Marks, Libby6/1/2005
Beckwith, Thomas8/1/1995Marsh, Barbara4/1/2009
Bergfald, M.J.2/1/1986Marsh, James11/1/2001
Berk, J. Edward8/1/1980Martin, Ted7/1/1997
Bernoff, Dorothy9/1/1998Mautner, Jerry5/1/1991
Bevilacqua, Angelina “Lee”3/1/2006May, Ruth11/1/2008
Bialka, Shiela5/1/2010McClellan, Dorothy4/1/1996
Bilecki, Dorothy5/1/2002McGuire, Rosalie3/1/1990
Billman, Ernest10/1/1976McGuire, Vernon11/1/1988
Bjornson, Wally7/1/1986McInnis, George9/1/2000
Black, Bertram9/1/2001McIntosh, Maxine4/1/2011
Blank-Mitsch, Molly1/1/2000McKeever, Laura11/1/1987
Blatman, Richard11/1/2011McLaughlin, Charles1/1/1996
Blaylock, Thomas11/1/1996McLaughlin, Janet2/1/1999
Blodgett, Dave4/1/1994McLaughlin, Pat1/1/1996
Bosch, Leon12/1/1981McNulty, Gail6/1/2007
Bosch, Virginia10/1/1991McNulty, Jim6/1/2007
Bouchard, George2/1/1979Meiklejohn, Bill11/1/1998
Bouer, Margo7/1/2003Meiklejohn, Louise11/1/1998
Bouer, Robert7/1/2003Meinwald, Leonard4/1/2002
Brady, Charlotte4/1/2007Mencher, Helen6/1/1996
Brady, Joe8/1/1988Miller, Ed2/1/2004
Brady, Margaret8/1/1988Mills-Lindsay, Helen9/1/1996
Bregar, Marjorie12/1/1982Milne, Robert10/1/2001
Briggs, Arthur5/1/1985Minkel, Lewis1/1/1986
Briggs, Dolly12/1/1993Mitchell, David11/1/1984
Brink, Dorothy7/1/1990Moore, Betty9/1/1984
Brink, Victor2/1/1988Moore, Charles7/1/1981
Brock, Joe10/1/1981Moore, Howard9/1/1982
Brody, Eliot6/1/2003Moos, Richard12/1/2002
Bruner, Fay11/1/1985Morey, Herbert1/1/1977
Bruner, Richard11/1/1985Morgado, Elaine3/1/2007
Brunner, Carma8/1/1991Morgan, Don11/1/2000
Bryson, Frances8/1/1989Morgan, Esther11/1/2000
Bryson, Robert11/1/1980Morgan, Warren7/1/1977
Bukstein, Selma10/1/2004Morley, John11/1/1982
Burns, Rodney10/1/1987Morton, Robert8/1/1997
Butler, Woody7/1/2005Moss, Arthur3/1/2009
Caldwell, John6/1/1987Muennichow, Isabel11/1/2004
Callicott, Mary9/1/1990Nahas, Charles12/1/1998
Carneval, Joe2/1/1996Neeland, Frances2/1/1980
Carr, Frank10/1/2005Nelson, Gilbert10/1/1984
Carr, Marlene10/1/2008Neuberger, Marion Miller6/1/1996
Chaffins, Clyde11/1/1991Neumann, Robert7/1/1978
Charlton, Craig4/1/2008Nolan, Verlie8/1/1986
Chezick, Jack4/1/1995Novatney, Dorothy2/1/1982
Chyba, Cynthia9/1/1994Nugent, Burns12/1/2004
Clark, S. Cushman8/1/1992Nugent, Joan5/1/1997
Coates, Rissa6/1/1985Oates, George7/1/1985
Coblens, Seymour6/1/1993O’Brien, Beth6/1/2008
Colver, Dorothy12/1/1980O’Connor, Shirley5/1/1993
Conners, Cynthia1/1/2012O’Connor, Thomas7/1/1984
Conser, Eugene9/1/1989Opsahl, Carl7/1/1983
Conser, Helen9/1/1989Orr, Hugh5/1/1994
Conway, John3/1/1986Orr, Ruby5/1/1994
Cook, Bonnie4/1/1977Pancook, Arthur1/1/1978
Cooper, Eleanor8/1/2001Parker, Elise11/1/1977
Cornelius, Mary2/1/1978Parker, Newell10/1/1977
Cunliff, Mina8/1/1984Patton, Lorraine8/1/2011
Curtis, Harry3/1/1999Payne, Robert11/1/1994
Dalis, John11/1/2005Payne, Ruth9/1/1992
Dalrymple, Ellen2/1/2005Payne, Ward12/1/1989
Darley, Ward5/1/1979Pendrotti, Elizabeth10/1/1979
Davis, Donald11/1/1986Penn, Walter3/1/1996
Davis, James12/1/1988Perkins, Rex3/1/1993
Davis, Mary5/1/2000Peterson, Leota4/1/1978
Deane, Lydia8/1/1977Phillippi, Betty12/1/1997
DeCourcy, Katherine10/1/2011Pitlik, Hillel5/1/2009
Denney, J. Paul10/1/1988Portlock, George3/1/2008
Dermody, Myrtle6/1/2000Posthill, Bert3/1/2003
Dolezal, Frank12/1/1994Posthill, Sally3/1/2003
Dolezal, Jessie12/1/1994Potter, Albert5/1/1988
Dollar, Melville11/1/2003Price, Robert7/1/1982
Donaldson, Earl7/1/1995Prophet, Frank7/1/2002
Donaldson, Robert1/1/1993Puhlmann, Irene4/1/1983
Dooley, Ken10/1/2003Pursell, James3/1/1981
Dowd, Park8/1/1982Rabinov, David11/1/2010
Downs, Jean8/1/1993Rapson, Robert3/1/1998
Dozier, Robert9/1/1986Rasmussen, Lois12/1/1986
Drane, Mary11/1/1981Ratner, George10/1/1995
Driscoll, Alfred10/1/1980Ratner, Justine10/1/2000
DuBridge, Lee12/1/1978Ray, Milton11/1/1995
Dudley, John5/1/1990Reno, Louise8/1/1983
Duelks, Frank1/1/1988Rhodes, Martin2/1/2006
Dungan, Joe7/1/1991Ring, Robert2/1/2002
Edwards, Diane4/1/1977Robbins, Milton2/1/2003
Ehrle, Electra2/1/1989Roberts, Easton7/1/1989
Ehrle, John2/1/1989Robinson, Hamilton2/1/1987
Eilbert, Henry7/1/2000Rosen, Mac9/1/2003
Elbaum, Jan4/1/2010Rosen, Roslyn8/1/1998
Etter, Jim4/1/1997Rosenbaum, Ted2/1/2007
Evans, Mike3/1/2005Ross, Brenda10/1/2002
Feingold, Maryan1/1/1999Ross, Matthew10/1/2002
Fernald, John7/1/1979Rothschild, Grete8/1/2005
Fesler, Wesley3/1/1979Rouman, Jack1/1/1997
Filson, Wallace1/1/1983Rowley, George1/1/1982
Fish, Phyllis11/1/2002Royer, Violet4/1/1982
Fitzpatrick, Tom1/1/1987Rubin, Martin9/1/2008
Fox, Jim10/1/1994Salm, Erna12/1/1995
Fox, Marian10/1/1982Salzberg, Norm4/1/2003
Franklin, Irma6/1/1982Samet, Joe10/1/1992
Fredericks, Dottie5/1/2003Sampson, Foster2/1/1990
Freestone, Norman3/1/1985Sanders, Viola8/1/1979
Froman, Nadine3/1/1989Sant, Merlin7/1/1998
Fuller, John12/1/2001Schaefer, Charlotte1/1/1998
Gibson, Vernon9/1/1991Schaeffer, Frank3/1/1978
Giddings, Glenn4/1/1979Schafer, Frederick8/1/1981
Giddings, Lenore4/1/1979Schafer, Harry11/1/1983
Gilbert, Eugene1/1/1976Schneider, Arthur10/1/1989
Gilliam, Olive6/1/1976Schneider, Mark8/1/2007
Goldberg, Irving1/1/1994Schwartz, Harry1/1/1990
Goldner, Robert3/1/2001Schwartz, Herbert4/1/1989
Goldstein, Burt10/1/2006Schwarz, Eleanore3/1/2000
Gormley, Bunnie6/1/1983Schwarz, Joseph3/1/2000
Grant, James8/1/1987Schwied, William1/1/2004
Greenman, Olive5/1/1998Selden, Doyle7/1/1992
Griffiths, Ciwi7/1/1993Selden, Ruth7/1/1992
Gros, Ray11/1/2009Sellards, Bob6/1/2010
Grossfeld, Ruth3/1/1988Shaddock, Bebe4/1/2006
Grossman, Harry11/1/1990Shaffer, Jim2/1/2009
Grundke, William3/1/1982Sharp, Dick9/1/2010
Gunster, Alex6/1/1991Sheppard, Loretta10/1/2010
Hack, Bert6/1/2002Shopp, Evelyn6/1/1988
Haines, J. Harry10/1/1997Sickenberger, John5/1/1981
Haines, Roger5/1/1996Siipola, Adele4/1/1981
Hall, Ferdinand5/1/1980Siminow, Ben2/1/1994
Hall, Sylvester11/1/1976Simon, Jane2/1/1976
Halley, Virginia11/1/1992Simon, Muriel9/1/1997
Hally, Albert6/1/1984Slavin, Jane5/1/1995
Hanson, Albert3/1/1977Smith, Wilson3/1/1991
Hanson, Helen5/1/2001Smitherman, Ruth9/1/1988
Harding, John12/1/1987Smoot, Roland5/1/1976
Harris, Martin8/1/2003Stein, Mark6/1/2009
Hart, Jim11/1/2007Sterner, James9/1/1977
Hart, Wilma9/1/2006Still, Claire12/1/1992
Hartmann, Marjorie4/1/1980Stone, Mary9/1/2009
Hartstein, Sidney5/1/1999Stransky, John9/1/1987
Hatch, Noel2/1/2010Strauss, Larry2/1/2011
Heflin, Phyllis2/1/2008Strevey, Margaret5/1/1986
Heflin, Van3/1/2008Strevey, Tracy6/1/1978
Heiser, Sherwood12/1/1991Studebaker, Phil5/1/1989
Helfrich, Barbara6/1/1997Sullivan, Freda9/1/2005
Heller, Joseph6/1/2004Sullivan, Tom9/1/2005
Hellmann, Charles3/1/2002Tait, Walter4/1/1986
Hellmann, Martha3/1/2002Tashman, Isabel9/1/1993
Hermann, Lee7/1/1987Taves, Marvin1/1/1995
Hermann, Wilbert7/1/1987Taylor, Irene11/1/1999
Heslip, Malcolm7/1/1988Taylor, Jack11/1/1999
Higgins, Joseph6/1/1995Tedstrom, Milo3/1/1987
Hines, Thomas1/1/1980Templeton, Virginia2/1/2001
Hinkle, James10/1/1990Thedingla, Ernest9/1/1979
Hohweiser, Betty2/1/1991Ting, Rose3/1/2010
Hohweiser, Henry2/1/1991Tiss, Wayne1/1/1981
Holmberg, Carl12/1/1985Trail, Merle10/1/1986
Holtz, Al8/1/1996Troy, Charles5/1/1983
Iberall, Helene1/1/2011Trueblood, H. Dixon11/1/1989
Ito, James12/1/1990Turner, Richard12/1/1977
Jacobs, Helen2/1/1983Tyhurst, Richard9/1/2007
Janowsky, Jean12/1/1999Ugrin, Nick4/1/1988
Johnson, Nina2/1/1981Vega, Carlos4/1/1998
Jones, Leonard9/1/1980Voelker, Irene4/1/1991
Jones, Marjorie6/1/1979Waln, George4/1/1987
Jones, Mary4/1/2000Waterman, M.H.10/1/1978
Jorde, Tom12/1/1996Watson, Edward2/1/1997
Joss, Ira1/1/2002Webb, Ernest6/1/1986
Juhan, Jim1/1/2012Webb, Justin8/1/2002
Kaplan, Aaron4/1/1999Weitz, Martin1/1/1985
Kemna, Jane3/1/1984Welch, Denise5/1/2007
Kermer, Peggy4/1/1993Wellikson, Seymour8/1/2004
Kerney, William9/1/1995Werner, Adrienne3/1/1994
Kime, Harold5/1/1978Werner, Jerard4/1/1990
Kirbens, Samuel10/1/1996Westover, Harry2/1/1977
Kline, Wilson11/1/1979Westre, Wes8/1/1994
Komp, Olivia3/1/1995Whistler, Jane8/1/2006
Krasno, Sydney6/1/1998White, Alice2/1/1984
Kravitz, Maurice9/1/2002White, James2/1/1984
LaBelle, Hazel4/1/1985Wilkinson, Pat10/1/2009
LaClave, Frank6/1/1980Williams, Marjorie10/1/1999
Landecker, Mildred2/1/1995Wilson, Linda7/1/2004
Lederer, Jerome4/1/1976Wineman, Glenn6/1/1981
Lederer, Sarah9/1/1981Winn, Harold9/1/1983
Leeper, Barbara5/1/2012Wolfinger, Florence12/1/1984
Lefebvre, Henry3/1/1980Wolfson, Ivan11/1/1993
Lehrfeld, Stan8/1/2010Wood, Douglas6/1/1994
Leland, Isabella8/1/1985Wood, Lewis6/1/1990
Leland, Stanley3/1/1983Wright, Catherine1/1/1979
Leonard, Olive11/1/1978Wylde, Hildebarde7/1/1980
LeRoy, Edwin1/1/1984Yanes, Art1/1/2010
Lescher, Leonard9/1/1985Zimmerman, Paul8/1/1978
Letcher, Maggie10/1/2007Zoffer, Charles1/1/2001
Letcher, Tom10/1/2007Zuffante, Theresa2/1/1993
Lever, Lillian12/1/1983