Pasadena Senior Center Home Page

A thirty year resident of the Pasadena area, Victoria is a native Californian. She attended The Principia in St. Louis, Mo and earned a BA from Stanford University. She worked for several years in the advertising industry in New York City and later in Southern California. Her community work has included serving on the Boards of Assistance League and Planned Parenthood of Pasadena. In addition, she spent many years involved with PTA when her children were in the local schools. Victoria and her husband Bob have two grown children and four grandchildren who live in the Pasadena area. She looks forward to increasing the base of support for the Pasadena Senior Center. Victoria joined the Board in 2004.

Harry Kawahara is a Professor and Counselor at Pasadena City College. In 1988 he was named their Most Outstanding Faculty Member. Kawahara holds a B.A. degree from the University of California at Berkley, and a M.A. from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena. He and his wife, a nurse formerly with the Pasadena Unified School District, have lived in the Pasadena community for many years. Kawahara is former president of the local Japanese/American Citizens League. He has served on the board of Pasadena Planned Parenthood, Five Acres and the Child Health Foundation. Harry joined the Board in 2003.

Robert Sievers is a marketing research consultant and former instructor in the Business School at the University of Southern California where he taught Marketing Research and Marketing Management. His education includes a B.S. Degree from Washington University in St. Louis and a Masters Degree from the University of Southern California. His other affiliations include formerly serving as a Trustee of the San Marino Public Library and presently serving as President of the San Marino Library Foundation Board.

Diane Mgrublian is a Clinical Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist who has been practicing locally since 1986. Currently, she is a private consultant to various local Adult Health Day Care Centers. Ms. Mgrublian's education includes a B.A. from the University of Redlands, and a Master of Social Work and a MS in Marriage and Family Therapy from Brigham Young University. She and her husband, Ronald Mitchell, reside in South Pasadena with their daughter, Taleen. Ms. Mgrublian was born and raised in the Pasadena area and shares a commitment to assisting older adults in the culturally diverse Pasadena community.

Beth brings to our Board a wealth of knowledge and experience in the areas of administration, planning, fund-raising, advocacy and public relations. She recently retired as the 22-year President/CEO of Planned Parenthood of Pasadena. A graduate of Smith College, (Magna Cum Laude) and has a Master of Arts degree from Columbia University, Beth became an Investment Analyst, first with the Irving Trust Co. and later with Smith Barney & Co. Beth has been past President of the League of Women Voters, past Chair of the Commission of the Status of Women and is a 34-year resident of Pasadena. She joined the Pasadena Senior Center Board in 2002.

Born in the Pasadena City Hospital, later to become the Huntington Hospital, John graduated from South Pasadena High School in 1942, and seven years later, from the St. Louis University School of Medicine. He completed his residency in 1955 at a USC hospital and went into private practice in Internal Medicine. John was on the staffs of the Good Samaritan, California and Huntington Hospitals. He was a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at USC, and is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, the American Geriatrics Society (Western Region), and the Royal Society of Medicine (UK). John was also active in many state and national medical societies. Since retiring in 1994, he has continued to be involved in many charitable, military, and Pasadena civic and social organizations.

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Jill Carlson

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Grace Lea Chang

Grace is an attorney with offices in Alhambra. She speaks three dialects of Chinese fluently and has a unique understanding of western and Asian cultures. Her practice has extensive experience in international civil litigation. Born in Shanghai, China, she studied at Baylor University, Waco, TX and the Southwestern University School of Law receiving her Juris Doctorate in 1983. Grace is a member of the Pasadena Bar Association, California Women Lawyers Association and member of the Board of Directors of the Pasadena Lawyers Referral Services. Grace is the daughter of Cherry Chang, a prominent volunteer at the Pasadena Senior Center. Grace joined the PSC Board in 2002.

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Rica Duff

A long-time resident of the Pasadena area, Rica brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Board. She received her B.A. in Psychology from UCLA and had enjoyed a career in marketing and public relations for over 25 years. Rica is the Marketing Director for Regency Park Senior Living, Inc., and is involved with many community organizations including the Pasadena Symphony, Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, and San Gabriel Valley Alzheimer's Association. In recent years, she has received commendations for distinguished community service from the City of Los Angeles, California State Assembly and County of Los Angeles. Currently, Rica is writing a book on inspirational seniors.

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Clarence Fleming

Clarence Fleming is an attorney in private practice specializing in Probate Law, and Trust and Wills. He is former partner of Fleming McClung and Anderson, and past President of the Pasadena Bar (1994). Fleming's education includes a B.A. from Stanford University, and a law degree from the University of Southern California. He and his wife Bunny have lived and worked in the area for many years. Fleming's affiliations have included the Board of the Scripps Home and the Episcopal Home. He is very knowledgeable about non-profit law and good at analyzing issues related to nonprofit organizations.

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Dorothy Graff

Dorothy is a community activist and a resident of Pasadena for 21 years. She was married to the late Sy Graff (a Pacific Telesis executive) for 53 years. They have three children. She is a member of St. Andrew's Church and is involved with other organizations such as Queens Care, Christian Women's Club and the Campus Crusade. Dorothy is very active and continues to contribute to the success of the Pasadena Senior Center.

Dr. Stephen Hasper is the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Pasadena. His childhood began here in the greater Los Angeles area and continued in the Ozarks of Missouri. He is married to Joyce Ann, father of three sons and now a grandfather to two grandsons. He has served churches in Chicago and Los Angeles. Dr. Stephen Hasper received his Doctor of Ministry degree from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1994. His earlier education was a BA from Independent Baptist College in Dallas, Texas and a Master of Divinity at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in 1979, in Deerfield, Illinois. He has also studied at Claremont School of Theology and Fuller Seminary. Stephen is married to Joyce Ann Hasper and they have 3 adult children, Adam 25, Rodger 32 and Nathaniel 34.

Candace is a 45 year resident of Pasadena. She resumed her interrupted mid-west education, earning a BA in Sociology from California State University in 1986. Candace spent several years volunteering with Camp Fire Girls, eventually serving as President of the Board of Directors for the San Gabriel Valley Chapter. She has worked for the Pasadena Unified School District, the Food and Drug Administration, and the 9^th Circuit Court of Appeals. Since retirement she kept energized by working part-time at the Occidental College Library. Candace is a world traveler and enjoys adventurous trips.. She also enjoys visiting daughter, Victoria, and family, including grandsons Carey 15, and Curtis 12 in Washington DC.

As a product of the Pasadena Unified School District and UCLA, Mc Knight made a Education a priority in life. After a 40-year career in the classroom, she recently retired. In addition to her career in Education, McKnight has been active in the community through the years. She has served as a committee member with the State Commission on Teacher Credentialing. She served on boards of area organizations including Planned Parenthood, Alkebulan Cultural Center, and the YWCA. In addition to the Pasadena Senior Center, her current board memberships include URDC, Planned Parenthood Advocacy Project and the Executive Board of The Links, Inc.

Ernestine Moore is the District Director for State Senator Jack Scott. She is formerly the Vice President of Student Services at Pasadena City College and retired from the position in 2003 after 32 years of services in varied positions. Moore's education includes a B.S. and M.S. in Psychology from Virginia State University with additional study at UCLA, University of Massachusetts at Amherst and University of Santa Clara. Moore has a long history of involvement in community nonprofits. Currently, she serves on the Board of Flintridge Foundation, the Advisory Board of the Coral Program and on the National Board of the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc. She is knowledgeable about the administration and operations of nonprofits and about the multitude of services available in this community.

Angie O'Brien is a native Californian. She attended Pasadena Schools, received a Bachelors degree from UCLA and a Masters degree from California State University, Los Angeles. She retired from the Pasadena Unified School District after forty years. She has been active in community organizations since graduating from UCLA. She has served on the Commission on the Status of Women, the Human Services Commission and is currently on the Senior Commission. Angie now serves as director on the boards of Women at Work, Child Care Information Services, Pasadena Beautiful Foundation, Planned Parenthood of Pasadena, Altadena Christian Children's Center, Pasadena PTA Council, San Rafael Library Associates, and is the president of the UCLA Alumni Rose Bowl Bruins.

Carel Otte was educated in the Netherlands and received a Bachelor's Degree in Geology from the University of Amsterdam in 1943. He entered California Institute of Technology in 1948, receiving a Master's Degree in 1950 and Doctorate degree in 1954. He was employed by the Shell Oil Company and joined Unocal in 1957. Carel has been cited in 1972 by the National Society of Professional Engineers and by the Institute for the Advancement of Engineering in 1974 for his work in developing the Geysers Geothermal project as one of the most outstanding engineering achievements. He has authored numerous publications. Carel has served as Chairman of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Advisory Committee among other boards. He is a Fellow of the Geological Society of America and a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists.

Yuny Parada is a Pasadena resident of 28 years. Originally from El Salvador, she is a community activist whose primary focus is equitable representation for the Latino/a community in every aspect of life in Pasadena. Yuny is a graduate of the inaugural class of Leadership Pasadena and a past member of the Human Relations Commission. She is a Board member with the League of Women Voters, the Parks and Recreation Foundation, and the Pasadena Latino Forum. She is married and has three children. Among her goals as a member of the Board of the Pasadena Senior Center is to increase the Center's diversity of programs, personnel and membership.

Abel is the owner of El Portal Restaurant in the Playhouse District. He has recently added The Coffee Tree to his culinary ventures. Abel is a former General Manager of the Athenaeum at Caltech where he spent approximately 17 years. He is also the founder and current Board Member of the Playhouse District Association. Abel has been married to wife Rosalia for 37 years, has 3 sons, and 4 grandchildren currently and growing..

Kenneth A. Schechter and his wife Sue have lived in Pasadena since 1999. They previously resided in La Canada for 35 years and raised 3 children there. In La Canada they were active in numerous local civic activities and were honored as Citizens of the Year in 1995. Ken served on the Board of Directors of the Harvard Business School Association of Southern California, the Stanford Club of Los Angeles County and the Alpha Foundation of the Glendale Memorial Hospital Foundation.

In Pasadena Ken was Chairman of the Committee responsible for getting a new Submarine named the USS Pasadena and for raising the $60,000 for her commissioning. For this and for his military service he was honored as Patriot of the Year. Ken is currently on the Board of Directors of the Pasadena Senior Center and serves as chairman of the "Resource Development Committee" (fund raising).

Ken received an A.A. Certificate from UCLA (under the auspices of the Naval Aviation College Program), proceeding to active duty in flight training. He served in Fighter Squadron 194 aboard the USS Valley Forge during the Korean War. He was severely wounded in combat and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart and Air Medal. Physically retired from the Navy, he went on to receive an A.B. in Economics from Stanford and an M.B.A. from Harvard.

Chuck Waterman attended Stanford, both undergraduate and graduate schools. He served 2 years as an officer in the U.S. Coast Guard between 1951-1953. He then joined the Riverside Cement Co. in 1954 and remained in that industry as a marketing research executive. In 1969 Chuck joined Dean Witter here in Pasadena until the merger with Morgan Stanley a few years ago. He retired as a Senior Vice President and Financial Advisor.

Calvin Wells is the Assistant Fire Chief for the City of Pasadena Fire Department. He has over 26 years of experience as a professional firefighter. Currently, he oversees the Operations Bureau of the Fire Department and is responsible for service and program delivery. He and his family reside in Pasadena.

David Whitcomb is an Engineering Consultant for Legacy Engineering. Whitcomb has a Bachelors and Masters degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Southern California. David teaches part time at the business and engineering schools of Woodbury University, University of Phoenix and USC. He has taught workshops on Strategic Planning, Diversity Training and Business Ethics at Boeing/McDonnell Douglas facilities and the USMC candidate Brigadier General course. Whitcomb is a Registered PE with the State of California. Other professional affiliations include Senior Membership (Past President) in the Institute of Industrial Engineers. In addition to his membership on the Pasadena Senior Center Board, Whitcomb is on the Board of the Friends of the Levitt and the United Nations Association Pasadena Chapter. Whitcomb is recognized for his strong insight on management practices, ethical issues and diversity. David joined the Board in 2003.