Keeping busy

When Leon Misiolek is not stirring up old-fashioned soups or

cooking pot roasts in his gourmet kitchen, he volunteers at the Costa

Mesa Senior Center.

The 82-year-old Costa Mesa resident has helped out at the center

for more than 10 years.

“I never wear a [name] badge these days,” he said with a laugh.

“Because if you don’t know Leon, then heaven help you.”

Misiolek is there at least three days a week. He has lived in the

city for about 42 years. Since he started volunteering, he has helped

out with tasks such as helping seniors look for homes or rest homes,

giving them rides to the hospital, coordinating flu shots, picking up

bread from local grocery stores and organizing events.

Misiolek even helped put together the New Year’s Eve dance Tuesday

night at the center.

“It takes some work,” he said. “You need to have musicians and the

caterers. By 11:30, we put out the champagne on the tables. And of

course, what’s New Year’s Eve without noisemakers?”

He volunteers with a passion. Not just at the senior center, but

even at his church in Newport Beach. He used to tend to the rose

garden at Newport Harbor Lutheran Church until recently, when he gave

it up because of health reasons, he said.

“I love doing this,” Misiolek said. “It’s the satisfaction you get

from giving back to your community.”

Also, as a former manager at a grocery store, he is used to being

around people, he said.

“I need to be active,” Misiolek said. “I need to keep doing

something and I love meeting people and helping people.”

His volunteering activities have also helped him make several

friends over the years.

“My son is always telling me to relax,” he said. “Well, I do

relax. But I need to be busy and I look forward to volunteering as

long as I can.”

-- Story by Deepa Bharath,

Photo by Sean Hiller