Looking at the past, present and future

AVIVA GOELMAN

At a recent Costa Mesa Senior Center board meeting, it was my job to

break the news that getting our Capital Campaign for 2004 out of the

gate was proving difficult. The Capital Campaign is the senior

center’s principal fundraising program each year. In the past, we

have been fortunate to have wonderful people chair the campaign,

including Sandra Segerstrom-Daniels and Automobile Club President

Thomas V. McKernan Jr.

Yet, in these recent times of belt-tightening and sluggish

economies, the nonprofit sector often struggles to find someone to

lead the fundraising charge. The senior center isn’t immune from this

challenge. It is a significant commitment to devote the necessary

time to find the funds we so desperately need to subsidize the

wonderful and diverse programs that serve our community’s seniors.

When I broke the news, scarcely any time had passed by when one of

our board members, Dr. Gwyn Parry, director of community medicine at

Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian, stepped forward. While he

graciously offered that he could not serve as the Capital Campaign

chairman, he enthusiastically -- and single- handedly -- kicked off

the campaign by donating $10,000 on behalf of the Hoag Memorial

Presbyterian Department of Community Medicine. He then challenged all

other organizations and individuals to come forward and match the

amount.

And so, from an event that brought unfortunate news there came a

shining light. The senior center is very lucky to have Parry in our

midst. Now, we have good news. Our Capital Campaign is indeed

underway, and we are eagerly looking forward to exceeding our

previous years’ proceeds.

While we treasure the good news, we are also saddened that one of

the senior center’s early board members and longtime friend and

helper L.W., “Dub” Lew Pribble, passed away on Feb. 6. In Lew’s

passing, the senior center has lost a true friend, and we want to

honor him. I approached Ruth, his beloved wife of 55 years, to share

the story of his life with me. She lent me the book, “Pribble Family

Heritage,” which Lew had written.

I spent this past rainy weekend reading Lew’s wonderful

autobiography. And I thought I’d share with you some of the

highlights, as they reveal with inspiration what planning for the

future and a positive attitude can achieve.

Lew’s autobiography began as an attempt to describe his life to

his kids: Sandy, Gary and Larry. It not only described the history of

his and Ruth’s families, but also included his insights of how his

generation and today’s generation are so vastly different.

Lew was born Sept. 15, 1919, in a farmhouse near the small farming

town of Trent, Texas. He was fascinated by airplanes. And so he

relished the opportunity when, at the age of 10, Lew and a friend had

the pleasure of flying in a 1929 Sparton biplane. So there was Lew

with his buddy, in the classic open cockpit plane, perched on seat

cushions so they could see out, sporting those large leather helmets

and goggles. The thin straps of the helmet were so long, recounts

Lew, that they used tire tape to lace the straps up under their

chins. It was a great thrill for both the lads, and one that they

would never forget.

Lew so badly wanted to fly again, and keep flying, that at age 12,

he took a paper route to earn and save money for his next plane ride.

From these early experiences, Lew developed a passion for traveling,

and nearly traveled around the world. He visited places such as

Alaska, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Britain, Canada, Colombia,

Lebanon, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Oman and Panama. Many of these

trips were taken with his love and lifelong companion, Ruth.

Professionally, Lew directed the development of three

master-planned cities of more than 10,000 people. One was in Saudi

Arabia, where he and Ruth lived for nearly four years. Another was in

Egypt, and one in the United States. The purpose of these new

industrial cities that Lew helped build was to provide affordable

housing for workers living in these countries.

At age 75, Lew looked back, taking a personal account of what he

had done for society’s benefit. But he was also searching for a

purpose for his retirement, which he believed most men are not

mentally prepared to accept. He said, “All of our lives we have

worked hard for financial security and have had a continuing set of

goals to achieve. The day after you leave the office and friends you

have known for many years, you suddenly realize that you are on your

own and the financial and social interrelationships have been cut.

This makes you realize that you are required to establish a

completely new set of goals as you have basically achieved most of

your lifetime goals.”

Fortunately, for the Costa Mesa Senior Center, Lew and Ruth found

a new goal, becoming active at the Costa Mesa Senior Center. Lew

served on the board for many years, photographed wonderful videos of

our events, and was always available and helpful on many of the

senior center’s committees. Ruth took charge of the center’s library,

and they were always generous financial contributors, never asking

for anything in return.

I have known Lew and Ruth since my arrival at the senior center,

and I spent the last day of Lew’s life joking with him. He would

always stop me and say, “What’s new today?” We would chitchat, and

roust about to find out what was for lunch at the senior center that

day. If he didn’t like what was on the menu he kept quiet. But Ruth

would go to McDonalds and bring him back a hamburger and fries. I

made sure I visited him on those days, as I have a weakness for

French fries. I could always count on Lew to save a few for me. Lew

will live on in our hearts always.

Please mark Wednesday, April 28, on your calendar. That’s when the

senior center will be part of the Fine Wine and Fast Cars event at

the “Automotive Road of Dreams” Classic Car Museum at the Orange

County Fairgrounds.

During the evening, the senior center will hold a silent and live

auction. If you have any items to donate to this auction, please

contact Laraine at (949) 645-2356, ext. 16. All items must be new and

wrapped in their original packages. If you patronize special

restaurants or stores, please ask if they would be willing to make a

donation. All proceeds of the event will be used to help expand the

enriching programs of the Costa Mesa Senior Center.

* AVIVA GOELMAN is the executive director of the Costa Mesa Senior

Center and will write occasional columns about the center, its

members and senior issues.