January 2025

Vintage Celebration: Aging Like a Fine Wine

By Karen Bagnard
Posted: 11/21/2024

Pasadena Village hosted our annual Vintage Celebration of fulfilling our mission and building a greater community.  South Pasadena Women’s Club was the venue for this celebration of helping people age in place, with grace, camaraderie and support.

Each year at this event, Pasadena Village honors a Villager and a community organization. This year we payed tribute to Esther Gillies who has been a long-time Villager.  Esther was honored for her essential guidance of our student interns; her long-running discussion group, Critical Issues; and her Villager support group of many years, When Life Gets Tough.  She is well known and loved by the Pasadena Village.  Wayne April presented her with a certificate of appreciation from the Village and a Presidential Award of Excellence signed by President Joe Biden.

The Altadena Rotary Club was honored for its continuing support of Pasadena Village and for sponsoring our annual Spring Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon at Farnsworth Park in Altadena. Bridget Brewster presented Maricela Viramontes, Altadena Rotary President with a unique cerfificate of appreciation designed by Village artist, Gina Frierman-Hunt.  

Nearly 150 attendees of this event were entertained with fabulous music by Art Deco Entertainment who gave their time and talent as a gift to the Village.  Attendees also enjoyed fine wines, contributed by Villager John Merrium, and elegant hor d’ouerves by Dilicia Catering.  The Wine Pull and Raffle added to the evenings fun and enterrtainmenet.

Village artists created commissioned art for Village members contributing over $4,000 to Pasadena Village, thanks to Villager Bill Wishner for his generous matching gift.  The art was displayed at the event garnering lots of attention and interest.  The Village artists were Jim Hendrick, Karen Bagnard, Gary Smith, Virgie Merriam and Gina Frierman-Hunt.  Patrons were Bridget Brewster, Barbara Madden, John Merriam, Wayne April, Jeff Gutstadt, Marlane Forsberg, LuCinda Haagenson, Cathy Deely, Toni Cavanagh, Paula Rao, Janet Stevenson and Dick Myers.  

With gratitude we thank our amazing sponsors: Gently Guided Senior Care Consultants, Firefly Counseling and Welcome Health, as well as our in-kind sponsors Merge Framing, Art Deco Entertainment and Party Host Helpers.  Without them, we couldn’t have had the success we enjoyed.