Volunteer of the Month
Dan Maneval
April 2025
Dan Maneval is a recent addition to DMCC Team and has already made a significant impact in the lives of Del Mar older adults through his can-do spirit and positive attitude. Dan is a member of DMCC’s volunteer Essential Transportation team, which provides independence to older adults who no longer drive. He is also a new member of DMCC’s Transportation Committee, which oversees our Essential Transportation programs and plans recreational outings for active older adults. Dan was nominated by Transportation Committee Chair Judy Schuckit, who says, “As a relatively new member of our volunteer driver program Dan has jumped in with two feet and our clients often comment on his enthusiasm, kindness, and say that spending time with him is just plain fun.”
Originally from Hockessin, Delaware, Dan moved to California to attend graduate school at USC. He holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees in Biomedical Engineering and has spent his career working on the early-stage development of novel biologic therapies for cancer and other unmet medical needs. Currently he works as a consultant in the biopharma industry where he enjoys working with start-up companies and teams developing new technologies. Dan met his wife of 36 years, Edna, in the PhD program at USC. They lived in Los Angeles and the Bay Area before moving to San Diego over 30 years ago, settling in Del Mar in 2014. They have two sons who grew up in Carmel Valley and attended Torrey Pines High School. Their son Matt is an architect and lives in San Francisco with his wife Caroline, while their son Andrew is an MD and finishing his second year as a surgery resident in Los Angeles.
Dan has been volunteering his entire life because his parents emphasized the importance of education, community and the value of giving back. Dan was a Little League volunteer for over a decade when his kids were younger and has been active with his church and scouting. Dan has shared that “As an adult, I have met some of my favorite people through volunteer activities and it has been fun to get to know the many volunteers in the Del Mar community!”
DMCC Essential Transportation volunteers are always the most needed volunteers, and they make an enormous difference in the lives of the individuals they serve. Whether they are driving their own personal vehicles to help someone get to a medical appointment, or serving as the host on a Grocery Van, they enjoy a flexible schedule and have the opportunity to develop lasting friendships with the clients they serve. When asked why he volunteers for DMCC, Dan notes, “The DMCC team works very well together and has created an open and friendly atmosphere. I particularly appreciate that I can select the times and dates for volunteering that don’t conflict with my work schedule.” To learn more about Dan or volunteering for DMCC, visit www.dmcc.cc/volunteerofthemonth.
Thank you Dan!
Michelle Johnson
March 2025
Michelle Johnson is a person who volunteers to find personal fulfillment and spreads even more joy to others in the process. Michelle has served for a couple of years on our volunteer Essential Transportation team, which provides independence to nondriving seniors, usually as a van host for shopping trips. Michelle was nominated by Essential Transportation client Fran and Transportation Committee Chair Judy Schuckit because, according to Fran, “Michelle does an incredible job as hostess and her energy and enthusiasm are contagious. She is especially helpful to the two regulars who need the most assistance.”
Originally from Washington, DC, Michelle grew up in Sacramento, studied at UC Davis, and lived in New York City and San Francisco before making her way to Del Mar in 2020. Her husband Andy owns a branding and graphic design company, and she credits his love for surfing and their shared appreciation for the beauty of the community for bringing them here. For her part, Michelle worked in merchandise planning for 15 years, forecasting sales and purchasing, culminating in a Vice President of Inventory Management role at beauty products giant Sephora. She recently shifted her career, now working as the US Market Development Manager at a UK-based data privacy platform.
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The other love of Michelle’s life is travel; she has explored 50 countries “and counting!,” and is currently excited for an upcoming trip to Bhutan, not least because “they measure Gross National Happiness there!” She recently joined the Del Mar Women’s Giving Collective, and she’s looking forward to effecting more positive impacts in the wider San Diego community.
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DMCC Essential Transportation volunteers are always the most needed volunteers, and they make an enormous difference in the lives of the individual seniors they serve. Whether they are driving their own personal vehicles to help someone get to a medical appointment, or serving as the host on a Grocery Van, they enjoy a flexible schedule and have the opportunity to develop lasting friendships with the clients they serve. When asked why she volunteers for DMCC, Michelle notes that as she has lost her parents and in-laws, she finds “tremendous joy and meaning” in spending time with older adults: “Over the past two years with DMCC, I've found a wonderful community of friends. Each person has fascinating stories to share, and I look forward to our conversations and catching up on their lives. These relationships help fill a special place in my heart and allow me to create the kind of connections I miss having with my own parents.” To learn more about Michelle or volunteering for DMCC, visit www.dmcc.cc/volunteerofthemonth.
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Thank you Michelle!
Betty Bulich
February 2025
Betty Bulich is the kind of person who volunteers because she cares so much about the happiness of others. Betty has served on DMCC’s Social Good Times Committee for the last couple of years – a team that arguably has the best name of any volunteer committee, but is dedicated to organizing everyone’s favorite community events, like the upcoming Champagne and Chocolate Open House and the Spring Ice Cream Social. Betty was nominated by Social Good Times Chair Ann Feeney because her contributions to December’s Cookies and Cocoa Holiday Party were so valuable: “She always volunteers to help in so many ways at our events!”
Betty and her husband Anthony met at and graduated together from the University of Southern California, where she achieved her BS in physical therapy. (“We walked the aisle together twice!”) They moved to Del Mar almost a half century ago, after Anthony completed his PhD in microbiology. Though they were busy raising their two children, Todd and Marla, Betty began working at Children’s Hospital (now Rady) as soon as they settled in. Her career in physical therapy took her to San Diego Orthopedics and she spent more than 30 years in a clinic here in Del Mar that closed in 2020. Their kids have produced four grandkids; Marla now lives in Oregon, while Todd is local.
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Reading and participating in a book club, and until recently running, have been important parts of Betty’s leisure activities. She has completed 13 marathons, including Boston twice! She has happy memories from 16 years of spectators cheering her on as she makes her way down the streets of Del Mar towards the finish line of the La Jolla Half Marathon. Sharing her thoughts about giving back to the community that has so strongly supported her, Betty notes that “Our family is grateful for the quality of life we have all experienced here. Volunteering continues to keep us connected with this special community.”
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The Social Good Times Committee plans and works at DMCC’s major annual free community events, like the Champagne and Chocolate Open House, demonstrating in a clear way that nothing DMCC does is possible without the dedication of volunteers. When asked why DMCC, Betty comments that “I have been impressed with this group of tremendously caring individuals involved with DMCC and the insight and depth of the programs being developed. It has been fun for me to volunteer in the Social Good Times Committee whose primary goal is to bring smiles to others. Thank you also to the many, many other volunteers involved in the numerous programs being offered by DMCC. I am such a very small part in all of this.”
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Thank you Betty!
Donna Shaw
December 2024
Donna Shaw is a Del Mar resident whose love for and dedication to her community is obvious to anyone who meets her. Donna has worked on our Tuesday Lunch Connections team (TLC) for the last few years, and together, the TLC volunteers create an engaging and delicious luncheon for older adults in Del Mar age 85+. Over the last several months, Donna has really stepped up, organizing both the table decorations and desserts for the 35 participants to enjoy a beautiful setting and a sweet ending to the meal. Donna was nominated by DMCC Secretary and TLC Team Captain Phyllis Mirsky, who says of Donna, “she is so dependable and is always ready to do what is needed to make sure our participants have a good experience!”
The eldest of four sisters, Donna was born and raised in Chicago. She attended Quincy University, where she earned a BS in Biological Sciences, then moved on to the University of Illinois for a Masters and PhD in Microbiology and Immunology. She wasn’t done just yet; Donna did post-doctoral research at Argonne National Laboratory – and then got a paralegal degree to boot! Donna worked in the evaluation and acquisition of new technologies for Abbott Laboratories. She eventually wound up in Del Mar 28 years ago, directing corporate licensing, until she landed in UCSD’s Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property Office. She retired from UCSD just a couple of years ago as an Associate Director for Life Science Licensing. Donna’s professional resume is impressive by anyone’s measure, but in the midst of all that, she raised her son David, who now resides in Santa Barbara working as an expert in internet security, and is preparing to welcome (“any day now!”) Donna’s first grandchild into the world.
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When asked why she spends her free time volunteering, Donna cites her faith and lessons imparted from her parents about the importance of helping others “in any way that I could – I believe it is my obligation to the community to offer a helping hand by contributing my time to make a difference.” Donna has also spent time volunteering for the Del Mar Foundation in multiple capacities.
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TLC is one of DMCC’s signature programs and is possible in partnership with the Del Mar Foundation. Donna summarizes what she does as a TLC volunteer: “I love being able to help serve a hot meal and desserts to the attendees! I really enjoy seeing how happy the TLC attendees are and how much they like their special lunch.” Nothing that DMCC does is possible without the help of volunteers. Donna’s opinion of volunteering for DMCC in general is that “By volunteering with DMCC, we are able to support the senior community in so many different ways, and to connect with members of the Del Mar community who also want to volunteer.”
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​Thank you Donna!
Sheila Sharpe
November 2024
Sheila Sharpe is a book lover and has harnessed her love of literature to serve DMCC by working for the last several years as head of the Page Turners subcommittee, a herculean task by any measure. Sheila and the Page Turners team reach out to authors, of both local and national renown, to invite them to meet with a DMCC audience that has enjoyed their book. They then identify the best moderator for that author guest and craft the most engaging and relevant conversation they can have with them. Sheila just recently stepped down from the DMCC Board of Directors and as chair of DMCC’s Program Committee, and was nominated for Volunteer of the Month by her successor Ellie Haviland, who commented “Sheila’s leadership and her tireless efforts on Page Turners have been truly remarkable. She deserves our thanks for building a pipeline of interesting, educational, and timely topics. Her unwavering commitment to DMCC and the Del Mar Community is a source of inspiration for us all!”
Sheila was born in Washington, DC and grew up in Chicago, raised by a mother who was a social worker and a father who was an economics professor and “frustrated actor.” Sheila is a still-practicing Psychotherapist with a PhD in Clinical Psychology. In keeping with her fascination with books and their writers, she recently added the title Author to her professional resume, penning two psychological thrillers (and a third in progress) that are currently being marketed for publication. She and husband Michael, a Professor Emeritus of Mathematics at UCSD, have lived in Del Mar for 24 years. Their son Colin is an Encinitas-based musician and videographer.
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Sheila served for the maximum of six years on the DMCC Board of Directors, because “I have a long-time wish to help people, to contribute to my community, and to collaborate with people of like mind.” Her work specifically on the Page Turners program, scheduling the authors and serving as the go-to conversation facilitator with them, is engaging for her because “I love supporting local authors and introducing wonderful writers to a local audience.”
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Nothing DMCC does happens without the hard work of volunteers – especially our activities and programs. If you browse the DMCC calendar, there is a volunteer Program Leader like Sheila in charge of each and every entry on it. Sheila says the reason she volunteers in this way for DMCC is because she derives fulfillment from “the wonderful people associated with the organization and our mission to contribute in a multitude of important ways to members of the community, especially older adults.”
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Thank you, Sheila!
Linda Pinney
October 2024
Linda Pinney joined DMCC’s team of volunteers earlier this year and has already made her mark as a very talented and joyful Tech Coach, helping older adults to do things like use features on their smart devices, connect their phones/computers to other home technology, strengthen their online security, and more. Development Chair Judd Halenza nominated Linda for Volunteer of the Month when he recently witnessed her patiently helping a community member. DMCC President Katie Militello has also taken note of the impact Linda has made, saying “Linda assesses how she can help not only with an older adult’s technology issues, but also with how she can simply make their life easier by completing minor tasks in their home. Her enthusiasm is infectious and we are so grateful she has joined our organization as a volunteer!”
A California native who grew up as a “non-monetarily” spoiled only child and grandchild, Linda has made a home in Del Mar for 31 years. After achieving a Bachelor of Science in Genetics from UC Davis and a Masters in Business and Healthcare Administration from USC, Linda was on the originating team of Pyxis Corp. after which she founded and successfully led tech companies, including DNA Dynamics, Inc., the StartUp Lab, Inc., and Asteres Inc. She developed and patented the world’s first prescription pickup kiosk installed in healthcare, Department of Defense, and retail locations around the world.
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Linda and her partner Dr. Cathy Asciutto have made a life together for more than four decades. They have two furry children: Fletcher, a one-eyed Golden, and Luna, a blue-eyed Aussie Doodle. Linda credits her parents and grandparents for instilling the values of being neighborly and contributing through community volunteering. “I’ve also had an amazing career that afforded me the opportunity to give back and it’s the absolute highlight of my semi-retirement. I learn so much from every person I get to assist and feel privileged to be in their company.”
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DMCC is fortunate to have volunteers on the team that are possessed of unique skills that can be used to help older adults in the community, like Linda’s tech coaching. But no matter what an individual volunteer’s skills or interests are, there’s a place for them on the team! Commented Linda, “I strongly encourage our residents to really get to know DMCC. From borrowing a wheelchair, to individualized help with transportation, to donating a little time to help with any one of DMCC’s many programs and services, there is something for everyone. DMCC is a bright shiny star in our beloved little village, and we are lucky to have them!”
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Thank you, Linda!
Linda Chisari
September 2024
Linda Chisari has been the leader of DMCC’s longest-running activity, Singing Together, for an unbelievable 22 years, and recently retired from the DMCC Board of Directors, where she served as Chair of the Social Good Times Committee for five years. Board member and Tuesday Lunch Connections (TLC) captain Phyllis Mirsky nominated Linda for Volunteer of the Month because Linda recently donated her time and musical talent to play the piano at DMCC’s TLC Program. Phyllis noted that “Linda’s creativity and commitment to the Del Mar community is reflected in her continuing stewardship of DMCC’s Singing Together Program, which is a wonderful opportunity for neighbors to join together in music and fellowship, and the senior participants of TLC were also fortunate to benefit from the joy she spreads!”
Originally from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and later Ridgewood, New Jersey, Linda attended Mount Holyoke College, where she concentrated on pre-med studies and music. She transferred to Columbia University and graduated with a BS in Nursing. She met her husband Frank 57 years ago, when he was a student at Cornell Medical School, and she was a nurse. They fell madly in love while working together at New York Hospital and married six weeks later, then flew to Tanzania for a medical missionary honeymoon. They moved to Del Mar in 1973 when Frank was recruited to join The Scripps Research Institute, where he spent a long career in viral immunology. Linda taught piano for ten years while returning to school to train in Ornamental Horticulture and Landscape Design. After designing, constructing, and planting an ornamental edible garden in 1981, it won the Grand Prize in the Landscape division of the Del Mar Fair, launching her into a 35-year career as a landscape designer specializing in gardens that were appropriately drought-tolerant and suitable for the local climate. Linda has designed 850 residential landscape designs over the course of her impressive career, and you can read more about it on her website www.lindachisari.com.
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In addition to their distinguished professional lives, Linda and Frank raised two kids in Del Mar: Josh, who now lives in New York and works in Finance, and Jessa, who lives in Los Angeles and works in Landscape Architecture. They have loved to travel and see the world. Linda has also seriously pursued a writing hobby, culminating in her memoir The Magic of Music, which has been beloved by many Del Martians and was once covered in DMCC’s Page Turners author visit book club.
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Linda loves to volunteer because of the opportunity it affords her for meeting people and connecting through common interests. In addition to volunteering for DMCC, she has also volunteered with the Del Mar Garden Club, serving on its Board for many years, including as President from 1997-2000. She has also served on the City of Del Mar’s Parks and Recreation Committee. Linda says, “I enjoy volunteering with DMCC because I want to give back some of the privilege and happiness with which I have been blessed. I enjoy helping our Seniors continue to feel socially engaged while remaining in the homes they love.”
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Thank you, Linda!​
Don Mosier
August 2024
Don Mosier is a longstanding volunteer for Del Mar Community Connections, having served in a variety of capacities, including for one year as president of our board of directors. This month however, Don was nominated for Volunteer of the Month by Transportation Committee Chair Judy Schuckit, because Don has repeatedly come through in a pinch, making major contributions to the successes of our Essential Transportation program, and even giving a boost to our recreational transportation for active seniors. Judy noted that “I truly can't think of anyone who deserves to be Volunteer of the Month more. We were so lucky that after Don’s City Council tenure he agreed to join our Board. As our President, his calm and steady demeanor capped by a great sense of humor made our work both focused and fun. Don’s generosity with his time and his willingness to help out at the last minute have made him a rare superhero volunteer. Not to mention, with Don’s help our Explorers outing to the San Diego County Fair was a huge success!”
Don, originally from Southern Indiana, has made a home in Del Mar for close to four decades. He led an impressive career in medical research, earning both an MD and a PhD from the University of Chicago. He published studies in immunology and virology for 50 years: “My first publication was in 1967 as a graduate student, and my final was in 2016, the year I retired from Scripps Research Institute.” Don and his wife Ann Feeney, also a medical research scientist, raised three sons (David, Jonathan, and Kevin) here in Del Mar. “They all visited for the Fourth of July. David works in film, and we’re currently dog sitting for him while he’s away on a project.”
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Don has dedicated his time to the community in a variety of ways. In addition to his volunteer work for DMCC, he has served on Del Mar City Council and currently serves on the 22nd Agricultural District board, AKA the Del Mar Fair board. In that position, he was able to help our Transportation Committee to plan a truly special VIP outing to the County Fair earlier this summer. When asked why DMCC is important to him, he makes the case that he is “depositing credits for when Ann and/or I need assistance from DMCC.”
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DMCC Essential Transportation volunteers help nondriving seniors to maintain their independence by using their own vehicles to provide personalized rides to medical, grocery, and other essential appointments. These volunteers report enormous satisfaction from the flexible schedule and the quality time they get to spend with their elder neighbors. Don has the additional rare privilege of driving DMCC’s vans. Don’s feelings are that “I really enjoy seeing the smiles on our seniors’ faces.”
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Thank you, Don!
Carol German and Annie Duval
July 2024
Did you know that DMCC has an entire team of volunteers dedicated to doing outreach in the community with a goal of expanding our base of participants, volunteers, and donors? Recently, DMCC’s Outreach team, led by Tema Halpern, has been having quality conversations with guests at small social gatherings in their neighborhoods. This Spring, Del Mar Woods residents Annie Duval and Carol German hosted a delightful happy hour for their neighbors that also functioned as an incredibly successful DMCC outreach event. Tema nominated Annie and Carol for the volunteer of the month award because “We’ve found that personal contact is one of the best ways to spread knowledge about DMCC, and the event they hosted was very successful in that. I’m so appreciative of all they did to make it happen!”
Annie Duval was born and raised in Seattle and has always lived on a coast of some sort, including Lake Michigan and Maine. Annie and her husband Dave love to sail – they have even sailed all the way down the East coast to the Caribbean! Annie chose in 1972 to dock her life in Del Mar because of the village atmosphere, the woodsy feel, and the “longer sailing season.” Annie has had a fascinating variety of professional experiences, but arguably her most significant experience was working for SAIC, a tech company – and she even got to be part of its nuclear fusion project. Annie raised her kids Giovanna and Tadz in Del Mar, and they often bring the grandkids from their homes in Michigan and New Mexico. ​
Annie is a fitness lover who has run marathons and competitively rowed and she is an advocate for healthy eating. She loves shopping at the Farmers Market and sharing her passion for healthy cooking. Annie’s volunteer work is focused on her community because she cares about helping her neighbors. She served on the Del Mar Woods board, and of her work developing oral histories for the Del Mar Historical Society’s Del Mar Voices project is how she ended up working with DMCC. “I find it very satisfying to help create a caring and positive community.”
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Carol German and her husband Rand have lived all over the country, citing stints in Ohio, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, and Mississippi, but after purchasing a vacation home in Del Mar in 2006, they decided in 2009 to stay here permanently. Carol spent her career in student affairs administration at major universities, including RPI and Penn State. This experience prepared her well for her volunteer activities, which have included serving on boards and in high-level roles for such organizations as the United Way, a Pennsylvania task force working on student alcohol abuse, and America’s Promise. In Del Mar, Carol has served on the Del Mar Woods HOA board as president, the board of Newcomers of San Dieguito, and even the DMCC board for six years. “Involvement in our communities not only helps improve our communities, it adds purpose to our lives.” She’s passing that lesson to the subsequent generations of her family: “Rand and I have two grown sons and three teenage grandchildren, and I love their commitment to our family and to seeing the world and sampling other cultures – experiences outside of our comfort zones help us grow and become more compassionate.”
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DMCC is always looking to spread the word about our incredible programs and services, and we need Outreach volunteers to help us do that! Carol was happy to help because “DMCC keeps growing and adding activities to enhance life for seniors in our area. I especially love that we are now providing lots of ways that active seniors can enjoy each other and can aid those less able to provide for themselves, making it possible for all to live safely and longer in our community.” If you’d be interested in helping the Outreach team or if you have an idea for a neighborhood-based event, call the DMCC office at (858) 792-7565 or email dmcc@dmcc.cc.
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Thank you Annie and Carol!
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Jim Dutton
May 2024
Jim Dutton is a recent addition to DMCC’s Essential Transportation volunteer team and was as unexpected an addition as he is generous. He just joined the team earlier this year, expressing his interest in the assignment immediately after appearing as a featured author to DMCC’s Page Turners group – and he already signs himself up for more appointments than anyone! As an Essential Transportation volunteer, Jim helps nondriving seniors to get to medical, grocery, and other essential appointments. Jim was nominated by board member and Transportation Chair Judy Schuckit, who said “We’re incredibly fortunate to have a volunteer who is so dedicated out of the gate. Volunteers like Jim are what make DMCC’s transportation programs so successful.”
Jim has lived in Del Mar for close to three decades, making a home here while working as a prosecutor for the California Attorney General’s office. He and his wife Heidi, also an attorney for the CA AG in the civil division, raised their sons here. They are each now 32 years old – one following in his parents’ footsteps as an attorney, and the other working for a local nonprofit. They now focus on raising their dog, Wylie E. Coyote: “He lives up to his namesake.”
Jim is spending his retirement indulging in his hobbies of travel and photography. He is also putting his legal expertise to good use, publishing a trilogy of thrillers, which includes Path to Justice, Path to Revenge and Path to Atonement. But he also felt he wanted to spend some time helping out, so “my friend Nate McCay introduced me to DMCC.”
DMCC Essential Transportation volunteers help nondriving seniors to maintain their independence by using their own vehicles to provide personalized rides to medical, grocery, and other essential appointments. These volunteers report enormous satisfaction from the flexible schedule and the quality time they get to spend with their elder neighbors. Jim’s feelings are that “I really enjoy getting to know the riders – they are very interesting and have led inspirational lives.”
Thank you Jim!
Carol Steblay, Arlene Lighthall, and Jeanie Grischy
April 2024
“As part of DMCC’s Strategic Plan, we are now targeting support of Family Caregivers because it is an increasingly necessary job and emotionally draining; it’s difficult because of the uncertainty of what is required, and how long the support will be needed,” says Vice President of Strategic Planning Katie Militello, who nominated April’s honored volunteers. “DMCC decided it would be most beneficial to collaborate with the Alzheimer’s Association of San Diego, where Jeanie volunteers, to provide a quality support group for family caregivers. Carol and Arlene attended an extensive training program with the Alzheimer’s Association in order to be prepared and knowledgeable regarding the most current resources and understanding of facilitating supportive group dynamics. There were 15 people in attendance at the very first session of the DMCC support group, which indicates how needed and important it is to offer this support. There is no better example of volunteers, who are committed to the community than Carol, Arlene and Jeanie. We are so grateful for their dedication, perseverance and caring of our community.”
Originally from Texas, Jeanie Grischy got her BSN from the University of Texas and worked as an ER nurse and critical care nurse before earning her MSN in anesthesia. She moved to San Diego and worked for the UCSD Department of Anesthesiology for 33 years. When Jeanie found herself caring for her mother who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, “I realized the need for programs and funding for people suffering from this devastating disease and their families.” When she’s not taking her 14-year-old English Labrador to Dog Beach, Jeanie volunteers on the Alzheimer’s Association Gala committee, the Solana Beach Public Arts Commission, and the Del Mar Village Association.
Arlene Lighthall grew up in Indiana, and subsequently all around the world. She has lived in Venezuela and has studied at universities in Salamanca, Spain, Florence, Italy, and Zurich, Switzerland, earning degrees in comparative literature and in foreign languages. Arlene has called Del Mar home for 50 years, taught at MiraCosta College for 22 years, and cared for her husband Richard and her two sons. Though her husband and one of her sons are no longer with us, she speaks with pride of her son and daughter-in-law who are Stanford doctors, and her two granddaughters. Arlene has been volunteering for as many causes as she can since she was just a child, she is notably one of DMCC’s founders: “I am astounded to see how the early efforts of a few women to help seniors remain in their homes have expanded to the vital organization of today. The program for Alzheimer’s caregivers is a fine example of dedication and sensitivity to community needs.”
Carol Steblay grew up in Montreal, Canada, but has lived in Del Mar since 1991; she had a career in secretarial positions and worked in real estate for many years, helping people to realize their dreams. Carol’s large family consists of her daughter, son, daughter-in-law, stepdaughter, six grandchildren – and of course, her husband Terry, who has long been in leadership positions for DMCC. Asked why she donates her time, Carol says “DMCC gives me an opportunity to interact and become better acquainted with many of our neighbors. What motivated us to work on the Alzheimer’s caregiver support group for the past year was to provide resources and comfort in a safe environment for caregivers of dementia-related illnesses.”
The Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregiver Support Group meets on the second Thursday of each month at 11:30 at the Del Mar Community Building. DMCC is looking to develop more programs and services to assist family caregivers; to offer your thoughts, please call the DMCC office at (858) 792-7565 or email dmcc@dmcc.cc.
Thank you Jeanie, Arlene, and Carol!
Jeff Barnouw
March 2024
Jeff Barnouw has demonstrated his care for the community for quite a long time and has volunteered for DMCC since 2010. As a member of the Tuesday Lunch Connections (TLC) volunteer team, Jeff personally calls more than 20 households twice a month to invite them to lunch and tell them what to expect. Jeff was nominated by board member and TLC team captain Phyllis Mirsky, who said about Jeff “he’s a key member of the TLC team. His crucial role in calling participants to confirm their attendance is essential in making them feel welcome - and his delightful sense of humor is always a hit.”
Born in New York City to a family of Columbia University academics, Jeff broke with tradition when he matriculated at Yale for undergraduate and graduate studies. On his way to earning his PhD in Comparative Literature, he also studied abroad in Paris, India, and Germany, where he met his wife Dagmar, a fellow academic. They shared a love of European travel and raised a son, Benjamin, who works as counsel to the California state appeals court. Jeff spent 25 years as a professor at UT Austin, and has been a widower since 2008. Jeff’s grandkids are now starting their adult lives with their own success; Jeff will proudly tell you that Nicholas just graduated from Columbia and is working as a banker in public finance, while Natalie is a junior at MIT and a soccer star.
Jeff is spending his retirement giving back to his local community in so many ways. In addition to serving DMCC in a variety of capacities, Jeff shows his love to San Dieguito River Park. He did “dust devil” trail maintenance work at the Lagoon, as well as serving as chair of the Citizens Advisory Committee of the Joint Powers Authority. He chairs the Del Mar Foundation’s Cultural Arts Committee (which plans the First Thursday concert series). He serves as President of the Board of Camarada, and a member of the board of Bach Collegium San Diego. He’s Vice President of the Del Mar Historical Society and he serves on the editorial staff of the Sandpiper newsletter. This list of volunteer commitments is substantial to say the least, but Jeff says “I enjoy being useful and being part of a team. I’m happy to enjoy my life in Del Mar in such a beautiful setting and supportive and stimulating community.”
The TLC Team performs a variety of tasks to serve a nice luncheon in a social setting to the most mature members of the community, in a grant partnership with the Del Mar Foundation. Jeff’s feelings as part of that particular team are that “the companionship and appreciation of our service are rewarding.”
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Thanks Jeff!
