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Congratulations to Rich Thompson
2024 Citizen of the Year

Rich was honored at a banquet on November 3, 2024, catered by Shelby's, at the Orinda Community Center. A sold-out crowd of Orinda citizens, local officials and artists attended.  A slide show toured the current art installations in Orinda, culminating in a standing ovation.

Photos below show presentations to Rich plus Orinda Volunteer Awardees Gene Gottfried and Susan Andersen-Berger, and a collage of attendees.

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Rich has been a longtime member and an extraordinary chair of the Art in Public Places Committee for many years. He has gone well beyond any expectations serving the community in that capacity. His leadership as chair of APPC goes beyond setting agendas and conducting the meetings, to being the principal catalyst to its success for over a decade. Some of his accomplishments include:
•    He reaches out to many artists to encourage them to submit applications for review by the APPC for their art to be on loan to display in local public places.
•    Personally, he visits artists’ studios to review their available works, then submits detailed bio with art photos for APPC review. If approved, he then submits an application to the City.
•    He coordinates with the artists and the City for installation, including lining up equipment, securing the funding, present at every installation, helping with labor and supervision as needed.
•    He designs, purchases and installs signage for each artwork. Most pieces are outdoor sculptures on loan by the artist.
•    He and wife Casey have donated to the Artspace Orinda program since its inception in 2007. (artspaceorinda.org)
Fellow APPC member Ted Urban states, “Rich is a one man show and the glue that keeps the APPC running smoothly year after year.” He also volunteers time at the Orinda Village. 

2024 Orinda Volunteer Award
Co-winner, Gene Gottfried

Gene, a retired medical doctor, has served in many volunteer capacities since moving to Orinda in 1981. Gene played a critical role in the Moraga-Orinda Fire District, as Director, Division 5.  He served as MOFD Board President 2003-2004.
He has also served on the Orinda Public Safety Advisory Commission, the Rescue One Foundation to support of medical services for MOFD and as Amateur Radio Emergency Coordinator (RACES/ARES) for Orinda.
Gene has instructed Community Emergency Response Teams, and founded the Neighborhood Watch of Upper El Toyonal with over ten block captains and 150 families.
He has also served in various leadership roles with the Orinda Rotary Club and the Orinda Community Foundation.

2024 Orinda Volunteer Award
Co-winner, Susan Andersen-Berger

Sue has been a tireless community volunteer in Orinda. She has been generous with her time and knowledge as a Master Gardener advocating for the beautification of our wonderful city. Her knowledge has helped the city produce a wonderful resource, the Fire-Wise Guide, complete with wildfire resistant plant photographs and descriptions. She has worked diligently as a member of the Orinda Garden Club and the city to create beautiful, waterwise and sustainable landscaping. Sue has also contributed in many ways to our local school gardens.

Past Citizens of the Year 

2023 Bill Waterman

2022  Vince Dell'Aquila

2021  Melanie Light

2020 Tom Trowbridge

2019  Peter Hasselman

2018  Carole & Andy Amstutz

2017  Janet Riley

2016  John Wyro  

2015  Mark Roberts

 2014  Susan Garrell

2013  Pat Rudebusch

2012  Richard Westin

2011   Steve Harwood

2010  Linda Landau

2009 Kate Wiley

2008 Ted Urban

2007 Bill Judge

2006 Rebecca Kunzman

2005 Randy Holleschau

2004 Sue Severson

2003 Kay Aaker

2002 Pam Hall

2001  Jo Alice Canterbury

2000 Pete Giers

1999 Rosina McKee

1998 Lynn Olson

1997 Jan Coe & Vanessa Crews

1996 Amy Worth

1995 Ellen Amen

1994 Bill Dabel, Bobbie Landers & Aldo Guidotti

1993 Janet Pease

1992 Richard Heggie

1991  Clarence Woodard

1990 Bob and Sheyla Kantor

1989 Carol Breuner

1988 Peirce McKee

1987 Jack and Linda Knebel

1986 Midge Zischke

1985 Joyce Hawkins

1984 Bran Yaich

1983 Lloyd McDonald

1982 Elizabeth Frazier Karplus

1981  Rev. B. Jean Clark

1980 Bill Cooper

1979 Capt. Ernest Hendricks

1978 Craig McCay

1977 Del Loper

1976 Martin McNair

1975 Harriet Ainsworth

1974 Vasco Giannini

1973 Jerry Wendt

1972 Stephanie Mann

1971 Irene Moylan

1970 Ann Christofferson 

1969 Muir Sorrick Shank

1968 Carl Webber

1967 Clark Wallace

1966 Richmond Bartle

1965 Sam Stovall

1964 Barbara Parker Smith

1963 Waltor Treanor

1962 Dr. John Boulware

1961 Al Winsor

1960 Clarence Betz

1959 William Koch

1958 Gerry Cullen

1957 Ann Pallaczek

1956 Perc Brown

1955 Dr. George Prlain

1954 Frank Isola

1953 Jean Henderson

1952 Ernest Rahmeyer

1951 Edgar Stewart

1950 Ramsay Underwood

1949 Dr. Joseph Sheaff

1948 Dr. Ralph C. Hall

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