Monrovia’s City Clerk to Retire

Pat Ostrye, who was the first woman to serve on the City Council and the city’s first elected mayor, will retire from her present job as city clerk on Feb. 12.

Ostrye, 61, got involved in Monrovia politics when her husband, Pete, now a retired Monrovia High School teacher, served as a councilman from 1958 to 1968 and she lived his experience vicariously.

She ran for the City Council in 1974, after her seven children were grown. In 1978 she became the first elected mayor and in 1980 ran for city clerk.

Ostrye was graduated from St. Margaret’s Academy in Minneapolis in 1941, served as a telegrapher in the Navy during World War II, and attended Pasadena City College and San Jose State University. She was employed by Conrac Corp. as corporate librarian and insurance coordinator before her election to the City Council.

Ostrye is expected to be replaced by another longtime Monrovia resident, Phyllis McCarville, who is a retired bank officer. McCarville will be appointed deputy city clerk effective Jan. 1 and will train with Ostrye, who has known her for 40 years. McCarville is expected to be appointed city clerk on Feb. 13 and serve the remainder of Ostrye’s term, which expires in 1988.

In a memo to the City Council, City Manager Jim Starbird said, “As much as I’ve tried, I have not been able to convince the city clerk to stay on board and I personally have very strong mixed emotions about Pat’s decision to retire.

“On the one hand, Pat and Pete have certainly paid their dues and deserve to relax a little bit and enjoy the fruits of their labors. In that respect I’m very happy for them.

“On the other hand I am going to miss Pat’s support as a very valued member of the city management team. Old city clerks don’t retire, they just ‘file away’ and I know that Pat will not be a stranger.”

The Ostryes, who sold their house earlier this year and moved into an apartment, are planning a Caribbean cruise after she retires. But the couple, who have lived here for 40 years, have no plans to leave Monrovia and, said Pat, “I am looking forward to working on the Centennial.” Monrovia will celebrate its 100th birthday next year and Pete Ostrye has written the official history of the city.

A retirement dinner will be held Feb. 7.