Hospital Volunteer Sets Record of Dedication

Grayce Reidenbach of Santa Monica has worked 28,000 hours of volunteer service at Santa Monica Hospital Medical Center.

That’s the equivalent of 1,166 around-the-clock days or more than three of Reidenbach’s 93 years.

And it’s not likely that anyone is going to catch up with the record of the hospital’s oldest and longest volunteer; she has no intention of slowing down.

Four days a week, Reidenbach can be found in the physical medicine department, lending a gentle hand and speaking words of encouragement to physical therapy patients. She typically works an eight-hour shift in assisting members of the hospital staff.

“I get the patients and work with the therapists,” she said. “I help (the patients) exercise and get to know (them).”

Last year, Reidenbach was singled out by patients, employees and physicians alike when she was voted “Volunteer of the Year.” In recognition of her many years of service, the hospital gave her a gold medallion decorated with diamonds, which she proudly wears around her neck. The recognition is nice, she said, but the opportunity to help others is what really matters. “Patients tell me that the days when I am here, they feel better, and that alone makes it all worthwhile.”

Even before retiring to California with her husband 40 years ago, Reidenbach was no stranger to volunteering. During World War II, she was trained as a nurse’s aide by the American Red Cross. She later served as a Red Cross volunteer at hospitals in Chicago and Detroit.

“I can’t believe the good things that happen to me,” she said. “I think it’s because I care about other people.”

Reidenbach attributes her longevity to leading an active life. Nearly every day, she rides a stationary bicycle, does exercises with patients or swims a few laps.

“(Volunteering) has kept me busy, and I’m grateful that I can do it,” she said.

Roy Shults will serve a two-year term as president of the UCLA Alumni Assn.

Shults will provide leadership for the 28-member board of directors, which governs the 59,000-member Alumni Assn. and represents the concerns of UCLA’s alumni constituency. As Alumni Assn. president he is also University of California regent-designate and will become a full voting member in 1993-94.

A member of the UCLA class of 1970 and a graduate of Harvard Law School, the Westwood resident is a partner with the Los Angeles law firm of Mitchell, Silberberg & Knupp.

The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has awarded the Rensselaer Medal to several Westside high school students.

The recipients are Los Angeles residents Joan Ryoo, Leah Solomon and Aaron Cohen and Culver City resident Osiris Armstead.

The Rensselaer Medal is given by the Troy, N.Y., university to high school juniors who have been chosen by their schools as the top students in science and mathematics.

Beverly Smith of Pacific Palisades has been elected president of the Westside Home Economists.

Other Westside officers are Pat Cornog, Nancy Brenza, Elizabeth Kling and Louise Bame.

WHE members hold degrees in home economists and related fields.

The United Way of Greater Los Angeles has presented awards to three West Los Angeles residents.

Evon Gotlieb was given the Golden Key for serving the community in an “exceptional way” for 10 years. Richard Lewis received the Agency Leadership award for a volunteer who has provided leadership to the organization. Beryl Geber was awarded the Charles and Margaret Pollak award for serving the organization at the regional or corporate level.

The three were honored during the organization’s annual meeting, which was held last month in Los Angeles.