Resolving Public Ills, Private Peccadilloes

It seems like just about everyone makes them. But not too many keep them.

New Year’s in the United States is one of the most festive celebrations of the holiday season, according to the book “Folklore of American Holidays.” And ranking up there with the burning of Yule logs, Champagne toasts, the Tournament of Roses Parade and college football are pledges of good resolve.

Orange County’s prominent figures in government, business, education, law, sports and other fields are adopting New Year’s resolutions that cover virtually everything from losing weight to making their communities safer from crime.

As Marie Gray, founder of St. John Knits, summarized her New Year’s resolution: “Take time to smell the roses.”

Resolutions, however, aren’t for everyone.

“I haven’t made a resolution since I was a kid,” said Edgar Z. Seal, superintendent of Brea-Olinda Unified School District. “I haven’t even thought about it.”

And Diane Crow, regional manager of the California Teachers’ Assn., who’s seeking ways to change public schools, said: “I never make resolutions. I just do it.”

Here’s what others in Orange County vow and hope for in 1994:

* Dean Koontz, best-selling suspense author:

“I resolve henceforth to blame all my problems and shortcomings on someone else. This is now the American way. No one takes responsibility for his or her own life anymore. I can’t blame Columbus; he’s taken. Ronald Reagan is out, because he’s already been blamed for everything from River Phoenix’s drug overdose to a star that went nova at the far end of the galaxy. I’d blame Roseanne Arnold’s parents, but Roseanne has hammered pretty hard on them. So I’m resolving to blame all my problems on the dinosaurs. If they hadn’t become extinct, the human species would not now rule the planet. If they hadn’t shirked their responsibilities as the dominant species of their time, I would never have been born. Therefore, I wouldn’t have all these flaws. Those rotten, insensitive, selfish, darn dinosaurs. By their very absence, they are my oppressors. Boy, I can’t wait to try this one on my wife the next time she asks me why I forgot to take out the garbage.”

* Jack D. Lindquist, former president of Disneyland:

“Bring the Disney Classic to Orange County.”

* James Doti, president of Chapman University.

“I’m resolving to give shorter speeches, give more optimistic economic forecasts, and to perfect my in-line skating so that student members of our club won’t have to wait for me to catch up.”

* Mac Bernd, superintendent, Newport-Mesa Unified School District:

“Listen, listen, listen, and listen some more.”

* Larry Leaman, director of the Orange County Social Services Agency:

“Our goal for 1994 is to try and convince the public and elected officials that while this trend toward violence is something that needs to be dealt with from a law enforcement perspective, that’s just treating the symptoms. We also need to look at how we can help families and correct alarming trends before they become irreparable. There has to be a family-preservation component of whatever government does--not just a ‘throw them all in jail’ mentality.”

* Bruce D. May, labor lawyer at Stradling, Yocca, Carlson & Rauth, Newport Beach:

“To teach my children to love their neighbors, protect the Earth, stay away from guns and drugs and do one good deed a day without taking credit for it.”

* Kathryn Thompson, Aliso Viejo developer:

“I would very much like to see what I could do to help resolve the problem of violence in our community. Perhaps I could be instrumental in legislation regarding guns or gangs, I am not sure at this point. But I am very concerned about what I see. When a young girl is shot in my own hometown of Dana Point, it’s very scary.”

* Buck Rodgers, Angels manager:

“I’d like to see us become the safest county and state in the union, where people can go out at night and be safe. We need to pull together and support our law enforcement people rather than jump on them for every mistake they make. To me, there could be no greater gift for our area than that.”

* James D. Ruth, Anaheim city manager:

“Deal with the loss of jobs, find better employment opportunities for people and see the economy turn around.”

* John Crean, Fortune 500 RV manufacturer:

“I want to make more friends. I treasure them. You’ve got to make new ones because you lose old ones--they die, move away. I’m a people person. Without friends, I’d be a big nothing.”

* Rudy Castruita, superintendent, Santa Ana Unified School District:

“To be a better person to everyone in our schools and be supportive of what they’re trying to accomplish. Just to try and get through another year of this thing called education.”

* David (Kid) Ramos, Anaheim guitarist, songwriter and leader of the Kid Ramos and Big Rhythm Combo, a six-member blues band: “I’d like to lose some weight and get my hair taller.”

* Milton A. Gordon, president of Cal State Fullerton:

“I want to continue to assist all of those with whom I have contact to encourage and empower them to see their positive virtues and strengths and to discourage them from dwelling on their weaknesses and weaknesses of others.”

* Dr. Melvin Sterling, president of the Orange County Medical Assn.:

“Personally, I would like to keep doing what I’m doing. My goals are not really different from most physicians’. We want to continue to practice medicine that we believe to be of high quality without being handicapped by the intrusion of insurance companies or other people who come between the doctor and patient. We want to maintain patients’ rights to make their own decisions about their health care.”

* Brad Mayne, general manager of the Anaheim Arena:

“I would like to get more sold-out concerts, more parking spaces and additional sports programming. . . . I would also be real pleased with consecutive Roller Hockey International championships.”

* William C. Woollett Jr., executive director of the Orange County Transportation Corridor Agencies:

“I will spend more time with my granddaughter.”

* James A. Fleming, superintendent of Capistrano Unified School District:

“To take the many changes that are on the horizon, both of our own making and those things that are imposed from the state or from the outside, and help the professional staff, the teachers, the parents and the students prepare for and adjust to those changes, and make everything work. There’s just so much happening. . . . And I also intend to go on a diet.”

* Vivian Blevins, chancellor of Rancho Santiago College District:

“I’m going to find something that’s creative and wonderful to do that is somewhat apart from my work.”

* Merritt Johnson, president of Orange County United Way:

“We want to play a role in bringing the community together to heal the wounds from the fire, the violence in the streets and the alienation that some people feel. We also want to get back to the basics of neighbor helping neighbor and caring for those who can’t care for themselves.”

* Trish Smith, biologist with the Nature Conservancy and director of the Irvine Co. Open Space Reserve:

“The Laguna fire created a great opportunity for land managers to work cooperatively to solve common problems; it’s a chance for us to really develop coast fire monitoring programs, fire management strategies and cooperative programs for public access. My resolution is to help make that happen. The fire has really gotten us together.”

* Tom Mathews, director of planning for Orange County’s Environmental Agency:

“To communicate what we’re doing better so that the public can appreciate the resources that they have. . . . I hope to enjoy what we’ve got more myself; to enjoy this wonderful environmental setting that we live in. I want to take my kids to the park more often.”

* Stan Oftelie, chief executive officer of the Orange County Transportation Authority:

“I want to create a positive environment where people believe they’re doing the best work of their lives.”

* Dean Crowley, commissioner of athletics, California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section:

“Develop a strong base of communication with superintendents and governing boards on issues having a financial impact on schools, and to continue to promote the value of high school athletics. We want to do everything we can to maintain the level of service to our member schools.”

* Thomas F. Bradac, producing artistic director of Shakespeare Orange County, who founded the county’s only professional classical theater troupe in summer, 1992:

“I want to lose 50 pounds that I put on this year and spend more time with my kids.”

* Bolton Colburn, curator of collections, Laguna Art Museum:

“Get rid of paper. I’m surrounded by paper at home, paper at work.” And, “to become a stunt double for Robin Williams.”