Town Name : Red Cross Honors 3 Valley ‘Legends’

Who has seen everything from tornadoes to typhoons?

It could be a production group documenting natural phenomena. But more likely, it would be an American Red Cross employee or volunteer.

As part of Red Cross Month--the annual fund-raising campaign, this year marking the organization’s 80th anniversary--volunteers and employees from the Los Angeles Chapter, including Louise Moore, Patricia Snyder and David Rabin from the San Fernando Valley, were honored earlier this week.

“We wanted to recognize people that have been legends with the Red Cross,” said Katrina Richardson, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Chapter.

The three Valley residents have contributed countless hours of service over more than 50 years as Red Cross employees or volunteers, helping victims of natural disasters all over the world, Richardson said, and also encouraging others to donate time, money and blood.

Now a retired casework supervisor for the Red Cross, Moore, 78, of Granada Hills, responded to 91 natural disasters in Puerto Rico and nearby islands over a 40-year time span ending in 1982, Richardson said.

Snyder, 64, a Tarzana resident, has worked for the Red Cross for 38 years, helping mostly American victims of disasters such as plane crashes and earthquakes, Richardson said. She has also been involved in education programs, such as earthquake preparedness, and served in Mexico City after the 1985 earthquake there.

A Van Nuys resident, Rabin, 57, has donated 54 pints of blood and coordinated blood drives twice a year at his company for the past 25 years, Richardson said.

“To entice [potential blood donors] not only does he explain the importance of their donation, but provides them homemade chocolate chip cookies,” Richardson said.

Working or volunteering for the Red Cross is a means of personal satisfaction, the honorees said.

“You are always helping someone,” said Moore. “Whether it be a serviceman’s family or anybody who needs help, there’s always someone in desperate need.”

Added Rabin: “Once I got started, I just grew into it. I thought it was an important thing to do.”