Foursome Has Volunteerism Down to a Tee

Most of us work for food. Others--like World War II veterans Jack Steinhardt, Lou Budnick, Len Salberg and Ben Radler--will work for golf.

The four friends, who retired years ago from lucrative careers, chalk up hours each week at various volunteer jobs at the Sepulveda Veterans Hospital, where 24 hours a week can buy a nine-hole round on the hospital’s neighboring luscious links.

“I volunteer one day,” retired scrap-metal seller Budnick said of the arrangement between the privately held golf course and the VA hospital. “But I play [golf] every day.”

No one seems to be keeping track of hours worked for tee times earned. But the friends seem to enjoy the perk--and, the savings, of course. Golf fees on the course are usually $5 for the public, $4.50 for seniors and $1 for VA employees, but free for patients and volunteers.

This foursome is putting in some quality work for their tee times.

Budnick, 78, of Granada Hills, files, stamps, labels and prepares patients’ files for the hospital’s eye clinic. “If we had to do what Lou does and take care of our work, we could never get anything done,” said Ann Veccharelli, a clerk at the clinic.

But in between telling jokes and bragging about his golf game, Budnick’s manner with other veterans sets him apart.

“When unhappy vets come in here, he tells them a joke . . . and calms them down,” said Dora Ephriam, another clerk who works closely with Budnick. “He does it with such kindness.”

Steinhardt, 75, gets to tee off free by taxiing vets to and from appointments on the hospital’s sprawling North Hills campus. Dressed in his hospital uniform of a Hawaiian shirt and khaki shorts, Steinhardt, who sold office supplies for 40 years before retiring, can sit idle for a call for an hour or more. Then all of a sudden, his walkie-talkie starts popping. “Everyone here thanks us for what we do,” he said. “The nurses, the patients, everybody.”

The North Hills resident’s game on the par-3 course should have gotten better after the five years he’s been funding his golf addiction with volunteer work. But he said he has had more fun than he’s seen improvement.

“A lot of days we wish the course were par 4s,” he said.

“Tram 1,” he responded in an official voice after receiving a call on his walkie-talkie. “I’m on my way,” he said, heading off to transport a patient from the hospital’s convalescent unit to the swimming pool.

Salberg, 75, works 12 hours a week in the patient library. The Northridge resident worked for 31 years as an engineer for McDonnell Douglas. Now, he stays busy shelving paperbacks and ensuring that World Book encyclopedias, daily newspapers and magazines about veterans’ issues are in their place.

He also plays on his days off. But like his friends, the outings are more social than for sport. “I have no handicap,” he said. “The fact that I play golf is my handicap.”

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Radler, 78, of Northridge works two days a week repairing medical equipment. On a typical day he might fix a blood-pressure gauge, a microscope or a TV.

“Without him, I can’t do anything,” said hospital staffer and biomedical engineer Tuan Nguyen, who works with Radler each Tuesday and Thursday.

On a recent day, Radler, who before retiring worked for 24 years as an engineer for Technicolor film processing on the Universal Studios lot, is anxious to solder a wire that has broken off a piece of dental equipment. He is a hard-working, soft-spoken man.

“This keeps me busy,” he said, “and keeps me out of trouble.”

Radler’s work table is a messy testament to the day’s fix-it activities: glue bottles, magnifying mirrors and lube oil sits near an elaborate pencil holder filled with screwdrivers, wrenches and X-Acto blades.

But at the base of the holder sit a couple of pieces of equipment that Radler’s equally anxious to get to: two golf balls.

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