IN LOVING MEMORY

Claudia Peschiutta

LA CRESCENTA - He hasn’t been a pastor at First Baptist Church at La

Crescenta for more than 20 years, but Bernard Travaille’s influence can

still be seen.

Longtime church member Betty Sweetnam will tell you his 27 years of

service to First Baptist can plainly be seen in the sanctuary and

congregation.

The church consisted of only 15 families meeting in a building when

Travaille arrived in 1949, she said. When he left in 1976, First Baptist

had a large sanctuary and about 1,700 members.

“There’s a lot of people who don’t know him but there’s certainly

evidence of his devotion and the work he did,” Sweetnam said.

To ensure the work of the past pastor wouldn’t be forgotten, Sweetnam

and a small committee began working shortly after Travaille’s death in

January 1999 to prepare a memorial and establish a scholarship fund in

his name.

The memorial, a plaque of recognition and a wooden cross in the foyer

of church that were paid for through donations, will be dedicated Sunday.

Richard Euson, a 48-year-old La Crescenta resident who began attending

First Baptist while in college, helped establish the Travaille Memorial

and Scholarship Fund in honor of the pastor’s efforts to send young

people to Christian summer camps.

Fund money will be used to help high school students attend Hume Lake

Christian Camps, Euson said.

“Since the church bears so much of (Travaille’s) stamp of personality,

we thought it would be fitting to acknowledge his contribution to where

the church is at and to remember his vision as a way of inspiring us in

our mission to transform lives in the Crescenta Valley for the glory of

God,” he said.

IF YOU GO

* WHAT: A service of dedication for a memorial in honor of former

Pastor Bernard Travaille.

* WHEN: After the 10:45 a.m. service Sunday.

* WHERE: First Baptist Church at La Crescenta, 4441 La Crescenta Ave.

* INFO: Travaille was a pastor at the church from 1949 to 1976. He died in January 1999 at age 78.

* DONATIONS: Donations to the Travaille Memorial and Scholarship Fund

can be made by sending a check made out to First Baptist Church of La

Crescenta and designated to the fund. Checks can be mailed to the church

at 4441 La Crescenta Ave.; La Crescenta, CA 91214. The fund will be used

to help young people attend Hume Lake Christian Camps.

* CALL: For more information, call 249-5832.