Spotlight on Sierra Madre Volunteers 

Spotlight on Sierra Madre Volunteers is a new weekly column that will spotlight the people who donate their time to help keep their city ticking.  Check back each week to see which of the folks you work side by side with is being recognized in the latest edition.  Back to Sierra Madre Volunteers Main Page

Pat Birdsall -- Ubiquitous Activist

Her spunk matches her red hair. And that's the characteristic that has served Pat Birdsall well.

Pat is a well-known activist in Sierra Madre, taking a number of causes seriously. She admits to leading a "sedentary life until a certain developer" came to town. Pat was one of the leaders, who fought successfully to defeat the construction of a 650-student high school on the northernmost slopes of Sierra Madre -- One Carter.

During the six-plus years of her efforts against the development, Pat met a person who was also enthusiastic for the cause and also who volunteered at Martine Collette's Wildlife Waystation in Little Tujunga Canyon. Pat joined the volunteer force there and said "it was one of the happiest experiences of my life." Eventually, she had to cease the volunteer job because it was difficult physically.

The Sierra Madrean began volunteering with the Senior Community Commission (then, in 2003, called the Commission on Aging). She applied for and became a member, then chair of the group. Pat started what she called the "Cinderella Project" which called for refurbishment of the Senior Center (Hart Park House).

"We replaced the rotted patio cover, turned the former 'catch-all' room into a lovely computer/private meeting room, installed new rain gutters and replanted the flower bed on the west side of the building. I hatched the idea of an outdoor chess table, enlisting the talents of Creative Arts Group in Sierra Madre. Their tile teacher and the class designed, hand-made and installed this truly beautiful and unique piece of Sierra Madre art," Pat explained.

How was this financed? "With volunteers and donations from organizations and individuals."

Other accomplishments include: "A nifty little newsletter, conceived by me, that I called "Senior Moments."  Now that column runs in Mountain Views Observer newspaper and is called 'Senior Happenings." Also published there is her weekly column, "Environmentally Speaking. Did You Know?" for Sierra Madre Environmental Action Council.

Pat was recently president of the Sierra Madre Senior Citizens Club and is now their treasurer as well as being treasurer of Kiwanis Club. Within the past few years Pat has also volunteered at Union Station in Pasadena.

What is Pat Birdsall's next campaign? "I would like to research the feasibillity of starting a food bank for Sierra Madre seniors."

 Pat was born in Brooklyn and later traveled with her family in a '51 Studebaker to Altadena. She graduated from John Muir High School, worked for AT&T, then went into banking. She took retirement early "to smell the roses" when both her mother and ex-husband/best friend died within a month.

Pat has a son, Chris, who grew up in Sierra Madre and now lives in Los Angeles. Chris has a 4-year-old son, Tully, who is the light of Pat's life.