West Hollywood’s Esther Baum, 94, retired from her job as an accountant in 2017. However, she remains active in the community, serving on the city’s Senior Advisory Board participating in the Seniors in Action program, where she plans programs for senior citizens to come together, make friends and share memories. Baum also is a Neighborhood Watch block captain.
Now her involvement and engagement with the community where she has lived for 30 years will be formally acknowledged U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff, who has chosen her as one of the 15 2020 Women of the Year honorees in his 28th Congressional District.
“Every year in March, in honor of Women’s History Month, my office hosts an event to honor our district’s Women of the Year,” said Schiff in an announcement of the 15 honorees. “Unfortunately, we had to postpone our celebration due to coronavirus, but I wanted to make sure these outstanding women get the recognition they deserve. They are all pillars of our communities and I thank them for their invaluable service.”
Baum was born and raised in Los Angeles and has called West Hollywood home for the past 30 years. Upon graduating from high school, she attended college and majored in accounting. Over the years she has worked for public accounting firms and as an accountant for several businesses including a garment manufacturer, women’s sportswear shop, a beauty salon chain and an oral surgery practice. Baum’s involvement with the community includes volunteering at a cancer center in Santa Monica where she reconstructed the files and payroll records after the building caught on fire. She also volunteered at Project Angel Food, the Maple Counseling Center in Beverly Hills, and AARP, where she did tax preparation for senior citizens.
“At 94 years old, Esther continues to be a dynamic force in the community,” Schiff said in a statement in the Congressional Record acknowledging her. Schiff noted that Baum enjoys hosting National Night Out gatherings in her neighborhood, which she has done for the past 29 years. She has made it a tradition to take all the remaining food to serve to the homeless.
Baum also is a longtime member of Congregation Kol Ami. She and her late husband, Robert, have one daughter who is an accountant.
Congratulations Esther , it is a privilege to be on the Senior Advisory Board with you and you inspire all of us especially seniors to live a full and active life.
Congratulations Esther!! Thank you for all of your activism and volunteerism – always giving back to the community. Not mentioned in the article, but Esther has also been very active for many years in the WeHo|BevHills Democratic Club – providing food for the membership meetings for many years.
Mazel tov, Esther! Such a mensch. Now that I’m about to become a senior I’m glad that she’s on my side !
A well deserved accolade to someone who has been a consistent voice for seniors and tenants.
Esther has enriched the fabric of this community for longer than I can remember.
Sending warmest congratulations Esther. You are so very deserving of this special honor.
Esther is an extraordinary woman. She lives by the jewish tenent of “tikun clam”, to heal the world. A true West Hollywood treasure~
Congratulations Esther! Your Are such a special part of our community. Thanks for all your great efforts.
Congratulations Esther. I am so very happy for you and delighted that you are being recognized for all that you have give to our city. Esther is always sincere and kind and always lets the City know when attention is needed. Gratitude comes to mind when I think of Ester and all her proactive work, advocacy and love to the City and all her residents. She has always been smart, funny and pure joy. What a pleasure I can call her a friend. Ester, what are you going to do with plate of food that’s as big as you? In… Read more »
Nice. This lady always remains involved and relevant. A brilliant inspiration.