Richard Colbert Honored with 2025 Older Adult Service Award

The West Hollywood Older Adults Advisory Board (OAAB) marked Older Americans Month with a special televised meeting on May 14, celebrating the contributions of older adults by presenting the 2025 Older Adult Service Award to Richard Colbert. Held at City Council Chambers and streamed on YouTube, the event highlighted the city’s commitment to intergenerational community building, showcasing local programs and board members’ personal advocacy for aging residents.

Richard Colbert, an interfaith chaplain at Cedars-Sinai, was honored for his decades of volunteer work and advocacy. Mayor Chelsea Byers praised Colbert’s role in enriching the community’s cultural legacy, while Vice Chair Russell J. Holguin called him a 39-year mentor, noting his 42 years of recovery and guidance for others. Colbert, a media industry co-founder married for nearly 34 years, expressed gratitude, humorously dubbing this his “first senior citizen thing.” He thanked board members Michael Hollingsworth, Pat Dixon, and Holguin—friends of decades—for their support, emphasizing the value of long-standing community ties.

Jewish Family Service (JFS) staff, led by Marina Goldshteyn, updated the board on the Comprehensive Service Center’s activities, reporting 1,626 participations in March and 1,391 in April, with 838 from West Hollywood residents. Events included International Women’s Day celebrations for the Russian-speaking community, featuring music, poetry, and flamenco dancing at Fiesta Hall in Plummer Park. A field trip to the LA Opera for Mozart’s Coffee on Tut drew 40 attendees, while an intergenerational Yom Hashoah commemoration with Hollywood High School students featured candle lighting. A new art class by Art of Allesium gained popularity, and JFS partnered with the LA LGBT Center for a stand-up comedy show on May 14 to honor LGBT Elder Day.

Board members shared personal reflections, underscoring their commitment to older adults. Nadia Sutton, co-founder of PAWS/LA, highlighted the importance of pets for aging residents, crediting community support. Dean J. Schemanski, a retired family law attorney, advocated for a senior mentoring program to share professional knowledge, praising West Hollywood’s unmatched services. Pat Dixon, set to be honored at the county’s Older Americans Recognition Day, recited George Bernard Shaw’s “Splendid Torch,” urging a life of purpose, while John A. Allendorfer called for more west-side senior activities, leveraging spaces like the Art Building. Rick Watts praised the board’s contributions, from Allendorfer’s Seniors in Action to Sutton’s Project Angel Food work, urging recognition of their service.

A utility assistance workshop on May 15 at the Aquatic and Recreation Center offered rebates and energy conservation tips, with the next OAAB meeting scheduled for June 25 at West Hollywood City Hall.