RLACEI Submitted by Beverly J. Clark, Publicity Director
Tom Stemnock
RLACEI Board Member
Tom Stemnock joined the Board of the Retired Los Angeles City Employees, Inc. in 1996. He has been most active as Chair of the Golf Committee, organizing the annual golf tournament each June. He is currently the First Vice President of the Board.
Tom came to Los Angeles in 1965 and spent 13 years working in Public Works/Engineering and then Planning. He retired from the City in 1978 and formed a civil engineering consulting firm. He continues to work full time, obtaining zoning entitlements for commercial, industrial and residential projects throughout the City.
He has served on numerous boards, committees and professional organizations, including the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Institute of Transportation Engineers, the American Planning Association, Lambda Alpha International, an honorary society for the advancement of Land Economics, and is a member of Chi Epsilon, an honorary engineering fraternity. In 1990, he was the recipient of the American Society of Civil Engineers Harvard Bartholomew Award, presented to the Urban Planner of the Year.
Tom has had a long and deep commitment to serving the city, especially those who are in need. He has been a member of the Board of Arroyo Vista Family Health Center for more than 30 years, providing comprehensive healthcare to low income families regardless of their ability to pay. He has seen Arroyo Vista grow from one very small clinic in Highland Park to five large clinics serving more than 140,000 patients in the Northeast Los Angeles area. He is also on the Board of Homes for Families, providing affordable homes to veterans and their families.
Tom joined the Board of RLACEI in 1996. “I’ve always felt that retirement shouldn’t be the end of one’s career, but rather a shift to new activities, especially helping others,” he said. “By joining the Board, I can keep in touch with those I worked with, meet new friends and help maintain and expand the activities of all City retirees in terms of health, benefits, services and programs. I would like to see the Board create some new programs devoted to helping children learn to be good citizens and assisting those members who need help with simple things or just want some companionship.”
Tom and his wife, Christine, have been married for more than 45 years. The joy of their lives is being able to spend time with their son, Jeffrey; daughter-in-law, Ginger; and their beautiful new granddaughter, Felix Anne-Marie. Relaxation time is spent enjoying their home in the desert, playing golf and watching the cactus grow!
