Trish McRae, president of the Kiwanis Club of La Cañada, presented a commemorative plaque to club member Dr. Al Restivo who celebrated 50 years as a member of the Kiwanis Club. Restivo first became a member of the Eastchester, New York Kiwanis Club on Nov. 15, 1972 and served as the club’s president in the years 1981-1982. When he relocated to La Cañada Flintridge in May 1986 he transferred his membership and has since served the local club for the past 37 years.

During his years in the local club, he served in several leadership roles including chairman of both the Community Services and the Spiritual Aims committees. For many years he was responsible for the club’s public relations providing news and photos to the local media covering the many activities of the club.

Restivo and his wife (of almost 60 years) Diane have resided in the city since moving to LCF. Restivo was promoted from his mentoring role in the east to director of training for Avery Dennison Corporation at its then world headquarters in Pasadena. An organizational psychologist and life coach, Restivo spent almost 20 years as an adjunct professor at Azusa Pacific University and California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA).

He has two sons, Kenneth and Andrew, and three granddaughters: Gina, Ashleigh and Marisa.

Active in the city and in his St. Bede Catholic Church parish, Restivo served as an Eucharistic minister at his parish and at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. He also served as public safety commissioner for the City of La Cañada Flintridge from 1990 to 1994. He was chairman of the commission in 1994. He also served the LCF community as executive director of the Ecumenical Ministerial Association whose members were the clergy of seven of the city’s local Christian churches.

Photo courtesy of Roger BRANDT