By Mary O’KEEFE

The community said goodbye to Jean Maluccio last week with a memorial that highlighted her service to Crescenta Valley, and something she would have absolutely hated. In fact she would have been upset that CVW is writing about her but there are some special people who cannot just fade away, their lives must be celebrated.

The CV community has a very active base of volunteers who work with various organizations  on events from Hometown Country Fair to numerous bingo fundraisers hosted by American Legion Post 288 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1614. For many volunteering is a passion, and the best way to support their community.

At one point a newly appointed principal at a local elementary school said, “This is a community that when you ask for one volunteer you get ten.”

People who participate at the events, and even many of those who volunteer, meet some who organize events but may not know that behind the scenes one woman was quietly organizing, making calls to get permits, asking for donations and being the foundation that supports everyone in the area. Jean was that woman. She would tell you immediately it was a team effort and that is true. Nothing would work without people like Steve Pierce and Chris Waldheim throwing their volunteer muscle into the mix but Jean was the one that seem to stitch everything together.

“Jean was quiet and didn’t like to talk about herself,” said Steve Pierce.

Pierce first met Jean almost 16 years ago when he was president of the CV Town Council. At the time there was a wall of miscommunication between the CV Chamber of Commerce (CVCOC) and the CVTC. Pierce had heard that Jean was someone he should reach out to, so he did.

“I was told Jean was a tough cookie and hard to get to know but I liked her [immediately]. She made me feel so at ease,” he said.

He really got to know her better when he became more involved in the CV Chamber and later became executive director. Jean was the force behind the CVCOC. She was able to get permits for so many events, reached out to businesses to help get their support and worked behind the scenes making sure every t was crossed and every i was dotted.

Jean didn’t just work with the CVCOC, she also took on roles in many organizations including CV Fireworks Association, CV Fire Safe Council and American Cancer’s Relay for Life. For decades Relay for Life was a large event in Crescenta Valley, although it did not survive the pandemic, and throughout the years Relay for Life raised well over $1million. Jean played a big role in the event and that is where Waldheim really got to know and depend on her.

His first meeting with Jean was in 2000 when Waldheim was president of the Montrose Verdugo Chamber of Commerce. The two entities would have dual mixers and then she helped with J’s Maintenance anniversary party around 2004.

“My connection with Jean started at the Chamber but then she [got involved] with Relay for Life,” Waldheim said.

Relay was a very personal philanthropic event for the Waldheim family, including Chris’ dad Ed. The event was 24 hours and in later years held on the field at Clark Magnet High School.

“She just took on the food [donations],” Waldheim said. “She got [her son] Mike and [her daughter] Julie involved.”

For years they would bake purple, the color of Relay for Life, cupcakes. The food was a monumental tasks with hundreds of participants at the event walking for over 24 hours. Rain or shine, Jean and her family of volunteers kept everyone well fed.

Waldheim also worked with Jean on the CV Fireworks Association and the Mary Pinola Education Fund.

“Jean and I had interesting conversations about the community,” he said.

They would call each other as each event was being organized but many times Jean already had everything done before the first meeting.

“I think that is what [we saw] in Jean. When she saw a need she just stepped up,” Waldheim said. “She didn’t want to be the front person, she had zero ego. She never wanted recognition for what she did.”

Jean came to the Crescenta Valley area in the 1960s and had many careers. She first worked at Pacific Bell, then for The Examiner Newspaper until 1965. She worked at Verdugo Hills Bowl from 1977 to 1987.

Verdugo Hills Bowl was in the 3200 block of Foothill Boulevard in La Crescenta, until it closed in 1996. While it was open it was the place to go for youth and adults. Jean didn’t just work there she took care of people who came in, befriending those in need and even coached junior bowlers.

She also owned and operated Shenanigans restaurant in Glendale from 1987 to 1990, where she employed many of her son Mike’s friends. She then owned and operated the Rocking Horse Boutique in La Crescenta from 1991 to 1995. But it was her work as a volunteer that was highlighted at her memorial, her dedication to the community and to her family.

“Mom was fun, she was stoic and she was a protector,” Mike said.

  Mary Okeefe