Our Champions act as ambassadors for the LACERS Well
Program. They transcend their interests, hobbies, and health
goals into meaningful activities for fellow retirees.
Learn more about our current Champions below.
Beverly Anderson
Beverly retired from the LAPD in 2010 after dedicating over 35
years to the City of Los Angeles. Beverly remains active by
leading two events for our wellness program, a Lakewood Mall
Walk and a free Hula Dancing class in Costa Mesa that take
place on a weekly basis.
Brenda Combs
Brenda retired from the Office of Finance in 2011 after 31 years
of service for the City. Brenda remains active by practicing Tai
Chi and Kung Fu, as well as participating in many of the
Champion-led events offered by our wellness program. Brenda also
enjoys traveling, worshipping, and volunteering to make her
community a better place.
Pablo and Vivian Cortes
Pablo retired in 2014 from the Sanitation Department after
working over 14 years with the City of Los Angeles. He and his
wife, Vivian, stay active by leading various Champion-led
activities, one of which is the coveted annual trip
to the L.A. Arboretum. In their spare time, they enjoy
visiting various places in their 5th wheel trailer.
Frankie Gallagher
Frankie is the spouse of Daniel Gallagher, who retired in 2010
from LACERS as LACERS’ Chief Investment Officer. Frankie remains
active by leading the Playa Del Rey Beach Walk. Frankie is
also a certified health fitness instructor/exercise physiologist
and personal trainer. She inspires wellness from the heart.
Lib & Mariam Galang
Mariam retired in 2010 from Public Works Engineering after
working over 33 years with the City of Los Angeles. You can find
her and her husband Lib at many
LACERS Well events. She currently leads the
Buddy Walk for Life on a weekly basis rotating between the West
Covina Mall in colder months and Kaiser Baldwin Park in the
warmer months.
Irene Galvan
Irene retired in 2011 from the Los Angeles Public
Library where she worked as a librarian for 32 years.
Irene has been involved in a walking club that meets 3 days a
week and walks for a distance of two miles. Irene also
Champions a walk every Monday morning at El Cariso Park in
Sylmar. Irene has 3 children, which she considers her biggest
accomplishment, and for fun, she enjoys going to festivals,
cultural events, museums and trips to Las Vegas.
Eugene Mandelcorn
Eugene retired from the Los Angeles Public Library, where he
worked for 16 years. Eugene has really dedicated himself to
bettering his health and has lost 40 pounds since
retiring. Eugene may be the most active member of our
Champion program, and each month, at his events, he highlights a
new health awareness campaign. Eugene is married with one
daughter, and for fun, he spends a lot of time riding his
electric bike, including having traveled all over Europe on
it.
Dorothy Miller
Dorothy enjoyed a 30-year career with the LAPD until she retired
in 1999. As an active member of the
LACERS Well Champion program, Dorothy oversees a
community garden event in March and has tended her own garden for
the past 20 years. Dorothy has 3 sons and a total of 11
grandchildren that keep her busy. When she does get free
time, she enjoys line dancing, sewing, and tries to walk a
distance of at least three miles, four days a week.
Avis Ridley-Thomas
Avis was the Head of the City Attorney Dispute/Resolution Program
(which she established) for 30 years and retired in 2011. As an
active member of the LACERS Well Champion Program, Avis
has been dedicated to Championing a walk every Thursday at the
Kaiser Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Medical Facility as well as a
women’s self-defense class at Leimert Park. Avis loves
volunteering and has been a part of a program called
“home-sharing,” where she helps the elderly rent out their homes
to make money for upgrades to their home. Avis also enjoys
meditation, sailing, rowing, boating, and continuing to raise her
children to be the best they can be.
Debby Roland
Debby retired in 2010 from the Department of Recreation and Parks
after working over 35 years with the City of Los Angeles. She
stays active by leading the Van Nuys Sherman Oaks Park Walk
in the San Fernando Valley two times a month.
Ronald Skarin
Ronald retired from LA Building and Safety in 2010 as a Principal
Building Inspector after working for more than 35 years with the
City of Los Angeles. He currently leads casual bicycling rides in
various parts of the City on a monthly basis. He has been leading
these bike rides since he retired as a way to have social
activities while getting some good exercise. He has ridden
several times in the Lake Balboa area, along the Orange Line,
several times along the beach bike path in Marina Del Rey, and
even rides through Griffith Park!
Ronald’s passion for cycling began as a competitive cyclist in
the 70’s. He was honored by Mayor Tom Bradley for being
the only City Employee to compete in the Olympics in
Montreal in 1976 and has been a member of the Mayor’s Bicycle
Advisory Committee for over 30 years. When Ronald retired from
competition in 1981, he began promoting bicycle commuting and
rode to and from work (10 to 30 miles) several times a week until
he retired.