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.