LANCASTER — Thousands of elders thrilled to an appearance by Lainey Kazan, star of Broadway and Hollywood Thursday, and Philip Roberts, prominent Antelope Valley veteran activist, was named Senior of the Year at the 36th Annual Senior Health Expo hosted by High Desert Medical Group.
“I am truly grateful for this honor, and thank you,” said Roberts, who is known for his volunteer work in a full field of veteran nonprofit activities, including Honor Flights Kern County and AV Veterans Community Action Coalition.
At an event attended by more than a thousand Antelope Valley seniors, surprise celebrity guest Kazan wowed a packed H.W. Hunter Pavilion. The room roared with applause and cheers for her 60-year career on Broadway, in Hollywood films and a robust recording career.
“People think I am an actor because of all these movies I was in, but I was and I am a singer,” she shared during an impromptu talk from the main stage.
Along her way in Hollywood, Kazan appeared in films with stars such as Peter O’Toole and Frank Sinatra, and made serial performance appearances as a singer on “The Dean Martin Show.” She was Golden Globe nominated for “My Favorite Year” with O’Toole and played the bride’s mother in “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.”
In the 1960s when Kazan was making a Miami nightclub appearance near where Sinatra was entertaining, “Old Blue Eyes” called her and invited her to come see his show as his guest. Kazan told him she had to perform at her own club.
She remembered that Sinatra said, “I’ll wait for you.” Two of Sinatra’s staff personally escorted her to his club. She described Sinatra as generous, O’Toole as charming and Dean Martin as “someone who liked me.”
Dan Parra, a musician and Senior of the Year finalist, asked Kazan if she would sing a song. She effortlessly shifted into a moving rendition of Johnny Mercer’s “I Remember You,” singing a cappella and inspiring cheers from the audience.
“I am 86 years old, and I have lived a lot of lives,” Kazan said. “You need resilience, and you need to be willing to go for it.”
Kazan said she had a certain dread about moving to an assisted living facility.
“The problem with getting older is you’ve lost so many of your friends,” she said. “I was afraid I would not have any friends, and now I love living there, and I have so many new friends!”
It was a great day for friendship and access to free health care services during the event that has been hosted by High Desert Medical Group for 36 years.
Dr. Richard Merkin, founder of HDMG and other healthcare providers across California, joined with leaders of the medical group and said, “This is what we wanted for our seniors.”
Dr. Don Parazo, associate HDMG medical director, welcomed the Senior of the Year finalists to the stage. In addition to Roberts, there was Parra, a popular multi-talented musician. Also, Suzanne Banks, a relentless fundraiser and cheerleader for Antelope Valley education and Annette Monroe, a popular physical fitness teacher at Legacy Commons Center for Active Seniors. The field rounded out with posthumous recognition for James “Jim” Krieger, beloved by many for his selfless service to a multitude of Antelope Valley cancer patients. He finally succumbed to the disease recently. The audience cheered for his service.
“Typically,” Dr. Parazo said, “the people in our excellent field of Senior of the Year finalists are people who put themselves out for the community. People who can be seen engaging in continued service to our communities.”
Senior of the Year finalists were greeted on stage by Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris and by representatives for Rep. George Whitesides, state Sen. Suzette Valladares, Assemblyman Juan Carrillo, Assemblyman Tom Lackey and Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger. The award is bestowed by HDMG and the Antelope Valley Press, with Jackie Zibble representing the newspaper.
Parris said he was overwhelmed at how long people are living, and at how well they all are managing it.
American Legion Riders Post 311 was named Veteran Community Service Organization of the Year, a recognition that is a partnership with Barger and HDMG, with the supervisor’s chief field deputy, Charles F. Bostwick, presenting the award. The ALR 311 team is a patriotic motorcyclist group that escorts veterans for their final journey to national cemeteries in Bakersfield, Riverside and other destinations. Also included was posthumous recognition of Vietnam combat veteran Phillip Waln, the group’s previous leader, who died in August.
“We just want you to know how much we appreciate what you do for the veterans on their final journey,” Bostwick said.
In addition to free health screening and flu vaccinations, stage entertainment included hosting by “Rat Pack Ricky,” Ricky Medlin, a master of American standards, and longstanding favorites like the Boogie Woogie Mamas, “Hula Halau O Kanoelani,” “Steppin’ Out” and dancers of the HDMG Wellness Enrichment Center.