Blog archive
June 2023
Bridget Brewster Discovers Village Benefits
06/04/2023
Rumor of Humor #16
06/04/2023
Communications Project with Cal State LA
06/02/2023
Creative Aging
06/01/2023
May 2023
One Villager's Story
05/31/2023
Pasadena Area Liberal Arts Center
05/31/2023
Pasadena Village Responds to Rainbow Flag Burning at Pasadena Buddhist Temple
05/31/2023
Plan Ahead - And Be Prepared
05/31/2023
Tuesday, May 23 Pasadena Celebrated Older Americans
05/31/2023
Reparations, Social Justice Activity
05/24/2023
Rumor of Humor #14
05/19/2023
Rumor of Humor #13
05/12/2023
Issue #12
05/09/2023
Science Monday - Review of Meeting on April 10, 2023
05/09/2023
Conversations Re African American Artists Before 1920
05/08/2023
Beyond the Village – Suzi and Phil Hoge
05/01/2023
Congratulations Wayne April! Honored at UNH
05/01/2023
Table Topics
05/01/2023
Volunteer Appreciation at the Village
05/01/2023
“ACCIDENTAL HOST—The Story of Rat Lungworm Disease”
05/01/2023
April 2023
Jumbo Joy
04/24/2023
Pasadenans Recent Experience With Racism
04/23/2023
Recent Events Reflecting Racism
04/23/2023
Fig and Goat Cheese Bruschetta
04/18/2023
Photography for Social Justice
04/11/2023
Issue #8
04/07/2023
BEYOND THE VILLAGE - Catherine Deely
04/06/2023
Creative Writing in Older Adults
04/06/2023
Gifts of Love
04/06/2023
March 2023
Issue #7
03/31/2023
Issue #6
03/26/2023
Great Decisions update
03/14/2023
Dominion Lawsuit, South Africa and 710 Stub
03/08/2023
February 2023
2023 DEI Progress
02/27/2023
BEYOND THE VILLAGE - Doug Colliflower
02/26/2023
CONVERSATIONS WITH ART
02/26/2023
GREAT DECISIONS
02/26/2023
OLDER ADULTS RESOURCE FAIR
02/26/2023
The Important, Influential Books in our Lives - Revisited
02/26/2023
History, Resolution of the 710 Freeway
02/19/2023
Eminent Domain, 710 Highway
02/13/2023
Bernard Garrett, 710 Freeway
02/06/2023
Men's Times Gatherings
02/03/2023
January 2023
Pasadena's Senior Commission
01/30/2023
BEYOND THE VILLAGE - JIM HENDRICK
01/27/2023
GRATITUDE - IT'S GOOD FOR YOU!
01/27/2023
JEFF GUTSTADT - FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST
01/27/2023
Bernard Garrett, Incredible Black Entrepreneur
01/17/2023
What is the "Spirit Talk" Group About?
01/16/2023
Same Ol’ New Year, Brand New Me
01/12/2023
Review of 2022, Consideration of 2023
01/06/2023
BEYOND THE VILLAGE - PATTI LA MARR
01/03/2023
FROM THE CHAIR
01/03/2023
WALK WITH EASE
01/03/2023
Wayne April - Member Connections
By Blog MasterPosted: 01/06/2021
- Karen Bagnard -
Wayne April was a volunteer with the Pasadena Village long before he became a member. His background in social work and hospice care have made him an invaluable component to our vibrant village. His journey from New Hampshire roots to Alaskan adventures to being an AIDS activist in the 80’s and eventually a partnership that brought him to Pasadena has resulted in a compassionate, bright and fun-loving member of our community.
Wayne was a quiet young man until he found his voice and became active in the gay rights movement during his college years at the University of New Hampshire. Seeing that, among the many clubs on campus, there was not a club for gays or lesbians, Wayne started one. “It’s a bit like starting a Village. We needed a community for us.” When the University sued to ban the group from campus, the ACLU took up the defense, and the court ruled in favor of the gay clubs. This was the first time, in 1974, that the courts declared that any school accepting federal funds must allow gays and lesbians to organize on campus. Wayne’s activism brought him into the spotlight of local and national news, putting pressure on him to come out to his family. The result was affirming and he continued to be a strong and vocal participant in justice.
After college he moved to Valdez, Alaska where he worked as a writer and then as the publisher of the local newspaper. He enjoyed the wild and beautiful country, made friends, and once again created a welcoming community by starting a gay organization in Anchorage.
Wayne’s five years in Alaska were followed by AIDS activism in San Francisco during the 1980’s. It was the beginning of the AIDS epidemic and there was much fear and prejudice associated with the disease. Wayne began volunteering in the AIDS ward at San Francisco Hospital. Soon he was helping to raise money to purchase and renovate an old house to accommodate 10 people living, and dying, with AIDS. His efforts resulted in the establishment of the Richard Cohen Residence for AIDS patients, formerly Hope House, which is still in operation today. This experience taught him that he had a gift for helping people with end-of-life matters and was the impetus he needed to return to school to become a credentialed social worker.
Wayne went to work for Kaiser Permanente as a geriatric Social Worker, eventually transferring to Southern California with his partner, Jeff Gufstadt. Says Wayne, “I always enjoyed working with older people. People become more honest with age. When you slow down you feel things you didn’t before.” Wayne and Jeff settled in Pasadena where they live with an assortment of rescue dogs, many at the end of their lives.
Wayne’s background and his wisdom about patient care have been important assets to our Support Assessment Team. His love of hiking and dry sense of humor make him most enjoyable company, as well. We're fortunate that his long and winding road has led him to the Pasadena Village.
Wayne's video in Member Connections can be seen at here.