 | | | From left: Sandy Fox-Sohner, last year's Distinguished Award winner, presents Pat Lopker, the 2015 Distinguished Woman of the Year, with her memory album. Photo provided | | | | | | The Orinda-Moraga-Lafayette branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) celebrated the many outstanding women in its branch with a May 19 luncheon at the Moraga Country Club. Altogether, 65 members and guests attended to honor Judy Hammon, this year's Branch-Named Gift Honoree, acknowledging her many years of service to OML, and Pat Lopker, the AAUW OML 2015 Distinguished Woman of the Year.
Sandy Fox-Sohner introduced Lopker by highlighting some of the important work she has done for the branch. Lopker has been a contributing member of the branch for more than 15 years. She has been dedicated to ensuring Sister-to-Sister runs smoothly, chairing the Advertising Committee, serving on multiple committees including Education Funds, and securing an AAUW $75,000 research and project grant.
Chelsea Lopker, Lopker's daughter-in-law, introduced her by reading a charming letter written by Lopker's son, Scott. Daughter Debbie Lopker then introduced her mother with glowing words regarding her treasured memories and her appreciation for her mother.
Lopker began her talk with a quote from Aristotle: "Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all." She entertained the audience with stories about growing up in a small town in Iowa, her strong family roots, and the fun she had there. Her memories of Iowa, her grandparents, the accomplishments of her family, and the harvests of corn and soybeans that she participates in to this day are all part of her history. Lopker graduated from Marycrest College in Iowa with a BSN degree.
Professionally, Lopker was dedicated to patient education, primarily as regards diabetes, a condition she has lived with personally since she was 9 years old. In California, with her RN license, she worked at Oakland's Highland Hospital, and later at Samuel Merritt Hospital as a supervisor. As a member of the Alameda/Contra Costa County Board of Directors for the American Diabetes Association where she facilitated patient education, she initiated a consortium of seven hospitals to collectively plan a comprehensive program to be used universally for information from nutrition to medical care for adult diabetic patients.
Lopker ended her talk with a quote that her grandmother used to say to her: "Worry is like a rocking chair - it gives you something to do but it doesn't get you anywhere."
For more information about the AAUW OML branch, go to oml-ca.aauw.net.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA