Beldner

Lazar

Rudyard "Ruddy" Beldner's parents were community activists who demonstrated their "feeling of responsibility" for others through helping Depression-era homeless and hungry.

Judy Lazar attended schools with community service requirements.

Fortified by role modeling, Beldner and Lazar built records of civic service to be acknowledged July 21. That's when the duo will be greeted as Don and Doña Triunfo at Fiesta del Triunfo at 5:30 p.m. at the Stagecoach Inn Museum, Newbury Park.

The event, hosted by the Conejo Valley Historical Society, is the group's biggest fundraiser.

"It means a lot to us," said Fiesta chair Ricki Mikkelsen, Newbury Park. "Also, it's our time to celebrate as we recognize two wonderful members of our community who have contributed a great deal."

"This is quite an honor to be named Don and Doña since we receive many nominations," said Susan Holt of Thousand Oaks, selection committee chair. "This honor is based strictly on vast volunteer service."

Beldner, a Newbury Park resident, is working on a 20-year Historical Society pin, with achievements as docent, six-year treasurer and current board member.

More than two decades ago, Beldner, the father of two daughters, was considering retirement so he thought about buying a home. But houses in the West Los Angeles area where he and wife, Eunice, were renting were too costly, so they checked out the "less expensive" Conejo and found the home in which they've lived for 21 years. Beldner worked for 40 years at the Department of Water and Power in Los Angeles, returning to school as an adult to earn a degree in engineering and thus, advancement as an electrical engineer supervisor with more pay and vacation. He said he needed every week possible to criss-cross the globe with Eunice and visit museums where he could draw on one fascination: history.

Beldner's passion for the past helped when his wife suggested they enroll in Stagecoach Inn docent-training. This steppingstone fostered others, including 14 years on Arts Council of the Conejo Valley — where his wife was on the board — and jobs as treasurer, director of public relations and president. In 1992, Beldner was appointed to the Thousand Oaks Arts Commission, serving two two-year terms. He also took on chairing the Conejo Valley International Folk Dance Festival and was an officer in the Folk Dance Federation of California. The Arts Commission's most prestigious excellence in the arts award, the Encore for the Arts statuette, came in 1997.

One memory stems from Arts Commission days and its start of art shows in the Civic Arts Plaza's Kavli Theatre complex.

"I'd spend all day climbing up and down the ladder — this was before the city took over the shows — and I'd come home exhausted," Beldner said.

The shows underscored the need for art show lighting, he said, and today successive installations have been viewed by tens of thousands.

Lazar's husband's job as an engineer with Bunker Ramo (its building now owned by Calvary Community Church) introduced them in 1971 to the Conejo Valley. Their original intent was to spend two years here before returning to contentment in Rockville, Md. But the Lazars found the Conejo so unique they never left, she said.

A few samples of Lazar leadership: board member and former president of Southeast Ventura County YMCA; Pace Committee chair of the Conejo YMCA Capital Campaign; and member of the Ventura County United Way East County task force. Among past pursuits are presidency of the local American Association of University Women and serving on Conejo Future Foundation and Oakleaf Music Festival boards. A friend led her to become acquainted with the Historical Society when it sponsored the Triunfo Ball and presented debutantes.

Four years ago, she was a founding board member and treasurer of the Conejo School Foundation.