By BERNADETTE LAURITZEN
Champions of Youth Ambitions
Los Alamos

I always believe in admitting when you make a mistake. We all make them, so admit it, apologize, and set out to make things right. If it becomes a habit and part of your character, apologizing won’t be an insurmountable obstacle.

During 2019, Champions of Youth Ambitions regular Jackie Hurtle nominated someone for a Community Asset Award. The local nonprofit has recognized folks annually since 2009. When the nomination was made, unfortunately I titled the file 2020. The awards are generally held in January of February for the previous year. When the list came out one of her nominees was missing.

I began to conspire with local YMCA CEO Rob Wilkinson for a surprise recognition. It would take us a while, but a plan was underway. Then the world changed, and plan B would be to find the nominee, apologize for my error and invite him to the next ceremony. One reason being my error and two because the community needs some good news.

I am thrilled to say White Rock resident Orval Hart was not mad at me. I asked him a few questions then planned a doorstep, contactless delivery. One of my favorite things to know is a person’s favorite cookie, so the gift idea was brewing exponentially.

During high school, Hart was a day camp counselor for the Pasadena YMCA, and for the Alhambra YMCA. That was back in the day when a leader might take 10-12 kids on sightseeing tours of Los Angeles, constantly counting to see that you still have everyone in tow or camping in the mountains. 

He graduated high school in 1957, spent three years in the Army, which he believes prepared him for college at California Polytechnic in Pomona. He learned computers on the college’s first computer and made a career out of it. He worked at the Jet Propulsion Lab, with software for deep space unmanned missions, and with Hughes Aircraft, NATO air defense system based in Milan, Italy, before coming to Los Alamos in the fall of 1970.

Hart and his wife have four children, 14 grandchildren and three great grandchildren. He was nominated by Jeremy Smith and Jackie Hurtle for his work with various races and pickle ball for the YMCA. He is an avid cyclist still today.

“Staying active is a way of life for me, having raced bicycles for 45 years here and in Europe, mainly Italy,” Hart said. “It keeps balance in your life, clearing your mind for the other things in life.”

The day of the drive by recognition, Hart was impeccably dressed as it was a Sunday … the Saturday delivery was rained out. Earlier that day, he had cycled to Bandelier and back, a regular activity. According to Hart, the ride has gotten, “dramatically slower,” which he reports could be totally possible at 81. While I didn’t request permission to state his age, I have a feeling he would forgive me in order to inspire his community to get out there, staying safe and balanced, of course.

Champions of Youth Ambitions, C’YA celebrates their sixth birthday this week. Check us about at www.cya-nm.org.