The holiday season kicked off a little early this year at your Relief Association’s HQ. With the 110th Anniversary Dinner Dance scheduled for December, it was decided to hold the Open House Party in November. And it looked like everyone got the message as hundreds turned out for the festivities.
The autumn themed decorations by Flowers by Tomlinson were great this year but the food was even better. Cornucopia Catering outdid themselves again with a huge array of culinary creations. From hand-carved Beef Tenderloin and Prime Rib for the “fork and knife” diners to a Three Noodle Cheese Bake for those who like to tuck their napkins into their shirts, undoubtedly no one went away hungry. There was a Slider Bar with your choice Angus Beef, BBQ Chicken or Pulled Pork with Jicama Slaw. There was also a Chili Station with Housemade Steak Chili and Vegetarian Chili served with Corn Chips, Corn Bread, Sour Cream, and Cheddar Cheese. And as usual, the bar was wide open, serving whatever adult beverage one could dream up.
Those in the know saved room for dessert though, as there was quite an array of delicious treats from which to choose. Delicacies included Chocolate Fudge Brownies, New York Cheese Cake, and Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter and Oatmeal Cookies. New this year was Terri Godinez, wife of Trustee and Fire Captain Rick Godinez who set up “Terri’s Mobile Espresso Bar.” She served up specialty coffees with intricate designs floating atop each beverage.
LAFD Fire Apparel set up shop outside on the back patio giving everyone the opportunity to do a little pre-holiday shopping. And back by popular demand was Jerrod Webster’s (MFC) Photos and Fountains family photo booth.
This year’s Open House honored Dennis Mendenhall, a retired LAFD Captain and long-time Relief Association Trustee. Dennis also flew more than hundred missions over North Vietnam from the USS Coral Sea. You can read about both of his illustrious careers below.
There was a second presentation a little later from the LAFD’s own Fire Hogs. Their giant cumulative donation of $26,000 was presented on a giant check to President Steinbacher for the Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemen’s Fund.
LAFRA’s ever faithful cadre of volunteers was on hand to greet guests as they arrived and for myriad other logistical functions throughout the day. They included Maria Riley, Marshall Stevens, Ruth Derwin, Donna Capelouto, Marta Peterson, Virginia Newcomb, Anne Munsell, and Lydia Andrews. LAFD/LAFRA photographer David Blaire set up a display of his photo albums and shared photos of department members and incidents that span many decades.
Under the direction of LAFRA Events Coordinator Juliet Brandolino, this Open House Party was another unqualified success. If you missed the event, you can check out all the fun you missed on LAFRA’s Flickr page.
Photos by Lloyd Payne, Deborah Lew and Tim Larson
Tribute to a Warrior
Young Dennis Mendenhall always knew he had big shoes to fill. His dad, Ralph, was a Navy veteran of both WWII and the Korean War. The senior Mendenhall also was a well-respected Captain II on the LAFD from 1953 until 1978. A great-uncle, Fred De Weese, was an LAFD member who suffered a duty-related death in 1966.
Never one to rest on the laurels of others, Dennis quickly took control of his own destiny and joined the Navy in 1967. In less than a decade, sitting in the back seat of a F4 Phantom jet as the Radio Intercept Officer, he had logged more than 2000 flight hours, graduated the prestigious “Top Gun” school, flew 168 missions over North Vietnam, and made more than 500 carrier landings.
With the war winding down, Dennis resigned his commission in 1975 and joined the LAFD. Working in some very busy and demanding assignments, Dennis shot up through the ranks, settling in as a Captain II in 1986.
“Overall,” says Dennis of his leadership philosophy, “I tried to practice aggressiveness on the fire ground but with restraint. Everything was done with the crew’s welfare in mind. I really enjoyed going to fires and training with the guys.”
Taking the Navy axiom “Ship, Sailors, Self,” Dennis turned this into something befitting the fire service. “Mission, Men, Self” became his mantra. He put these principles into effect during stints at 35’s, 3’s, 60’s and Air Operations with great success.
“Dennis’ crews were some of the best,” recalls Dave Lowe. “They worked and played hard, and always looked sharp. His guys performed well at fires and looked like they were having fun doing it.”
Having grown up LAFD, Dennis was well aware of the importance of the Relief Association to his family. Knowing that it was time to give back and wanting to make a difference, he decided to run for election as a Trustee in 1983.
Right from the start, it was very clear to Dennis that LAFRA needed to upgrade their investment portfolio. He knew that cash in a shoebox and a few tiered CD’s were not meeting the fiduciary responsibilities entrusted to the Board by the membership. He brought in a fellow Navy flier turned financial consultant, Garth Brooks, to overhaul and diversify the portfolio. And as the Investment Committee Chairman, he pushed to educate the Board. He had them reading the Wall Street Journal, attending investment seminars and even taking courses at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton Business School.
Dennis was also aware that LAFRA needed more professional management. In addition to being the impetus for business management training for all Board members, he was instrumental in bringing in a full-time executive director and a controller to run the day-to-day operations of the Association.
There have been tumults and transformations at LAFRA throughout Dennis’ tenure, but he has always stayed the course and tried to see the bigger picture. During these worst of times, he was often the reassuring voice of reason and sanity.
Not to be out-done by an illustrious father, Dennis’ kids can boast achievements of their own. Son Michael did 20 years on a Navy destroyer as a communications specialist. Son Greg is an Academy grad with three tours flying helicopters and still in the Navy, is a flight commander on the small carrier, the USS Boxer. Daughter Holly has three advanced degrees but chooses to be a stay-at-home mom.
Dennis retired from Boat 4 in 2009, and now enjoys his retirement with his wife, Mary. He and Mary tied the knot 31 years ago but in reality, he has had a soft spot for her ever since the eighth grade.
The truly amazing part of Dennis’ story is his battle with cancer. He has fought four bouts since 1999. He rewards and refreshes himself after each bilious skirmish with a long ocean voyage. So far he has signed on to crew Orange Coast College’s 65’ sailboat for cruises from Tahiti through the South Pacific, races from LA to Hawaii and LA to Easter Island, and the hazardous journey around Cape Horn.
While the legacy of Dennis Mendenhall’s service lingers in the Relief Association board room, the tangible improvements for which he advocated are felt in every LAFD firehouse. His decades of dedication will benefit LAFRA members and their families for generations to come.
By Dave Wagner