Clyde Noel/ Special to the Town Crier
Sid Hubbard, right, receives the YMCA's Red Triangle Award last Wednesday for his volunteer work. Presenting the award is Dave Thornton, president and chief executive officer of the YMCA of Santa Clara Valley.
Special to the Town Crier
At the center of the YMCA's logo is a red triangle that stands for unification of the mind, body and spirit. It also represents YMCA's highest honor, the Red Triangle Award, which each year is presented to someone whose YMCA volunteer service "has been clearly distinguished by length of time, devotion and significant participation and accomplishment."
With the largest turnout since 1981, more than 450 individuals gathered last Wednesday evening at Hyatt Rickeys in Palo Alto for the 18th annual award dinner. They came to honor Red Triangle Award winner Sid Hubbard of Los Altos Hills, and six Distinguished Service Award winners.
"Although he is the former mayor of Los Altos Hills, Sid Hubbard is as Palo Alto as any Palo Altan," said Gary Fazzino, Palo Alto council member and former association board member. "The Red Triangle Award recognizes devotion and accomplishment to the YMCA, and Sid's life has been dedicated to his community and the YMCA."
Nationally known Juvenile Court Justice Leonard P. Edwards, also of Los Altos Hills, was keynote speaker for the award dinner and set the tone for the evening with his reference to family relations and children.
"Children need the family and not an institution. We need to understand child abuse and domestic violence and improve ways to hold batterers accountable," said Edwards, a supervising judge of the Santa Clara County Juvenile Court. He referred to the mission statement of the YMCA in helping the community improve human conditions within the changing patterns of family and community life.
In addition to Hubbard, awards were presented to volunteers from each of the six local YMCA branches.
Outstanding volunteers receiving the award included, David Hettig, association board; Priscilla Bates, East Palo Alto YMCA; Gay Krause, El Camino YMCA; David Kennedy, Page Mill YMCA; James Phillips, Palo Alto Family YMCA; and Lois Marie Koenig, Sequoia YMCA
Krause, a Los Altos Hills resident and former principal in the Mountain View School District, received the award for her part in the El Camino YMCA's annual support campaign for the last 11 years. As a longtime member of the program committee, Krause played a pivotal role in the creation and expansion of the El Camino YMCA programs for youth.
Dave Thornton, president and chief executive officer, of the YMCA of Santa Clara Valley presented the Red Triangle Award to Hubbard.
"Sid is eminently qualified and deserving of this award. His involvement started as a camper in Camp Campbell in the Santa Cruz Mountains." Thornton said. "With his friendly, low key exterior, but tenacious negotiator with strong leadership, he helped the future of the YMCA. We need people like Sid to improve the families and children of the YMCA family."
Because Hubbard's wife Doni is a horse person, Sid included as his hobbies, haystacking and shoveling. Thornton said this was the first time he ever saw those activities as hobbies, but he understood.
"The glass is always half full for Sid, and he has hope that under that hay is a pony," Thornton said. "In quoting Mark Twain, 'There is nothing so annoying as a good example.'"
On receiving the Red Triangle Award, Hubbard said all the hope we have for the future is with our children, and how we take care of them.
The YMCA was such a big part of his youth, that it is important to be able to provide the same opportunities for the today's kids.
"I want to acknowledge the women in my life. My mother has inspired me with her energy and her work for the community, and Doni is the most giving person I know," Hubbard said. "What inspires me about the Y is its health and inspiration to make the community better."
Hubbard has dedicated his life to the YMCA and his community.
The Los Altos Hills resident served as mayor from 1991-1992 and 1996-1997 and as a member of the city council from 1990 to the present.
He has served as a commissioner for the Los Altos County Fire Protection District since 1985, and has played a vital role on the Construction Oversight Committee for the expansion and refurbishing of Mountain View and Los Altos High schools.
He has been married to Doni for 33 years, and they have two daughters: Vallee, who made them first-time grandparents last month with the arrival of grandson John Sidney; and newly engaged Audrey.