Ron Kolar honored with commemorative bench at Downey Civic Center

Ron Kolar sits on a bench purchased and installed in his honor Wednesday at the Downey Civic Center. (Photo by Eric Pierce)

DOWNEY – Members of the Downey Los Amigos Kiwanis Club, city officials and community leaders gathered Wednesday at the Downey Civic Center to honor longtime community supporter Ron Kolar with a commemorative bench placed between Downey City Hall and the Downey City Library.

The bench was purchased by the Kiwanis club as a tribute to Kolar’s decades of generosity and civic involvement in Downey.

According to Kiwanis past president Claude Bilodeau, the idea came about last year when the club considered how to celebrate Kolar’s 90th birthday. Kolar declined gifts, prompting the club to find another way to recognize his impact on the community.

“The club voted to purchase the bench to thank Ron for his generosity toward the Downey community,” Bilodeau said, noting Kolar’s role as the first major donor to the new Kolar Family YMCA, formerly the Downey YMCA.

Bilodeau said Kolar’s contributions have helped shape the city and its institutions.

“When I joined Kiwanis, former mayor David Gafin told me, ‘There are people who make things happen, there are people who watch things happen, and there are people who ask what just happened. Ron is a person who makes things happen,” Bilodeau said. “As a champion of education, it’s very fitting that this bench is located next to the library.”

The ceremony featured a musical performance by Steve Roberson on guitar and remarks from several local leaders.

Speakers included Downey City Councilmembers Dorothy Pemberton, Mario Trujillo and Hector Sosa. Mayor Pro Tem Horacio Ortiz served as master of ceremonies.

Several members of the city’s executive staff also attended, including City Manager Roger Bradley, Police Chief Scott Loughner and Fire Chief Anthony Hildebrand.

Kolar is the founder, president and owner of the L’Abri Organization, which includes L’Abri Management, Inc., L’Abri Enterprises, Inc. and Downey Enterprises, LLC. The company owns or manages more than 5,900 apartment units across Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties, as well as storage facilities and an office building.

A graduate of the University of Southern California, Kolar studied civil engineering and completed coursework toward a master’s degree in business administration. He entered the property management field in 1972 and later earned the Certified Property Manager designation from the Institute of Real Estate Management.

Beyond his professional career, Kolar has long been involved in community and philanthropic organizations. He has served multiple terms as president of the Downey Family YMCA Board of Managers, and the facility now bears his family’s name.

City leaders and Kiwanis members said the bench will serve as a lasting reminder of Kolar’s commitment to the Downey community.