Celebrating 40 Years of Dedication to Wellness at The Gardens
For 40 years, Lavonne Colston has been a valued member of The Gardens community, helping residents stay active, healthy, and engaged through her role as Senior Fitness Aide in the Wellness Department. Throughout her four decades of service, she has built meaningful relationships with residents and fellow employees, making The Gardens much more than just a workplace.
“I am truly blessed to be celebrating forty years of employment at the Gardens. Day after day, year after year I have loved being part of this amazing place. It is a place of real community, between not only the residents, but employees as well. The smiles, chats, hugs, and yes, tears from knowing and caring for hundreds of people during my time here has enriched my life. I have always been inspired by how the Gardens keeps growing and thriving to better everyone’s days.”
For Lavonne, the connections she has made over the years have been just as rewarding as the work itself. Her passion for wellness and genuine care for others reflect the strong sense of community that makes The Gardens such a special place.
We are grateful for Lavonne’s 40 years of dedication, compassion, and commitment to helping our residents thrive. Thank you for being such an important part of The Gardens family!
Jay Labinger is a Gardens resident, he was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. Jay received his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Harvey Mudd College. He attended Harvard University where he earned a Ph.D. He was an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the University of Notre Dame. His career has included positions with Occidental Research Corporation & Atlantic Richfield. He is the Administrator of Beckman Institute at the California Institute of Technology as well as a Faculty Associate in the Chemistry Department. He enjoys reading, playing the piano, tennis and traveling. He has published books on the history of chemistry, sociology of science and literature & science. Here at the Gardens, Jay is part of the Conservation & Sustainability Committee the Green Fund as well as many other groups through the Gardens Club.
Jane Hurd is a Gardens resident, she was born & raised in a small town in Arkansas. After she received her BA from the University of Arkansas she moved to California and taught seventh grade English in Porterville CA. After two years she moved to Los Angeles and worked for the Department of Health Services and pursued a master’s degree in public administration from USC. She served as CEO for two Los Angeles area hospitals. She continues to consult as an executive coach for CEOs of healthcare companies. She has served on several boards including Mutual of America Insurance Company, YMCA of Metropolitan LA, LA Visiting Nurses Association and Inland Empire Girl Scouts. Jane is an award-winning author and plays several musical instruments. Here at the Gardens, Jane is part of the newly formed Bequest Committee, as well as many other groups through the Gardens Club.
