Picnic Honors Park’s Namesake

Oak Park’s Mae Boyar Park celebrated what would have been its namesake’s 99th birthday in a manner in which the philanthropist would have appreciated: having a picnic and feeding the hungry.

Chabad of Conejo organized the event to raise awareness of their food bank, which feeds needy families of all religions. Guests were asked to bring food to the picnic.

“As we reflect on the beauty and history of our community, it is imperative that we also continuously think of those who are less fortunate or are going through a difficult time due to the economic climate,” said Rabbi Moshe Bryski of Chabad of Conejo. “This is the true sign of a community: where one is concerned for the welfare of the other.”

Karen E. Kennedy came to the park to pay tribute to her grandmother, whom she described as a “tiny diminutive woman in size, but huge in stature.”

Kennedy was 10 when Mae Boyar, 56, died, but she said she remembers her well because the family had weekly Shabbat dinners and Sunday brunches.

“My grandmother was not involved in the business at all, but it was all about family and community to her and making everything the best it could be for children, and to embrace that whole process, she would ask questions that were intuitive. In the outcome that would follow would come a different way of city planning,” Kennedy said.

Then Boyar’s husband, Lou, would implement those ideas in Lakewood, and they spread throughout Los Angeles County.

Mae Boyar, who wore heavy leg braces, was extremely disabled with rheumatoid arthritis and bedridden most of her adult life, Kennedy said.

“They were very humble people. She would not allow her name to be attached to anything. It wasn’t until after she died that anything was named ‘Mae Boyar’ anything. It was my grandfather’s way of paying tribute to her.”

Harry Medved, an organizer and co-author of “Images of America: Oak Park,” said, “We hope this can be an annual event coinciding with Mae Boyar’s birthday and the oncoming holiday season when people are in need.”

His book was sold at the event, with proceeds going to the food bank.

Lois Spencer, 75, has lived next door to the park since 1967 and watched her four children play there. She was a playground supervisor at Brookside Elementary School, which shared the park.

“It was really cool,” Spencer said. “I think I have seen the equipment change four times.”

She remembered a fire in Box Canyon. The next morning, she woke up and saw a herd of cows taking refuge in the park.

There was also family fun, including games such as horseshoes, sack races and a treasure hunt, as well as indoor screenings of “Oak Park in the Movies” and “Kanan Road in the 1960s.”

“If Mae Boyar were alive today, she would be crying tears of joy seeing the kids playing in the beautiful park named in her honor,” Medved said. “Mae Boyar loved children and helping her fellow man, and so we couldn’t think of a better place in which to hold an event to help feed the hungry of our community.”