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St. Edmund's Episcopal Church Honors San Marino Residents with Rector's Cross Award

St. Edmund's Episcopal Church honored San Marino residents Robert and Donna Packer with the Rector's Cross Award, given each year to a person(s) who has served the parish in a particular distinction throughout the year. The lapel pin cross given to Mr. Packer, managing shareholder at LaFollette, Johnson, DeHaas, Fesler & Ames in downtown Los Angeles, and the pendant given to Mrs. Packer were adorned with a white gold crown set against a golden Maltese cross, one of St. Edmund's parish symbols.

"Bob and Donna have given themselves indefatigably in service to St. Edmund's in a variety of capacities. Both have served on the Vestry, and Donna seems always to be one of the center-field players in the organization of fund-raising events and parish celebrations. She is an active member of the Altar Guild and seems always and everywhere engaged," said The Reverend George Woodward, rector of St. Edmund's. "Bob Packer has for years worked for the renovation of our Aeolian-Skinner Organ and has nearly single-handedly shepherd that dream to the reality it is now becoming. They are both such essential members of our parish, and cherished by all."

Taking the reins on St. Edmund's restoration of its Aeolian-Skinner Opus Number 1323, or a pipe organ, Packer's mission is to restore significant musical and historical value to an instrument that can serve San Gabriel Valley and Greater Los Angeles residents well into the 21st century. He continues to oversee the capital campaign, "Restoring the Heart of Music," which is in need of $300,000 for the restoration.

"Since the completion of the renovation of the church and the realization of the dramatically improved acoustics, an entirely new conception of a serious organ restoration and enhancement project began to develop so as to fully reveal the unexploited potential of what we already had in place - that is, possibly the finest pipe organ in the San Gabriel Valley," said Packer, who expects the church to be a significant intimate venue for the performance of organ, chamber, choral, and orchestral music.

As a member of the Altar Guild, Mrs. Packer assists in the preparation of the chapel and church for all services, which includes procuring and maintaining the necessary linens, vessels, vestments, and others items used for worship.

Founded in 1942, St. Edmund's Episcopal Church in San Marino is a mid-size church serving the West San Gabriel Valley with a mission to receive and share God's accepting grace, challenging wisdom, and transforming love. St. Edmund's is a progressive community, striving to build bridges and further understanding among the diverse populations of our area.