2020-21 Annual Meeting
TGHS invites its members to participate in the annual business meeting, as required by the TGHS bylaws. The organizing committee has planned a fun and educational event to include a preservation update, presentation of Preservation Awards, recognition of outgoing and incoming board members, and a review of this year’s achievements including improvements to the Doctors House.
This is a TGHS member only virtual event.
Date | Time | Registration
Saturday, July 17 | 10 AM
Registration is required on or before 12 noon on Saturday, July 10.
Registration has closed!
For questions, contact Steve Hunt, President (Steve.Hunt@glendalehistorical.org)
NOMINEES FOR 2021-22 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Kathryn Brunet
2-year Term
Kathryn Brunet has been a member of TGHS and a docent at the Doctors House Museum since 2015. She enjoys giving historically costumed tours at the museum and has taken part in many of the museum’s holiday and special events.
Kathryn works as a rare books librarian, specializing in medieval manuscripts and Western paleography. She has a passion for education, architecture, historical fashion, and loves combining these interests with community involvement. Her many hobbies include sewing, fencing, archery, scuba diving, and painting. Kathryn lives in North Hollywood with her husband, Peter.
JON CROOK
Incumbent, 2-year Term
Jon Crook is a 20-year veteran of Warner Bros. Entertainment’s Theatrical Marketing division where he works as the Director of Marketing Process Initiatives. This position focuses on developing innovative and efficient methods of improving internal marketing processes.
Originally from Tennessee, Jon moved to Los Angeles in 2000, and has lived in Glendale with his wife Laura since 2012. Soon after moving to Glendale Jon joined TGHS with Laura and has volunteered for a wide variety of events. He’s also used some of his special skills to help TGHS, from building a Victorian era coffin for Beneath the Veil, to serving drinks at various TGHS events.
Jon is an avid reader and amateur carpenter. He’s also completed 11 full marathons and over 30 half-marathons, though most quite slowly. Other hobbies include building LEGO sets, learning new skills and going on adventures with his wife and daughter.
Renée Leask
2-year Term
Renée moved into a 1923 house in southeast Glendale in 1997 and joined The Glendale Historical Society as soon as she heard of it, discovering that she had always wanted to be a member of a historical organization. Renée has been a docent at multiple TGHS home tours, helped plan events at Forest Lawn, and assisted with and attended other TGHS events.
Renée has worked for The Walt Disney Company since 2006, administering intellectual party licenses for the Parks. This work intersected with TGHS when Disney renovated the Grand Central Air Terminal and she licensed IP for its Visitors Center.
David Meunier
2-year Term
Visiting a friend in Northwest Glendale 20 years ago, actor David Meunier was first introduced to Glendale’s unique character and history when he spotted the Moorish inspired Gates of Miradero at the top of his friend’s street. The curious landmark was never forgotten and years later, when he and his wife decided it was time to leave the architectural free-for-all of unincorporated Los Angeles, they went searching near those gleaming white gates and found a home that they would eventually place on the Glendale Register of Historic Resources.
Passionate about architecture and design, when not on set David continues to restore even the smallest of details on his Glendale home as well as undertaking the renovation of a medieval rowhouse in the south of France. Since moving to Glendale in 2014, David has been a member of TGHS and is active on its Preservation Advocacy Committee.
Ani Mnatsakanyan
1-year Term
Ani Mnatsakanyan credits her love of the built environment, art and history to growing up in Hollywood, CA. She has lived most of her life (so far) in the less glamorous areas of Hollywood, where it was easy to lose oneself in the glow of neon lights.
Ani is a graduate of the Master of Heritage Conservation program in USC’s School of Architecture. As Curator of Education and Engagement at the Museum of Neon Art, she aims to provide thought-provoking programming that resonates with guests once they leave the museum space. She advocates for the conservation of Southern California’s built environment with a focus on preserving the heritage of culturally rich and diverse communities that have helped shape the region into what it is today. She loves educating and spreading awareness about local history through tours, programs, events in the museum, and also through virtual means.
MARY KAY PRATHER
Incumbent, 2-year Term
Glendale’s Rossmoyne area has been Mary Kay’s home for 30 years. She and husband Tom live in a 1920s Mediterranean that they have renovated. Her affiliation with and interest in The Glendale Historical Society began when she was a docent at the Doctors House. After retiring from healthcare management, she has become more involved in her community.
An enthusiastic supporter of the local arts, including architecture, horticulture and theater, Mary Kay is a member of many local museums and gardens. She participated in and volunteered at numerous TGHS events, including the 40th Anniversary Gala committee and was a docent at multiple annual home tours. Currently she also serves on the board of the Oakmont League of Glendale, a women’s charity group formed in 1939. Mary Kay is grateful to have been an active member of TGHS and looks forward to making a larger contribution to this wonderful organization.
Hilary Sbei
2-year Term
Shortly after becoming a member of TGHS, Hilary joined the Doctors House docents, quickly transitioning to lead docent for tours and in-person events. Since 2020, she is chairing the Digital Events Committee, continuing to engage members from the comfort and safety of their homes. Also co-chair of the Membership Outreach and Inclusion Committee (MOIC), Hilary is exploring ways to engage and involve all Glendale communities and residents.
Hilary’s background is in the arts and nonprofits. She has danced semi-professionally with an Afro-Jazz-Modern company and worked in dance apparel where she helped new dancers find confidence and comfort in this art form. Her work with nonprofits includes administration and production with the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival and development, fundraising, marketing and volunteer coordination at Glendale Arts.
John Schwab-Sims
2-year Term
John, who moved from Seattle, WA, has called Glendale home for the last 9 years. He has a Bachelor of Finance degree from the University of Texas at Austin and is a Senior Director at a major insurance company based in Los Angeles. He manages a team of Project Managers that recommend and implement enhancements to the company’s auto, home, and umbrella lines of business.
John joined TGHS shortly after buying a 1928 Spanish Colonial Revival home in the Rossmoyne neighborhood of Glendale. His interest in preservation steadily grew, and he led the effort to submit the initial application for the Bellehurst Park Historic District. John and his husband, Curtis Schwab-Sims, live in Bellehurst with their daughter, Evelyn.
Katherine Peters Yamada
1-year Term
Katherine Peters Yamada joined TGHS soon after moving from Silver Lake with her husband, Glenn, and two daughters. They purchased a 1940 American Colonial Revival in the pending South Cumberland Heights Historic District.
A journalism graduate of Fresno State College, she served briefly on an earlier TGHS board and began writing for the Glendale News-Press. While volunteering in Special Collections at Glendale’s Central Library she was inspired to write a history column, Verdugo Views, published from 2001 to 2020. She served as president of the Friends of the Glendale Public Library, National Charity League of Glendale, Glendale Philharmonic Committee and three PTAs, and as a Heritage Square docent. Katherine ``searched for her roots’’ in Holland, Prussia and Russia, and in Japan for Glenn’s family. She is currently writing a fifth family history and a series of articles on a great uncle who helped found a relief society which celebrated 100 years in 2020.
