Palisadian-Post Names Rich Wilken 2010 Citizen of the Year

Lifelong Palisadian Rich Wilken, one of the town’s most enthusiastic and hard-working volunteers, has been named 2010 Citizen of the Year, an honor bestowed by the Palisadian-Post since 1947.   Wilken, an architect by trade, will receive his award at a banquet on April 28 in the American Legion Hall, along with yet-to-be-named recipients of the Golden Sparkplug Award, presented annually by the Community Council.   ’Few residents have ever been as active as Rich in so many community organizations,’ said Post Publisher Roberta Donohue, ‘and few people can match his willingness to take on leadership roles.’   In 2010, Wilken once again coordinated the Fourth of July fireworks show at Palisades High, continued to serve as an assistant Scoutmaster in Boy Scout Troop 223, and remained active in the Optimist Club and the Lutheran Church (where he is past president of the congregation). Late in the year he agreed to serve as co-chair of the committee that is organizing various events to celebrate PaliHi’s 50th year, starting on July 4.   '[Rich] always seems to be ready to help where he is needed and when asked,’ wrote Village Green president Marge Gold in her nomination letter. ‘He is invested in maintaining the town’s character, is a longtime Palisades booster and epitomizes community involvement. They don’t get any better than Rich Wilken.’   When Rich was growing up in the Palisades, his father owned John’s Pastry Shop on Swarthmore and his mother later operated the Patio Coffee Shop. After graduating from PaliHi in 1964, and before becoming an architect (his projects have included Mort’s Deli, the Lutheran Church sanctuary and the remodel of St. Matthew’s Parish Center), he founded Wilken Surfboards, a company well known for custom-‘designing boards.   Wilken and his wife, Deann, who also grew up in the Palisades (they met at the Lutheran Church as teenagers), have been married for 36 years and have two grown children, Heather and Matthew, as well as a granddaughter. Deann earned every pin in the PTA arsenal and, for many years, has been administrator of the STAR after-school enrichment programs at Marquez Elementary, Canyon School, and Topanga Elementary.   The Post will announce Citizen of the Year ticket information in next week’s issue.