Residents Regale Y’s Pfannkuche at Going Away Party

By JACQUELINE PRIMO | Reporter

Friends, family and coworkers of Carol Pfannkuche, executive director of the Palisades-Malibu YMCA, gathered at Marix Tex Mex in Santa Monica Canyon on Tuesday, March 31 for her going-away party.
Pfannkuche started her new position as executive director for the Ketchum Downtown YMCA on April 1.
Party guests sipped margaritas, munched on tacos and crunched salsa-dipped tortilla chips while talking about Pfannkuche’s positive impact on the YMCA and the Pacific Palisades community as a whole.

“She’s just been the best boss,” said Palisades-Malibu YMCA membership director Stephen Hale between bites of his taco. “She’s collaborative, a good listener, has allowed us to try new things and has helped us grow in membership.”
Hale, who has worked with Pfannkuche since she came on as executive director in 2005, said, “It’ll be hard to replace her.”

“I just think the world of her,” said Pacific Palisades Rotary Club member Dick Meyer. He added that Pfannkuche will stay on as Rotary Club president despite her job change.
The Rotary Club and the Y are jointly presenting the All in for Kids! Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament on Saturday, May 9 from 5-11 p.m. at the Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church, Janes Hall.
Meyer added that Pfannkuche recently participated in the district’s humanitarian trip in Guatemala and said she has been an asset to both organizations.

“I’ve known her for more than 10 years,” Meyer said. “It’s a big blow that she’s leaving.”
Pfannkuche said her family moved to the Palisades in 1995 and has been involved with the Y ever since.
“I’ve always been a working mom in community non-profits, and I counted on the Y’s summer day camp to give my two girls a healthy, fun and safe camp every summer. They loved it!” Pfannkuche told the Post.
Pfannkuche said her daughters learned to swim at the old Temescal Canyon pool in addition to participating in Y Adventure Guides and Princesses with her husband and their classmates.
“The Y was a strong foundation for my family,” Pfannkuche said – a factor that made the decision easy when in 2005 she was recruited to apply for the executive director position.

When the Post asked her what she considered some of her greatest accomplishments during her time at the Palisades-Malibu YMCA, the ever-humble Pfannkuche credited the Y’s growth over the last 10 years to its volunteer leadership, staff and community support.
“The beautification of our Simon Meadow property would not have been possible without decades of hard work by dedicated Y staff and volunteers before me,” Pfannkuche said, adding that she will miss the group exercise classes at the Y.
“Every day at the Y is fun. I have fond memories of driving the Y float in the Fourth of July parade, the Pumpkin Festival and other great family activities at Simon Meadow,” Pfannkuche said.
“I have been blessed to work here in my own hometown and see Y members everywhere I go. I’ll miss all the great people I work with, all the great Y members and friends and my five-minute commute to work.”
Palisades-Malibu YMCA staff member Lionnel Zaragoza has been named interim executive director.