The David Hines Award, honoring outstanding volunteers at St. Monica, was presented Friday, June 29 at the annual Volunteer Appreciation Celebration.

The award celebrates the memory of one of our parish’s most beloved volunteers, David Hines. Hines, a tireless and selfless leader, was active in the church choir as a musician and singer, was the coordinator of the annual Seder dinner and was actively involved in our youth programs. David was tragically killed in a car accident while he was driving to Serra Retreat Center to assist with an 8th grade retreat.

The Award was created soon after his death to honor his exceptional service to St. Monica, and each year we give it to those in the community who exhibit his love and commitment to service. Hines, a professional musician and sound engineer, had a personal epiphany after meeting Msgr. Torgerson in the early 1990s, which inspired his devotion to helping others. He was a well-known and beloved part of the St. Monica music family, and even wrote the song “Daddy” often heard at our mass celebrations.

His sudden death stunned our community, and the church was filled for his funeral. He would have loved that, said his brother, because “(Dave) lived for the celebration.” In that spirit we celebrate the outstanding work of this year’s David Hines “Volunteer of the Year” Award winners:

• Bill Chapman
• Lynn Kemp
• Lynn Kurata
• Lucy Mayer
• Jill Orcutt
• Rick Tyner