by Daniel S. Robinson
As the Orange County Bar Association’s 2024 Awards Chair, it is my great privilege to announce that the recipient of the 2024 Scoville Award is the one and only Trudy Levindofske.
The Scoville Award “recognizes a member of the Orange County legal community whose career exemplifies the highest standards of the legal profession and who has significantly contributed to the Orange County Bar Association and championed our constitutional system of justice.”
As past OCBA President Dean Zipser put it, “If that isn’t Trudy, who is it?”
As most of you know, Trudy Levindofske retired earlier this year from her position as OCBA’s seventeen-year CEO and Executive Director. Trudy was a steadfast and dedicated employee of the OCBA since 1989, serving at times as OCBA’s Communications Director, Managing Editor of Orange County Lawyer magazine, Associate Executive Director, Assistant Executive Director, and ultimately, CEO and Executive Director. She helped steer the OCBA during good times and bad, devoting the bulk of her working career toward enriching the lives and fabric of the Orange County legal community. It can be argued that few individuals in the history of our county have played as significant of a role as Trudy in helping shape, unite, and enhance the Orange County legal community. “During her tenure, not only did she improve our bar association, she became a leader in the profession and a ‘go-to’ person for others,” noted Zipser. OCBA Past President Michael Gregg said, “Trudy’s thirty-five-year career with the OCBA, including her seventeen years leading the organization, truly exemplifies the highest standards of the legal profession—she’s the gold standard and always put the interests of the OCBA and its members first.” For those of us who’ve had the privilege of working with Trudy and know the tireless effort and commitment she gave to her role every day, honoring her with this esteemed award was an easy decision.
When I first informed Trudy last month that she was receiving this award, she was a bit shocked and you could tell this award meant a great deal to her. She had just returned from a well-deserved Alaskan cruise with her husband and, in typical Trudy fashion, she began by asking if I was sure that we wanted to give her this award. She reminded me of the many deserving lawyers and judges that were incredible candidates. I informed her that the vote was final, that she was exceptionally deserving of the award, and that there was nothing she could say or do to change our minds. Once it finally sank in, she said she considered it a tremendous honor and was extremely grateful to our entire OCBA legal community for such a distinguished award.
Upon hearing the news, many of OCBA’s past presidents weighed in with their own praise of Trudy, recalling the qualities that made her so successful in guiding the OCBA during her tenure. “One of the great things about Trudy is that she could get you to do anything she wanted, but make you believe it was your idea,” said OCBA Past President Scott Garner. “Similarly, she could talk you out of anything, again making you think that you talked yourself out of it. It was almost like a Jedi mind trick that she played on everyone. But the Bar was better for it because nobody had better knowledge or judgment than Trudy.”
Current OCBA Treasurer, Shirin Forootan, noted that “Trudy was a listener. She didn’t talk at you or tell you what to do; she actively listened which probably made her so much more effective at her job of running the OCBA. She also treated us all the same, regardless of firm/reputation, etc.” OCBA Past President Todd Friedland echoed those sentiments: “Trudy has the most amazing knack for making people feel heard—no matter how off-base we might be. One of her other talents is adapting each year to a new bar president, and making them feel as though they are actually good at leading the organization. But in reality, Trudy is helping to steer us in the right direction without us really knowing that it is us following her down the right path and not the other way around.”
OCBA Past President Deirdre Kelly spoke about how Trudy’s “thirty-five years of experience at OCBA provided her with incredible historical knowledge. Combining that with her spot-on judgment and calm and cheerful temperament explains why I, and countless OCBA presidents, would always ask Trudy, ‘What should we do?’ when faced with difficult decisions. She kept all of us on course, soundly guiding us through decisions that always kept the organization’s best interest at the center.”
“Trudy didn’t just fulfill her role as the OCBA Executive Director, she elevated it; she always led with kindness, humor, friendship, and unwavering support for the OCBA, the legal community and everyone she encountered,” said OCBA Past President Dimetria Jackson.
According to OCBA Past President Michael Yoder, “Anyone who has ever worked with Trudy knows how amazing she is in a professional setting. During my tenure on the OCBA executive committee and in particular as President, Trudy was always a step ahead, anticipating every need. And when an issue came up out of nowhere, Trudy was always nonplussed, and able to deal with it on her own or set up the Executive Committee to do so. But that is not what makes Trudy so special. Rather, it is the kind and caring person that she is, always looking for ways to make others feel good about themselves. I recall during my tenure as president, after hearing that I had to cancel a Disneyland trip with my two kids, Trudy offered up two Disneyland photograph snow globes for my kids that she just happened to have. They still remember them!”
Many past presidents similarly shared their favorite stories of Trudy. “In her first months as the new Executive Director of the OCBA, Trudy had the formidable task of managing the OCBA’s delegation at that year’s Cal State Bar Association, Convention in Anaheim,” said Past OCBA President Joseph Chairez. “This included making sure the OCBA contingent made it to all their meetings and various speaking engagements. As I was the new OCBA bar president, Trudy made sure I had my speech prepared and I was on time to deliver it at the convention. But the most memorable part of that busy, busy day, was Trudy making sure I was doing my extended strolling meet and greet with NHL Ducks mascot ‘Wild Wing’ in tow. ‘It was a big hit’ Trudy said. Our delegation enjoyed it as well.”
“I’ll never forget the Bar Leadership Conference in Chicago when Trudy and I played hooky one afternoon and went to the Nordstrom shoe sale instead of to class,” said OCBA Past President Julie McCoy. “Like a best gal pal, she talked me into two pairs of shoes I didn’t need, but just had to have. I still think of Trudy and our Chicago shopping excursion every time I put those shoes on!”
OCBA Past President Larisa Dinsmoor expressed praise for Trudy’s leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, “I will never forget how she made Judges’ Night happen for me despite a pandemic. The limited parties that were physically present (installing officer, past president and my parents) all stood in different corners of the OCBA conference room with masks on. As they say, ‘The show must go on!’ and it did because Trudy made it happen.”
OCBA Past President Dimetria Jackson recalled how “Trudy and I traveled together to the National Conference of Bar Presidents in New Orleans. I searched online and found a vegan restaurant outside the French Quarter. I told Trudy I was going to take a taxi there and I would be back shortly, but Trudy wouldn’t let me go alone. With her signature humor and protectiveness, she insisted, ‘I’ve never lost a bar president on my watch, and I’m not starting now!’ The restaurant was located through a dark, smoke-filled bar, separated by Western-style swinging doors. As we stepped inside, a large dog strolled past us and there was only one couple seated in the corner. When we asked the waitress about the specials, we learned—with a straight face—that the dog had eaten the last of the vegan bacon—and the special was no longer available. Trudy and I laughed, but the waitress remained stone-faced. While waiting for our order to be prepared, we saw the couple from the restaurant getting into a taxi. They called out to us, explaining that the waitress hadn’t been kidding about the dog eating the bacon and urging us to cancel our order. We took their advice, got in the cab, and made our way back to the French Quarter. Eventually, we found a restaurant that served a vegan entrée, and we ate while laughing over the bizarre turn of events.”
After letting Trudy reflect for a week on being the recipient of the 2024 Scoville Award, she provided some thoughts on the wonderful memories and friends she made at the OCBA.
“The OCBA is a vibrant, dynamic organization. Reflecting on my years as its CEO, I am struck by the gratitude I feel for having met so many really good people, dedicated to supporting the OCBA and its mission to ‘Enhance the System of Justice, to Support the Lawyers who serve it and to Assist the Community Served by it.’ I took inspiration from the hundreds of members I met throughout the years. How did they do it? How did they find the time to prioritize giving back with so many demands upon their time?”
“Upon my retirement, I was presented with a framed collage of every president with whom I had served during my time as CEO. What an impressive, amazing, intelligent, and eclectic group of people. Each of these leaders is incredibly special in their own way. And incredibly special to me. What a gift it was for me to have known them, and to have assisted in their leadership journeys. It is fitting that I look back on this group during this season of gratitude. OCBA’s current President Christina Zabat-Fran is extraordinary in so many ways. The importance she places on kindness is a value I share. If you missed it, please check out her October President’s Page column on earning your PhD (Preserving Human Dignity).
“The previous Harmon G. Scoville honorees are another group I am so grateful to have known. The Scoville Award annually recognizes a member of the Orange County legal community whose career exemplifies the highest standards of the legal profession and who has significantly contributed to the Orange County Bar Association and championed our constitutional system of justice. I am incredibly humbled to be joining their ranks. It is an unexpected honor, and one I will cherish throughout my days going forward.
“Finally, as I reflect back on my career at the OCBA, I am forever grateful for the talented, dedicated and hard-working group of professionals with whom I worked to keep the wheels turning and the association moving forward. Special thanks to some of OCBA’s longest serving employees who continue the journey: Dennis Slaughter, CEO/Executive Director; Rebecca Mannara, Dana Mullin, Erick Palacios, Christina Pendon, Olivia Torres, and Teresa Vuki. To all of the team at OCBA, thank you for all you do. It was an honor to have worked with you.”
In the end, we are all truly blessed for having had Trudy in our lives and for her tireless efforts in helping shape the OCBA into the incredible organization it is today. As Friedland put it, “At the end of the day we all think to ourselves ‘hey, we did a great job here.’ But the reality is we would have been lost without Trudy’s guidance. Trudy’s counseling often prevents us from stubbing our toes and putting our feet in our mouths. Not many people can herd a bunch of Type A personality lawyers through complicated and sometimes emotional issues. But it seems to be easy for Trudy. And, most of all, anyone fortunate enough to get to work with Trudy comes away from that time with a lifelong friend and confidante. It’s better than therapy. Trudy is the best.”
At the October 28, 2024 OCBA’s The Big Thanks celebration, it was my great honor to present the Scoville Award to OCBA’s longest-running CEO and Executive Director, its longest-serving employee, and a true friend to many, Trudy Levindofske. We thank Trudy for all her incredible work over the years advancing the mission of the OCBA and supporting our Orange County legal community.
Daniel S. Robinson was the 2022 President of the Orange County Bar Association. He is a partner at Robinson Calcagnie, Inc. where he represents plaintiffs in consumer and personal injury cases. He can be reached at drobinson@robinsonfirm.com.