Camarillo man nominated for national volunteer award
By Michelle Knight knight@theacorn.com

Randy Churchill

When it comes to the many city and county organizations that Randy Churchill has worked with as a volunteer, the Camarillo resident is hard pressed to pick a favorite.

"That's almost an impossible thing to answer," he said. "Each one at any given moment gives its own rewards."

From youth organizations to service groups to charities, Churchill's volunteer efforts in the community have spanned more than 40 years. In high recognition of his work, Churchill, 71, was one of five county residents recently nominated for the 2007 Jefferson Awards.

Although the award went to someone else, Churchill said it was an honor to be considered.

"It's pretty neat when a community recognizes you," said Churchill, a longtime real estate broker and former marketing manager. "One cannot help but be humbled by it."

The Ventura County winner, Bart Bleuel, will attend a national ceremony in Washington, D.C. in June. The Jefferson Awards were founded in 1972 by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, U.S. Senator Robert Taft Jr. and Sam Beard and are considered the Nobel Prize for public and community service.

Churchill has served or is serving on a list of boards that include the Boys & Girls Club of Camarillo, Camarillo Hospice, the Rotary Club, the Pleasant Valley Education Foundation, United Way of Ventura County, the city's Art and Jazz Festival and California State University at Channel Islands.

He was a member of the socalled "Gang of Five" Camarillo residents who worked quietly behind the scenes to bring a state college to the city.

His name may sound familiar to residents across the county since he's lent his auctioneering talents to dozens of charity fundraisers, from Thousand Oaks' Cal Lutheran University to the National Charity League Juniors of Ventura County.

It's Churchill's humility and readiness to help others that make him a special person, said Jane Rozanski, one of two people who nominated Churchill for the Jefferson Award.

"He's absolutely the salt of the earth; you won't find a kinder man," she said.

Rozanski, who heads up the Camarillo Health Care District, has known Churchill for more than three decades and worked with him on a number of community service projects. She said he's so beloved that when his name came up at a recent meeting, one person after another spoke about the help Churchill had given them.

"There wasn't a dry eye in the room," Rozanski said.

Rozanski was herself the recipient of Churchill's benevolence when a family crisis occurred late one night and Churchill came to her aid.

"I will always remember Randy's kindness," she said.

Jennifer Churchill said her husband of 50 years never puts himself first or brags about his accomplishments.

"He's just a special loving person," Jennifer said. "He loves to help people."

Randy and Jennifer had three children but lost their youngest son, Brian, 19 at the time, in a car accident in 1979. They turned their tragedy around, however, to benefit others. For nearly two decades the Churchills hosted and facilitated a grief support group for parents who'd lost a child.

"You try to make something positive out of it in helping others," Jennifer said.