Jackie Ryan
News Staff
For more than a decade, Oakmont grandparents who show up with their grandkids for a week of bustling activities in late July, report a certain phenomenon. Leslie Brockman appears to be doing everything everywhere all at once. Indeed, Brockman has figured out how to pop in at every class, hand out encouragement to her many volunteers and greet the children by name.
Her name, after all, is inextricably linked with Grandparents Week, and the OVA Board of Directors has honored her as the inaugural recipient of the Legacy Award, which recognizes sustained, exceptional service for its lasting impact on Oakmont.
Dozens of Grandparents Club members were in attendance to honor Brockman at the Oct. 20 board meeting. Nancy Holman, one of the club’s steadfast volunteers, says the week is always full of smiles and laughter, and the meticulous organization is evident to all who attend. “But what you might not see is the person behind the magic. Leslie’s good heart, her genuine kindness, and her deep love of children are exactly what make all of this possible,” she said.
The Grandparents Club started two decades ago under Carol Cotton with 30 members. Brockman took on its leadership in 2016, and the club membership has grown to 200, with more than 180 children participating in some 70 class and activity offerings.
In presenting the Legacy Award, OVA Board President Steve Spanier said Brockman executes the week with kindness and extraordinary organizational skills. “It’s fitting that our first legacy award goes to a person who will leave a lasting legacy here in Oakmont. Leslie Brockman has been the key component of Grandparent’s Week – and our Grandparent’s Club – for years. The word most often used to describe her contribution is ‘remarkable’,” he said.
Since relocating to Oakmont from Southern California, Brockman has also been involved in several Oakmont committees and organizations, including Long Range Planning, the Technical Learning Center, Lifelong Learning and the Oakmont Community Church.
Brockman, who had a 35-year career as a music teacher and produced full-length musicals, said Grandparents Week is labor of love that puts her skills to good use. It’s a year-round commitment, sometimes requiring her to work more than 10 hours a day organizing classes, scheduling rooms and planning festivities, including the welcome Carnival and Family Picnic. She has a large core of volunteers, many of whom help throughout the year. Other clubs, like tennis and pickleball, and individuals teach and lead classes. She does the mind-boggling job of registration herself, managing the daunting task of getting kids into their choice activities and keeping everyone happy.
“I don’t know what rest is,” said Brockman, who is 81. “But I’m not big on rest. I thrive on doing. I try to make it to all the classes by organizing my day, and this year I think I made it to every one. I’m so grateful for all the volunteers that help to make this happen.”
The Legacy Award is reserved for exceptional service that has helped shape, strengthen or enrich Oakmont. It will not necessarily be presented annually and can also be awarded posthumously. Both former or current Oakmonters are eligible. The primary consideration is the significance and lasting impact of the recipient’s contributions.