An Arcadian Who “Dreamed Big” Seeks New Horizons in Oregon

On May 7, Laura Freedman, Arcadia Rotary’s first woman President, gave her senior craft talk.  Since the Freedmans were about to move to Seaside, Oregon, Laura suggested that her talk might also be viewed as a sort of “swan song.”

Laura’s parents had come from Minnesota to southern California.  Once in the Golden State, her father served as President of the Huntington Park Rotary Club from 1965 to 1966.

Laura was born in Lynwood, California.  When Laura was three years old, her parents moved to nearby Downey, setting up residence on Quinn Street.  The house was designed by her mother in the style of Frank Lloyd Wright.  Laura attended Downey High School.

After Laura graduated from high school in 1975, at the insistence of her father (a Trojan fan), she entered the University of Southern California.  At U.S.C. Laura was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta and graduated with a degree in English.

In 1979, Laura obtained employment with a realty broker.  Next she involved herself in “The Spaghetti Pot,” a fast food franchise which unfortunately went bankrupt.

The next three years were spent in Heidelberg, West Germany, working for the Trans-Atlantic Council of the Boy Scouts.  Laura resided with one of her sorority sisters who apparently had influenced her to come there.  The latter taught school to the children of Defense Department officials. (In those days the German mark was worth about $3.50.)

In 1985 Laura moved back to southern California.  She became the first female to be in charge of the Lucky Baldwin District of the Boy Scouts.  She busied herself with the financial end of scouting. 

While there she was introduced to Greg Freedman.  Both of them had previous marriages. On May 20, they went on their first date.  A year later they were married.   

Laura started working with her husband Greg in the business of real estate appraisal.  Greg is an expert witness on the subject.
  
The Freedmans’ daughter Hillary was born in 1989  The latter soon showed an aptitude for the performing arts.  Educated in the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, Hillary has performed as a stand-up comedian at the Ice House and Comedy Store.  A photo appeared on the screen showing Hillary Freedman and Ernie Aragon (dressed as “Old Nick”) at the Doo Da Parade.

Laura also became the third woman to join Arcadia Rotary.   She went on to hold every job imaginable in Arcadia Rotary, including its Presidency in 1995 to 1996, as the first woman to hold that office.  The U.S.C. Trojan Band performed at her Installation.  At the District level, Laura served as Conference Chairperson and District Governor.  She also participated in four international conventions.

Laura loves to travel, including cruising with Crystal Cruises.  She also loves the theater, watching her daughter Hillary.

Now the Freedmans are moving to Seaside, Oregon where they expect to be active in the Seaside Rotary Club. 

Looking back on her Rotary experiences, Laura recalls an observation she heard once that “Rotary takes ordinary people and gives them a chance to do extraordinary things with their lives.”  Her advice to the rest of us is to “Dream big!”