Sue Mossman will be honored for her 40 years of service overall and her 25 years as Executive Director of Pasadena Heritage in a celebration at Castle Green on Saturday, called 9,136 Days.
During her 40 years at Pasadena Heritage, Mossman has been instrumental in not only fighting to keep the unique architectural flavor of Pasadena vibrant but she has been a tireless educator to the public on the value of the city’s historic buildings and unique environment.
Mossman has fought her share of battles, but despite them — and perhaps because of them — she has earned some powerful admirers.
“There’s no one who admires Sue more than I do,” said former Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard. “She is really a special person because of her talent. She’s a good writer, a good speaker, she’s a good strategist and she’s energetic and willing to put in the long hours.”
“She’s just been such a critical part of the organization,” said Hayden Prater, development director for Pasadena Heritage. “She was the second employee hired. She started as a part-time ‘girl Friday’- type office assistant and has grown to be this force within the organization and in the city.”
Mossman recalled that she was the second person hired at Pasadena Heritage, back in 1978.
“I think I’ve had every job in the office, usually several at a time,” said Mossman. “And for the last 25 years I’ve been the Executive Director. But I’ve been here a long, long time, almost since the beginning. I think I started when the organization was just about a year old.”
Mossman’s demeanor may be one of a soft-spoken veteran of the community, but the roots of her activism run deep.
“In the early years, the business community and the city felt that the economic vitality of Pasadena and business strategy was to demolish unused buildings and build corporate headquarters,” Bogaard said. “Pasadena Heritage rose up in defense of the structures because that’s what made the town strong and unique. It was a huge battle that continued through the 1980s. I had the opportunity to support the efforts, not necessarily getting directly involved, but helping behind the scenes.”
With historic significance in mind, Mossman and her colleagues waged a battle that still continues today. But in the 1970s when she started, historic preservation was only just coming into public consciousness.
“When we started, I think there was an awareness that we were beginning to lose the really important historic fabric,” Mossman said. “Old Pasadena was slated for total demolition. The Colorado Street bridge was threatened. The Civic Center was proposed to have high-rise buildings surrounding it. There was a lot of redevelopment going on that people began to see as a threat to this unique city and its heritage.
“And that’s what prompted people to found a preservation organization,” she said. “And then more and more people got on board with the idea that we can keep the best of the past, and that it’s an asset we should cultivate and take care of while still making room to grow and change. We don’t want to lose the best of what we have or we’ll become ‘anywhere’ instead of somewhere unique.”
The upcoming celebration will be fitting for Mossman, said Prater.
“The castle green is the perfect location,” she said. “We’ve worked with them for years. So we’re excited that they’ll be hosting us and that the event will kind-of be a nod to Sue’s legacy here.”
Mossman said she was delighted and humbled by the upcoming celebration.
“I would say it’s going to be a wonderful moment to be in the spotlight on Saturday, but the value here is really what the organization does and what it’s accomplished,” Mossman said. “This party is about me, but only me in reference to all the good that the organization has done through the years. So I’d rather the focus be on Pasadena Heritage, but it’ll be my turn to stand in the spotlight on Saturday.
“I think I am luckier than so many people because I come to work every day to work on things that I feel passionately about and hope to make a difference, at least a little difference, in making Pasadena and the world a better place.”
As for the future of Pasadena Heritage?
“Well, I think we want to keep doing what we’re doing, but with these big issues of affordable housing and pressure from the state to minimize regulation, lots of neighborhoods are seeking landmark status in order to protect themselves,” Mossman said. “There’s no shortage of things for Pasadena Heritage to work on in the future. So we’ll be right here doing what we do, for years and decades to come.”
Tickets for tonight’s event cost $35. The gathering starts with social mingling at 5:00 p.m. at Castle Green, 99 S. Raymond Ave., Old Pasadena.
For more information go to https://pasadenaheritage.org/
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