Associate Executive Director Susanne Crummey Retires from Hillsides Charity After 43 Years

Associate Executive Director Susanne Crummey has retired from the Los Angeles County charity Hillsides after 43 years. Her last day was November 30.

“We will miss Susanne terribly as no one can ever take her place,” said Hillsides Chief Executive Officer Joseph M. Costa. “Her leadership abilities, her tireless energy, her empathy, and her role as a mentor helped shape Hillsides into the multi-faceted organization that we are today. However, while she can’t be replaced, she has left a powerful legacy that all of us will benefit from as we move into the future.”

The weeks before Crummey’s retirement were filled with informal and official farewells. Hillsides’ administrators, board of directors, and former colleagues joined together at a local restaurant to fete Crummey and wish her well. Hillsides staff threw her a retirement luncheon, which was attended by some 150 employees. Staff gave testimonials about how much Crummey meant to them and their careers, praising her “wonderful wisdom” and “soothing voice” among other attributes and calling her their “personal hero.”

At the end of the luncheon Costa presented Crummey with a plaque dedicating the North Annex building on Hillsides’ main campus to her. She also received a flower pot painted by the children in residence at Hillsides and gardening supplies because she loves to garden. In addition, as a nod to her habit of always having candy in her office, it was announced that all offices of Hillsides would henceforth maintain jars of candy dedicated to Crummey.

In a staff-wide memo to employees, Crummey reflected on her years at Hillsides and thanked staff, saying in part, “It has been my pleasure to come to Hillsides each week for 43 years. Because of all of you, Hillsides is an extraordinary agency that provides the highest quality of service to clients. Individually and in your teams, each of you makes a significant contribution that matters. Your efforts help clients feel better, gives them hope for the future, gives support to your co-workers and creates a community of respect and collaboration. As I leave, I have confidence that each of you will continue to do your part to preserve the values and ideals of Hillsides.”

As Hillsides Associate Executive Director, a position she has held for decades, Crummey supervised Hillsides Residential Treatment Services and the Education Center. She also oversaw the human resources, quality improvement, volunteer, chaplain, and nursing departments, was key in building Hillsides Family Resource Centers, and worked closely with the Hillsides board of director, among other duties. Crummey began her career at Hillsides in 1970 as a therapist. Prior to being promoted to her current position, she was the Director of Treatment Services and Assistant Executive Director. Crummey received her bachelor’s of arts in sociology/social work from the University of the Pacific and her master’s in social work from the University of Southern California.

In the wake of Crummey’s retirement, Hillsides has restructured its executive staff. Stacey Roth, formerly the director of Family Resource Centers, was named Chief Program Officer. In this position, Roth oversees three divisions of Hillsides: 1) Campus-Based Services, 2) Transition- Aged Youth Services for young adults transitioning from foster care to adulthood, and 3) Community-Based Outpatient Services, which includes all Family Resource Centers programs. Also receiving promotions were Jay Bechtol, formerly the director of Hillsides Education Center, who has been promoted to Division Director, Campus-Based Services; Thomas Lee, formerly the director of Youth Moving On, who has been promoted to Division Director, Transition Aged Youth Services; and Amy Ley-Sanchez, formerly the program manager of the Family Resource Center in Pasadena, who has been promoted to Division Director, Community-Based Outpatient Services.

Hillsides is a premier provider dedicated to improving the overall well-being and functioning of children, youth, and families in crisis that consists of four core programs: Family Resource Centers, which offer community-based programs and services throughout Los Angeles County; Residential Treatment Services, which provide a safe and stable environment for children who cannot live at home, have suffered trauma, or have emotional or behavioral challenges; the Education Center, a day and residential school that offers individualized education for students with social-emotional, learning and/or behavioral challenges; and Youth Moving On, which provides former foster youth with quality housing and other services to help them transition into adulthood. For more information, please visit www.Hillsides.org.