Person of the Year
Kevin Sousa
The following is an excerpt from the posthumous nomination written about Kevin:
Kevin Sousa was a tangible life force in Hermosa Beach. He touched the lives of everyone he came in contact with and people who knew Kevin remember him as a remarkably intelligent, passionate, caring and gifted human being. Kevin’s accomplishments are many and the impacts he made on those along the way are forever memorable. So much of his passion was demonstrated in how he gave back to the Hermosa Beach community.
Kevin has been referred to as a “Rock Star Therapist.” He led The Kevin Sousa Band as a singer songwriter with his music studio in Hermosa Beach. His band played all over the South Bay and gave much of his time and energy playing at community functions.
Kevin was the clinical director for the Jimmy Miller Foundation which provided Ocean Therapy for veterans and others experiencing PTSD related to trauma or mental illness. Kevin was also the clinical director for Miriam House, a sober living program for women and their children. At the time of his death, Kevin was a doctoral candidate and was certified as a psychedelic-assisted therapy provider through Integrative Psychiatry Institute.
Kevin was a community advocate involved in various school bond and city measures that improved the lives of students and residents.
1959 - current
A long standing Hermosa tradition, the Chamber has been recognizing extraordinary citizens in Hermosa for many decades. This award goes to residents who go above and beyond for their Hermosa community—a Lifetime Achievement award. Someone who volunteers their time and talent to make the Hermosa Beach community an outstanding place to live, play and work. The following are the criteria:
- Contributes significant time, energy and spirit in fields outside his or her professional life, without regard to personal gain.
- Civic and community service goes beyond “normal” responsibilities.
- Creates a lasting and beneficial impact for all Hermosa Beach residents.
- Actively participates in service, community, church or other organizations.
- Living, reside or have a business in the Hermosa Beach area and possess excellent personal character.
- Previous recipients are not eligible. Job-related tasks or duties for which nominees are paid do not qualify.
Note: From 1959 to 2019, the community selected both a man and woman each year. In 2022 the tradition changed to a singular person.
| YEAR | WOMAN OF THE YEAR | MAN OF THE YEAR |
| 1959 | Alice Barnard | (none honored) |
| 1960 | Mary Stonier | Barney Lettenich |
| 1961 | Patricia A. Gazin | James Boston |
| 1962 | Alice Barnard | John T. Hales |
| 1968 | Katharine Bergstrom | Tom Fredricks |
| 1969 | Mary Edgerton | William Stidham |
| 1970 | Betty Ryan | Jack C. Dunn |
| 1971 | Gerry Hudson | Joe Noble |
| 1972 | Dee Strange | Harry Smith |
| 1973 | Jane Turner | Joe Diaz |
| 1974 | Mary Tyson | Al Valdez |
| 1975 | Jacqueline Wofford | Eric Rafter |
| 1976 | Edwina McKenzie | Charles McCann |
| 1977 | Selma Zavislan | Martin DeMott |
| 1978 | Evelyn Belasco | Eugene Palmer |
| 1979 | (none honored) | (none honored) |
| 1980 | Delma Perry | George Schmeltzer |
| 1981 | Betty Evans | James Fucile |
| 1982 | Violette Isgreen | Mike Frandzel |
| 1983 | Wilma Burt | Tony Molino |
| 1984 | Etta Simpson | Grant Isgreen |
| 1985 | Rachel Wilkings | Joe Cascio |
| 1986 | Anna Belchee | Jack Wood |
| 1987 | Edie Webber | John Haddon |
| 1988 | Leona Ayers | John Workman |
| 1990 | Ellen Goetz | Warren Barr, OD |
| 1991 | Catherine Murray | Jerry Compton |
| 1992 | Marie Diaz | Mick Felder |
| 1993 | Gloria Anderson | Dallas Yost |
| 1994 | Leslie Newton | Rick Learned |
| 1995 | Julie Feys | Gary Wayland |
| 1996 | Missy Sheldon | Chuck Sheldon |
| 1997 | Thelma Greenwald | Richard Greenwald |
| 1998 | Cathy McCurdy | Paul Amarillas |
| 1999 | Jean Lombardo | Dave Garrett |
| 2000 | Yvonne Amarillas | Richard McCurdy |
| 2001 | Eleanor Lynn | Earl Feys |
| 2002 | Kathy Dunbabin | Rick Hankus |
| 2003 | Elaine Doerfling | Richard Koenig |
| 2004 | Susan Blaco | Dean Nota |
| 2005 | Dorothy Yost | Robert McEachen |
| 2006 | Jean Cuellen | J.R. Reviczky |
| 2007 | Kelly Kovac-Reedy | Michael Flaherty |
| 2008 | Barbara Clark | J. Travers Devine |
| 2009 | Pat Love | Peter Tucker |
| 2010 | Vicki Garcia | Kenneth Hartley |
| 2011 | Corinne Ybarra | Steve Collins |
| 2012 | Carol Tanner | Sam Perrotti |
| 2013 | Joline Blais | Ron Newman |
| 2014 | Janice Brittain | Mike Lacey |
| 2015 | Alice Villalobos | Lt. Tom Thompson |
| 2016 | Jackie Flaherty | Ryan Nowicki |
| 2017 | Maureen Ferguson Lewis | Peter Hoffman |
| 2018 | Adrienne Slaughter | George Barks |
| 2019 | Merna Marshall | John Horger |
| 2022 | Annie Seawright-Newton | |
| 2023 | Rafael McMaster | |
| 2024 | Kevin Sousa |