By Rosalie Ha
Carol Hart has always been a civic-minded leader. She attended college at CSU Long Beach before transferring to UC Berkeley, where she earned her BA in history and political science. Shortly after, she found her passion for teaching at a junior high in Newark Unified School District.
Born and raised in South Gate, California, she taught history and government there for seven years before stepping into administrative roles at both the junior and high school levels. Six years later, she joined the Los Alamitos community and served as the Los Alamitos High School principal.
Three years into this role at LAHS, former Superintendent of Schools, Mike Miller, presented her with the opportunity to join the Los Alamitos and Seal Beach Rotary Club. Eager and thrilled at the idea, Hart became the first female member of the Los Alamitos and Seal Beach branch of the organization in the fall of 1987. From that time forward, Hart has made a lasting impact in both the Rotary organization and the community at large.
Hart noted that “when other women joined [the Seal Beach branch of the organization], they took on responsibilities to increase social events and build fellowship within the organization. Over time, responsibility for fundraising projects and Club events were being shared by both the men and women.”
After years of dedication, Hart found herself serving in roles such as board member and club president. Under her leadership, she contributed to many service projects and even created a few of her own. She played a role in developing both the “Wine and Dine” fall fundraiser and Valentine’s Day community event, once again demonstrating what it means to be a true Rotarian.
While Hart has served the Rotary community, the community has also served her.
Hart shared that “there is a sense of accomplishment in growing Club membership and in Rotary’s positive impact on the community” and through Rotary she has found many lifelong friends and is most grateful to have them in her life. “There is a common thread among Rotarians- we share the desire to serve and to leave our campsite better than when we arrived.” Hart embodies the true spirit of a Rotarian.
Today, Carol Hart continues her dedication to the city of Los Alamitos. She serves as a board member for Friends of the Library (in Rossmoor) and remains loyal to her Rotary Tuesdays where she chairs the Philanthropy Committee, helps organize events, and collaborates with nonprofits. On days when she isn’t working to enrich the community, Hart enjoys book and dinner clubs, and most importantly, spending time with her children and six grandkids.
Nearly 40 years later, Carol Hart remains loyal to this organization. Rotary truly wouldn’t be the same without Carol Hart and her love for this community, and we can’t thank her enough for the impact she has made.
Editor’s Note: The name of late Rotarian Dave Ramseyer was incorrectly listed in the print edition as Ramsey. The ENE regrets the error.