At tonight’s Board meeting of the Viejo Little League, Distr. 68, Mission Viejo resident Donna Bourassa presented a check to league president Brian Zrimsek in the amount of $10,000 from the estate of her deceased aunt, Lucille Pace, known to many MV parents and ballplayers as the “Cowbell Lady.”
It was almost a mini reunion of former players and coaches that included Jeremy and Matthew Ward, former Dodger manager Butch Ward, his wife Cindy, and Duke Gray who served as president of the league for 7 or 8 consecutive years as indicated by the badges on his jacket.
President Gray’s League secretary Trish Ruggels shared her experience traveling with Lu to Oregon in 2005 when the team competed in the Regionals.
Sitting proudly in the audience was “Lu’s” oldest sister Betty Luma who has lived in Mission Viejo since 1967.
For those not familiar with Lucille “Lu” Pace, let me simply report that she was an icon in Mission Viejo. No, not for any involvement in public office, but for her devotion and encouragement to all the hundreds or thousands of our children and grandchildren who she rooted for as they competed in little league baseball.
While we have parks named after deceased youth sports leaders such as “Bill” Beebe and Marty Russo, I would urge the city council to consider a similar recognition for the “cowbell lady” of Mission Viejo should the opportunity arise.
Although she did not have any children of her own “Lu” made the Viejo Little League the beneficiary of her estate.
“Lu” moved to Mission Viejo from New York after she retired as an executive in the telephone industry. “Lu,” who passed away on April 29, 2010, was recognized in newspaper and magazine articles as well as being televised on CBS. But her favorite recognition of all was by all the young players she watched grow up to become young men.” Source. Memorial obituary.
One local newspaper included a sample of some of her rhymes that she chanted to the players:
“This is the hour, you’ve got the power; Grip it and rip it. Move it and groove it; Zac, give it a whack; to plant your feet. Firm your grip. And send that ball on a long, long trip.”
Quoting from that same decade old article. “Everyone adopted her” said Dodger manager Butch Ward. “It was pretty much an amazing thing to watch.” Butch goes on to say that “she made every kid think that she knew them for a long time and was there to watch them” adding that “all the kids had that extra something to look forward to beyond just the game.”
Wooow–what a wonderful lady and story. Thanks for sharing.