Lilia Giacomazzi, 104, recipient of Adventist Health's Willard S. Bridwell Humanitarian Award

At age 104, Lilia Giacomazzi continues to be a beloved, respected member of the community -- best known for her role in the dairy industry. She and her late husband, Fred Giacomazzi, started the Giacomazzi Dairy and became very active in the community in the 1930s.

Giacomazzi was one of the original founding members of the hospital volunteers when it was Sacred Heart Hospital. She is a charter and life member, and to this day, serves as an honorary Adventist Health volunteer, attending luncheons and giving her time to the healthcare community.

“Mrs. Giacomazzi’s relationship with our hospital goes back over 60 years,” says Jill Caviezel-Hoots, director of the Central Valley Health Foundation. “Her kind heart and generous spirit shine through every time you come into contact with her, which is why our committee of past recipients felt she was a perfect candidate for the award.”

The Humanitarian Award is named after the late Dr. Bridwell, who spent four decades caring for the community through his medical practice, church and community service.

 “I think it’s important to participate in the community because you feel like you’re helping,” said Giacomazzi. “…If a person has their health, they should keep busy and very involved as long as they can.”

Her passion for serving began when her two children started attending school. Giacomazzi became a member of the Mother Club, then joined the Hanford High School Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), serving as president and being awarded life membership. She also helped many Kings County 4-H students learn to cook, sew and garden. Her love for gardening brought her to help establish the LaCasa Garden Club and maintain involvement in the California Garden Clubs.

She devoted 55 years of service to the Kings County Dairywomen, serving as a member and past president and is a past president of the United States Lodges of the San Joaquin and the Western United Dairy Women of California. She’s also a past member of the June Dairy Month Committee.

Giacomazzi is currently an active member of the Kings County Historical Society; the American Theater Organ Society; Kings Symphony Orchestra; Kings County Republican Federated Women; Young Ladies Institute; Sons of Italy Lodge; state deputy of the Roma Lodge in Tulare; and sunshine chair for the Hanford Lodge.

Some of her achievements include being selected as Kings County Dairy Family in 1962; awarded 2001-2002 Distinguished Dairywoman; Distinguished Citizen of the Year in 1992; Kings County Homecoming Queen in 1998; Common Threads Award for women in agriculture in 2000; Common Threads Tapestry Award in March 2015; and President’s Award from the Kings County Farm Bureau in 2015.

Adventist Health congratulates Giacomazzi on her years of service and is beyond honored to present her with this award, which she will accept during the foundation’s Gala on Oct. 5 at the Hanford Civic Auditorium.