A Woman of Firsts
Glickman was a woman of firsts. In 1977, she became the first Black woman elected as a Pasadena City Director; a few days later, she became the first City Director to become a mother while in office – her youngest son was born just three days into her term. She also served as the first Black woman member of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association.
In 1982, at the young age of 36, she became the nation’s first Black woman mayor for a population exceeding 100,000, generating a great deal of regional and national press. “There was the possibility that a minority might not get to be mayor here for many years to come. And it was my turn,” she recalled of the moment in a 1983 issue of Jet magazine. Glickman is credited with making local government more accessible to residents of Northwest Pasadena, resulting in residents becoming more involved in civic affairs.
The Glickmans divorced, and Loretta later moved from California to marry Elijah Austin, who was pastor of New Jerusalem Baptist Church in Lubbock, Texas. In the late 1990s, she started working as a financial aid advisor for the Lubbock Campus. In March, 2001, she died unexpectedly in Lubbock at the age of 55.
Friends Create a Memorial Fund
The money for the Loretta Glickman Endowment fund for African-American Youth was raised by a group of friends in Pasadena who gathered to celebrate her life in 2001 after her sudden passing. These funds seeded an endowment at the Pasadena Community Foundation that pays tribute to Loretta Glickman in perpetuity. The fund has distributed annual grants to organizations that support local African American youth, including the Pasadena Delta Foundation, the Pasadena Altadena Community Endowment Fund, and Gamma Zeta Boule Foundation.
“Loretta’s goal as mayor was to respond to needs in all sectors of Pasadena. She created a legacy of inclusion and goodwill that continues today, years following her taking office. Now we will create a legacy that honors her values.”
Dolores Hickambottom, field representative for Glickman during her tenure on the Pasadena City Council
After Loretta’s sudden death, her friends created a memorial endowment in her name. Pictured are Dolores Hickambottom, far left; Betty Jean Ho; Gerda Govine; at far right, Jackie Colbert.
Grantmaking Impact
Through this fund, PCF has been able to
- Support flexibility
- Allows PCF to direct resources when and where they are needed most, respond quickly to emerging needs, and fill funding gaps that restricted gifts can’t cover.
- Provide sustained funding
Offer consistent financial support for local nonprofits addressing academic achievement and youth development.
- Enhance community programs
- Empower organizations to expand their services and reach more individuals in need.
- Promote long-term solutions
- Invest in programs that not only provide immediate relief but also work towards sustainable solutions for education access and youth success.
Contact Us
For more information about PCF giving opportunities, please contact
Pasadena Community Foundation
301 E. Colorado Blvd., Suite 810
Pasadena, CA., 91101
626.796.2097
pcfstaff@pasadenacf.org
