Lillian Lord, 100, Leaves Mark on Redondo Beach

Without Lilian Lord, Redondo Beach's City Council may have never had Pat Aust as its District 3 representative.

Lord, a former city employee, advised Aust to become a firefighter many years ago.

“I can’t say enough about this lady,” Aust told city officials, councilmen, family and other members of the community during a commendation ceremony in May to celebrate Lord's 100th birthday. “She changed my life and a lot of people in this room, and a lot of people in this city. So happy 100th birthday.”

Aust met Lord in 1969 when he worked as an electrician for the city. It was during one of many conversations he shared with Lord that she suggested he become a firefighter. Her son-in-law had just become one, so Aust should, too, she said.  

Aust eventually became chief of the Redondo Beach Fire Department.

Born April 14, 1913 in Los Angeles, Lord moved to Redondo Beach in 1955 with her daughters. A single mother of five children, she first worked for the police department in 1957, later transferred to City Hall, and retired after working with Assistant City Manager Jim Morrison in 1975. 

Working with the city allowed her to support her children and helped her feel safe knowing they were in good schools, she said. She also met her husband, former police Chief Harvey Lord, while working for the city.

“All I can say is thank you. All of you,” Lord told those gathered at the May council meeting. “I don’t know if I deserve this like the mayor says. They had a lot of hard workers when I was there."