MINUTES WITH

PATRIOTS DAY PARADE ’ S CITIZEN OF THE YEAR SHARES WHAT HE LOVES ABOUT LAGUNA .

By SHARON STELLO

Ken Aubuchon riding in the Patriots Day Parade

Aubuchon , a Laguna Beach resident for more than 50 years , is involved with the Fête de la Musique , presented by the Laguna Beach Sister Cities Association , as well as the Laguna Beach Cultural Arts Center .

So , how did he feel about being honored in the parade ? Aubuchon was a bit “ embarrassed ” by the attention . “ I am pretty sure that there are some other people in Laguna who are more deserving than me ,” he says humbly . However , Aubuchon enjoys giving back to the community because he loves this city .

“ I feel so fortunate to live in Laguna Beach ,” he says . “ Over the years , I have met so many amazing people here . This is , indeed , a unique town . … It is the right size to know a lot of people , and I am continually impressed at the number of truly amazing people who live here .”

As part of the Sister Cities Association , Aubuchon helps to organize the performers and locations for the local edition of Fête de la Musique — a worldwide annual music festival planned June 17 this year .

“ I first stumbled onto the Fête de la Musique while it was occurring in 2012 ,” Aubuchon says . “ I loved what I saw , and then found out that Laguna Beach has a sister city in Menton , France — a city that I had visited twice and loved . So I immediately signed up as a member of the Sister Cities organization .”

He ’ s also active with the Laguna Beach Cultural Arts Center , which is led by Rick Conkey and presents everything from concerts and film screenings to dance classes , music lessons , art exhibits and more .

“ I really appreciate what Rick has created in what was previously the BC Space Gallery on Forest Avenue ,” Aubuchon says . “… Rick ’ s knowledge about local musicians and his ability to identify the best performers … [ has ] inspired me .”

Retired since 1995 from the aerospace industry , Aubuchon worked for 29 years as a scientist for Hughes Aircraft Co ., developing integrated circuit technology . Growing up in a small town south of St . Louis , he had his sights set on moving out West .

“ When I was in high school , I devoured the annual issue of Look — or was it Life ?— magazine devoted to California , and decided that it was the place for me ,” he says . “ A few years later , I was able to transfer from the University of Missouri — football , fraternities and beer drinking — to UC Berkeley , and that opened me

up to a whole new world . I discovered foreign films and a world of intellectual ferment .”

After graduating with a physics degree , he attended a graduate program at UCLA , then began working for Hughes Aircraft ’ s research facility in Newport Beach after a two-month trip around Europe with his wife . “ That trip started me on a quest to see as much of the world as possible ,” he says .

Eventually , they bought a house at Top of the World in Laguna for the grand sum of $ 35,000 ( in 1971 ). Aubuchon currently lives in Laguna with his life partner , Mari Bouchard , and has two grown sons , David and John .

LAGUNA BEACH MAGAZINE : What do you like about living in Laguna Beach ? KEN AUBUCHON : The proximity to the ocean , with all the beautiful coves and beaches , the steep topography that provides such amazing views and the large population of artists who bring their unique inspiration . For me , this is the perfect place to live .

LBM : Do you have a go-to place in town ? KA : I love exploring or just sitting in the many beautiful coves along the coast , especially Wood ’ s Cove , and I love to hike the trail from Alta Laguna Park down to the oak grove and Dripping Cave , where I can just sit and be at one with the natural environment .

LBM : Do you have any hobbies ? KA : [ I enjoy ] hiking in the Sierra [ Nevada ]; travel , especially in Europe and Asia ; reading poetry ; watching movies , especially indie , art and foreign films ; and listening to music at the Sawdust [ Art ] Festival .

LBM : What ’ s the last book that you enjoyed ? KA : “ A Thousand Steps ” by T . Jefferson Parker , because it re-creates what Laguna was like in 1968 . But I normally prefer nonfiction books that address the connection between technology and quality of life , such as “ Abundance ” by [ Peter ] Diamandis and [ Steven ] Kotler .

LBM : What kind of music do you like ? KA : My favorite is folk music , where every song tells a story . I also like classic country and 1960s- ’ 80s pop rock . I most enjoy the songs of Bob Dylan and Lesonard Cohen , where the words are pure poetry . g

JIM COLLINS

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