Riverfest 2025 | Page 7

monticellotimes. com Monticello Riverfest • Thursday, July 3, 2025 Page 7

Each Citizen of the Year is selected by a committee comprised of representatives from the Lions Club, Rotary Club and Chamber of Commerce & Industry, who solicit nominations from the community, seeking to honor those who have taken on a thankless or possibly massive job that made a difference in Monticello, going above and beyond their normal paid position.

That certainly describes Loidolt, the affable Elk River resident who ran Monticello’ s bustling Senior Center since January 1992, serving as“ an incredible, joyful asset to the Senior Center and the community of Monticello for the past three decades,” according Jim Dickrell and Mary Micke, the pair who nominated her.

Loidolt discovered her passion for working with seniors long before that, at just 16 years old, after taking a parttime-job at the Whitney Senior

Center in her hometown of St. Cloud— later earning degrees in gerontology and health from St. Cloud State University.

She’ s been stuck on seniors ever since, dedicating her career to them.

“ It’ s a dream job, and we do a lot of good,” she said.“ It has affected my life in such a positive, incredible way.”

A fun, positive atmosphere

In Monticello, Loidolt fostered a welcoming environment that continues to help older adults combat loneliness and social isolation, providing a popular gathering place that is known for being the most fun and active senior center around.

“ My boss has said several times that this is the most fun senior center she’ s ever been in,” she said.“ The atmosphere is so positive. Everybody is smiling.”

Loidolt’ s admirers say that positive atmosphere began at the top, with the director herself.

“ She’ s very outgoing, and she goes above and beyond big time,” said 86-year-old Marlys

Baker, of Big Lake, one of Loidolt’ s many loyal fans at the Senior Center.

Her employer, Senior Community Services, also took notice.

“ Pam Loidolt has been the heart and soul of the Monticello Senior Center for an incredible 33 years, serving as its director with unmatched dedication and creativity,” said her former boss, Deb Taylor, who served as CEO of the nonprofit.

Those attributes also earned her accolades over the years, including the Monticello Senior Center Golden Heart for 2024 from the senior center’ s Board of Directors, for going above and beyond; an Outstanding Achievement Award from the Minnesota Association of Senior Services( MASS), given in 2014, recognizing her longevity in the field and contributions to the MASS group; and the Helen Keller Sight Award from the Lions Club.

A true people-person, Taylor highlighted Loidolt’ s unique, effortless way of engaging with others, saying that helped make the center a dynamic hotspot.

“ Pam’ s ability to connect with seniors in meaningful ways, while bringing laughter and joy with her great sense of humor, has made the center a vibrant hub of community life,” she said.

That also makes her absence more noticeable. Though Loidolt has only been gone for about a month now, her presence is already missed by seniors, city staff and others in the community.

“ I love it in the Senior Center, but it’ s just not the same without her,” said senior Steve Bromberg.“ I walk in and I look for her, and then I remember, Pam’ s gone.”

Known for her hugs, warm personality, contagious smile and ability to remember everyone by name, Loidolt brought the gifts of joy and fulfillment to the senior community and beyond, Leonard said.

“ That joy spilled over to everybody,” she said.“ You can tell when people genuinely care about those around them, and you could tell that she loved what she did. So she was always

Under Loidolt’ s directorship, the center added upwards of 25 new activities, including two book clubs, the River City Readers, Bible study, a biking group, pickleball, line dancing, choir, a billiards team with tournaments against other senior centers, technology support, caregiver support group, casino trips, defensive driving classes, handiwork groups and hearing screenings, among others.

As the only full-time paid staff member at the center, Loidolt admits to going the extra mile, but says the center’ s active roster of dedicated volunteers was right alongside her.

“ It was more than a job for me,” she said.“ I want above and beyond, but so did they, for the program, and to help me and to help the center. It was all of us. It was all about team. I couldn’ t have done this without the volunteers.”

In 2024, over 150 volunteers

Citizen / See page 8