There are no words to express our gratitude to Phil Aaron for his contributions to the Sebastopol Area Senior Center and the entire community. Our hearts go out to the Phil Aaron Family. Please enjoy these photos and a reprinting of "Our Elder Stories" from May 2020.

Our Elder Stories

Philip Aaron & a little Senior Center history! by Frances Sima Bailin Petzel 

The Sebastopol Area Senior Center that we all know and love, before its rebirth, was originally a 100-year-old, 2-bedroom home in poor condition owned by the City. A group of concerned citizens formed a Board of Directors to fundraise and renovate the building. Over the front door, a plaque reads, “Dedicated to Phil and Carolyn Aaron”. 

Phil Aaron and his wife Carolyn moved to Sebastopol in 1991 after leaving two flourishing law practices in the South Bay. They were asked by friends to attend a fundraising breakfast for the new senior center project.  Phil’s wife prophesized correctly that Phil was going to be heavily involved even though he didn’t think so at the time.  After reporting on a previously successful fundraising experience with an older adult program, Phil was asked to be on the board. What appeared to be a simple renovation ended up costing nearly $1.4 million. Multiple flaws in the building, including asbestos, made a complete teardown mandatory. Phil was instrumental in fundraising efforts by securing the first funds from his contacts, followed by state and federal grants. Phil was quickly elected president of the Board.  Towards the end of the remodel, Phil personally guaranteed the remaining loan balance through a local bank. Aaron obtained approximately 80% of the funds needed for the renovation through his legal expertise and community connections! 

Phil Aaron was born on Christmas Day in 1930 in the Northwest Countryside of Arkansas; the second oldest in a family of seven children who grew and raised their own food and meat.

The family moved to Missouri when Phil was in high school at 17. “Not many high school graduates went to college but I knew I wanted to go,” said Aaron. He attended Missouri State while working full time and renting a room near the school. Phil recalls growing up in a segregated and racist community: “I was befriended by an African American couple who I originally hired to do my laundry. I was invited to dine with them, and in turn drove them to do errands because they had no car. They asked me to go into a store for items they could not purchase because they were black. This was shocking to me, as I learned to love people for who they are.”

Phil graduated college and was recruited into the Navy attending naval officers training in San Diego where he met his wife Carolyn at an off-site party. They were married about six months later for a total of 59 years until she passed away in 2014. Phil left the Navy in 1956 to go to Stanford Law School passing the bar exam and eventually being hired by a small South Bay law firm. He eventually took over the firm and practiced law until retirement at age 60. More about Phil can be read in his memoir, Ozark Hillbilly to Stanford Lawyer.  

Thank you so much Phil Aaron for your contributions to the Sebastopol Area Senior Center. You will greatly missed.