December brings a change of season. At the same time, the Orange County Medical Association will also be experiencing a change of season this winter. After 29 years of service to the OCMA, Marika Bonner, executive director, has resigned and will be leaving in February. She started in 1977 as a part-time staffer, then advanced to assistant executive director, and was named executive director in 1992. As a result, she has been executive director during the terms of 14 OCMA presidents, including my own.

While every OCMA member knows and respects what Marika has done for our association, she is also known throughout Orange County as a tireless voice for physicians. Many admire her passionate advocacy efforts, which makes it difficult to imagine the OCMA without her.

Originally from New York, Marika moved to California with her husband, Forrest, who was an engineer at Boeing Co. in Huntington Beach until his retirement in 2005. They are the proud parents of daughter Elizabeth and son-in-law Paul, and grandparents of Brianna. In retirement, Forrest and Marika will enjoy travel and family.

As a special thank you for her contributions to the OCMA, I asked several of her friends and colleagues to share memories and good wishes:

In large part due to Marika Bonner's efforts, the OCMA is respected in Orange County as a leader in community health issues and is recognized as an outstanding component of the California Medical Association. She leaves the OCMA much stronger and in doing so, has made a permanent imprint on the health of many Americans. For these and many other reasons, I join in saluting Marika Bonner.
Richard Frankenstein, MD
CMA President-Elect

Marika Bonner has worked tirelessly on behalf of physicians and their patients for decades. She has brought a comprehensive knowledge of issues and an awareness of political sensitivities in both government and organized medicine. This has allowed her to give good counsel to our physician leadership and to our public officials. She has been the guiding light of the OCMA. We will miss her good work, her good counsel and her good friendship.
J. Brennan Cassidy, MD
CMA Board of Trustees Chairman

It has been a pleasure to work with Marika Bonner. We both joined the OCMA 29 years ago. Her dedication on behalf of Orange County physicians has been exemplary. We are going to miss a great advocate, mentor and a wonderful person. I wish her a well-deserved, happy retirement.
Satinder Swaroop, MD
OCMA President-Elect

The name Marika Bonner is synonymous with the OCMA. She is the cornerstone of our organization's success. Her dedication and expertise are much appreciated by all. I will especially miss her smile and her kindness.
Joanna Tan, MD
OCMA Board of Directors

Marika Bonner has an uncanny ability to share a clear vision of the goals and needs of organized medicine with the members of her staff, the physician leaders and the community at large. Marika has been the glue that solidified the organization and its membership into a cohesive and well-functioning association. I wish her fulfillment and much happiness in her retirement.
Jay Ross Zubrin, MD
OCMA President 2005-06

Bravo! Marika, you did it for almost three decades. Thank you for dedicating your time, talent and energy. We will miss the way you handled the details and associated business of the OCMA and your engaging personality.
Aisha Simjee, MD
OCMA President 2004-05

MARIKA =
Mentoring staff,
Advising boards,
Remembering details,
Instigating change,
Keeping traditions, and
Advocating for physicians for 30 years.

During my OCMA experience, Marika remained a constant. Benefiting all, obstructing none, nurturing some, nudging others and encouraging most are just a few of her efforts. For years to come, the OCMA will reflect her impact proudly. We thank her for her dedication to the physicians of Orange County and wish her joy in the new role of grandmother.
Lytton Smith, MD
OCMA President 2001-02

One of my best memories during my time on the OCMA board of directors was the joy of working with Marika Bonner. As a nonphysician working to lead physicians, Marika has earned credibility, respect and admiration. I consider Marika to be a great leader, successful mentor and good friend.
Maria Minon, MD
OCMA President 2000-01

Marika Bonner = Class + Brains + Integrity. I truly enjoyed working with Marika during my entire tenure at OCMA. She made my year as president the smoothest any presidency year can be. She will be a tough act to follow. I wish her the very best.
JC Cobo, MD
OCMA President 1996-97

I had the wonderful opportunity to work with Marika for all of her 29 years at the OCMA. She is my hero. She exemplifies everything that makes for a great executive director. She is knowledgeable, efficient, effective and personable. She has always understood the Orange County and State of California political environment, and has continually been instrumental in helping physicians navigate through the minefields. Because of her, our organization continues to be a leader in helping physicians provide the best care. She will be sorely missed. We wish her the best in the years to come, and we thank her for all that she has done for Orange County's physicians and patients.
Peter Anderson, MD, FACEP
OCMA President 1994-95

Mrika Bonner is the brave woman who struggled with us--supporting, guiding and administering our battles, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget she who reminds us of doctors delinquent in paying their dues. It is for us, the paying, to be dedicated to the unfinished work. Because of this honored retiree, we must show increased devotion to the cause for which she gave full measure of devotion. We must resolve that the red-eye flights to Washington and interminable meetings she endured shall not have been in vain. That this association, under Medicare, shall have a new birth of freedom--and that the private practice of the physician, by the physician, for the physician, shall not perish from Orange County.
Melvyn Sterling, MD
OCMA President 1993-94

How can we relay all of the marvelous qualities that Marika brought to the OCMA? Here are a few brief words to describe her. She is dedicated to her work, ethical, responsible, organized, knowledgeable and calm in crises. She is an excellent problem-solver and has excellent judgment and integrity. I feel she has been a perfect executive.
Richard Kammerman, MD
OCMA President 1991-92

Working with Marika was always a pleasure. I can recall with a smile all the times she saved me from making the wrong moves in many different situations. Her guidance was always appreciated. She was calm, gentle and serene in all matters. I thank her for a job well done. I hope she enjoys retirement. Best wishes!
Frank Amato, MD
OCMA President 1985-86

Thank you for your dedication to OCMA physicians for the past 29 years. I especially would like to thank you for your guidance and support during my 1984-85 year in the office of president.
Milton E. Legome, MD
OCMA President 1984-85

Au revoir, La Bonne Marika! You have served the doctors well. You initially shepherded this ear-wet president through the intricacies of medical politics. You organized various events efficiently and then followed through with precision. Your competence made everything occur effortlessly. Your prudent judgment and modest advice helped maintain the association on an even keel.

In the ensuing years, you never deviated from perfect loyalty to the ideals of our medical profession. Your expectation that we act in the best interests of our patients and society helped us maintain that high standard. Thank you for all that you have done for me individually and for the profession in general.
John F. Bridgeman, MD
OCMA President 1983-84

"Ask Marika." "What does Marika think?" "Run it by Marika before you go ahead." As one who enjoyed the genuine privilege of being around the OCMA for the entire 29 years, it is difficult to conceive of the organization without her. Although she announced her retirement some weeks ago, I didn't really believe it until I saw her name listed on a CMA calendar as a "Retiring Executive Director."

With Marika as leader, all the social events ran smoothly, all the medical crises were solved and all the personnel problems resolved. Marika, all of the OCMA physicians are grateful for your devotion, advice and help. We will miss you. My sincere wishes for a long and satisfying retirement.
Arthur Silk, MD
OCMA Physician of the Year 1989

It has been a privilege to work for Marika for the past four years. I respect her dedicated work on behalf of physicians, her commitment to her family, and her support of the OCMA staff on a professional and personal level. God bless her and Forrest as they enjoy their retirement and being grandparents together. Jeremiah 29:11.
Perry Cain
OCMA Director of Communications and Public Affairs

I owe a lot to Marika Bonner, but so do residents and physicians past, present and future in Orange County. Marika hired me in 1991. That began a wonderful partnership at the OCMA that allowed me to grow personally and professionally. It's a relationship that continues to this day.

There are several traits I truly admire about her, some that I share and most that I will always hope to emulate: dedication (but not at the expense of family), loyalty, unflappability, warmth and a sense of humor. Marika has a tremendous ability to read people and good political instincts (despite a general distaste for the political arena). Mostly, I will miss the regular interaction with her. Marika is a mentor and guide, but also a great friend. She watched me start a family and made sure I kept my priorities in the right order. Barbara, Kelsey, Jacob and I send our love and best wishes to Forrest and Marika for all the years that lie ahead of them.
Sam Roth
Vice President, External Affairs
PRS LLC