Cozette Vergari (Chair)

Cozette grew up in Westchester, attended USC receiving her bachelor’s degree in dance, and continued on with her master’s course work, while obtaining a teaching credential for secondary education. She spent a decade performing in musical theatre. After 25 years in the field of dance,  and motivated by the issues of domestic violence and sex abuse crimes, Cozette chose to attend  law school. She currently is of counsel to Vergari & Napolitano. She  has been a member of the Rotary Club of Westchester since 1995, has served as  Rotary International District Governor for the Los Angeles region, as Honorary Mayor of Westchester, and on the boards of the WPNC, LAX Coastal Chamber of Commerce, AMCS, Westchester Rotary Foundation, and Rotary District 5280 Charitable Foundation. Cozette resides happily in Westchester with husband Richard Moon. Together they share four children and five grandchildren.

Art Wexler (Vice Chair)

Art Wexler is originally from Santa Monica, moved to Westchester at age 2 and has lived there most of his life. He is a product of our local schools; Cowan Avenue, Wright Junior High and Westchester High Schools.  He is the fun one of the group.

Terry Marcellus (Secretary)

Terry is born-and-raised Westchester.  He attended Westchester Elementary School, Airport Junior High and Westchester High School.  After graduating from UCLA (Political Science) and UCLA Law School he conducted a community-based law practice for more than 20 years.  With wife Jill, they raised their three daughters in Westchester, each graduating with honors from Westchester High and, like both their parents, attending UCLA.  Terry is a past president of the Westchester Vitalization Corporation, the Westchester LAX Chamber of Commerce, the Westchester High School Booster Club and a past Board Chair of the Westchester Family YMCA.  

Mike Heffernan (Treasurer)

Mike Heffernan, the Society’s archivist, is a 38-year resident of Westchester. Mike attended St. Anastasia elementary school and St. Bernard High School, graduating in 1967. After later graduating from California State University Long Beach, Mike inherited the family home near Loyola Marymount University; he and his family moved back to Westchester in 1999. Mike retired in 2016 from a career in computer operations, and has as his current interests classic cars (he owns two), riding his Harley with a local club, model trains, and, of course, the Historical Society.

David Russell (Director-at-large)

David Russell is an artist and educator who’s work examines the intersections between public art and community engagement.  He earned his B.F.A. in Painting/ Art History from the University of Tulsa.  He then completed his K-12 Art Education teacher licensure program at Metropolitan State College of Denver.  Russell received his M.F.A. in Public Practice from Otis College of Art and Design in 2011.  His thesis and current work explore the modernization of the L.A. infrastructure, the politics of art in public space, ethical strategies of community engagement and critical pedagogy.  Russell is a senior lecturer at Otis College of Art and Design and Loyola Marymount University. (www.davidkentrussell.com)

Chris Spry (Director-at-large)

Chris grew up in Pennsylvania and attended Carnegie-Mellon University where he majored in Architecture.  He is a (retired) licensed architect in Florida and California.  He relocated to Southern California in 1978 and moved to Playa Vista in 2007.

Chris spent his professional life first in architectural firms and then as an aerospace corporate facility manager for 34 years at TRW and Northrop Grumman.  During that period, he was active with the International Facility Management Association.

He has been a member of the Los Angeles Conservancy since the 1980’s and has volunteered for the Conservancy, leading walking tours since 2016.  He leads many of the Conservancy’s weekly tours in and around Los Angeles as well as special event tours.

Denny Lennon (Director-at-large)

Denny was born and raised in Venice, where in the 80’s and 90’s he co-foudned and directed the popular Venice Backyard Championships (VBC) volleyball tournament. From the VBC he was recruited to be the voice of Women’s Pro Beach Volleyball (WPVA) and to launch the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) national junior volleyball program. Denny, who spent 40 years as an Athletic Director and coach in various schools (including his alma mater St. Bernard High School), is currently the National Director of AAU Beach Volleyball and the President of Sports Stories, which produces features, documentaries and a nightly show on LA36 Cable.