Vista Hill Council on Mental Health (VHCMH) Luncheon

In Memory of Molly Belinsky            

"Finding Yourself by Finding Community"

On October 16, 2019 approximately 200 guests attended the VHCMH annual luncheon. This year's speakers were Leah Smith and Dr. Joe Stramondo, featured in the documentary, Far From the Tree.

Speakers: Leah and Joe.

Belinsky Ladies: Dani, Esther and Sheila.

The documentary was an adaptation of Andrew Solomon’s 2012 bestseller Far From the Tree:  Parents, Children and the Search for Identity. The film, shown prior to the luncheon, is a deep dive into the lives of six compelling families, each coping with their own differences.  It’s a radical manifesto of sorts, a visual plea to society to stop pathologizing those who fall outside our arbitrarily decided norms.  Leah and Joe shared their experiences and taught us that no one has to “suffer” from a disability, but rather can find themselves by finding community.

Chair, Elyse Sollender with Mark Lohkemper.

Thank you to the wonderful Council on Mental Health Committee, led by chair Elyse Sollender, for their tremendous efforts to produce this very successful event. With gratitude, we applaud the luncheon Presenting Sponsor, Sheila Belinsky Weinstock, along with the Premier Sponsors, Elyse Sollender & Mark Lohkemper; Luncheon Sponsors Judy and Larry Belinsky and Phyllis and Dan Epstein; and Community Sponsor, UC San Diego Health, for their support. The more than $60,000 raised at this event will benefit the critically needed programs at Vista Hill.

Former Construction Industry Executive Elected to Vista Hill Board of Directors

Christopher J. Day, a longtime San Diego construction industry executive and a former Navy SEAL, has been elected to the Vista Hill Board of Directors.

Day retired in 2015 as Vice President of Swinerton Inc., a major California-based commercial construction company with locations in seven other states. Day helped start Swinerton’s San Diego division in 1995, and as head of marketing and business development, helped lead the company to annual revenues of $700 million.

Before joining Swinerton, Day was a project manager at Koll Construction Company and a project manager at UC San Diego. Day was an officer with the U.S. Navy from 1977 to 1984, serving in Special Warfare and Surface Warfare. He graduated from the University of California, Davis in 1975 with a BS in Agricultural Engineering.

“We are delighted to welcome Chris Day to the Vista Hill board,” says Cecil Steppe, Vista Hill Board Chair. “Chris will make a significant contribution to Vista Hill in a number of important areas. In addition to his knowledge of construction that will be invaluable for our facilities development, Chris has deep organizational and project experience as well as marketing expertise that will enhance our ability to keep Vista Hill at the forefront of providing mental and behavioral health services. He is also involved in helping his community through his volunteer service with a number of local non-profit organizations.”